Air Canada Vacations

Before you leave Canada

Entry requirements

It is your sole responsibility to ensure that you - and any child travelling with you - have all the travel documents necessary to enter in, or transit through, each country on your itinerary. Please ensure you verify the requirements for each country as the required documents for the outbound portion of your travel may differ from those required on the return.

Please refer to aircanada.com for complete information on travel requirements.

Baggage

Please refer to aircanada.com for baggage information.

Airport check-in

It is recommended that you present yourself at the airport counter of the airline indicated on your voucher 3 hours prior to departure. Air Canada representatives are available to assist you, or you may contact an Air Canada Vacations representative at 1-800-296-3408.

Your arrival at destination

Airport procedures

An Air Canada Vacations Representative will meet your flight and assist you with ground transportation once you have gone through immigration and customs.

Transfer

For passengers having purchased a complete holiday package, the Air Canada Vacations representative will guide you to your bus or taxi for the transfer to your accommodation. Air-only passengers must arrange their own transfer via taxi or bus.

Hotel check-in

Upon arrival at your hotel, please identify yourself at the front desk with your Air Canada Vacations voucher. You will then be assigned your accommodation. Check-in time at most hotels is 3 p.m.

Your departure from destination

Departure information

The day before you leave, do not forget to consult the Air Canada Vacations bulletin board in your hotel lobby for details on your departure procedures and return flight. At hotels which do not allow bulletin boards, please inquire about last-minute changes at the hotel front desk.

Hotel checkout

Hotel checkout times may vary depending on the property but generally you must vacate the room by 12 p.m. (noon). For passengers with late flights, every effort will be made to provide you with a hospitality room, however, this cannot be guaranteed, particularly during high season.

Duty-free shopping

Duty-free shops are located at the International Airport Aimé Cesaire. After an absence of 7 days or more, Canadian residents are permitted to return with a maximum of $500 CAD of merchandise per trip without paying duty. Each time you leave Canada for at least 48 hours, you are eligible to declare up to $200 CAD of merchandise. A written declaration may be requested. Each adult is allowed 1.1 litres (40 oz.) of liquor and one (1) carton of cigarettes. If you include cigarettes, tobacco sticks and loose tobacco in your personal exemption allowance, only a partial exemption will apply. You will have to pay a minimum duty on these products unless they are marked “Canada - Duty paid”. Canadian-made products sold at a duty-free shop will be marked in this way.

Airport check-in

Procedures are the same as for departure from Canada.

During your holiday

Customer care

To reach Air Canada Vacations Customer Care, call toll-free 1 800 296-3408 or e-mail us at: prevoyageclientele@vacv.com. We are at your service seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Friday and from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Eastern time.

Local Air Canada Vacations office

Air Canada Vacations is represented in Martinique by Carib Recept. Consult the Air Canada Vacations bulletin board in the hotel lobby for the representative's schedule. Should you need the services of a Carib Recept representative, please call 0596.50.28.86

Emergency

You can ask for a doctor or dentist through your hotel. Please contact your Air Canada Vacations representative if you require assistance. Keep all your receipts.

Banking

Credit cards are accepted. ATMs can also be found all over the island. Interac debit cards can be used in ATMs.

Currency

The currency in Martinique is the Euro whose value is quoted in the business section of major newspapers.

Long distance calls

Martinique has modern communication facilities: telephones, fax machines, Internet, and WiFi. For phoning, there are international connections, cell phones, and many telephone booths in towns and urban centres. All telephone numbers in Martinique have 10 digits, beginning with 0596 for land-line phones and 0696 for cell phones.

To call abroad from Martinique, dial the code for international calls (001), then the country code, and then the phone number.

Credit cards

International credit cards are widely honoured.

Shopping

With exquisite and diverse craftworks, madras, pottery, wickerwork and rum, you will be able to shop for unforgettable gifts and souvenirs. Martinique has the reputation of offering a Parisian shopping experience at the heart of the Caribbean, so you are bound to find exactly what you were looking for.

Local transportation

Rental cars, taxis and buses are easily accessible.

Car rental

Driving is on the right side of the road, like in the U.S. A valid driver's license is needed to rent a car. Minimum age is 21. Most car rental companies in Fort-de-France are open 8 a.m. to noon or 12:30 p.m., and 2:30 until 5 or 5:30 p.m. on weekdays, and from 8 a.m. to noon or 1 p.m. on Saturdays. At International Airport Aimé Césaire, hours depend on international flight schedules. Rates can begin as low as 35€ a day or 215€ a week, including taxes, insurance and unlimited mileage. Major credit cards are accepted.

Sightseeing

Optional excursions are a great way to enhance your Air Canada Vacations holiday. Choose from a wide variety of activities and excursions available at your destination. For more information or to reserve your excursion, please see our local Air Canada Vacations Representative or Carib Recept representative.

Tipping

All taxes are included in the prices in Martinique. Tipping is at client’s discretion.

Water

Tap water is safe to drink.

Electricity

Local power is 220 volts, a/c, 50 cycles. We suggest that you bring your converter and electrical adapter (120 volts).

Language

French and Creole. English is spoken in tourist areas.

Religion

Two Catholic cathedrals and a large number of parish churches illustrate the importance of Catholicism on the island. However, many religious communities also have their place here, including the Adventist Church and Jehovah's Witnesses.

Time zone

GMT -4 hours