Getting Around
Air
Airports Lamentin Airport, T421600. A new, modern airport opened 1996. There is a Tourist Office for hotel reservations and information, T421805/1806, Crédit Agricole and Change Caraïbes for foreign currency exchange (see below), car rental offices and ground tour operators.
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To get to the airport at Lamentin, either take a taxi, or take a bus marked ‘Ducos’ and ask to be set down on the highway near the airport. The fare is 8.70F and the buses take reasonable-sized luggage. Boat Agents for the Atlantica ferry to Dominica and Guadeloupe are Brudey Frères, 108 Rue Victor Hugo, 97200 Fort-de-France, T700850/916087/977782/900448 for timetable information. Martinique is on the route of most Caribbean cruises. Information on travelling by cargo boat can be obtained from the travel agency next door to the CGM office at the harbour, but if going to South America it is cheaper to fly.
Land
Car Hire: Europcar Interent, Aéroport Lamentin, T421688, F518115, Fort-de-France T733313 and several hotels; Hertz, kiosk at the airport, T421690, F514626; Avis, 4 Rue Ernest Deproge, Fort-de-France, T701160, Airport, T421692. Prices start from 200F a day for a Citroën AX or Renault 5. It will normally be cheaper to have unlimited mileage. You can get a discount if you book your car from abroad at least 48 hours in advance. An international driver’s licence is required for those staying over 20 days. Car hire companies in Fort de France close at weekends. If you want to return a car you have to go to the airport, you can’t even drop off the key in town.
One look at Fort-de-France’s congested streets will tell you it’s well worth avoiding driving in the city centre. Parking in central Fort-de-France is only legal with a season ticket and the capital’s traffic wardens are very efficient; cars may be towed away. There are numerous car hire firms at the airport and around town.
Taxi: To go further afield the taxi collectif (estate cars or minibuses) are the best bet. ‘Taxicos’, or TCs, run until about 1800 and leave Pointe Simon for all the communes; Ste-Anne 39F, Diamant 19F, St-Pierre 18F. There is a 40 percent surcharge on taxi fares between 1900 and 0600 and on Sunday. Taxi stands are at the Savane, along Boulevard Général-de-Gaulle and Place Clemenceau. A metered taxi is the only way of getting into town from the airport, costing around 70-120F.
Bus: There are plenty of buses running between Fort-de-France and the suburbs which can be caught at Boulevard Général-de-Gaulle. The buses are all privately owned and leave when they’re full and not before. Short journeys cost around 5F if paid for in advance more if paid on the bus, and the buses run from 0500-2000 approximately. To request a stop shout “arrêt”! It is worth noting that there are no buses to the airport, although the Ste-Anne buses go close. Hitching is a common way of getting around, and very easy. Recommended.
Motorcycle: Mopeds can be hired at Funny, in Fort-de-France, T633305; Discount, Trois-llets, T660534; and Grabin’s Car Rental, Morne Calebasse, T715161. Motorcycles of 80cc and over need a licence, those of 50cc do not. Rental for all is about 170F per day. A bicycle can be hired for 50F per day, 250F per week, 350F per fortnight, from Funny, T633305; Discount, T660437; TS Location Sarl, T634282, all in Fort-de-France.
Sea
Ferries: There are ferries running between Desnambuc quay on the seafront and Pointe du Bout, Anse Mitan and Anse à l’Ane. These run until about 2300 to Pointe du Bout and 1830 to Anse Mitan and Anse à I’Ane and apart from a few taxis are about the only form of transport on a Sunday or after 2000. Make sure you get on the right one. The 20-minute ferry from Fort de France to Trois-Ilets costs 30F return, is punctual, pleasurable and saves a 45-minute drive by road. To the Méridien there is only one boat each hour (don’t believe boatmen who say they go near, they drop you at Anse à l’Ane which is a long hot walk away). For information about ferry timetables call 730553 for Somatour and 630646 for Madinina.
L’Express des Iles hydrofoil ferry service to St Lucia, Dominica and Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe, see Dominica for details. Fares and schedules are published in the daily newspaper, France-Antilles, page 2, or contact Terminal Inter Iles 97200 Fort-de-France, T631211, F633447. Overnight packages available with several hotels, also car hire.
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