Sunsail – martinique

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Martinique - Essential Holiday Information

Sunsail Martinique
C/o SYC
Baie Du Martin
Port de Plaisance
97290 Le Marin
Martinique
Base Manager: Jean Marc Hunot
Tel: 00 596 596 749 817

LANGUAGE
• The language is French and English is also widely spoken.

TIME
• Time difference between the UK and Martinique is - 4 hours

PASSPORT & VISAS
• Please ensure your passport is valid for the period of travel and for six months after you return.
• Your passport name must match the name on the flight ticket otherwise you may not be able to travel and insurance may be invalid.
• Non-British passport holders should check with their local Consulate direct.
• If your child is not already included on a valid British Passport they are required to hold their own passport.

VACCINATIONS
• There are no compulsory vaccinations for the Caribbean.
• Please refer to the Department of Health's 'EHIC and health advice for travellers' web page at www.dh.gov.uk or consult your family GP for further details.

FLIGHTS
• Gatwick Information 0870 000 2468
• Heathrow Information 0870 000 0123
• Manchester Information 0161 489 3000
• Luton Information 0158 240 5100
• Glasgow Information 0141 887 1111
• Luggage allowance is 20kg per person. Only one item of hand luggage per person is allowed and this must not weigh more than 5kg. For storage aboard we recommend traveling light and using folding luggage.
• Lost or damaged luggage whilst flying is the responsibility of the airline and is not covered by your travel insurance, however First Choice Airways has no liability for loss or damage to valuable or fragile items packed in hold baggage however caused. You must not include in Checked Baggage money, jewellery, precious metals, computers, personal electronic devices, negotiable papers, securities or other valuables, business documents, passports and other identification documents or samples.
• If an incident occurs, immediately report it to airport officials and ensure Property Irregularity Reports (PIR) are completed. Claims will not be considered once you have left the airport.
• If you are taking our First Choice Charter flights and wish to enquire about pre booking seats please call the airline direct on 0870 757 2757. Group seats are available for pre booking through Sunsail. Call the team for more details.
• SAVE UPTO 30% when you book your airport parking with BCP through Sunsail. Call the team for more details quoting Sunsail reference BN545

CUSTOMS & IMMIGRATION
• Before leaving the airport, you will have to clear Immigration and Customs.
• A landing card will be given to you on the plane, along with a Customs declaration form. It is not possible to take fresh food into most Caribbean islands and airlines will assume no liability for perishable articles that may be confiscated by Customs.
• The facilities at Lamentin (Fort de France) airport on Martinique include a restaurant & bar, a selection of shops and a bureau de change.
• An airport departure tax is payable of US$11 per person.

CURRENCY
• The French Franc is the currency native to Martinique, however, US$ and US$ travellers cheques are also accepted.
• Credit cards can be used for payment in larger establishments and restaurants.
• Banks open weekdays from 7.30am-4pm. There are banks and a cashpoint machine based in Marin.
• Currency can be exchanged commission free at any high street First Choice Retail travel agent on production of your Sunsail invoice. You can pre-order your currency from a First Choice travel agent by telephoning them in advance on 0870 9005154 to find your nearest branch.

TRANSFERS
• If your Sunsail holiday includes our charter flight, a Sunsail representative will meet you at the airport and escort you to your transfer.
• If your holiday is flight exclusive, we request that you send your travel arrangements to us so we can assist with transfer details where required.
PLEASE NOTE: Guests arriving separately should bring a copy of the charter contract / invoice.
• The approximate fare to our base is:
From 5am-7pm 1-5 pax 275Ffrs
From 7pm-5am 1-5 pax 330Ffrs
Additional people 55Ffrs each to be paid locally.

BRIEFINGS
• The personalised chart briefing given on your arrival describes the cruising area and any potential hazards.
• The yacht briefing introduces you to your yacht, it’s systems and rigging. It is carried out individually for each yacht. It is important that all systems and equipment are fully understood. Briefings are mandatory.

SAFETY
• All yachts are equipped with life jackets and a harness for everyone on board. We leave it up to you to decide when personal safety equipment should be worn.
• We suggest that children who are not strong swimmers should not be allowed in a dinghy without a life jacket or buoyancy aid and that they should wear a buoyancy aid or harness when on deck.
• Children under the age of 16yrs should not operate an outboard engine.

Illness or injury
• Contact a member of Sunsail staff as soon as possible on either a lead boat or at Sunsail base or Club.
• If you need to make a claim for curtailment due to illness, ask the base manager for assistance and contact your insurer’s emergency medical service immediately.
• Your insurance company will assist with travel arrangements, advice and payment of bills.
• Obtain receipts for any medication, treatment or transport you have to pay for and submit with your claim.

PROVISIONING
• You can provision online before you depart. The provisioning pages will confirm the latest order date for your chosen destination.
• It is possible to self provision as there are numerous stores within 10 minutes from the base.
• Shops open 9am-12pm then 3pm-5.30pm Mon/Sat, although a few larger supermarkets stay open until 7pm. Majority of shops are closed on Sundays however, supermarkets are open 9am-12pm.

