St Barts has so little crime that people still leave their car doors unlocked. The same isn't true of Martinique, where break-ins at the parking lot near Mont-Pelée's hiking trails have been reported. Even so, the most common crime in Martinique and Guadeloupe is pick-pocketing - as long as you don't flash your money around, you're unlikely to have problems. Their major cities, however, are rather sketchy at night, with prostitutes and drug dealers hanging out in squares; they're significantly less trouble, however, than the Creole men who commonly harass white women travellers . While most is harmless catcalling, the worst offenders will grope you in the street. You can avoid harassment by covering up in town and avoiding eye contact.

Guadeloupe tel 0590/82 00 89 (gendarmerie); tel 0590/89 77 17 (police).

Martinique tel 0596/60 60 44 (medical); tel 17 or tel 59 40 00 (police).

St Barts tel 0590/27 60 35 (medical); tel 0590/27 66 66 (police).