Bonjour, mes amies!
This one is personal.
Freddie and I have been talking about doing something together for a long time. She's the founder of Maison Carib, and she's spent years doing work I deeply admire: building travel experiences in Martinique that actually serve the island, that puts money in local hands, tells untold stories, and refuses to treat a place as a backdrop. When we finally stopped saying we should and started saying let's, this retreat was what came out of it.
Nine women. One house on the ocean. A week in Martinique with someone who actually lives it.
Freddie isn't a tour guide. She's a local, a curator, a connector and she's going to show us the island the way she knows it. The fish shack that doesn't have a sign. The beach that isn't on anyone's list. A deep dive into the culture and history of the island. This isn't a highlights reel of Martinique. It's the real thing. It's personal.
It's also our first retreat outside of mainland France, but Martinique is deeply, proudly French-speaking, and that felt important to us. This isn't a departure from what Maison d'Amies is. It's an extension of it: the same commitment to slowness, to intention, to leaving a place better than you found it.
We're not passing through. We're showing up.
xo,
Stephanie + Freddie
Where we'll lay our heads
Le Diamant
Our accommodations consist of two beautifully appointed villas situated right next to each other, giving our group plenty of private space while keeping everyone together. The homes share a seamless connection, so moving between them is effortless.
Think of it as one big retreat across two rooftops.
Trip Details
There's a rhythm to Martinique that gets into you quickly. Mornings start with strong coffee and the kind of fruit that only tastes right when it came from somewhere close. The ocean is right there (you can hear it before you see it) and the air is warm in a way that makes you slow down without even trying. Somewhere nearby, Freddie already knows exactly where we're going.
A note on our journalist guest: This retreat will be joined by a writer who will be covering the experience for an upcoming feature. She'll be living the week exactly as everyone else does — same house, same table, same everything. We're sharing this upfront because you deserve to know, and honestly, because we think it's pretty cool. If you're camera-shy or prefer to keep your travel life private, just let us know and we'll make sure you're comfortable.
Trip at a Glance
Food, drink & Island Flavors
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A deep dive into Martinique's rhum, and food traditions
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Cocktail making class
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6 lunches and 7 dinners included
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Daily Breakfast
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Private Chef on Property
Exploration & Hidden Gems
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Day trips to two local Rhum distilleries, which include tastings and tours
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Private creative workshop with a local artisan
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Roundtrip group transfer from Martinique Aimé Césaire International Airport (Fort-de-France)
Pace
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Moderate, some light hiking, a few longer days out by car, and plenty of time to simply be still.
How we'll spend our days
Sample Itinerary
This itinerary is a lovingly crafted preview of what your week could look like. While small shifts may happen as we fine-tune timing, weather, and opportunities, consider this your delicious sneak peek at the adventure ahead.
Day 3
Sails, Stories & Slow Afternoons
This morning we discover one of Martinique's most beloved and distinctly local traditions: the Yole, a traditional sailing canoe that has been raced along the island's coastline for generations. We'll get an up-close look at this vibrant cultural practice, deeply woven into the identity of the island and its people. The afternoon brings us back to the villa to relax, reflect, and let the rhythm of the island fully sink in.
Day 6
Sun, Sand, & No Plans
Today is yours to fill as you please: sleep in, stroll along the shore, or do absolutely nothing at all. At midday, we come together for a casual, convivial lunch at a beloved local fish shack right on the beach, where the catch is fresh, the setting is simple, and the company is everything. For those who wish, indulgent massages are available to book in the afternoon (at an additional cost) — because a retreat wouldn't be complete without one.
Day 1
Arrival & Welcome Dinner
Our journey begins as we arrive to the lush, volcanic island of Martinique and make our way to our private villa. The afternoon is yours to decompress, unpack, and soak in your first glimpse of the Caribbean. As the sun dips below the horizon, we gather together for a welcome dinner on the villa, the perfect introduction to the warmth, flavor, and joie de vivre that will define the days ahead.
Day 4
Woven by Hand, Lived by Heart
We start the morning with a hands-on introduction to the art of the Bakoua hat: an iconic piece of Martiniquais craft heritage, handwoven by local artisans from the leaves of the bakoua palm. Our local maker will guide us through the tradition, the technique, and the stories behind this enduring symbol of island life. The afternoon is entirely your own — rest, swim, explore, or simply do nothing at all.
Day 7
Shaken, Stirred, & Celebrated
One last leisurely morning to savor: the villa, the views, the unhurried pace we've all settled so happily into. Then, in the spirit of everything we've tasted and learned this week, we come together for a cocktail-making class led by a local expert, transforming the rhums, fresh fruits, and island botanicals of Martinique into the classics and specialties of the Caribbean canon. We close the evening — and this chapter — with a farewell dinner together, raising a glass to new friendships, shared adventures, and the island that made it all possible.
Day 2
Salt Air & Sugar Cane
We ease into island time with a slow, unhurried morning, take a dip in the pool, wade into the warm Caribbean sea, or simply linger over coffee with a good book. After a leisurely lunch, we make our way to the legendary Habitation Clément, one of Martinique's most celebrated estates. Set among magnificent colonial gardens, we'll tour the historic grounds before settling in for a tasting of the island's prized agricole rhum, distilled from fresh sugarcane juice in the true Martiniquais tradition.
Day 5
Gardens & Grand Rhum
Today calls for a full day of discovery. We begin with a morning visit to the enchanting Jardin de Balata, a breathtaking tropical garden perched in the hills above Fort-de-France. In the afternoon, we venture north to Distillerie JM, one of the island's most storied and scenically situated rhum agricole producers, for a tour of the grounds and a taste of their exceptional terroir-driven spirits.
Day 8
Until Next Time, Martinique
After breakfast, say au revoir to the Martinique and your new friends, carrying the memories, flavors, and magic of this magical island home with you. Group transfer to the airport included.
The Details
Retreat Pricing
$6,800 per person
Solo Sleeper Room with Ensuite Bathroom
Deposit: $2,380 Due at Time of Booking
Payment Method
To reserve your space, we require an initial, non-refundable deposit due at the time of booking.
The remaining balance of the trip will be paid in 2 additional installments.
Booking deadline March 1, 2027
Not Included
Airfare
Travel Insurance (Required)
Optional Activities
Your hosts for this adventure
Your guides on this sun-soaked adventure are more than experts, they're your companions, curators, and co-conspirators in uncovering the soul of Martinique. From insider knowledge of the island's rich Creole culture to a shared passion for connection, discovery, and a well-made ti' punch, they'll lead you through every experience with warmth, expertise, and that unmistakable Maison d'Amies & Maison Carib energy.
This trip is a deep dive into the heart of Martinique, from the graceful tradition of yole boat racing to crafting cocktails with native rhum agricole, every moment is designed to bring you closer to the island's people, rhythms, and story.
