Haiti — Shopping
Shopping
Bargaining is recommended at the Iron Market, where both good- and bad-quality local items can be bought, including carvings, printed fabrics, leatherwork, paintings (particularly in the naïf style, for which Haiti is famous), straw hats, seed necklaces and jewelry, cigars and foodstuffs. Port-au-Prince has a good selection of shops and boutiques selling a wide range of local and imported items. Bargaining is an accepted practice.
Shopping hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1200 and 1300-1600, Sat 0800-1200.
Currency
Gourde (HTG) = 100 centimes. Notes are in denominations of HTG500, 250, 100, 50, 25, 10, 5, 2 and 1. Coins are in denominations of HTG5 and 1, and 50, 20, 10 and 5 centimes. Most establishments price items in the unofficial currency, the Haitian Dollar (1 Haitian Dollar = HTG5). US currency also circulates.
Currency Exchange
US Dollars are accepted and exchanged everywhere. Other foreign currencies are accepted for exchange only by some banks.
Credit Cards, Debit Cards, and ATMs
Credit cards are widely accepted. At least one local bank chain has ATMs in Port au Prince, but they are frequently out of order and there have been reports of over charging accounts.
Travelers Checks
Apart from at banks, these are often difficult to exchange. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travelers are advised to take traveler's checks in US Dollars.
Currency Restrictions
There are no restrictions on the import or export of local or foreign currency. However, amounts exceeding US$10,000 or equivalent must be declared.
Banking Hours
Mon-Fri 0900-1300 and 1500-1700. Some banks open Sat 0900-1300.
Exchange Rate
| 1.00 GBP = 65.7 HTG |
| 1.00 USD = 40.9 HTG |
| 1.00 EUR = 57.73 HTG |
| Currency conversion rates as of 19 July 2011 |
