{"id":5662,"date":"2020-07-01T10:43:53","date_gmt":"2020-07-01T08:43:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/magazine.prestigevillarental.com\/martinique-or-guadeloupe-which-island-to-choose-for-your-vacation\/"},"modified":"2025-09-19T20:24:37","modified_gmt":"2025-09-19T18:24:37","slug":"martinique-or-guadeloupe-which-island-to-choose-for-your-vacation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/magazine.prestigevillarental.com\/en\/martinique-or-guadeloupe-which-island-to-choose-for-your-vacation\/","title":{"rendered":"Martinique or Guadeloupe: which island to choose for your vacation?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Spending a vacation on one of the Caribbean islands is a dream that&#8217;s easy to achieve these days: white sand, blue skies, crystal-clear water&#8230; A recipe for happiness! <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But when it comes to deciding which island to choose between Guadeloupe and Martinique, the match gets more complicated. The question is: which island should I choose? <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Vacationing in the French West Indies is a great idea, especially if you&#8217;re a citizen of the European Union. But if you can&#8217;t decide which of the wonderful islands to choose &#8211; Guadeloupe or Martinique &#8211; we&#8217;re here to help! We know each of the islands inside out, so follow the guide!  <\/p>\n\n<h2 id=\"guadeloupe-and-martinique-many-points-in-common\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Guadeloupe and Martinique: many points in common<\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img  loading=\"lazy\"  decoding=\"async\"  width=\"1000\"  height=\"690\"  src=\"data:image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAA+gAAAKyAQMAAAB8D2aCAAAAA1BMVEUAAP+KeNJXAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAAGpJREFUeNrtwQEBAAAAgiD\/r25IQAEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAPwaU6sAATxGU2kAAAAASUVORK5CYII=\"  alt=\"\"  class=\"wp-image-108 pk-lazyload\"  data-pk-sizes=\"auto\"  data-ls-sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\"  data-pk-src=\"https:\/\/magazine.prestigevillarental.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/nattu-adnan-atSUvc1hMwk-unsplash.jpg\"  data-pk-srcset=\"https:\/\/magazine.prestigevillarental.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/nattu-adnan-atSUvc1hMwk-unsplash.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/magazine.prestigevillarental.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/nattu-adnan-atSUvc1hMwk-unsplash-800x552.jpg 800w, https:\/\/magazine.prestigevillarental.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/nattu-adnan-atSUvc1hMwk-unsplash-120x83.jpg 120w, https:\/\/magazine.prestigevillarental.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/nattu-adnan-atSUvc1hMwk-unsplash-90x62.jpg 90w, https:\/\/magazine.prestigevillarental.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/nattu-adnan-atSUvc1hMwk-unsplash-320x221.jpg 320w, https:\/\/magazine.prestigevillarental.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/nattu-adnan-atSUvc1hMwk-unsplash-560x386.jpg 560w, https:\/\/magazine.prestigevillarental.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/nattu-adnan-atSUvc1hMwk-unsplash-240x166.jpg 240w, https:\/\/magazine.prestigevillarental.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/nattu-adnan-atSUvc1hMwk-unsplash-180x124.jpg 180w, https:\/\/magazine.prestigevillarental.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/nattu-adnan-atSUvc1hMwk-unsplash-640x442.jpg 640w\" ><\/figure>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You could say that Guadeloupe and Martinique are very similar (but don&#8217;t tell the locals!).<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Both are in the eastern part of the Caribbean: the Lesser Antilles. They are French overseas departments. And that makes them easily accessible to European citizens and Metropolitans from the Hexagone.  <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As a result, they also share other similarities:<\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Language: French and Antillean Creole<\/li><li>Currency: euro<\/li><li>Entry\/Visas for EU citizens: ID card or passport (non-Schengen area); 90-day stay<\/li><li>Entry\/Visas for US citizens: passport and return ticket (no visa required); 90-day stay<\/li><\/ul>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The two islands share a very similar rich culture: a common history with a painful slaveholding past (the memory of which is to be saluted), Caribbean art, Zouk music, the culinary arts Whatever your choice, Guadeloupe or Martinique, you&#8217;ll be able to enjoy the sun, the beaches, the flora and fauna in an authentic way. You&#8217;ll have the perfect vacation. <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Let&#8217;s take a closer look at the small differences between each island. These will help you decide between Martinique and Guadeloupe. <\/p>\n\n<h3 id=\"climate-and-gastronomy\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Climate and Gastronomy<\/h3>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img  loading=\"lazy\"  decoding=\"async\"  width=\"1000\"  height=\"667\"  src=\"data:image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAA+gAAAKbAQMAAABcrDJ8AAAAA1BMVEUAAP+KeNJXAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAAGhJREFUeNrtwQENAAAAwqD3T20ON6AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD4NkhZAAElH6lCAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC\"  alt=\"\"  class=\"wp-image-105 pk-lazyload\"  data-pk-sizes=\"auto\"  data-ls-sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\"  data-pk-src=\"https:\/\/magazine.prestigevillarental.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/barbecue-on-grill-with-sauce-platter-929192.jpg\"  data-pk-srcset=\"https:\/\/magazine.prestigevillarental.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/barbecue-on-grill-with-sauce-platter-929192.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/magazine.prestigevillarental.