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Photo courtesy of Danielle James’ Instagram

…had an experience of a lifetime!

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If you ever needed a reason to travel to the French Carribean, specifically the island of Martinique, take it from me and go! Norwegian Airlines and HomeAway generously provided a rich experience that would easily put the island on my must-go-back list.

Here are five reasons Martinique should be your next travel destination.

Affordability.

The best thing about traveling to the island hands down is the low-cost, non-stop flight on Norwegian Airlines. We traveled from New York City and four hours later our crew made our way to our spectacular villa in Le Vauclin, practically shedding our winter clothes in the car. With seven women you need space and plenty of bathrooms. While some may opt for hotels, with a group our size a villa was the perfect option and accommodated us more than well. Check out HomeAway for your next vacation rental (they also have beach houses, condos and cabins), you won’t be disappointed with the prices.

Culture.

Without a doubt, Memorial de l’Anse Caffard was a must-see attraction. Martinique is home to several monuments and historical sites, but this one was….different. Like many tourists, we planned to take a photo at the memorial, but I’m not sure any of us were prepared for the sobering experience we all had. Memorial de l’Anse Caffard is the home of a series of sculptures created in 1998 by local artist Laurent Valère. Paying homage to the slave ship that failed to anchor correctly in the dangerous Caffard Coast. The ship ran aground into Diamond Rock killing most of the passengers and sailors. All the slaves died as they were chained to the cargo and had no way to escape. The slaves on land watched helplessly. It is said you could hear the screams of terror from the shore. It felt amazing to honor our ancestors in this way and is still one of the moments of the trip that make me smile the brightest.

Food.

I’m an extremely picky eater and can admit my palate isn’t the most…mature. Realizing that, the only real hesitation I ever have in regards to traveling abroad is rather I’m going to be able to eat, EAT. From day one Martinique’s delicious Creole cuisine left me more than satisfied. A favorite of mine (I ate it every day for three days) was undoubtedly Chicken Colombo, a popular sometimes spicy stewed dish with a hint of Curry-ish flavors served over rice and next to a bed of beautiful gold potatoes. A second must-have, Accras de Morue. The #MelanininMartinique crew called this yummy hushpuppy -like bites, Fritters. Sometimes made with Cod or just vegetables, these were another highlight of the trip.

Rum. Rum. RUM.

Known as the producer of the world’s finest Rum, Martinique’s passion for the sugar cane liquor is noticed immediately. Steeped in years of history, the aging process is a deeply respected tradition. And you can tell by the way everyone spoke so highly of the popular drink. We visited many distilleries, but the beautiful Habitation Clément was an easy favorite.

Instagrammable Moments.

Now that you’ve gotten there and have immersed yourself in the opulent culture and stuffed yourself silly with Chicken Colombo and Fritters, it’s hard to ignore the gorgeous landscape of the island. Known as The Isle of Flowers for their incredible assortment of exotic flowers, La Savane des esclaves is just one of the many locations that aide in getting those epic pics for the ‘gram.

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TELL US: Have you ever visited Martinique? What was your favorite part?

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