By Bob Enzel

If you’re a traveler looking for a unique experience in a friendly country--one that really wants North American visitors—try Martinique on for size.

Everybody’s heard of Martinique, but where is it and how do you get there?    Two very good questions.  Think sun, sand, and the middle of the Caribbean and you’ll have an idea where this neat little island in the sun is.  If Columbus could find, you can too.

Those of you that are the Club Med type might explore their offer to stay at the recently opened $60 million luxurious Club Med Buccaneer’s Creek Resort.  There is a weekly all-inclusive non-stop charter flight from JFK to Fort-de-France, Martinique…even “arriving in time for lunch.”

The rest of you may take American Airlines daily out of Miami; weekends out of Philadelphia or Saturday from Charlotte on U.S. Airways; everyday except Wednesday and Thursday from Atlanta on Delta; and Canadians can hop on Air Canada out of Toronto.  You merely transit via Saint-Lucia to Martinique.

If perhaps you are bored with Cancun or maybe want to show your disdain for Aruba, Martinique is a sparkling alternative.  U.S. and Canadian citizens will need a passport of course, but a visa is not required. Other countries should check out their visa requirement.

And here’s another hook for the “been there done that” group.  You can be the first on your block or perhaps the first in your neighborhood to drop the name of Martinique as the new in Island resort to visit.