Martinique is a destination which is often honored in the international press. Known as “The island of flowers” or “The Rum Capital of the World”, the Island is recognized for its awe-inspiring natural beauty, its rich cultural history, the warmth of its people, its prestigious rums and much more. If you are looking for reasons to discover or rediscover the island, let’s find out What did the press say with this selection of articles!
Martinique: A Slice of France, Tropical Forests and Yes, Beaches Too
It’s hardly the standard Caribbean destination for travelers from the United States. And it offers few all-inclusive resort options. But that is part of this French-speaking island’s appeal.
The GPS told us to go inland to cross Martinique’s mountains if we wanted to reach the northern coast town of St. Pierre and its black sand beaches by noon. So off we went, heading out from our rented villa with beach chairs and a cooler in the trunk and the children strapped into the car seats in the back.
Why Americans Are Suddenly Flocking to This Gorgeous Caribbean Island
The park ranger Robert Régina and I were hiking along a ridge in the Caravelle Peninsula, high above the sparkling Atlantic Ocean, when he asked me, “What do you know about Martinique?” Then he answered for me with perverse Gallic pride: “Rien, je crois! Nothing, I think!” Well, not quite nothing. I once wrote a book involving Napoleon Bonaparte’s romantic life, so I knew that his legendary amour — Marie-Josèphe-Rose Tascher de la Pagerie, better known as Empress Josephine — was born and raised on Martinique. But Régina was pretty close, which I knew after one look at the lavish beauty of this spectacular nature preserve, where lovely forest cascades down mountainsides to white-sand beaches. I had never heard of the Caravelle Peninsula before. My knowledge of Martinique was indeed almost rien.
Where to Stay, Eat, and Lie on the Beach in Martinique
This past NYFW, two models of the moment were noticeably absent from the tail end of the festivities. Trading the snow and frigid temps of New York City for the French West Indies, Martinican model Mélodie Monrose brought her bestie, Vogue cover girl Imaan Hammam, down to her home island for what is arguably Martinique’s biggest party of the year, Carnival.
How Martinique’s rum became certifiably the best in the Caribbean
There are two ways to get toasted on the French Caribbean island of Martinique. The first requires a beach towel and gobs of sunscreen. The second involves sipping glass after glass of a delicious adult beverage made from sugar cane and distilled to the exact standards of the French government.
Watch ‘ESSENCE Escapes’: A Visit To Martinique Is The Caribbean Girls Trip You’ve Been Waiting On
There’s nothing like escaping from your daily routine to find the blissful beaches and fun-loving vibes the Caribbean offers, especially with your girls. If you’re in search of the perfect blend of culture, cuisine and self-care, consider the French island of Martinique for your next adventure. Martinique, which is part of the Lesser Antilles, is an overseas region of France that boasts both French and West Indian influences to enjoy. With more nonstop flights from the East Coast heading to the Island (Norwegian Air recently launched direct routes from Boston, New York City and Fort Lauderdale), Martinique is becoming increasingly more popular with tourists in search of a fresh spin on a typical Caribbean getaway.
HELLO WORLD: Everything You Need To Know For A Girl’s Trip To Martinique
If you want to have a St. Tropez feel without St. Tropez flights and prices, you might want to consider visiting the French West Indies. While most people immediately think of St. Barths, there is Martinique, which is a more low-key version of French island flair. The island speaks French, so definitely brush up or download Google Translate and though it’s in the Caribbean, it doesn’t feel like the Caribbean. The island has approximately 375,000 inhabitants and you can drive from the bottom to the top of the island in under four hours.
Oprah Is Right About This Small Caribbean Island
“Wait, there’s only one all-inclusive here?”
I had just arrived at the French Caribbean island of Martinique with very little idea of what to expect. As the daughter of a major cruise-loving family, who also happen to be Puerto Rican, I visited at least nine different islands over the course of my adolescence. But aside from everyone speaking French, its amazing rum and Oprah really liking it—I knew close to nothing about Martinique or the French Antilles.
