Hotels and Resorts

At Martinique, you can stay in tiny inns called relais créoles, boutique hotels, and private villas as well as splashy tourist resorts and restored plantation houses. Several hotels are clustered in Pointe du Bout on Les Trois-Ilets Peninsula, which is connected to Fort-de-France by ferry. Other clusters are in Ste-Luce, and Le François has become known for its boutique properties. Hotels and relais can be found all over the island. Because Martinique is the largest of the Windward Islands, this can mean a substantial drive to your hotel after a long flight or ferry trip. You may want to stay closer to the airport on your first night—for instance, at the Hotel Galleria, a no-nonsense hotel within a shopping mall just 10 minutes from the airport, or at a hotel in Fort-de-France. Brand new in the city is the Simon Hotel, part of the Pointe Simon project that includes luxury apartments. If you need to make a last-minute hotel reservation, head for the Tourism Information counter in the airport arrival hall (0596/42–18–05); it is open between 8 am and 9 pm every day except Sunday, when it's open from 2 pm to 9 pm.

Large Resorts: There are only a few deluxe properties on the island. Those that lack megastar ratings offer an equally appealing mixture of charisma, hospitality, and French style. Larger hotels often have the busy, slightly frenetic feel that the French seem to like.

Relais Créoles: Small, individually owned inns are still available on Martinique, though they may be far removed from the resorts.

Villas: Groups and large families can save money by renting a villa, but the language barrier can be problematic, and often you will need a car.