10 Tips For Traveling to St. Lucia

Although St. Lucia is often thought of as a honeymoon destination, it is a wonderful island to bring kids. With a little planning, the entire family can spend a fun-filled vacation doing things that everyone can enjoy.

Here are 10 tips for traveling to St. Lucia:

Where do you fly in?

The best place to fly in is Hewanorra International Airport at Vieux Fort (UVF)

CLICK HERE TO FIND AN AMAZING FLIGHT

BUG SPRAY

The beautiful rain forests of St. Lucia are filled with colorful flowers, tall trees, and singing birds. What else are they filled with? Bugs…lots of them! You may want to spray yourself down with some bug spray before you go outside, especially in early evening. You may also want to check if your hotel fogs for bugs during the day. We had an unfortunate experience where we were enjoying drinks by our pool before dinner when all of the sudden a cloud of bug spray overcame us.

HOPE YOU DON’T MIND A CRAZY RIDE

The roads of St. Lucia can be quite an adventure. Be prepared to go up and down steep mountains with sudden hairpin turns. As if that’s not scary enough, now put those roads on cliffs that plunge into the sea and throw in the fact you’re driving on the left side of the road. Luckily, the people of St. Lucia are used to driving on these roads so I’d leave the driving to them. My husband didn’t think the roads were that bad, so it could be my nervousness of heights that made the ride feel scary. But these roads also provide the most breathtaking views so they need to be experienced.

CHICKEN ROTI

This popular island dish is a must-try meal. The ‘roti’ is actually the wrap that surrounds the chicken curry filling. It is served in most restaurants and even on the beach by locals.

WATERFALLS AND VOLCANOES

These two activities are major tourist traps, but for good reasons. The waterfalls are breathtaking and it is a great experience to swim in one. Some of their waterfalls include: Sault Falls, Anse La Raye Falls, Enbas Saut Falls, Spyke Falls, Tornaille Falls, and Diamond Falls. The drive-in volcano allows people to see (and smell) Sulphur Springs, the island’s unique volcano. Although this volcano is actually dormant, you can still see steam and boiling water coming out of its surface.

SNORKEL GEAR

The water of St. Lucia is a crystal-blue hue and is filled with stunning coral and colorful fish. Although many hotels provide snorkel gear, you may want to bring your own so you can jump into the water whenever the urge strikes you. A snorkel cruise is a great opportunity to see the island sea life.

PITON…THE BEER NOT THE MOUNTAINS

The majestic twin peaks are a symbol of the island and they’ve named their local beer after them. Piton beer is available in every restaurant and bar.

PICK A BANANA

There are so many banana plantations on this island that the fruit is pretty much everywhere you go. Make sure you stop at a small roadside stand and ask to try some of the local banana treats. We bought banana ketchup, banana BBQ sauce, and banana chips.

GET OUT ON THE WATER

The coast of St. Lucia is gorgeous and from the water you can see golden beaches, lush rain forests, and plunging cliffs. The view is amazing whether you go out on a boat, kayak, or paddle board. A sunset cruise is a wonderful way to see the island.

HOW’S THE BEACH

Before you book a hotel, make sure you research their beach. Is it sandy or is there lots of seaweed? Are there often large waves or is it calm and safe for families to swim? One side of the island is on the Caribbean Sea and the other on the Atlantic so they can be completely different. The Caribbean side is sometimes prettier since the Atlantic side can bring lots of seaweed onto the beaches.

ODDS AND ENDS

The electricity current is between 220-240 volts (US is 110 volts). Make sure you bring a converter if you plan on using electronics.

Although most places accept US dollars, the currency is in ECD (Eastern Caribbean Dollars).