BOARDING/DEPARTURE
• Your yacht will be ready at 1800 hrs for boarding. Please be aware that the yacht and chart briefings will be arranged on your arrival. At the end of your charter your yacht will need to be vacated by 0900 hrs so we recommend that you return to the base the day before.

EQUIPMENT ON THE YACHTS
Sunsail yachts are equipped with just about everything you will need for a safe and enjoyable holiday.
• A deposit is required for dinghy, outboard engine, windsurfer, ocean kayak, cruising chute and GP.
• A refundable security deposit of £300 (regardless of number of items booked) is payable by credit card or Travellers Cheques at the Sunsail base against the loss or damage of these items, whether included in the basic holiday price or as an extra.
• You will be given a checklist on arrival to make sure you have all the items listed on the inventory.
• Please inform the base manager before you leave the base if anything is missing as it is not always possible to replace or exchange items once you have departed on your cruise. Stolen items must be immediately reported to Sunsail management and the local police. An incident report will be completed for insurance purposes
• Any problems with, or damage to, your yacht must be reported to the local staff immediately. If not we cannot be held responsible.
• Each yacht is equipped with two pairs of snorkelling equipment, linen and bath towels and navigation equipment. Please bring beach towels with you. We advise you not to bring self-inflating life jackets or buoyancy aids fitted with gas-cylinders as they may not be allowed on the aircraft.
• Clothing – In Sunsail locations dress is informal, but we ask you to respect local etiquette. Wet weather gear and fleeces are advisable for early and late season.

THE MARINA
Facilities adjacent to the base include:
• Showers/toilets
• Re-fuelling dock
• Water
• Restaurant
• Bar
• Electricity - 220V (50hz) in all the Windward Islands
12V is standard on all our yachts.

MOORING FEES AND TAXES
• Each national territory, Martinique, St Lucia, St Vincent, the Grenadines & Grenada, charges fees. These are cruising permits, harbour dues and custom clearance fees. Average cost to a 45ft yacht with 6 people on a 2 week charter is approximately US$100 (£60). Some marinas/moorings charge a fee of about US$10-15
(£6-9).

CHARTS AND PILOT BOOK
• All the charts and pilot books you will need for the sailing area are on board the yacht. Charts and pilot books can be purchased in advance from www.imray.com or www.kelvinhughes.com

EATING OUT
• Restaurants open at approximately 9am and finish serving at 9pm.

CAR AND JEEP HIRE
• Car hire ranges from $US50 to US$80 per day.
• Your current driving licence must have been valid for at least 3 years.
• Driving is on the left.

WEATHER
• Hurricane season June to November can involve quick but heavy downpours of rain, tropical storms and very occasionally, a hurricane.
• The base will conact you on board with information regarding any predicted storms and which marina to head for - in the event of a hurricane we will book you into shore-based accommodation.
• Daily weather updates are available on the radio.
• Tidal range is approx. 18 inches.

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
January 1 - New Years Day
Mon 40days before Easter - Carnival
Easter - Friday to Monday
May 1 - Labour Day
May 8 - Victory Day
May 22 - Abolition of Slavery
May 21 - Ascension Day
July 14 - National Day
August 15 - Virgin Mary Day
November 1 - Honouring the dead
November 11 - Victory Day
December 25 - Christmas Day

LOST PROPERTY
• If any valuables are left behind in your base, please contact the relevant base as soon as possible after the loss.
• Our base staff will endeavour to locate your property and will contact you with the result of their search.
• Return of property to you will normally be by DHL. The cost of the courier service plus a £15 charge will have to be taken by credit/debit card.
• If goods are left on the plane you will need to contact the airline direct. For First Choice Airways this number is 01293 507160. The office is open between 10am and 4pm. If there is no reply leave and message and they will return your call.
PLEASE NOTE SUNSAIL DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY GOODS THAT SUBSEQUENTLY GO MISSING DURING TRANSIT TO THE UK

PLEASE NOTE
• If you feel that a problem may adversely affect your holiday, you must give our staff the opportunity to resolve it for you. If the problem is not resolved to your satisfaction, please ensure that you inform the base manager and it is essential that you complete a holiday report form.
• Unfortunately, claims made for problems not reported first to the base staff and then to the manager locally, cannot be considered.
TO REITERATE THE HOLIDAY BOOKING CONDITIONS, ANY COMPLAINTS OR CLAIMS MUST BE RECEIVED IN WRITING WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THE END OF YOUR HOLIDAY.

SUNSAIL – RESPECTING DESTINATIONS
• Sunsail remain committed to looking after the environment and supporting the cultures where we operate and over many years you have helped us to ensure that our presence does not negatively impact these areas. Please continue to assist us to leave these areas ‘As good or better than we found them’

PLEASE NOTE: Times and prices are correct at the time of publication, but are subject to change without prior notice.
Martinique Information Sheet last updated 02.07.07