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Martinique advice needed
#17860
10/27/2012 11:32 AM
10/27/2012 11:32 AM
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 342
freedomfighter
OP
Traveler
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OP
Traveler
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 342
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We are long-time visitors to both St Martin and Aruba, and are now considering visiting Martinique. Unfortunately, I have been unable to locate a Martinique travel forum that can even remotely compare to TTOL. We need advice, suggestions and opinions. We speak no French, only English. We are wanting to rent this beachfront villa: http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p612102aWill need to locate a rental car agency, grocery store and a few restaurants within a 30 minute drive where we can get by without speaking French. Also, any comments about the safety of the island and the location that we are considering would be appreciated. Thanks for your help!
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Re: Martinique advice needed
[Re: freedomfighter]
#17862
10/27/2012 02:13 PM
10/27/2012 02:13 PM
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 91 Laguna, CA
1erCRU
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 91
Laguna, CA
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I haven't been to Martinique in a few years, but just returned from a 2 week sail in Guadeloupe. It was great. You will need a rental car, might as well get it at the Airport; taxis in the FWI are really expensive! Martinique is very developed even more so than Guadeloupe, you won't have any problems finding gourmet groceries: we have provisioned at the Geant Casinos in Martinique and Guadeloupe. Everything you might need or don't! http://geantcasinomartinique.fr/spip.php?page=catalogue-geant-casino-martinique Think Walmart sized store with full service wine, deli, bakery, butcher, fish counters and low prices. Quality is high. We only anchored off the Anse Diamont so can't help with much specific about it, except you will not have any problems with restaurants lot of them in this somewhat touristy area. Creole cusine is our fav in this part of the world and we ask around for the REAL local stuff. It always cheap(er) and good. On this last trip we found the people of the FWI are friendly and genuinely helpful even if you have no French, and will try their best to help you. We felt no safety issues even late at night in the harbors, a refreshing change from some of the "English" islands.
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Re: Martinique advice needed
[Re: freedomfighter]
#17863
10/27/2012 02:16 PM
10/27/2012 02:16 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 83,044 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 83,044
Central Florida!
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It's been a while since we have been there, but I have to say that Martinique did not seem to be a too-friendly Anglophile destination. They really seem to prefer those who speak French.
Carol Hill
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Re: Martinique advice needed
[Re: freedomfighter]
#17865
10/28/2012 09:46 AM
10/28/2012 09:46 AM
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 5,884 St. Thomas, USVI
Nutmeg
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 5,884
St. Thomas, USVI
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I agree that Martinique is a place where some French is needed. Maybe a quick Rosetta Stone course??
I have only been by boat, but there are lots of wonderful restaurants in the Trois Islets area. Anses d'Arlet has some beach side restaurants. Sainte Anne is a beautiful area, too. I don't know how long it would take to drive to these, but they are in the area of your villa. Definitely read up on and visit St Pierre! Very fascinating, but at least when we were there, everything in the volcano museum was in French.
[color:"red"]NUTMEG[/color] Today is the tomorrow you talked about yesterday.
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Re: Martinique advice needed
[Re: freedomfighter]
#17866
10/28/2012 10:11 AM
10/28/2012 10:11 AM
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Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 4,009 U.K. and Spain
Jeannius
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 4,009
U.K. and Spain
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freedomfighter said:We are long-time visitors to both St Martin and Aruba, and are now considering visiting Martinique. Unfortunately, I have been unable to locate a Martinique travel forum that can even remotely compare to TTOL. We need advice, suggestions and opinions. We speak no French, only English. We are wanting to rent this beachfront villa: http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p612102aWill need to locate a rental car agency, grocery store and a few restaurants within a 30 minute drive where we can get by without speaking French. Also, any comments about the safety of the island and the location that we are considering would be appreciated. Thanks for your help! Don't know that villa but I recognise the island in the distance as Diamond Rock. That is a beautiful part of Martinique. Don't worry too much about not speaking French. If the French want to sell you something (beer, wine, food etc) they'll find a way to communicate with you!!!
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Re: Martinique advice needed
[Re: Jeannius]
#17867
10/28/2012 12:31 PM
10/28/2012 12:31 PM
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 5,884 St. Thomas, USVI
Nutmeg
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 5,884
St. Thomas, USVI
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Mike: Not to argue with ya, but enjoying the culture and history of an island is different than just having people sell you stuff. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" /> If I were spending a week on Martinique, besides studying up on the 1902 eruption, I'd also read some of Patrick Chamoiseau's work as background.
[color:"red"]NUTMEG[/color] Today is the tomorrow you talked about yesterday.
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