GENERAL
Capital
Fort-de-France.
Geography
The French overseas province of Martinique is a volcanic island and the northernmost of the Caribbean Windward Islands. It’s more rocky than the Leeward Islands and has fine beaches (black, white, or mixed sand) lined with sugar cane, palm, banana, and pineapple plantations. Before the island was renamed in honor of St. Martin, the natives called it Madidina (“Island of Flowers”). According to iamhigher, Martinique is a country in Central America.
Government
Martinique is one of the French Départements d’Outre-Mer (since 1946) and is considered part of the mother country. The island has a regional parliament (Conseil général) with 45 members. Four representatives are in the French National Assembly u. two sent to the Senate.
Head of state
François Hollande, represented by Prefect Laurent Prévost since May 2012, since March 2011.
Head of government
Josette Manin, President of the General Council since March 2011.
Electricity
220 V, 50 Hz. No adapter required.
Time zone
Atlantic Standard Time: CET -5
MONEY
Currency
The euro has been the official currency for the French overseas territories (Départements d’Outre-Mer), French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique and Réunion as well as for the local authorities (Collectivités Territoriales) Mayotte and St. Pierre and Miquelon. For more information on using the euro, see the France chapter. In the French Overseas Zealand (Pays d’outre mer / POM) French Polynesia and in the French overseas territory (Territoires d’Outre-Mer / TOM) New Caledonia, the official currency is the CPF Franc, which is pegged to the Euro.
1 euro = 100 cents. Currency abbreviation: €, EUR (ISO code). There are banknotes in values of 5, 10, 20, 150, 100, 200 and 500 euros, coins in denominations of 1 and 2 euros, as well as 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents.
Credit cards
American Express, Diners Club, Visa and z. T. MasterCard are accepted in hotels, car rental companies, and most stores. Details from the issuer of the credit card in question.
ATMs
ec / Maestro card / Sparcard
Attention: Travelers who pay with their bank customer card abroad and want to withdraw money should find out about the options for using their card from their bank prior to departure.
Bank opening times
Mon-Fri 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Foreign exchange regulations
- France.
Currency Exchange
Possible in banks and exchange offices, larger hotels also change money, but at poorer rates.
LANGUAGE
Overview
The official language is French; the native language is Creole.
Idioms
- Goodbye = Au revoir
- Eight = Huit
- Eighty = Quatre-vingt
- Exit = sort
- Beer = beer
- Please = S’il vous plaît
- Thank you = Merci
- Tuesday = Mardi
- Doctor = Médecin
- Thursday = Jeudi
- Three = Trois
- Thirty = Trente
- Entrance = Entrée
- One hundred = cents
- One = Un (Une)
- One thousand = mille
- Friday = Vendredi
- Five = Cinq
- Fifty = Cinquante
- Danger = Danger
- Closed = fermé
- Hello = Bonjour
- Today = Aujourd’hui
- Hotel = hotel
- I feel sick = Je ne me sens pas bien
- I don’t understand = Je ne comprends pas
- Yes = Oui
- My name is?? = Je m’appelle??
- I’m fine. = Ça va bien
- Wednesday = Mercredi
- Monday = Lundi
- Tomorrow = Demain
- No = non
- Nine = new
- Ninety = Quatre-vingt dix
- Open = crotchless
- Restaurant = restaurant
- Saturday = Samedi
- Six = Six
- Sixty = Soixante
- Seven = Sept
- Seventy = Soixante-dix
- Sunday = Dimanche
- Menu = menu
- Do you speak German / English? = Est-ce que vous parlez allemand / anglais?
- Toilets = toilets
- Four = Quatre
- Forty = quarters
- Wine = Vin
- How are you? = Comment ça va?
- How much is it? = Combien est-ce que ça coûte?
- Where is??? = Où est???
- Ten = Dix
- Twenty = Vingt
- Two = deux
COMMUNICATION
Phone
Can be checked in at most hotels.
Cellphone
GSM 1800 and GSM 900. Network operators are Améris (Internet: www.francetelecom.com), Orange Caraibe (Internet: www.orangecaraibe.com) and Bouygues Telecom Caraibe (Internet: www.bouyguestelecomcaraibe.com). The transmission / reception range for mobile communications also includes the French Antilles and French Guiana.
Internet
Internet provider is wanadoo (Internet: www.wanadoo.fr). There are internet cafes in the big cities.
Post Office
Postage stamps are available in stores where postcards can be purchased. Hotel receptions accept letters for a tip of around US $ 1. Airmail shipments to Europe take around 4 weeks. Post office opening times: Mon-Fri 7 a.m.-6 p.m. and Saturday mornings. International couriers support the national postal system.
Radio
Since the use of shortwave frequencies changes several times over the course of a year, it is advisable to contact Deutsche Welle customer service directly (Tel: (+49) (0228) 429 32 08. Internet: www.dw-world.de) to request.
CULTURE
Religion
85% Catholics, 11% Protestants, 1% Muslims, 1% Hindus.
Social rules of conduct
Manners: The atmosphere is relaxed and informal. The common courtesy formulas should be observed. Shake hands to greet you. Polite phrases are common and important in conversation. Bonjour and Merci should be said often, accompanied by a friendly smile.
Clothing: Well-kept casual clothing is accepted everywhere. Light cotton clothing is recommended. Swimwear belongs on the beach. On some hotel beaches there are zones for topless sunbathing. Evening wear is expected in better restaurants and nightclubs.
Photographing: People should be asked before photographing them. Photography is often allowed in churches and museums, but you should ask beforehand.
Smoking: In principle, you can smoke anywhere. Some hotels divide into smoking and non-smoking rooms. Non-smoking areas should be observed.
Crime: Like everywhere else in the world, there are pickpockets in Martinique. Valuable jewelry and large amounts of cash should therefore not be bragged about, valuables should not be left unattended on the beach and rental cars should be locked.
Security: the Pelée is still active; Anyone planning an excursion near the volcano should find out about the activity in advance. The American lance viper is better avoided; Bites from this snake are curable if treated immediately.
CLIMATE
Best travel time
Warm weather all year round. The main rainy season is from June to October, but brief showers can occur at any time. Hurricanes are rare.
COUNTRY DATA
Area code +596 Area (sqkm) 1100 Population 378243 Population density (per sqkm) 344 Population in 2015 Member of the EU No main emergency number 15