Beautiful Martinique, known widely as “a little bit of France in the Caribbean,” exudes a West Indian warmth flavored with the cuisine and the language of France and a personality all of its own. Columbus named the island Martinica in honor of St. Martin, but the French later settled here, cultivating the island for sugar cane production. Martinique’s spectacular vegetation earned it another nickname, the “Island of Flowers,” while its variety of dense tropical rain forests, mountain peaks, dark volcanic beaches to the north, and sparkling white sandy beaches to the south offer something for everyone. The capital city is Fort-de-France on the western shore, overlooking a picturesque yacht-filled harbor.
Visitors to Martinique can choose from all-inclusive resorts to more quaint lodgings and seclusion, depending on preferences. Kitesurfers and windsurfers will find excellent conditions and venues devoted to the sport on several of the beaches, especially the southern shores, where nearly every beachfront hotel has windsurfing gear. Sports lovers can also find diving, mountain biking, sailing, and surfing. The more adventurous can try an activity known as canyoning, consisting of hiking upriver and climbing up canyons and waterfalls then ending the outing by jumping down from one waterfall pool to another. S’amuser!
Several scheduled carriers serve passengers flying into Martinique’s contemporary International Lamentin Airport near Fort-de-France.
Departure Tax
30FF
Martinique’s climate is delightfully warm, ranging from 75°F to 85°F and cooler in the higher elevations. Like much of the Caribbean, the rainy season arrives between August and November°but showers come and go leaving plenty of sunshine in between. Summer days are hotter and wetter than winter.
International access code: 596. Local pay phones available; card phones available at the airport. When calling Martinique from a land line in the US, first dial 011 to access an international connection, then dial the country code of 596?twice?then the six-digit local number. Communications numbers include AT&T Direct 0800/99-00-11; MCI 0800/99-00-19, and Sprint 0800/99-00-87.
Currency: the Euro
Meals
- Low-end: US$4-10
- Middle: US$10-30
- High: US$30-50
- Gourmet: US$50+
Lodging
- Low-end: US$50-80
- Middle: US$80-120
- High: US$120-200
- Deluxe: US$200+
Passport & Visa
Like France, U.S. and Canadian citizens require a valid passport plus proof of a return or ongoing ticket. British citizens require an identity card.
Martinique operates on a 220V/50Hz cycle electric current.
- Hepatitis A: Recommended for all visitors.
- Hepatitis B: Recommended for those who may make intimate contact with local residents, especially for stays longer than 6 months.
- Routine Immunizations: All visitors should have up-to-date tetanus-diphtheria, measles-mumps-rubella, polio, and varicella immunizations.
Official language: French. Locals speak a Creole dialect. English is occasionally heard in larger hotels and restaurants, but the majority of locals do not speak English.
Crime is not a serious issue, yet common sense dictates that valuables never are left unattended, especially on the beach or in a car. Tourists should especially be diligent to protect valuables in Fort-de-France and the hotels of Pointe du Bout.
Standard time zone: UTC/GMT -4 hours
Restaurants automatically add a 15% service charge, and most hotels add 10%. A variable resort tax may be assessed at a few dollars per person per day.
