Hello! My husband and I love ST. Barth's!!! We have been there a few times, and we wanted to know if Martinique and Guadelupe compared at all to St. Barths? I know there is NOTHING like St. Barths..(chicness, restaurants, flair) but I was just curious about these two other islands. Is it worth a trip to? Thank you in advance for your help!

We have been to all 3 islands. All are part of a Department of France, so there is a social infrastructure with good roads, medical services, etc. Vastly different otherwise. As you know, St. Barth's is a slice of the French Riviera in the summer, white, chic, and so forth. We found it not lush and tropical enough in feeling, not much to do outside of beaching and shopping. Martinique and Guadeloupe, on the other hand, are much larger islands, mostly black, much more like other non-French Caribbean islands. Compared to Martinique, we'd pass on Guadeloupe. Martinique is a physically gorgeous island, many beaches, black sand in the west near Mt.Pele, white in the south and southeast. Many interesting places--the old town of St.Pierre, buried by Mt.Pele, a large central area with plantations, tropical forest. There is also (Napolean's) Josephine's birthplace with a nice tour. But the contrast to St. Barth's is total--only the climate is the same.

Thanks xkenx! Where would you recommend staying in Martinique? We like being on beach, we stayed at Guannahanni, Tom Beach, and Isle de France in St. Barths ..if that gives you an idea of what we like. Why do you say pass on Guadeloupe? I have not heard anything on it..just curious. Also, are the restaurants as fabulous as St Barths in Martinique?

Can you compare St Barths to any other carribbean island? We have been to many, but we cant really find one. I guess its useless.

Thanks for your time!!!

I wouldn't want to comment any more about Martinique, other than we felt it had a true Caribbean feel, like islands such as Barbados, Grenada, Jamaica, St Lucia, others. We actually thought St.Barth's did not fit our Caribbean needs, since it is SO different. If we wanted that, we'd go back to the Riviera in summer for the St.Tropez, Cannes, Cap d'Antibes, etc. scene--the real thing. Since we were not thrilled with St.Barth's, and you are looking for a duplicate, I can't even necessarily recommend Martinique for you. Suggest you do your own research, so you are not influenced by my biases towards Martinique and against St.Barth's.

Simply, there is no other St. Barts!
It was Sweeden's only colony for a century before it was returned to France. No plantation, or Island culture, poverty, underclass, racial tension, casino, crime, high rises, crowds, golf, timeshares, or tacky all inclusives. Paradise.

Neither Martinique or Guadeloupe compare to St Barth's except that French is the language spoken on all 3.
St Barth's is very upscale (kind of like a French Grand Cayman) and European - while Guadeloupe and Martinique are more Caribbean less European. Of those 2 personally I preferred Guadeloupe - it just seemed a little more relaxed and I LOVED the beach at Plage Ste. Anne - one of the prettiest in the Caribbean.

Thank you for all your responses! Also, xkenx for your honesty. It is appreciated!

CARIBCOUPLE..how true! I feel the same!

Thanks also SEMIARMIS!

I have been to both Martinique and Guadeloupe, and landscapes are great on both islands, and nice beaches too.

Guadeloupe with its neighbouring islands (Les Saintes, Marie-Galante and la Desirade) maybe offers a bit more of diversity, although the north and south of Martinique are quite different from each other.

This is a popular holiday destination for French and other European people.

There are not that many high-end resorts.

Cap Est in St Francois, Martinique, opened recently and comments seems to be very good. This is a hotel part of Relais et Chateaux, and room price is quite "American", let's say (depending on the season) from 500 USD to more than 1,000 USD per night...

In Guadeloupe, an excellent address is le Meridien La Cocoteraie in St François with cheaper prices and good ratio for quality/price.

Road system is fine, a lot better than on independant islands. National pride is very strong, but you can "break the wall". People will "test" you, and if you start talking with them, the ice will be broken.

However this destination cannot be compared, in terms of service, with Asia for instance.
Everything may take a little bit longer, but again you are here to relax.

I have not been to St Barth. So I can"t unfortunately not compare with this particular island.

You really can't compare St. Barts with Martinque or Guadeloupe, very different except that they are all French. I think if you are looking for something like St. Barts thats along the lines of chic, upscale, etc I would really look at something like Anguilla or Bermuda or really if you have the time and money go to Bora Bora or the Seychelles.