05 Feb 2020
South Panoramic and Beach Paradise Tour of Martinique. We met our tour bus driver and guide Lionel at the port and set out on an air conditioned bus with the two of us the only passengers. We learned that on Sundays all stores and venues are closed. We had to drive around Fort de France with no stops so headed out to the countryside. The roads were very busy, being a Sunday everyone was out going to the beach as there was a yacht race. We asked about stopping at a beach for a swim but were surprised to learn that public beaches do not have lounges or umbrellas. Finally, we ended up at a restaurant with a beachfront and a view of some yachts. No water or snacks were supplied as advertised, so we tried to purchase some drinks. However, Euros were the only currency accepted on this island, so paying in American dollars was not accepted. Finally, the owner at this restaurant accepted our $10.USD and brought us some refreshments. At this point we asked the guide to take us back to the ship as it was a long drive back. This tour cost us $148.64 CAD which we felt was overpriced and not what we expected.