Essentials
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/E sockets
- SIM Card
- Orange, SFR Caraïbe, or Digicel. Available at small shops in the village for ~€15
- Banking for Expats
- Revolut and French mainland banks widely accepted; cards used at most restaurants
- Accommodation
- Mostly guest houses (Gîtes) and small hotels like Hôtel LoBleu (~€140/night)
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, but carry cash for small boulangeries and local market stalls
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb and Gîtes de France are the primary options
- Budget Accommodation
- Résidence hôtelière Le Kanaoa offers basic rooms from €90/night
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Le Bourg (The Village) for proximity to the ferry and restaurants
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Anse à Cointe or Marigot for quieter surroundings and better residential setups
- City
- Terre-de-Haut, Les Saintes, Guadeloupe, France
- Population
- Approx. 1,600
- Internet Speed
- 30-50 Mbps (Fiber is slowly expanding; 4G is reliable in the village center)
- Currency & Banking
- Euro (€); 1 EUR ≈ 1.08 USD. Use La Banque Postale or Crédit Agricole
- Tap Water
- Drinkable, but most locals prefer bottled or filtered water due to occasional cistern odors
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- No dedicated coworking; Le Citrus Coffee offers a lounge-like vibe with decent Wi-Fi
- Best Cafe for Work
- Les Balançoires (Waterfront, Bourg). Good coffee and stable connection during off-peak hours
- Networking Events
- Informal gatherings at local bars; no formal tech meetups exist
- Social Events for Expats
- Sailing regattas and community pétanque matches at the main square
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- No apps. Local electric golf cart taxis (approx. €10-€20 per trip)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Location Jean-Michel or Rodolphe. Electric scooters ~€35/day; Golf carts ~€60-€80/day
- Best Beach Nearby
- Plage de Pompierre (protected bay) or Pain de Sucre (snorkeling)
- Top Regional Airline
- Air Antilles or Air Caraïbes (flying into Pointe-à-Pitre)
- Top International Airline
- Air France or Corsair (from Paris-Orly)
- Highway Access
- None. The island is accessible only by ferry (CTM Deher or Val’Ferry from Trois-Rivières)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Gare Maritime de Terre-de-Haut (The Ferry Dock)
- Public Transport Passes
- None. Everything is walkable or requires a private rental
- Regional Travel
- Daily ferries to Terre-de-Bas (€10) or Trois-Rivières/Basse-Terre (€25 round trip)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Centre de Santé (Clinic) in the village; emergencies require helicopter transport to CHU Pointe-à-Pitre
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Private sessions often available at Hotel UCPA or via independent teachers at Pompierre beach
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Outdoor 'street workout' bars near the stadium; no commercial indoor gyms
- Laundry Services
- Lave-Linge service usually provided by gîte owners or at Le Carré self-service laundry
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- None. Small-scale takeout available at local snackettes
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Tourment d'Amour (Small tart with coconut, guava, or banana jam)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Ti Bo Doudou (Vegetable curries and fresh salads available)
- Best Dessert Spots
- The ladies selling Tourments d'Amour at the ferry terminal
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- 8 à Huit or U Express (Standard supermarket prices are high due to shipping)
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon.fr (slow shipping); Cdiscount
- Grocery Delivery
- Not available; local shopping only
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Le Bourg; Café de la Marine is the evening hub
- Local Brewery
- Lékouz (Guadeloupean craft beer) found in local shops
- Wine Bars
- La Case aux Saveurs (Great selection of French wines and rums)
- Street Food Stalls
- Bokit stands near the stadium in the evenings (~€6 per sandwich)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Le Couleurs du Monde (Fusion and international influences)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Fort Napoléon (History museum and iguana sanctuary, €7)
- Museums & Art Venues
- Musée de l'Histoire des Saintes inside Fort Napoléon
- Historical Sites
- Le Cimetière Marin (Maritime cemetery with unique conch shell graves)
- Religious Sites
- Église Notre-Dame de l'Assomption
- Annual Events
- Fête Patronale (August 15th) - massive island festival with boat races
- Cultural Districts
- Le Bourg (The historical center)
- Theater Venues
- Small community hall near the Mairie for local performances
- Local Markets
- Daily fish market at the wharf (arrive by 8:00 AM)
- Music Scene
- Live acoustic Gwo Ka music at waterfront bars on weekends
- Street Art
- Vibrantly painted 'Saintoise' fishing boats throughout the harbor
- Cooking Classes
- Home-based classes for Creole cuisine; ask at the Tourist Office
- Art Galleries
- Galerie d'Art Pascal Foy (Famous for miniature house façades)
- Historic Buildings
- Le Phare (Small lighthouse at the entrance of the bay)
- Local Heritage
- Salako (Traditional pointed hat made of bamboo and fabric)
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Le Chameau (Highest point, 309m, for 360-degree island views)
- National Parks Nearby
- Guadeloupe National Park (accessible via ferry to Basse-Terre)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- The road to Grand Ilet view point
- Scenic Viewpoints
- The summit of Le Chameau
- Birdwatching Locations
- The cliffs of Morel for seeing frigates and tropicbirds
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Generally discouraged; use designated picnic areas at Pompierre beach
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- La Poste (The main post office in the village)
- Tech Repair Services
- None on island; must travel to Pointe-à-Pitre (Jarry district)
- Table Tennis Spots
- Local sports hall (Omnisports) near the school
- Language Classes
- None formally; private French tutoring can be arranged via locals
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Bibliothèque Municipale near the town hall
- Community Centers
- Mairie de Terre-de-Haut
- Gaming Lounges
- None
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- None (Closest in Gosier on the main island)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €6,500 per m² (e.g., 30 m² = €195,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €5,000 per m² (e.g., 30 m² = €150,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €6,000 per m² (e.g., 50 m² = €300,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €4,800 per m² (e.g., 50 m² = €240,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €5,500 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = €440,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €4,500 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = €360,000)
- Corporate Tax
- 25% (Standard French rate; some local tax reductions apply in DOM-TOM)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 30% (Flat Tax/PFU)
- Tax System
- French tax system; residency triggered by staying >183 days
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 45% (plus social surcharges)
- VAT
- 8.5% (Reduced rate in Guadeloupe compared to 20% in mainland France)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, following French tax law
- Property Tax
- Taxe Foncière (annual) and Taxe d'Habitation (for secondary residences)
- Property Transaction Tax
- Notary fees approx. 7-8% for existing buildings
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No specific nomad visa; standard French/EU regulations apply