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/barbecue-on-grill-with-sauce-platter-929192-800x534.jpg 800w, https:\/\/magazine.prestigevillarental.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/barbecue-on-grill-with-sauce-platter-929192-120x80.jpg 120w, https:\/\/magazine.prestigevillarental.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/barbecue-on-grill-with-sauce-platter-929192-90x60.jpg 90w, https:\/\/magazine.prestigevillarental.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/barbecue-on-grill-with-sauce-platter-929192-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/magazine.prestigevillarental.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/barbecue-on-grill-with-sauce-platter-929192-560x374.jpg 560w, https:\/\/magazine.prestigevillarental.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/barbecue-on-grill-with-sauce-platter-929192-240x160.jpg 240w, https:\/\/magazine.prestigevillarental.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/barbecue-on-grill-with-sauce-platter-929192-180x120.jpg 180w, https:\/\/magazine.prestigevillarental.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/barbecue-on-grill-with-sauce-platter-929192-640x427.jpg 640w\" ><\/figure>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Although some might say that it rains a little more in Martinique than in Guadeloupe, it&#8217;s not the climate that makes the difference. Guadeloupe and Martinique are two neighboring islands with the same seasonal variations and climate, with year-round sunshine. Martinique and Guadeloupe are both ideal for seaside vacations. Water temperatures range from 24 to 30\u00b0C!   <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When it comes to gastronomy, Martinique and Guadeloupe share the same culinary foundations. Both islands perpetuate a tradition of Creole cuisine with African, Indian and European influences. On both islands, you&#8217;ll find tasty, exotic local produce: coconuts, exotic fruits, fish&#8230;  <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You&#8217;ll have the opportunity to taste Creole spices, <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" href=\"https:\/\/magazine.prestigevillarental.com\/en\/creole-recipe-authentic-west-indian-chicken-colombo\/\" title=\"Creole Recipe: Authentic West Indian Chicken Colombo\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"2890\">colombo<\/a>, various acras and the famous poulet boucan\u00e9 (the latter being more common in Guadeloupe), as well as rum (Martinique&#8217;s is considered the best in the world).<\/p>\n\n<h3 id=\"culture-and-heritage\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Culture and heritage<\/h3>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img  decoding=\"async\"  src=\"data:image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABAQMAAAAl21bKAAAAA1BMVEUAAP+KeNJXAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAAApJREFUCNdjYAAAAAIAAeIhvDMAAAAASUVORK5CYII=\"  alt=\"\"  class=\"wp-image-107 pk-lazyload\"  data-pk-sizes=\"auto\"  data-pk-src=\"https:\/\/magazine.prestigevillarental.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Fondation-Cle&#x301;ment-Habitation-Cle&#x301;ment-_-La-maison-principale-2020-06-20-09-13-50.jpg\" ><\/figure>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The vestiges of colonization can be felt on every island. Traces of this can be found in Martinique&#8217;s cultural heritage. Notably in the old farms established by the colonists, such as :    <\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>The Cl\u00e9ment dwelling<\/li><li>La Pagerie<\/li><li>Le Galion.  <\/li><\/ul>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There were nine distilleries at the time, but only the Maison de la canne in Trois-\u00celets and Saint-James in Sainte-Marie are still in operation. The colonial period continues to live on in the cultural memory, with popular traditions inherited from the first inhabitants of the Caribbean: the Amerindians. You can discover their rich heritage on the island of Martinique by visiting the Mus\u00e9e R\u00e9gional d&#8217;Histoire et d&#8217;Ethnographie.  <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Traces of Guadeloupe&#8217;s colonial past can be seen in the ACT Memorial, a museum dedicated to the memory of slavery. . On <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" href=\"https:\/\/magazine.prestigevillarental.com\/en\/guadeloupe-grande-terre-or-basse-terre-which-side-to-choose\/\" title=\"Guadeloupe: Grande-Terre or Basse-Terre, which side to choose?\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"2841\">Grande-Terre<\/a>, you&#8217;ll see the famous cane mills and distilleries such as the well-known Damoiseau and S\u00e9verin. Pointe-\u00e0-Pitre also boasts several museums dedicated to Guadeloupean personalities: the Mus\u00e9e Sch\u0153lcher and the Mus\u00e9e Saint-John-Perse. <\/p>\n\n<h3 id=\"nature-and-landscapes\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Nature and landscapes<\/h3>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img  loading=\"lazy\"  decoding=\"async\"  width=\"1000\"  height=\"563\"  src=\"data:image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAA+gAAAIzAQMAAACp46H\/AAAAA1BMVEUAAP+KeNJXAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAAFtJREFUeNrtwQEBAAAAgiD\/r25IQAEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAwKMBFSkAAR2RVP4AAAAASUVORK5CYII=\"  alt=\"\"  class=\"wp-image-106 pk-lazyload\"  data-pk-sizes=\"auto\"  data-ls-sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\"  data-pk-src=\"https:\/\/magazine.prestigevillarental.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/youri-germany-voh_N9Mkifk-unsplash.jpg\"  data-pk-srcset=\"https:\/\/magazine.prestigevillarental.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/youri-germany-voh_N9Mkifk-unsplash.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/magazine.prestigevillarental.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/youri-germany-voh_N9Mkifk-unsplash-800x450.jpg 800w, https:\/\/magazine.prestigevillarental.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/youri-germany-voh_N9Mkifk-unsplash-120x68.jpg 120w, https:\/\/magazine.prestigevillarental.