ABOUT
Aurore is the creator of the account mlle.aur. She is French, and started her career in Switzerland before returning to France for a few months to focus on training. Her partner had a job opportunity in Martinique, a part of France, so technically not an “expatriation abroad” but geographically far from France. They took that opportunity and left together with Naevy, their dog.
When did you move to Martinique?
We moved to Martinique in August 2021 with a job transfer.
Moving to Martinique
How did you get set up?
Since the move was due to a job transfer, we received a lot of assistance for housing, moving, and settling on the island. As Martinique is a French department, everything related to phone plans and banks remained unchanged.
What did you bring with you?
Our personal belongings, but we took only a few pieces of furniture due to the cost and complexity of the move. However, there is very limited choice on the island. If we had known beforehand, we would have done things differently.
What surprised you about life there?
-First of all, the tolerance towards dogs on the island is not at all the same as in mainland France. They are prohibited everywhere: hiking trails, restaurants, etc. There are more guard dogs than family dogs. Their relationship with animals is different.
-The laid-back lifestyle. People are quite calm and relaxed.
-Lastly, the poverty. There is still a significant social gap, with some people lacking access to running water.
-The laid-back lifestyle. People are quite calm and relaxed.
-Lastly, the poverty. There is still a significant social gap, with some people lacking access to running water.
What is Martinique specifically famous for?
It is mainly known for its beautiful sandy beaches, laid-back lifestyle, and sunshine.
How much money does it take to live comfortably in Martinique?
It’s a difficult question. The cost of living is very high in Martinique, whether it’s for housing or food. It’s better to plan ahead before coming to the island.
Living in Martinique
Is it difficult for you to obtain medical care?
Yes, it’s very complicated to receive proper medical care here. There are few doctors, and they don’t take new patients.
What are your favorite restaurants and cafes in Martinique?
I recommend “Le Jardin des Envies” in the village of La Poterie, “Le Coco Bar” in Les Trois-Îlets, and “Le M” in Sainte-Anne. I discuss them in more detail on my page.
What are your favorite places in Martinique?
-Les Salines Beach. It’s such a magical place.
-Le Diamant, a beautiful place whether you stroll along the beach or approach it by boat.
-Depaz Castle to feel like you’re in Bridgerton.
-The airport, yes, it’s surprising but I love watching planes land or take off. 🙂
-Le Diamant, a beautiful place whether you stroll along the beach or approach it by boat.
-Depaz Castle to feel like you’re in Bridgerton.
-The airport, yes, it’s surprising but I love watching planes land or take off. 🙂
Do you feel safe living in Martinique?
Overall, yes. Like anywhere, you need to be careful in certain neighborhoods at night.
Have you seen any wildlife in Martinique?
Yes, mainly “matoutous” (spiders) but also small crabs, hermit crabs, mongooses, and let’s not forget the beautiful hummingbirds.
Is it easy to find work?
In some fields, yes, but in others, no. If you are willing to do a job that initially wasn’t the one you were trained for, you will certainly find one. They give more chances than in the mainland, based on each individual’s motivation and desire.
What language is spoken in Martinique?
Here, we speak French and the locals are fluent in Creole; some words are also different, for example, “timbale” means glass, “un ravet” means cockroach, etc.
Final Thoughts
Did you easily make friends and meet people?
The island is small, which helps with meeting people, but within our circle, it’s almost exclusively other expatriates. In Martinique, there’s always a beach party, an electro night, or a zouk night, which helps with socializing.
What are some drawbacks to living in Martinique?
Living on an island can give you a sense of isolation; we are really dependent on arrivals by boat, plane, etc.
Services are different; we rely on air and sea shipments, which means we have fewer choices and the prices of market products are much higher due to importation.
In conclusion, whether for traveling or for our daily purchases, we are all dependent on boats and planes.
What are your future plans?
Continuing to travel and making this experience an asset for the future. Martinique has allowed me to develop professionally and take an unexpected direction. I will be able to leverage this experience when I return to mainland France.
Thank you so much Aurore for your insights into living in Martinique! It must have been quite a change of scenery from metropolitan France! I don’t know how I feel about the spiders haha, thanks for the warning! Quite an adventure! All the best for your future :))
