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Travel Essentials
New Entry Requirements will be effective January 23 2007. Click here.
St. Lucia A to Z
A Airlines, Airports, Automobile Rental
B Banking
C Churches, Credit Cards, Crime, Currency, Customs Regulations
D Departure Tax, Domestic Travel within the Island
E Electricity, Emergency Telephone Numbers, Entry Requirements
G Geography, Government
H Health, Hospitals
L Language
P Ports
S Service Charges & Tax, Shopping
T Taxis, Telecommunications, Time, Tipping, Tourist Information, Tours & Tour Companies
W Weather
Y Yacht Charter and Private Moorings
Airlines
Air Caraibe,
Air Canada,
American Airlines,
American Eagle,
Delta,
US Airways,
British Airways,
LIAT,
Virgin Atlantic,
Jet Blue,
WestJet
and International Charters.
Airports
Hewanorra International Airport at Vieux Fort is located 40 miles south of Castries. George F. L Charles Inter Island Airport in Castries.
Automobile Rental
Cars, four wheel drive vehicles and scooters can be booked in advance through your travel agent or at the airports, hotels or car rental offices on the island.
Banking
Banks open Monday to Thursday, 8:00am - 2:00pm and Friday, 8:00am - 5:00pm
Churches
Almost 80% of Saint Lucians are Roman Catholic. Other denominations include Anglican, Methodist,
Baptist, Seventh Day Adventists, Pentecostal, Jehovah's Witnesses, Christian Science and
the Salvation Army. Times of services vary at individual churches, so it is best to inquire at your hotel reception.
Credit Cards
Major international credit cards are widely accepted at all large shopping centres, restaurants, hotels, etc.
Crime
Crime in Saint Lucia can be considered consistent with that of similar countries. It is unfair to say that it
doesn't exist, however, to say that it is minimal and well under control by our competent police force, is a
fair assessment. We do advise all visitors and even our nationals that common sense should prevail
when traveling abroad. Refrain from making large displays of wealth (such as wearing expensive jewelry,
producing large wads of cash, etc.), avoid venturing is areas that may appear to compromise safety.
Crimes of any sort should be reported to the hotel, Police and the Saint Lucia Tourist Board.
Currency
The currency of Saint Lucia is the Eastern Caribbean Dollar which is linked to the US Dollar at the exchange rate of 1 US$ to 2.70 EC$. United States Dollars are widely accepted on the island. The guaranteed rate at the commercial banks is 1 US$ to 2.67 EC$ less applied bank charges in some instances. The local vendor may offer a slightly lower rate.For more detailed information on this topic Click here
Customs Regulations
The duty free allowance into Saint Lucia is 200 cigarettes or 250 grams of tobacco or 50 cigars, one litre
of spirit or wine. Duty free shopping is available at Pointe Seraphine, La Place Carenage, The Marina
Village at Marigot, some hotels and at the departure lounge of Hewanorra Airport. Luxury items include
Jewelery, Batiks, Giftware,Local Crafts, Liquor, Cigarettes and Cigars.
Departure Tax
Departure Tax of EC $68 (US $26) for all passengers over 12 years is applied to ticket prices at the time of purchase.
Domestic Travel within the Island
Minibuses serve as the main ground transportation medium for the island. The service times vary
depending on the destination or the route one desires to ply. Buses to Rodney Bay/Gros Islet, for
example, run until around 11.00pm: (longer on Friday nights when the weekly "jump-up" takes place at
Gros Islet). However, there is no scheduled bus timetable.
Bus fares: Castries - North end of the island EC $2.50, Castries - South end of the island (Vieux Fort) EC
$8.00. Car travel via the new West Coast Road from Castries to Soufriere takes about an hour, from
Hewanorra Airport to Castries takes about an hour. For your added comfort, Helicopter transfers are
available from Hewanorra to Castries. There is a Heli-pad located at Vigie Hanger and the Jalousie Hilton
Hotel. This can be booked directly with Saint Lucia Helicopters Ltd on Tel: 758 453 6950, Fax: 758 452 1553
or Paradise Helicopters 758 450 9203.
Electricity
220 volts, 50 cycles AC, most hotels accommodate 110 volts, 60 cycles . Most sockets take 3 pin square
plugs (UK standard) but some take 2 pin round plugs or flat American plugs, which are more rare.
Adaptors are generally available at the hotels.
Emergency Telephone Numbers
Police, Fire and Ambulance - Tel: 911. Police Headquarters - Bridge Street, Castries, Tel: 758 456 3990
You may also contact the Saint Lucia Tourist Board - Tel: 758 452 4094.
Entry Requirements
Visitors must carry valid passports. Visas are not required where the visitor is a citizen of the USA or certain Commonwealth countries (please click here for visa exempted countries), or where there is agreement for exemption between the home country and Saint Lucia.As of January 1, 2008, ALL persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda by land or sea (including ferries), will be required to present a valid passport or other documents as determined by the Department of Homeland Security. While recent legislative changes permit a later deadline, the Departments of State and Homeland Security are working to meet all requirements as soon as possible. Ample advance notice will be provided to enable the public to obtain passports or passport cards for land/sea entries.This information does not reflect important changes to the WHTI expected from pending legislation. We will update this page once that legislation has been finalized.For further details in the USA, contact the Saint Lucia Mission, 800 Second Avenue, 9th Floor New York, NY 10017 & for the UK contact the Saint Lucia High Commission 1 Collingham Gardens, London SW5 0HW.
