GEOGRAPHY

St. Lucia is located approximately 1,300 miles south east of Florida along the Leeward Island of the Caribbean. St. Lucia lies 21 miles from our neighboring French island of Martinique, 24 miles north of St. Vincent and 100 miles north west of Barbados.

GENERAL INFORMATION

St. Lucia has an area of 238 square miles. The island is 27 miles long and 14 miles wide with approximately 170,000 persons. 70% of whom live in the northern part of the island, from Castries to Point Du Cap. The reason being it houses most of our business places, major hotels and restaurant on the island. Our main language on the island is English however a French based Creole is spoken because of St. Lucia’s dual British-French heritage. St. Lucia was fort over 14 times by the French and the English. This is the reason we are called “ The Helen Of The West Indies “.

CLIMATE

The temperature range from the 70’s to the 80’s all year round, with the highest average in the summer. June to November is our rainy season.

GOVERNMENT

St. Lucia was ruled under the British Common Wealth before the Island became independent in 1979. The two main Governmental Parties on the Island is The United Workers and The St. Lucia Labor Party. At present we are ruled under the United Workers Party till the next general elections.

MONEY ISUES

The Eastern Caribbean Dollar is our main currency used on the island however we accept US Dollars, Travelers Check and major Credit Cards.

The exchange rates are as follows:

• US$1.00 equivalent to EC$2.67

• CAN$1.00 equivalent to EC$2.60

• Pound £$1.00 equivalent to EC$5.34

• EURO $1.00 equivalent to EC$4.17

Banking hours are from 8am to 2pm from Monday to Thursday and up to 5pm on Friday. Banks in the north of the Island in the Rodney Bay area are also opened on a Saturday from 9am to noon. Automatic Bank Machines [ABM] are found at nearly all branch located around the island. 

DRIVERS LICENSE

A temporary driver permit is required for non nationals at a cost of US$12.00 for one day and US$22.00 for a 3 month period. The permit can be purchased at the Airport Immigration office, Local Police Stations and from Vacation & Corporate Rentals.

GETTING AROUND

Vacation & Corporate Rentals provides transfers to any location around the island that you desirer to go. This includes:

• Cars Self Hirer [ A do it yourself adventure ]

• Car Rental with a driver. One of our well informed driver and tour guide will take you around the island in comfort. This service eliminates the need of paying a drivers permit, Collision Damage Waiver and a deposit for a rental. Your guide will take you to the places of interest in reasonable time and he is on your time, so you leave when ever you decide.

• Tours and Excursions: We provide a large variety of trips which can be booked through us.

• Hotel and Airport transfers

• Accommodation for vacationing and long term.

WATER

The St. Lucia Water and Sewerage Company is the main provider of portable tap water which is safe to consume. Bottled water is readily available for those who prefer. It can be purchased at any shopping outlet around the island and at all hotels.

IMMIGRATION

It is mandatory that every traveler is required to provide a passport to the immigration department excepting citizens of the Commonwealth nation.

AIRPORTS

St. Lucia has two airports. The Hewanorra International Airport is situated in the south of the island near to the town of Vieux-Fort. This airport accommodates commercial airlines. It takes approximately one hour to drive from the major hotels in the north of the island. George Fredrick Laurence Charles Airport is located in Castries, which is our capital city. This airport accommodates smaller airlines between the Caribbean islands.

TIPS WHILE GOING AROUND

• *If you are going to purchase items duty free please walk with your passport and airline ticket. It is advisable to make a copy of passport to take along with you, to avoid misplacing the original.

• *A 10% service charge and 8% Government Tax is added to most establishments with additional gratuities welcomed.

• *There is a US$5.00 Government Tax charged on every Vehicle Rental.

• *St. Lucian’s are known as the island with the most friendliness people. If you need directions do not hesitate to ask.

• *Casual wear is acceptable everywhere on the island. Swimwear is generally inappropriate away from the beaches, resorts and hotels.

• *All non-nationals are requested to pay Departure tax of EC$68.00 or US$26.00 regardless of your destination.

• *Confirm your return flight with the airline.

• *Arrange timely transportation with Vacation & Corporate Rentals for departure.