When you want to go around the French departments, you must not forget the French West Indies and especially Martinique. It is decided, the next holidays will be in the sun. How to prepare your trip ? When to leave? What to bring with you? All the answers to your questions here.

What season to go to Martinique?

It is possible to go all year round in Martinique. It is generally warm 12 months out of 12 and the weather is rather sunny with some good rains. Why else would the island be so green? However, one part of the year is more humid than the other. You might as well choose the less rainy one. There are 2 seasons in Martinique:

Lent is the driest season. It runs from November to May.

Winter is the rainy season with a higher risk of cyclones. It extends from June to November. Logically, the dry season is the highest season, mainly the period from December to April.

This is

when airfares, car rentals and accommodation prices will be highest.

Note that despite the rainy season, prices in July and August are also relatively high. This is a particular high season during which Martiniqueans who live in France (students or professionals) return for their annual holidays to see their families.
September and October are also months when rates are very low, but the climate is not the most clement. The best compromise is therefore to opt for the months of November and May to benefit from the best rates and the rather pleasant climate.

Buy the plane ticket3

airlines offer daily flights from Orly airport to Fort-de-France. These are Air France, Corsair and Air Caraïbes. Count on an average of 6 flights per day which all leave in the morning or early afternoon. The return flight from Fort-de-France is always at night and arrives in Paris in the early hours of the morning.
As far as fares are concerned, they are very dependent on the seasons and the differences between the companies are not significant, due to competition. On the other hand, there are often promotional offers proposed by the various companies. Mainly by Air Caraïbes.
Finally, it is best to book as far in advance as possible to get the best rates. Also, you can go through comparators to select the company, but the best is to book directly on the website of the airline.

Rent a car in MartiniqueNow

that the date is fixed and the plane ticket bought, you have to keep one thing in mind: renting a car in Martinique is essential to facilitate your travel. Indeed, you should not rely on public transport which does not serve the whole island and whose schedules are not really reliable. Renting a car is the assurance to go where you want, when you want.
How to go about it? The best way is to choose a local rental company that knows the market perfectly. Local, yes, but a well-known and reputable company so that there are no unpleasant surprises. This is the case with Jumbo Car Martinique, the leading rental company in the West Indies for over 30 years. Its advantage? This company has an agency located at the airport. Its shuttle picks you up free of charge when you get off the plane and takes you to its car park in 2 minutes to collect your car. The same goes for the return trip: after dropping off your rental car, the same shuttle will drop you off at the airport. A significant saving of time and money.
Concerning the model of car to choose, Martinique is known for its winding mountain roads. For more comfort and safety, it is recommended to rent an elevated car with a powerful engine of the SUV type, such as the Dacia Duster. A little more expensive to rent, of course, but more comfortable and more fuel efficient on the hills than a Renault Twingo.

Choosing accommodationThe

Isle of Flowers is not very large. On the other hand, with the mountain roads, the distances are much greater to cover, especially during rush hour when traffic jams can quickly form. You have several options:

You can rent an accommodation around Le Lamentin or Fort-de-France and choose to travel around during your stay

.

You can opt for several accommodations: one in the south, towards Sainte-Anne, and one further north for the second part of your stay.

Change your accommodation every 2-3 days as part of a complete road trip so as not to waste time going back and forth.


As for the choice of accommodation, there is an embarrassment of riches. From classic hotels to holiday residences such as Club Med and Airbnb bungalows or villas, there is something for every taste and every budget.
To book, not all accommodation has a website. The easiest way to avoid missing out on opportunities is to use platforms such as Airbnb, Booking, or leboncoin.fr.

Packing?

Yes, you will need a swimsuit (or two), but not only that! You're in the tropics, the sun is strong and the mosquitoes like to invite themselves at the end of the day. Here is a list of essentials to bring for any stay in Martinique:

SwimsuitsCap

or

hatSunglassesSun

cream

, sunscreen and preferably ocean

friendlySnorkeling

kit

(mask, snorkel, fins, lycra t-shirt)

Waterproof

cameraHiking

kit

(shoes, backpack and flashlight)

Mosquito

repellentLong

clothes

for the evening : against mosquitoes and the coolness which can invite itself


If we recapitulate: the date is fixed, the plane is reserved, the car is rented, the accommodation is found and the suitcase is buckled. All that remains is to define the things to do in Martinique. Between the dream beaches, the diving spots and other nautical activities, the hikes of all levels and the more or less accessible waterfalls, everyone will find his account.