List Of Countries/Territories Whose Nationals Do Not Require Visas To Enter Saint Lucia
List Of Countries/Territories Whose Nationals Require Visas To Enter Saint Lucia
Geography
Saint Lucia is part of the Windward Islands and Lesser Antilles in the Caribbean Basin. Our
neighbors are Martinique, 21 miles from our Northern tip and Saint Vincent, 26 miles from our
Southern tip (both are visible on a clear day) and Barbados is 110 miles South-east. The island is
27 miles long and 14 miles wide, a total of 238sq. miles.
Government
Saint Lucia is an independent democratic nation and part of the British Commonwealth. The
Head of Government is the Prime Minister, The Honorable Dr. Kenny D. Anthony of the Saint Lucia Labour Party was re-elected via November 28 2011 general election.
The Head of State is Queen Elizabeth II but a Ceremonial Head of State: The Governor-General
represents the queen at official proceedings.
In addition to the Office of the Governor General, a two-house system of Parliament exists. It is
made up of a Senate and a House of Assembly. The Senate consists of eleven nominated
members whilst the House of Assembly consists of seventeen elected Members
Health
Immunization is not required unless coming from an infected area within six days of arrival,
However, Hepatitis A, Polio and Typhoid are recommended. Drinking water is safe from the tap
and bottled mineral/distilled water is also available. There are several pharmacies in Castries,
one on the Gros Islet Highway and one in Gablewoods Shopping Mall and in JQ Charles Mall
Rodney Bay. Most hotels have "over the counter" medication, such as Aspirin and first aid
facilities. All hotels have doctors either resident or available on call. A resident doctor's visit
costs approx. US$ 15 (approx. EC$40 - EC$50). For a "call-out" visit it may cost more.
Hospitals
In an emergency, call 911 - there are five medical facilities which are:
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Victoria Hospital
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758 452 2421/7059
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Saint Jude's Vieux Fort
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758 454 6041
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Soufriere
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758 459 7258/5001
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Dennery
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758 453 3310
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Tapion Hospital
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758 459 2000
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Language
English is the official language, but Saint Lucians speak a French Creole commonly called
Patois. Most hotels also have in-house specialist which would be able to comprehend some other languages.
Ports
The main sea port is Castries at the Castries Habour and many cruise ships anchor at Pointe
Seraphine and La Place Carenage. There is an additional deepwater anchorage for cargo and
container ships at Vieux Fort in the south near the airport.
Service Charges & Tax
On hotel and restaurant bills there is a Government tax of 8%. A service charge of 10% is also
applicable. In some instances these charges are included in prices quoted, so it is best to clarify.
The prices on labels in shops are what you pay.
Shopping
Local shops are generally open weekdays 8:30am to 4:00pm and on Saturday 8:00am to 1:00pm.
There are a wide variety of shopping experiences from Castries market, where local crafts are
available, to Pointe Seraphine and La Place Carenage, two duty free shopping centers in Castries
where resort wear, Colombian Emeralds jewelry, cosmetics and perfumes are available.
A variety of shopping malls with extended opening hours offer a wide selection of boutiques and
restaurants. Most hotels have boutiques and vendors' markets. For more detailed information on
this topic Click here.
Taxis
Taxis are easily available at taxi stands or by telephone. Fares vary by destination and nature of trip.
Telecommunications
Saint Lucia has two very competent telecommunications providers namely Digicel and LIME.
They both offer cutting edge technology and can be contacted on island to secure needed
services. Pre-paid mobile phone cards can be purchased island-wide for either provider.
Many card and coin public phone boxes are available around the island. Cellular phones are
available for rent from either provider and more information is available at your port of entry or
any tourist information centre.
Internet access is available at most shopping malls and at LIME and also at a number of internet
cafes island-wide. Both domestic and international direct dialing are available in Saint Lucia.
Facsimiles are available through most hotels or through the LIME office in Castries.
The international dialing code for Saint Lucia is 1 758; to call the UK from Saint Lucia dial
011 44 plus number; to call USA dial 1 plus number. Other regional and
international calls can be made with operator assistance or the codes can be found in the local telephone directory.
Time
Saint Lucia is 4 Hours behind Greenwich Mean Time.
Tipping
Tipping is not automatically added but is customary at about 10% to 12% of bills. Tips are
generally accepted by bell hops in hotels, taxis and other persons providing service.
Tourist Information
Tourist Information can be obtained from hotel front desks and the Saint Lucia Tourist Board's
Information Centers: Pointe Seraphine and La Place Carenage, Castries Tel: 452 7577 or
Soufriere, Tel: 459 7419 and at both airports; George F.L. Charles Airport Tel: 452 2596.
Hewanorra International Airport Tel: 454 6644. Generally, the information centers are open from
8:00am to 4:30pm Monday to Friday. Pointe Seraphine is open whenever cruise ships are in port.
Information Centres at the airports are open during flight times.
Tours & Tour Companies
Tours can be booked through your hotel's Tours Desk or alternatively, you can book them direct with one of the following Tour Companies:
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Barefoot Holidays
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758 450 0507
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Cox & Company
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758 452 2211
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Heritage Tours
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758 451 6058/458 1587
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M & C Tours
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758 458 8283
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Solar Tours
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758 452 5898
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Spice Travel
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758 452 0865
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Saint Lucia Reps/Sunlink Tours
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758 452 8232
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Travel Concepts
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758 458 2243/458 2244
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For more detailed information on this topic Click here.
Weather
Sub tropical climate kept mild by cooling trade winds make Saint Lucia a year round delight.
From June to November be prepared for sporadic tropical showers.
Yacht Charter and Private Moorings
There are a wide variety of vessels available for both bare boat and crewed charters from Saint
Lucia to the Grenadines and other destinations. The two most popular marinas are at Marigot
Bay and Rodney Bay. A number of companies offer yacht charter services, please check with
your hotel for assistance or check with the Saint Lucia Tourist Board Information desk at the air
and sea ports.
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