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Shops in Martinique offer good buys on chic European perfumes, cosmetics, designer fashions and accessories, watches and jewelry. Porcelain dolls, 18-carat gold Creole jewelry, hand-woven tapestries, paintings by local artists, pottery, fine-quality straw goods and island rum are also good buys. |
Buy the little corked bottles of pure vanilla extract from the market vendors who come down from the hills to sell their wares. Painting and sculpture by native-born Martiniquais as well as immigrés can be found at galleries and hotels throughout the island. Most stores, which cater to visitors and locals alike, are open 8:30 to 18:00 Monday through Friday, and on Saturday mornings. Some close for the traditional 2-3 hour lunch break beginning at noon or 13:00. There is a 20% discount on luxury items paid for by travelers' checks or credit cards in some shops. Travelers will find boutiques throughout the island in hotels and towns as well as in the marina area of Pointe-du-Bout.
There is a large, modern shopping center with many shops and boutiques located near Lamentin. The airport duty-free shops are usually open prior to plane departures.
The main shopping street in Fort-de-France is Rue Victor Hugo, between Rue Isambert and Rue Lamartine. Rue Schoelcher, Rue Moreau de Jonnes and Rue Antoine Siger are also interesting shopping avenues.
You'll find an assortment of arts, crafts and produce at Grand Marche, the market between Rue Antoine and Rue Blenac, just west of Rue Isambert. It's also a great place to try some of the local Creole delicacies.
There's a large craft market in Place de la Savane, though you can find most everything you'll see in the stalls there at smaller specialty shops in town. Tourists looking for souvenirs will find many things to take back home.
The established shops mostly accept credit cards but smaller shops and markets usually accept only cash.
Here is a list of some places to shop in Martnique!
Centre Commercial de Place d'Armes
Le Lamentin, Martinique
East of Fort-de-France, this shopping area is the closest to Martinique's International Airport. Lamentin offers a variety of small boutiques and market areas.
Centre Commercial La Bateliere
Rue de Alizés, Schoelcher, Martinique
This shopping center is located north of Fort-de-France.
Centre des Métiers d'Art
Rue Ernest Deproge, Fort-de-France, Martinique
Loosely translated as the Center for Trading Art, this place is a must for those wanting to take back some local artwork with them. From coral jewelry and paintings to wickerwork and pottery, this artisanal market is one of Fort-De-France's true gems. Other such markets are located in St-Pierre and St-Anne.
Galléria
Acajou Lamentin, Le Lamentin, Martinique
Martinique's most modern shopping center, the Galleria in Lamentin stands as one of the Caribbean’s largest malls. The Galleria features a variety of popular French chains like Kookai, Bouche B, Morgan, and Alain Manoukian, and Bonjour Paris.
Rue Victor Hugo
Fort-de-France, Martinique
Fort-de-France's main shopping drag, this Parisian-style strip is home to a rich collection of chic boutiques, island-themed specialty shops, and vendors selling everything from fresh fruit to colorful bundles of flowers. A stroll through the city's main shopping district will reveal such fashion-conscious shops as the parfumerie Roger Albert, trendy Harlem Studio, and La Chamade, whose styles take nods from Paris and Nice. In addition to fostering a terrific shopping atmosphere, Victor Hugo also boast some of the islands most enchanting little open-air cafés and restaurants.
Spice Market
Marché d'Épice, Fort-de-France, Martinique
Designed and built by Henry Picq, Fort-de-France's Spice Market opened for business in 1901. This traditional Caribbean market is proverbially awash with tropical colors and aromas, as its stalls are often full of bright Martiniquais flowers, fresh fruit and vegetables, and exotic herbs and spices.
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