Wearing a traditional costume of Martinique ladies
Travel Tips
Martinique Facts
Official Language: French
Currency: Euro
Time Zone: Atlantic Standard Time
Est. Population: 400,000
Cruise Port City: Fort de France
Martinique Travel Tips
Passports are required for U.S. citizens.
The island’s tropical climate averages 80 degrees. As a result, the dress code is always Island Casual.
Anytime is a great time of the year to travel here. To avoid crowds and high prices however, June to December is off season.
Due to the tropical climate, brief showers can come at any time.
Currency is the Euro with U.S. dollars and major credit cards accepted by most establishments.
Though French is the official language and some English is spoken by locals.
The post office is located in downtown Fort-de-France. Post office hours are 7am-6pm (Monday-Saturday).
Most stores are open 8:30am-6pm (Monday-Friday), 8:30am-1pm (Saturday), though many close for lunch.
Martinique Souvenirs in a Fort de France shop; credit Martinique Tourism
Banks are open from 7:30am-12pm and 2:30pm-4pm (Monday-Friday). ATMs are plentiful.
As you are in a subtropical destination, take bottled water to stay hydrated whenever traveling around the island.
Bring sunglasses, a hat and plenty of sunscreen lotion.
Electricity is different than the U.S., so bring a converter or purchases one at the airport or hotel gift shop.
Cruise ships dock at Pointe Simon Cruise Dock in Fort-de-France. You can make phone calls at stations near the cruise port. Get a local phone card for the best rates or set up WhatsApp and times you plan to contact loved ones at home before you leave.
The population of Martinique is mainly of African descent generally mixed with French, Amerindian, Indo-Martiniquais (descendants of 19th-century immigrants from India), Lebanese or Chinese. Whites represent 5% of the population.
Nearly 90% of the population is Catholic, 6% Protestant, plus lower percentages of Muslim, Hindu, and Bahai faiths.
Major holidays in Martinique are New Year’s Day, Carnival, Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, Easter, Easter Monday, Labor Day, Victory Day, Slavery Abolition Day, Bastille Day, Schoelcher Day, Assumption Day, All Saints Day, Armistice Day, and Christmas.
The crime rate here is less than a major American city, but visitors should use common sense when out and about.
