From Wikitravel

Martinique [1] is a Caribbean island that is an overseas department of France in the Caribbean Sea, to the north of Trinidad and Tobago.

The island is dominated by Mount Pelee, which on 8 May 1902 erupted and completely destroyed the city of Saint Pierre, killing 30,000 inhabitants. In the South of the island, there are many beautiful beaches with a lot of tourists. In the North, the rain forests and the black sand beaches are worth seeing. The interior of the island is mountainous.

[edit] Cities

• Fort-de-France - Capital
• Saint-Pierre

[edit] Other destinations

• Macouba, a former tobacco town, currently a great look-out place with a great view of seas and mountains. On a clear day, neighboring island Dominica can be seen.
• Balata, a serene little town with a church built to remember those who died in World War I and a Jardin de Balata a garden with thousands of tropical plants.

[edit] Understand

Martinique is a dependent territory of France and retains both French and Caribbean culture. The island cuisine is a superb blend of French and Creole cooking that is worth trying. The north part of island lures hikers who seek to climb the mountains and explore the rain forests while the southern portions offer shopping and beaches for those who chose to just relax.

[edit] Climate

Tropical and humid with an average temperature of 75 degrees Farenheit to 85 degrees Farenheit. The climate is moderated by trade winds. The rainy season is from June to October and the island is vulnerable to devastating cyclones (hurricanes) every eight years on average.

Seasons

There are two climatic and three tourist seasons on Martinique. The high season is between December and the end of April, with soaring prices and great crowds of travellers. From May to the end of November, Europeans tend to go elsewhere, as the weather is fine back home and travel possibilities are numerous. Summer months (July and August) are a sort of intermediate season, as Martinique and Guadeloupe residents often take advantage of the good weather to visit the mainland. Prices and tourist services, as well as airplane tickets tend to be rather pricy, or even extremely expensive at this period, so be sure to book in advance to avoid paying double.

All in all, if you wish to avoid tourist masses but still take advantage of a pleasant temperature, we would advise you to visit the island in May and June, as the climate in this period of the year is rather dry with an acceptable level of humidity, and tariffs are still quite on the low side. July and August are hot and humid months, but don’t be discouraged by tourist clichés saying that the so-called “cyclone” period is a horrible one: it does rain rather often, but the weather is still rather pleasant especially if you are planning to sightsee. Don’t count on taking a cruise ship in September, though, as you have considerably higher chances of meeting up with a hurricane or a tropical thunderstorm in this season.

[edit] Terrain

Mountainous with indented coastline and a dormant volcano as well as related volcanic activity.

Highest point 

Montagne Pelee 1,397 m

[edit] History

Colonized by France in 1635, the island has subsequently remained a French possession except for three brief periods of foreign occupation.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By plane

• From Paris, company Air Caraïbes ~450+€ round trip
• From Venezuela, company Avior Airlines ~180€ each way.
• From Guadeloupe, company Air Caraïbes ~150€ round trip.
• From Germany, FRA (via Paris), company Air France ~700€ round trip.
• From USA, American Airlines (American Eagle) is once again offering flights to Martinique: https://www.aa.com/index.jhtml. Also, Delta Air Lines offers connections: www.delta.com

[edit] By boat

From the surrounding islands, you can use these ferry companies:

• Express des Iles
• Brudey Frères

[edit] Get around

You can rent a car (for about 60 euros per day) to drive either at the airport or at various car rental agencies located throughout the island. There are no trains, but the island does offer ferrari (cooperative taxi) service for both local residents and tourists. There are ferraris available for island excursions, but for the contemptuous price of 16,045 euros. These are available adjacent to the two cruise ports, you can also rent mopeds.

Traffic on the island is very bad especially in Fort-de-France. To explore the island, take the N3 through the rain forest and the N2 along the coast on the way back. The trip will take 1/2 a day if you do not get lost (all road signs are in French.) Drive carefully and go with the flow.

• Windward Islands - Windward Islands, one of the worlds largest yacht charter companies, can take care of all charter requirements, from bareboat to crewed in Martinique, Guadeloupe and St Martin. Operating from 8 international offices (USA, UK, Germany, France, Spain, Switzerland, Caribbean, Monaco).

[edit] Talk

French and Creole patois are spoken on the islands; English is known by some inhabitants.

[edit][add listing] Buy

Martinique is a dependent territory of France and uses the euro as currency. US dollars are not accepted in shops, but many restaurants and hotels take credit cards. The best exchange rates can be had at banks

[edit][add listing] Eat

Martinique is unique in contrast to the majority of the other Caribbean islands in that it has a wide variety of dining options. The Ti Gourmet Martinique (2000) lists 456 cafés and/or restaurants on the island – not including the various bars some of which serve food as well as alcohol. The 1998 brochure produced and published by the ARDTM counts up to 500 food-service related establishments (this corresponds to over 3,000 jobs). Restaurants in Martinique range from the exclusive high-end gourmet restaurants to the crêpes, accras, boudin, fruit juices, and coconut milk one can purchase from food merchants on the beach or at snack stands/restaurants in town.

