St Lucia Vacations

Important Travel Information for St. Lucia

• ATMAvailable in Castries
• Bars and Night LifeLimited to Hotels
• Car RentalsLeft-hand drive - roads are narrow and winding
• Credit CardsWidely Accepted
• DivingAdequate
• Golf1 - 18 hole championship resort course, 1 - 9 hole course
• Hurricane SeasionJune - October
• Rainy SeasonMay - August
• RestaurantsLimited to Hotels, some in Castires
• Sight SeeingExcellent for geographic points of interest
• Time ZoneEastern
• VegetationMountainous, rainforest, volcanic
• WaterWater mains chlorinated / bottled water still recommended for drinking
• Water SportsGood

St. Lucia Vacations: Package Holidays Offering a Unique Caribbean Experience of Tropical Beauty

General Information About St. Lucia Vacations

St. Lucia, situated along a line of eastern Caribbean islands bordering the Atlantic, is a unique tourist destination offering a wide variety of St. Lucia vacation package holidays to suit a range of tastes. St. Lucia vacation tourism was established in the late 1970s, and has stabilized as a destination in recent years, with little new development apart from condo construction along St. Lucia's southeast coast. As a result, all-inclusive St. Lucia packages feature time-tested infrastructure and services that, although pricier than other sun holiday destinations, maintains a strong base of tourist traffic.

All-inclusive St. Lucia vacation resorts are located on the west coast of the island, where the calmer Caribbean waters and beaches are located, and the majority of these are located north of Castries, the capital city of St. Lucia. The urban centre of Castries provides great opportunities for shopping, dining, and nightlife while on an all-inclusive St. Lucia vacation. However, there is so much more to see and do on an all-inclusive St. Lucia vacation. Well-known St. Lucia vacation attractions include the Pitons – two volcanic formations located in a World Heritage Site – and the rain forest and mountains located in the island's interior. For those in search of a natural adventure and discovery, St. Lucia vacations are a great option.

All-inclusive St. Lucia vacation packages typically appeal to couples and honeymooners, as most singles and those in search of a good party scene are deterred by the price and relative lack of nightlife. St. Lucia vacations are ideal for consumers who are willing to pay a little more to vacation in this unique Caribbean setting, influenced largely by St. Lucia's British and French history and the comfort of British familiarity. St. Lucia has an interesting history, and has traded hands 14 times between French and English ownership, finally gaining its independence as part of the British Commonwealth. The official language of St. Lucia is English, although 80% of the local population speaks a form of French patois, or creole. The unique history and combination of cultures makes an all-inclusive St. Lucia package holiday a rich cultural experience for those who seek to discover it. St. Lucia locals are warm and friendly, similar to those from Barbados in many ways, although perhaps not quite as formal. Take the time to meet and greet them on an all-inclusive St. Lucia vacation, and you'll come to appreciate their unique culture.

For those who intend to travel on an all-inclusive St. Lucia package holiday, a passport will be required for entry into St. Lucia, but medical shots are not necessary. The drinking water at the all-inclusive St. Lucia vacation hotels is safe to drink, as a result of the good St. Lucia infrastructure and natural filtration. For those who wish to do some exploring on their St. Lucia vacation, taxis are readily available, but may be expensive due to the distances that must be covered over winding roads cut through the dramatic landscape. In the Castries/Bay area, taxis are a reasonable option for getting around on a St. Lucia package holiday. Scenic transfers from the Airport to all-inclusive St. Lucia vacation hotels can take up to 1.5 hours, and some people opt for a helicopter ride to take them to their final destination.

Sand and Sun on Your St. Lucia Vacation

All-inclusive St. Lucia vacation beaches feature darker volcanic  sands. It's difficult to make any general statement regarding the quality of St. Lucia beaches since they are very much dependent on each hotel for individual quality. Most St. Lucia vacation beaches are relatively small, some feature a quick drop-off (Sandals and Castries area), and are generally average for a sun destination – this is not a beach-lover's paradise, but the beaches are satisfactory. St. Lucia waters are swimmable, although the darker water and bottom vegetation may not fit the postcard profile of the Caribbean.  

In addition to unique volcanic sands, all-inclusive St. Lucia vacations feature great weather with relatively little seasonal fluctuation. Like all Caribbean islands, St. Lucia features a relatively hot, tropical climate throughout all seasons, moderated by sea breezes and northeastern trade winds. During the winter season, when tourists from the north are enjoying all-inclusive St. Lucia vacations to escape the cold, the average high temperature sits at around 84?F, with average overnight lows at around 74?F, and summer temperatures tend to peak in the high 80s. From February to May is the driest period for all-inclusive St. Lucia vacations, with the wettest season usually from June to September, and the interior rainforest receiving more than double the annual average precipitation. The great St. Lucia vacation weather supports lush, tropical growth throughout the mountainous landscape of the island, and the setting is very clean and pretty outside of the urban landscape of Castries.

