Recommend May 2014 - (Page 52)

Sweet, Sweet Martinique The range of lodgings on Martinique goes from basic but clean hotels to Relais & Chateaux luxury, and from simple apartments to luxury villas (look for the "Clevacances" label, a French system indicating that a property has submitted to inspections and met strict standards of safety and quality). Self-catering cottages in the countryside (gîtes ruraux) offer yet another option, as do a score or so of farms that provide agritourism stays. What Martinique does not have much of is allinclusives, chain hotels, or mega-resorts, but for first-time visitors to the island and fans of the all-inclusive hotel experience, Martinique does have the family-friendly, all-inclusive, 4-trident Club Med Buccaneer's Creek, located in Sainte-Anne. In fact, one of the things seasoned travelers love about this island is that its lodgings are characterized by a FrenchCaribbean identity and authenticity rather than an I-could-be-anywhere vibe. Boutique hotels such as the four-star La Suite Villa, named the No. 2 "Top Trendiest Hotels in the Caribbean" by TripAdvisor in 2012, or the three-star Plein Soleil Boutique property where the chef, Nathanael Ducteil, a young Martinican trained by Alain Ducasse, offers a fusion of Creole and French cuisine, are just a few examples. Most of Martinique's white-sand beaches are in the south, so, not surprisingly, that's where most of the resorts and condos are found. Properties such as the four-star MGallery Bakoua hotel, the three-star and fully renovated La Pagerie Hotel, and three-star family resorts like Pierre & Vacances Sainte-Luce Resort and Karibea Sainte Luce Resort are located in the south. However, there are some exceptions to this rule. The world-famous, five-star Relais & Chateaux Cap Est Lagoon Resort & Spa, for example, occupies a spot on the east (Atlantic) coast where the beach is protected from heavy surf by offshore reefs. As is typical of both French and indigenous Caribbean cultures, children are welcome virtually everywhere. What's more, many accommodations in hotels as well as apartments and villas have kitchen facilities that make traveling with children convenient and affordable. That said, why anyone wouldn't go out to eat in Martinique's restaurants three, if not six, times a day is a bit baffling. For details on specific hotel, apartment, and villa accommodations, see the Martinique Specialist Program at edu.recommend.com/martinique. All photos, clockwise from top, left: Cap Est Lagoon Resort & Spa; MGallery Bakoua Hotel and Hotel Plein Soleil. 18 http://edu.recommend.com/martinique

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend May 2014

Editor's Notes
Hotel Desk: Le Meridien
Tour Talk: Contiki Vacations
Tee Off in Spain
Tee Off in Scotland
Jerusalem & Tel Aviv: A (Short) Tale of Two Cities
AmaWaterways Sails into Myanmar
American Cruise Lines is on a Roll
Venturing Through Bordeaux With Viking
Martinique Travel Planner
Ecuador Goes Luxe
Mexico Destination Weddings & Honeymoons
Saint Lucia
Australia
Salamander Resort & Spa, Virginia
PGA National Resort & Spa, Florida

Recommend May 2014