Martinique – Affordable Caribbean Holiday Plan With Lots Of Free Beaches 

One needn’t be a famous artist or a celebrity to buy a home in the Caribbean (but I have to add, that doesn’t really hurt because either case will entitle you to a spare million dollars or so) or even enjoy the beauty of beauteous natural island landscapes that are pure and abundant in green foliage surrounded by turquoise waters and looked down gently by blue skies and balmy breezes. That’s Martinique in a nutshell for you!

Truly, this is one Caribbean holiday destination that doesn’t cost an arm and an leg to enjoy provided you plan ahead and balance your interests right to stay within a realistic budget before you set off for the township favored in 1887 by master painter, Paul Gauguin who arrived in Martinique with the purpose of broadening his visual palette – and simply stayed on because he was so captivated by its natural beauty and attractive topography.

Of course, there have been some recent developments on the commercial property development front in Martinique that have boosted its tourist influx considerably considering these latest additions are all aimed at holiday makers who prefer the all-in-one facilities of luxury resorts. But, luckily these have kept the local building norms in mind as well as a certain loyalty to the form of natural topography of the island and thus do not deviate from the seaside serenity or the rugged beauty of a strong and resilient landscape that has survived the test of time even as many other things on the French overseas territory have changed in the interim.

Thus, loaded Americans or even Europeans with a stronger Euro now, are increasingly favoring the fancier offerings of Martinique’s famous luxury resorts offering a fun-filled mix of islander charm with modern amenities and clubbing opportunities in resplendent designer glory in their in-house pubs, spas, sports and gym facilities not to mention some celebrity watching also. For the others, like budget travelers, Martinique can be a bit of a challenge when it comes to juggling holiday finances to accommodate a wide range of activities but that’s where a good dose of creativity can do the trick for touring the island even on a shoestring budget.

Since most of the beaches are free to the public and offer the serene, calming and refreshing sun-dappled sands besides tasty and affordable Creole cuisine, these are great for budget tourists who want to savor local eats and treats without going broke.From crepes filled with eggs and herbs to savory fillings as recommended by Provence chefs, there’s French cheese and wine on the cheap available in many parts of the island.

Frensh style fast food

Many of the restaurant facilities located on Martinique island also serve authentic French-style fast food that is great for packing as picnic lunches small and intimate beach spaces around Fort-de-France Bay, the bustling capital city located on the northern side of the island.

However, for affordable accommodation, dining and land travel options, it is advisable to check out various lodging and board choices offered on the Baby’s south side, which is close to the town of Pointe du Bout and is famous for its scenic sea views that are straight out of a picture postcard. Most Creole restaurants though are best experienced with the local entrée of fresh green salad with cod beignets, followed by a main course of fricassee chicken and the locally favored red beans and rice dish finished off with a cool, not-to-sweet but nonetheless delicious wicked banana rum flambé.

Beach-side shacks, snack bars associated with guest houses and light open-air fast food joins on the Les Salines Beach’s right side are famed for their wholesome sandwiches and grilled merguez with fries and since most of these budget eateries are open till midnight, dining on the cheap in Martinique is no problem at all!

One can also check out paintings by local artists and tune into Caribbean style live music while enjoying the flavor of local foods and related product shopping on the beachfront, but with most being filled to capacity on the weekends with topless sun bathers, families mostly prefer to visit the Les Salines Beach and others like it during week days.

One can head to the North coast to view unique shimmering black volcanic sands or even travel to Mount Pelée’s northwestern slope for a quite getaway on the island famed for its tranquil coves and dense forest foliage that is restful and calming when too much partying has taken its toll on holiday makers who have lived it up in style at Port de Plaisance in Le Marin. (This is close to Les Salines and a hot favorite with those who love Caribbean jazz, reggae and rock music besides super choice of cocktails and drinks in addition to great dancing and low cover charges).

So, apart from canyoning, there is ample scope for nature hiking, wading, mountain climbing, bungee jumping and rappelling in addition to shopping, fine dining and guided tours across Saut du Gendarme besides rides down 50-foot waterfalls – if you want to experience all the budget-friendly fun awaiting you at Martinique.