Maison d’Hôtes Plein Soleil, La Frégate Bleue, Diamant Les Bains and Domaine Saint Aubin are sure to please
(May 2006) – With an increase of air traffic, Martinique has become THE Caribbean island to discover or rediscover.
Travellers can now reach Martinique four times a week on a direct flight operated by American Eagle out of San Juan, Puerto Rico or they can take the direct weekly charter flight from New York City’s JFK International Airport to Fort-de-France, Martinique every Saturday. With an early-afternoon arrival on either flight, you are unpacked, settled in and swimming in the azure blue ocean or sipping a Ti-Punch on the beach or by the pool with hours left in the day.
Upon arrival you’ll be swept away by the rich diversity the island has to offer, starting with its hospitality, gorgeous landscapes and wide choice of accommodations. With more than 6000 hotel rooms ranging from budget to deluxe, including a Relais & Châteaux Resort and the brand-new spectacular $60 million Club Med Buccaneer’s Creek Resort, Martinique can accommodate any vacation-style you want: Martinique, So Much in an Island!
If you are seeking romantic hideaways, cuisine du terroir and off-the-beaten track experiences, several historic and intimate boutique hotels fill the bill.
Twenty-five minutes from Le Lamentin International Airport, in the charming town of François on the Atlantic coast, two boutique hotels await you:
Maison d’Hôtes Plein Soleil, awarded the Tourism Welcome Trophy, is a haven of beauty, peace and serenity. The property comprises three distinct Creole- and Caribbean-style villas. You’ll feel right at home in their guest rooms, strolling through the luxurious garden surrounding the property, and tasting the exquisite cuisine. Worries and stress disappear as you settle in and, with numerous recommendations by the owner for wonderful excursions to the Islet Chancel or the Islet of Iguanas for example, you will experience a unique stay in Martinique. For more information contact Plein Soleil at tel (011 596) 596 38 07 77 or by e-mail at pleinsoleil1@wanadoo.fr or pleinsoleil@sasi.fr. (This hotel is currently under renovation and will reopen at the end of November 2006.)
The charming family-owned La Frégate Bleue, a Relais du Silence Hotel, features seven rooms decorated with antique and Creole furniture. With breathtaking views of the bay of François, you will taste wonderful Creole cuisine and be awakened by the sound of tropical birds. Nearby boat excursions can be arranged to Les Fonds Blancs, where you will relax in “Josephine’s bathtub” with a Ti-Punch and accras in the shallow water. Or, you may simply stay in the tranquility of La Frégate Bleue and have a drink by the pool and lunch in the gazebo. And don’t leave Le François without visiting the charming 18th-century Habitation Clement, site of the 1991 Summit Meeting between presidents Bush Senior and Mitterand. You will find there a fine contemporary museum and a rum distillery. For more information contact La Frégate Bleue hotel at tel (011 596) 596 54 54 66 or by e-mail at hotel@fregatebleue.com.
In the southern village of Diamant, named after the famous Diamond Rock, the historic offshore landmark rising 600 feet from the sea and occupied by the British in 1804, you’ll be seduced by the quaint, attractive and much-sought after Diamant Les Bains hotel, recipient of La Médaille du Tourisme. The hotel has 20 bungalows and seven rooms in the main building. Some of the bungalows face the beach while others surround the pool nestled in a tropical garden. The family-style atmosphere with authentic Creole cuisine makes for a real Martinique experience. Also, don’t miss the Slave Memorial in Anse Cafard, a tribute to the sinking of a slave ship on April 8, 1830, with fifteen 8.2-foot white stone sculptures facing the sea. For more information, you may contact Diamant Les Bains hotel at tel (011 5096) 596 76 40 14 or by e-mail at Diamantlesbains@wanadoo.fr.
On the northern Atlantic coast in the town of Trinité, the superb Domaine Saint Aubin awaits you with its twelve exceptional rooms. This boutique hotel is a splendid colonial manor with Napoleon III mahogany furniture, large terraces, a delicately-coloured swimming pool and a magnificent park “à la Française.” The sea breezes, the chef’s delectable savory confections and the friendliness and warmth of the owners will definitely win you over in this lovely 19th-century restored Louisiana-style hotel. For more information, you may contact Domaine Saint Aubin a tel (011 596) 596 69 34 77 or by e-mail at reservation@ledomainesaintaubin.com.
Disclaimer: The information in this article/release was accurate at
press time; however, we suggest you confirm all details and prices
directly with vendors.
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