Martinique | Travel Information
General Info, Travel Info, & FAQs are provided to assist with your vacation.
CUSTOMS Visitors may bring in 50g of perfume and 1/4 litre of eau de toilette duty free, and visitors older than 17 years old may also bring in 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250g of smoking tobacco, and two litres of still wines, and one litre of spirits over 22 degrees volume or two litres of fortified wines of 22 degrees volume or less duty free.
For more information call the Martinique customs office (Direction interrégionale des douanes et droits indirects d'Antilles-Guyane) at 596/596 70 73 00.
Also see the section in General Info: Illegal items.
IMPORTING ANIMALS You can temporarily import animals more than three months old with a health certificate and a record of inoculations, which must include a rabies shot, issued by a licensed veterinarian from the country of origin.
For more information call the veterinary services department (Direction des Services Vétérinaires/DSV) in Fort-de-France at 596/596 64 89 64.
GETTING THERE BY AIR Flights arrive at Lamentin International Airport (airport code FDF; tel 05 96 42 16 00; for flight arrivals and departures, 05 96 42 19 95), which is about 15 minutes from Fort-de-France and 40 minutes from Les Trois-Ilets peninsula.
Airlines that service Martinique include Air Antilles Express (tel 05 96 42 16 71), Air Caraïbes (tel 05 90 82 47 47, Guadeloupe), Air France (tel 05 96 55 33 79) and Take Air Lines (tel 05 96 42 14 36).
Note: The phone numbers listed above are local access numbers unless otherwise stated.
BY CRUISE Cruise ships generally dock at the Pointe Simon Cruise Ship Terminal (Terminal croisière de la pointe Simon) in Fort-de-France.
Cruise lines that call on Martinique include Carnival Cruise Lines, Fred Olsen Cruise Lines, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Seabourne, Silversea Cruises, Star Clippers and Windjammer Barefoot Cruises.
BY FERRY Brudey Frères (tel 05 90 90 04 48), Caribbean Ferries (tel 05 90 82 05 05) and L'Express des Iles (tel 08 25 35 90 00) all operate regularly scheduled ferry service from Dominica (approximately 1.5 hours), Guadeloupe (approximately 3-4 hours) and St Lucia (approximately 1.5 hours) to Fort-de-France. The fares are approximately €65 one way and €100 return, with reduced rates available for babies, children, students, seniors and families. Rates are subject to change.
GETTING AROUND BY CAR Roads are generally well paved, well maintained and well marked, although only certain areas may be lit at night. There are many steep inclines and roads in Fort-de-France are narrow and heavily trafficked. Watch out for hard-to-see speed bumps.
To rent a car you will need your valid driver's license from home or an international driver's license. The minimum age to rent a car is generally 21 years. Bicycles and scooters can also be rented.
Driving is on the right. Seat belts are mandatory, and children under 12 years must sit in the back seat.
Roundabouts are used for traffic control. If you've never used a roundabout, remember: vehicles already in the roundabout have right of way; yield to traffic on your left, signal, and then slowly move in.
Les Trois-Ilets: Budget, 05 96 66 00 45; Sea Sun Location, 05 96 66 01 04
Elsewhere on the island: Nad in Car (Case-Pilote), 05 96 61 14 00; Europcar (Diamant), 05 96 76 47 18; Sixt/Charles Ozier Lafontaine Services (Marin), 05 96 74 82 49; Budget (Sainte-Anne), 05 96 76 80 80; Rapid Auto (Schoelcher), 05 96 61 82 73; Tropicar (Trinité), 05 96 58 26 81
BICYCLE AND SCOOTER RENTALS Diamant: Blue Monday, 05 96 76 18 80 Fort-de-France: Locabikes, 05 96 63 33 05 Sainte Anne: Sud Loisirs, 05 96 76 81 82
BY TAXI Taxis are available at the airport, major hotels and downtown Fort-de-France. Island taxi tours are available in addition to standard taxi service. To call a taxi dial 05 96 63 63 62.
Licensed taxis must have a working meter. The approximate fare from Lamentin International Airport to Fort-de-France is €35, and to Pointe du Bout hotels, €40. A 40% surcharge is added between 8pm and 6am.
The Service de Transport des personnes à Mobilité Réduite/TPMR (tel 05 96 70 98 54; mobile 06 96 97 78 86) provides transportation services for those with disabilities.
Collective taxis, eight-passenger limousines bearing the sign "TC," operate from the early morning until around 6pm. The main collective taxi terminal in Fort-de-France is located at Pointe Simon.
BY FERRY Ferries are called navettes or vedettes and operate between Fort-de-France and Les Trois-Ilets (Anse Mitan, Anse à l'Ane and Pointe du Bout).
Vedettes Madinina (tel 05 96 63 06 46) operates between Fort-de-France, Anse Mitan and Anse à l'Ane numerous times daily from as early as 6am until around 6:30pm, and between Fort-de-France and Pointe-du-Bout numerous times daily from as early as 6:30am until around 9:30pm. Schedules are subject to change.
Other ferry lines include Somatour and Matinik Cruise Line.
BY BUS Public transportation is in the form of large buses, called grands busses, and collective taxis. Bus stops are located along most of General de Gaulle Blvd in Fort-de-France. Collective taxis are privately owned eight-passenger vehicles identified by a "TC" sign. They generally operate from early morning until about 6pm. The main terminal is located at Pointe Simon in Fort-de-France. They don't run on any set schedules or routes and the ride can be crowded and uncomfortable.
Disclaimer: Information is provided as a service to visitors and is updated regularly. All
information should be verified prior to travel.
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