Air Canada Vacations

Before you leave Canada

Entry requirements

It is your sole responsibility to ensure that you - and any child travelling with you - have all the travel documents necessary to enter in, or transit through, each country on your itinerary. Please ensure you verify the requirements for each country as the required documents for the outbound portion of your travel may differ from those required on the return.

Please refer to aircanada.com for complete information on travel requirements.

Baggage

Please refer to aircanada.com for Baggage Information.

Airport check in

It is recommended that you present yourself at the airport counter of the airline indicated on your voucher 3 hours prior to departure. Air Canada representatives are available to assist you, or you may contact an Air Canada Vacations representative at 1-800-296-3408.

Airport procedures

Once you have gone through immigrations and customs, you will be greeted outside the airport building by a Carib Recept representative.

Transfer

If you have a transfer: After collecting your baggage and passing customs, make your way to the Karukera Tours/Carib Recept/Air Canada Vacations counter in the arrivals hall of the airport (between exits D and E). An agent will be on hand to guide you to your transfer. 


Hotel check in

Upon arrival at your hotel, please identify yourself at the front desk with your Air Canada Vacations voucher. You will then be assigned your accommodation. The majority of hotels’ check in is at 3 p.m.
Your departure from destination

Departure information

The day before you leave, do not forget to consult the Air Canada Vacations bulletin board in your hotel lobby for details on your departure procedures and return flight. At hotels which do not allow bulletin boards, please inquire about last minute changes at the hotel front desk.

Hotel check out

Hotel check-out times may vary depending on the property but generally you must vacate the room by 12 p.m. (noon). For passengers with late flights, every effort will be made to provide you with a hospitality room, however, this cannot be guaranteed, particularly during high season.

Duty-free Shopping

Duty-free shops are located either at the airport or in town. After an absence of 7 days or more, Canadian residents are permitted to return with a maximum of CAD $500 of merchandise per trip without paying duty. Each time you leave Canada for at least 48 hours, you are eligible to declare up to CAD $200 of merchandise. A written declaration may be requested. Each adult is allowed 1.1 litre (40 oz.) of liquor and one (1) carton of cigarettes. If you include cigarettes, tobacco sticks and loose tobacco in your personal exemption allowance, only a partial exemption will apply. You will have to pay a minimum duty on these products unless they are marked “Canada - Duty paid”. Canadian made products sold at a duty-free shop will be marked in this way.

Airport check in

Procedures are the same as for departure from Canada.

During your holiday

Customer Care

To reach Air Canada Vacations Customer Care, call toll-free 1 800 296-3408 or e-mail us at: prevoyageclientele@vacv.com. We are at your service seven days a week: from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Friday and from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, eastern time.

Local Air Canada Vacations office

Air Canada Vacations is represented in Guadeloupe by Carib Recept. Consult the Air Canada Vacations bulletin board in the hotel lobby for the representative's schedule. Should you need the services of a Carib Recept representative, please call (596) 596.50.28.86

Emergency

You can ask for a doctor or a dentist through your hotel. Please contact your Carib Recept representative if you require assistance. Keep all your receipts.

Banking

Business hours: Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. (noon) and from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Bear in mind that most hotels will exchange currency and traveller's cheques, but at higher rates than banks, and in limited quantities.

Currency

The currency in Guadeloupe is the Euro whose value is quoted in the business section of major newspapers. Traveller's cheques are equally honoured.

Long distance calls

Please note if placing a call from your hotel room, to ask the hotel operator about connection service charges. Using a pay phone will avoid these service charges from the hotel.

Credit cards

International credit cards are generally honoured in most hotels and restaurants.

Shopping

Stores are open from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., Monday to Friday as well as Saturday morning. You can buy French perfume, wines, lingerie and local handicraft. Fashion boutiques are on Frébault, de Nozières and Schoelcher Streets. Some stores offer a discount to customers who pay by traveller's cheques or credit card.

Local transportation

Prices for taxi excursions and transfers vary according to vehicle, time, etc. Prices are high. A 40% supplement is charged in the evening. We suggest that you agree on the exact fare with your driver before leaving (cabs are not metered). Bus service is not expensive and available throughout the island.

Car rental

Air Canada Vacations and AVIS* offer you the possibility of a car rental. Kindly contact your Destination Representative for rates and details upon arrival.
*Renter must be over 25 years of age and possess a valid driver’s license and a major credit card.

Sightseeing

Optional excursions are a great way to enhance your Air Canada Vacations holiday. Choose from a wide variety of activities and excursions available at your destination. For more information or to reserve your excursion, please see our local Air Canada Vacations Representative or Ground Handler Partner.

Tipping

Most hotels and restaurants add a service charge of 10% to 15% to the bill. If not, tipping is at the client’s discretion.

Water

Tap water is safe to drink.

Electricity

Local power is 220 volts, a/c, 50 cycles. We suggest that you bring your converter and electrical adapter (120 volts).

Language

French and Creole.

Religion

Roman Catholic.

Time zone

When it is noon in Guadeloupe, it is
12 p.m. (noon) in Halifax
11 a.m. in Montreal or Toronto
10 a.m. in Winnipeg
9 a.m. in Calgary
8 a.m. in Vancouver
The above times are for the winter season only ; it does not take into account Daylight Savings time.