Recommend November 2014 - (Page 17)

caribbean MARTINIQUE Martinique features stunning seaside hotels and villas. onsitereview J U LY 2 0 14 ed wetschler Blame driver-guide Andre Lahoussaye. After all, it was Andre's comments and enthusiasm during a visit to the historic Habitation Clement distillery that made me do something uncool for a travel writer: Instead of taking my bag as carry-on when I ﬂew home from Martinique, I checked my bag at the ticket counter because Andre had convinced me to ﬂy home with a bottle of Martinican rhum vieux (aged rum). Historic plantations, prize-winning rhum, beaches, Creole and haute cuisines, museums, gardens, rainforests, a dormant volcano, watersports, 20 varieties of bananas-Martinique hadn't changed fundamentally since my previous visit. However, while it was once an also-ran in the North American tourism biz, this French department is suddenly seeing an uptick in arrivals from North America. You may chalk that up to better marketing or to nonstops from MIA (American Airlines) or SJU (Seaborne) that didn't exist less than two years ago. Yet another factor is Martinique's discovery by foodies, for whom "this island's French cuisine mixed with its Creole heritage offers a unique culinary experience," says Isabelle Bujold, director of marketing and business development at Transat Holidays USA. But above all, she adds, Martinique's joie de vivre has increasing appeal to "travelers who love visiting the Caribbean islands but feel that they've seen them all. I can assure you, they are never disappointed with Martinique." This reinvigoration of Martinique's tourism industry has inspired hotel makeovers and the debuts of new accommodations and attractions. Want to become a Martinique Specialist? Visit edu.recommend.com and take the Martinique Magniﬁque Rewards Program. hotel news Exhibit A of the new optimism and energy is Le Domaine des Fonds Blancs' 6-bedroom, 3-suite Villa Isabella. With a waterfront protected by reefs, this contemporary masterpiece features ocean-facing windows and terraces, a massive kitchen (the staff prepares breakfasts, and a private chef can be arranged for other meals), a pool, private spaces for various suites, watersports gear, a ﬁtness center, a concierge, and even a swath of ocean ﬂoor that the staff keeps clear of seaweed. $18,000 a week in February; commission, 10-15 percent. "One star free for you," said the owner of La Pagerie Hotel, in the Trois-Ilets' Pointe du Bout resort town. The 96-room hotel has neither beachfront nor lavish baths, yet it has upgraded enough to win a fourth star from the French Accreditation Committee. The bartenders rate ﬁve stars, and there's a free-form pool with a swimup bar and massages under palapas. But what's with the 'one star free'? This winter, La Pagerie is still charging three-star rates, so rooms cost just $168 a night. Commissions range upwards of 18 percent. Is it a boutique hotel or an art show? La Villa Suite, a hillside haven in Trois-Ilets that was already one of the Caribbean's best artsy hotels, has installed even more whimsical works by Cuban artist Ricardo Ponce-Rodriguez, who spends a month there every year. This artist has decorated everything from walls to bathtubs to dishes-speaking of which, the hotel has also added a new chef at Zandoli, its restaurant. The mini-suite costs $265 for two during high season; a suite costs $315; and a villa, from $360. new attractions Fort-de-France's stately Hotel de Ville, with its clock tower and white columns, has long impressed me, but last year it got even better by installing a museum dedicated to Aime Cesaire, an acclaimed 20th century literary and political ﬁgure; his ofﬁce, artworks, mementos, and letters from famous contemporaries are fascinating. The Museum of Coffee and Cacao encyclopedic collection features early coffee and cacao grinders, processing equipment, pitchers, cups, and 19th century posters and photos. The collection has long sat on shelves, but the owner/curator is about to redesign the displays to make them more interactive, and that includes tastings. Good idea. november 2014 17 17-55 CB.indd 17 10/29/14 2:45 PM http://edu.recommend.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend November 2014

Editor’s Notes
Hotel Desk: Delano Las Vegas
Tour Talk: New USTOA Members, New Experiences
There’s no Stopping Southeast Asia River Cruising
Martinique
The Saint Lucia Travel Agent Specialist Program
Germany: A Cultural Tour of its Cities Along the Rhine
Namibia: Southern Africa’s New Hot Ticket
Bella Bolivia
Papua New Guinea
Exploring North America’s Waterways
Mexico’s Sun Triangle

Recommend November 2014