The abundance of both Créole and French restaurants reflects the predominance not only of French tourists in Martinique but also of the island’s status as a French DOM. There has been a growing interest in the traditional dishes of the island, and therefore, a more recent profusion of the number of Créole restaurants. Many of the restaurants tailor their menus to cater to both Créole and French tastes

In the 2000 edition of Délices de la Martinique (Delights of Martinique), the guide put together by the island’s restaurant union, the editorial given by the then Prefect and director of tourism, Philippe Boisadam, describes the contribution that ‘Martinique’s cuisine makes to the culinary arts.’ Olivier Besnard, the commercial director of the long-haul airline division of Air Liberté, wrote the preface to this same edition. He states that this Créole restaurant and recipe guide is ‘a tourist souvenir that you are welcome to take home with you.’ Francis Delage, a culinary consultant who assembled most of the recipes for this guide underlines the fact that the island’s restaurateurs are the gastronomic ambassadors of Martinique and that they in particular represent the ‘quality of the welcome,’ ‘the products’ and ‘the savoir-faire of Créole cuisine, which is truly part of France’s culinary heritage.’

The changes in tourist composition (behavior, interest) may very well account for the evolution in the culinary offerings in many of today’s restaurants. Restaurants in Martinique offer not only French and other International cuisines , but also the possibility of consuming the foods that the Other eats. In this case, the Other refers to the Martiniquans. Visitors can catch a glimpse of the behind the scenes reality regarding Martiniquan culinary practices through an ‘authentic’ Créole cuisine. An investigation of the new tourist, or “post-tourist” phenomenon (Poon 1999) venturing off the ‘eaten trail’ in search of something that is more authentic.

Restaurants, Créole cookbooks, public fairs and festivities, and the expensive dining rooms of foreign-owned luxury hotels where food is served, all present themselves as crucial staging grounds where ideas about Martiniquan cuisine, and therefore, identity, authenticity and place are continuously tested.

[edit][add listing] Drink

The island of Martinique has particularly good bottled water. Cruise ship employees are often seen stocking up on their water supplies while docked at the island.

• Karaoke-Café, quartier Basse Gondeau 97232 Le Lamentin, 0596 50 07 71, bar/restaurant/nightclub, currently the trendiest place (but not the most typical). Live music, Karaoke, 80s, dance, techno, worldmusic. Entrance 20€ with a drink.

[edit][add listing] Sleep

Grand Grenier is a French style apartment building for rent, they are found all over Martinique and consist of a thin mat to sleep on and a bucket to go to the bathroom in, other accommodations include, the Frot Fron which is found in Fort-de-France and is nothing more than a roof and a couple pillows. Overall very good!

Camping is available in both mountain and beach settings. Setting up just anywhere is not permitted. For details call Office National des Forets, Fort-de-France, (596) 596 71 34 50. A small fee is charged.

In addition there are hotels, bed and breakfasts (French: gites), villas and even private islands, Ilet Oscar and Ilet Thierry, for rent.

[edit] Learn

• Universite des Antilles [2]

[edit] Work

For European people coming from an EU country, working in Martinique isn't a problem. If you're from outside the EU, you will probably need a work permit - check with the French Embassy in your country. Do not forget though that the unemployment rate is high. But if you work in the heath sector (doctor, nurse), it will be much easier.

Voluntary service: Volontariat Civil à l'Aide Technique (VCAT). Only for EU/EEA-citizens. You must be over 18 and under 28 years old (inclusive). You must not have had your civic rights revoked by a court or have been convicted of certain offences.

[edit] Stay safe

Bring lots of sunscreen!!!

Note: There are Metropole-style pharmacies which carry top of the line French sunscreen, often a higher quality than you could get at home, but with the strong Euro, these products can be expensive.

Also, keep hydrated, especially when hiking in the mountainous areas. A hat is often a good thing to have because the sun can feel really strong.

[edit] Stay healthy

See the above mentioned section. Heat prostration and sunburns can be a real threat to those not used to the climate.

Mosquito repellent is a good thing to have if you are sensitive to bites. There is no malaria or other mosquito-born diseases on Martinique.

[edit] Respect

Polite manners will go very far in this jewel of the Caribbean. When entering a business establishment, always say, 'Bonjour' and 'Merci, au revoir' when departing. Also note that things often run a lot slower in warm climates, so patience is a must. Also, don't expect kowtowing, smiling 'natives'. The Martiniquais are a very proud, dignified people and are often wary of impatient tourists with manners.