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/youri-germany-voh_N9Mkifk-unsplash-90x51.jpg 90w, https:\/\/magazine.prestigevillarental.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/youri-germany-voh_N9Mkifk-unsplash-320x180.jpg 320w, https:\/\/magazine.prestigevillarental.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/youri-germany-voh_N9Mkifk-unsplash-560x315.jpg 560w, https:\/\/magazine.prestigevillarental.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/youri-germany-voh_N9Mkifk-unsplash-240x135.jpg 240w, https:\/\/magazine.prestigevillarental.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/youri-germany-voh_N9Mkifk-unsplash-180x101.jpg 180w, https:\/\/magazine.prestigevillarental.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/youri-germany-voh_N9Mkifk-unsplash-640x360.jpg 640w\" ><\/figure>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Martinique boasts sublime views of sheer cliffs, lush rainforests and magnificent sandy beaches.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Did you know that Martinique is nicknamed &#8220;The Flower Island&#8221;? In fact, it&#8217;s home to 1,700 species of flowers, which you can discover in the many botanical gardens or on the hiking trails. The island&#8217;s natural charm is complemented by its charming, colorful houses.  <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you&#8217;re a wildlife enthusiast, introduce your children to unexpected species such as iguanas, turtles, mongooses and colorful hummingbirds.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong> Guadeloupe<\/strong> has nothing to envy its neighbor. It&#8217;s known as Karukera, &#8220;the island of beautiful waters&#8221;. You&#8217;ll love exploring its white sandy beaches, turquoise lagoons and thick forests criss-crossed by rivers and waterfalls. You&#8217;re in for a real treat!   <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You may not know it, but Guadeloupe is made up of 5 islands. It has a wilder natural landscape than Martinique. This gives you more pleasure and leisure opportunities, in a confidential, unspoilt setting.  <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The volcanic landscapes will not leave you unmoved. You&#8217;ll feel like you&#8217;re on another planet, with the fumaroles and lunar landscape accompanied by the rumbling of the southern crater of La Soufri\u00e8re, its famous volcano. It&#8217;s a great place to hike and admire the island from another angle.    <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Guadeloupe offers a unique experience with numerous parks where you&#8217;ll have the chance to see the island&#8217;s flora and fauna as you&#8217;ve never seen them before. The Parc Zoologique des Mamelles, in particular, is a popular attraction for the very young. <\/p>\n\n<h2 id=\"combine-the-2-islands-guadeloupe-or-martinique-in-the-same-holiday\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Combine the 2 islands: Guadeloupe or Martinique in the same holiday?<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The final decision is really subjective and depends on your tastes. Each island has its own jewels, but really, no matter which one you choose &#8211; Guadeloupe or Martinique &#8211; you&#8217;ll be delighted with your vacation. <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And in fact, there&#8217;s always the possibility of finding a compromise if the choice proves impossible. You can find a number of air links (Air Cara\u00efbes, Air France, Air Antilles Express) and sea ferries (Express des iles, Val Ferry) running between the islands. So why not combine a visit to both? This alternative is perfect if the length of your stay allows it.   <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We can advise you on your choice of vacation rental in Guadeloupe and Martinique.  <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Spending a vacation on one of the Caribbean islands is a dream that&#8217;s easy to achieve these days: white sand, blue skies, crystal-clear water&#8230; A recipe for happiness! But when&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1957,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[151,152,159],"tags":[],"powerkit_post_featured":[],"class_list":["post-5662","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-guadeloupe-en","category-martinique-en","category-travel-tips"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/magazine.prestigevillarental.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/two-person-riding-kayak-1320684.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/magazine.prestigevillarental.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5662","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/magazine.prestigevillarental.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/magazine.prestigevillarental.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/magazine.prestigevillarental.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/magazine.prestigevillarental.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5662"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/magazine.prestigevillarental.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5662\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22469,"href":"https:\/\/magazine.prestigevillarental.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5662\/revisions\/22469"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/magazine.prestigevillarental.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1957"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/magazine.prestigevillarental.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5662"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/magazine.prestigevillarental.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5662"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/magazine.prestigevillarental.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5662"},{"taxonomy":"powerkit_post_featured","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/magazine.prestigevillarental.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/powerkit_post_featured?post=5662"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}