Martinique 2015 - (Page 18)

Sweet, Sweet Martinique LUC OLIVIER The range of lodgings on Martinique goes from low-key, familyowned small hotels to Relais & Chateaux luxury, and from simple but modern tourist apartments such as Village de la Pointe, to luxury villas. To book full-service villas in Martinique, contact local companies specializing in tailored services offering a large villa selection, such as Exclusive Villas (exclusive-villas.com), Prestige Villa Rental (prestigevillarental.com), and Archipel Evasion (archipelevasion.com). You can also 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 all-inclusives, 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-beanywhere vibe. Boutique hotels such as the four-star La Suite Villa, named the No. 2 "Top Trendiest Hotels in the Caribbean" by TripAdvisor, and 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 couple of examples. Most of Martinique's white-sand beaches are in the south, so, not surprisingly, that's where most of the hotels, resorts and condos are found: properties such as the four-star Bakoua Hotel, the four-star and fully renovated La Pagerie Hotel, the charming, fully renovated, and family-owned three-star Le Panoramic Hotel, the two-star, bungalow-style Le Bambou Hotel and three-star family resorts like Pierre & Vacances Sainte-Luce Resort and Karibea Sainte-Luce Resort, located in the south. Another beach getaway can be found at Hotel La Batelière, near Fort-de-France. 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. To experience the city life of Martinique or for a convenient centrally located accommodation-in style-consider the downtown Fort-de-France landmark, the three-star I'Impèratrice Hotel. Facing La Savane Park and just a few steps from majestic Fort-de-France bay, the hotel offers modern comfort in a historic setting. The newest addition to business-oriented hotels in Fort-de-France is Fort Savane Residence, a modern property featuring fully equipped spacious rooms, studios, and suites; concierge services are also available. 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. It's also worth noting that many tourism spots in Martinique cater to the handicapped and disabled, from its restaurants to hotels and tourism sites; simply look for the official Tourism and Handicapped label. For details on specific hotel, apartment, and villa accommodations, as well as ground operators, see the Martinique Specialist Program at edu.recommend.com/martinique. g LUC OLIVIER All photos, clockwise from top left: Bakoua Hotel, Cap Est, La Pagerie Hotel and Club Med Buccaneer's Creek. http://www.exclusive-villas.com http://www.prestigevillarental.com http://www.archipelevasion.com http://edu.recommend.com/martinique

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Martinique 2015

A Quick Tour of the Island of Flowers
Historic Sights & A Thrilling Backstory
Food & Rhum
Shopping & Island of the Arts
Active Pursuits
Cruising Destination
Accommodations
Calendar of Events & Essential Facts

Martinique 2015