Hurricane season, with its unpredictability of storm events, typically lasts from July through December, peaking from mid-August to mid-November. Although St. Lucia vacations are not often impacted by hurricanes, the possibility remains. However, when booking St. Lucia vacation packages, you can rest assured that tour operators will not fly you into a hurricane, will act fast to get you out in the event of any development. You can find great St. Lucia vacation package deals during hurricane season, and the economic advantage is well worth considering. We recommend that you speak with one of our tripcentral agents to fully understand the great value benefit vs. limited risk associated with travel to this region during hurricane season.

Things to See and Do on Your St. Lucia Package Vacation

If nightlife is a priority on your all-inclusive St. Lucia package holiday, the capital city of Castries is the best option, as the nightlife at the all-inclusive St. Lucia resorts is very limited, other than Coconut Bay which has a decent disco. Although there are no casinos in Castries, the local nightlife is good and adventurous. In fact, for most St. Lucia vacations urban activities, including dining and shopping, Castries is the place to go. There are plenty of local restaurants in Castries, offering a wide selection to suit all tastes, although you won't find much in the way of the big chain restaurants. For those who want to do some shopping on an all-inclusive St. Lucia package holiday, Castries features a lively cruise ship port, filled with little shops for browsing local specialties including Batik, a much sought after decorative Caribbean fabric work. Castries is a bustling urban centre, and tourists should use common sense and reasonable caution to avoid safety risks. Banking is widely available in Castries, offering American and British banks to ensure that access to cash is not an issue on a St. Lucia package holiday. Gratuities are typically 15%-20% for most services on a St. Lucia vacation, and are not usually included in the bill.

St. Lucia vacations offer a wide variety of sporting activity options, including spectator Cricket and Soccer events, deeps sea fishing, zip lining, as well as the usual English Caribbean sports.  To explore the wonders beneath the waters on your St. Lucia package holiday, enjoy scuba diving and snorkelling at Anse Chastanet reef as well as other various sites along the west coast of the island. If you wish to enhance your all-inclusive St. Lucia vacation with a few rounds of golf, there are several courses on the island where tourists can stay active. Due to the hilly terrain, St. Lucia is not an ideal location for world-class golf courses, but the tropical surroundings make for a unique experience that may be very enjoyable.

St. Lucia packages offer plenty of day trip opportunities for those interested in further exploration of the local culture and scenery. While on an all-inclusive St. Lucia vacation, be sure to visit the Pitons, as well as the many natural wonders to be found in the interior – rainforest, waterfalls, bird sanctuaries, jungle excursions, or self guided trips through the picturesque mountains by rented jeep. Speed boat tours to the Pitons are available from the main resort areas, as well as helicopter tours for those who would like a bird's eye view of their all-inclusive St. Lucia vacation destination. The island is relatively small, but offers plenty to see and do on an all-inclusive St. Lucia package holiday.

All-Inclusive St. Lucia Vacation Package Availability, Accommodations, and Value

St. Lucia packages are exclusively available from Toronto, offering direct flights on weekends aboard Air Canada, and weekly through Transat and Westjet. It is also possible to fly into the neighbouring Barbados, and take a plane from there into Castries, St. Lucia. Regarding the all-inclusive St. Lucia resorts, travellers have many options from which to choose. The cluster of resorts in the Rodney Bay and Castries area are older, low-rise hotels with a relatively small footprint that are built into the surrounding hillside. It is also possible to book St. Lucia packages at a variety of smaller hotels and guest houses, offering moderate, clean accommodations. For couples in search of the perfect all-inclusive St. Lucia vacation for newlyweds and couples, take a look at one of the many Sandals resorts. A real standout resort is the Jade Mountain resort, as well as the Anse Chastanet – both recommended. The all-inclusive St. Lucia vacation resorts located in the Pitons area are very isolated, suiting the tastes of those in search of a real escape to paradise.

All-inclusive St. Lucia vacations are a very popular choice for weddings under the sun, and Sandals resorts are certainly a good option to look at when planning your special event. However, be sure to speak with one of our tripcentral agents to ensure that you meet all of the requirements for a wedding in St. Lucia, and book early to secure all of your arrangements without any hassles.

Although all-inclusive St. Lucia packages are somewhat expensive by comparison, there are certainly those who would suggest that the price is well worth the experience. For those who can appreciate the unique St. Lucia culture and landscape, an all-inclusive St. Lucia vacation is the right choice for sun travel.

St Lucia Vacations Pictures

Grand Anse beach - St. Lucia