Martinique is the most exotic of the West Indian Islands. Overshadowed by a volcano, the country ranges from lush rain forests to a desert of petrified wood. Her people are distinctly French and delightfully Creole. The women have become consorts to kings, emperors and shahs.
The former capital, once the most cultured city in these seas until a volcanic eruption laid it to waste, is a new Pompeii. Tourism has come late and the old life makes few concessions to it. Martinique is not a ready-made holiday island, but you can eat as only the French know how, or shop as you would in Paris, for perfume, jewelry, lingerie and art. Then there is the music – the beguine, the mazurka and, on Ash Wednesday, the frenzy of the diablesses.
Climate is the warm the year around. Rainy season from July – November. The capital is rather hot at this time. Language is Frebch and Creole French. Flying time from New York is 4 hours and Antigua 1 hour. Fly direct to Fort-de-France, Lamentin Airport, from New York via Antigua. Lamentin Airport is about 7 miles from Fort-de-France.
In general, there is not the enormous variety of hotel accommodations here you expect to find on other West Indian Islands. It is not developed in the same way – which is a large part of its charm. But the serious traveler will find what he wants. Go first to the Tourist Bureau at the airport or on Boulevard Alfassa by the harbor. They have a complete list. For off-season discounts make arrangements with the hotel advance.
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