These are the French islands - chic, sophisticated and spectacularly beautiful. Martinique is known as "the Paris of the Antilles", with haute cuisine and haute couture, not to mention Mont Pelee, the volcano that destroyed the capital city of Saint-Pierre in 1902. Guadeloupe offers incredible variety, from the jagged coast of the wild Atlantic to pristine coves on the Caribbean side, sunny beaches and tropical rainforests. Alive Guides tell you what"s hot and what"s not, with plenty of suggestions for daytime activity and nighttime fun. Each guide offers hundreds of restaurant and hotel profiles in all price ranges, including the very best places to stay and eat, adventure, nights in the city or budget accommodation. Beyond where to stay and eat, Alive Guides focus on the things that make each destination unique - hiking in the rain forests of St Lucia or diving off the coast of Bonaire. "Sunup to sundown" sections cover a huge variety of activities and organized excursions, including a thorough listing of the best beaches. Suggested road trips and walking tours are accompanied by town and regional maps. "After dark" sections give the lowdown on hot nightclubs, romantic bars, high-class casinos, movies and theatre. An A-Z reference at the end provides a comprehensive list of useful contacts, including ATM and bank locations, doctors and medical facilities, tourism offices, religious services and websites.