St Lucia Holidays
Overview
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For those looking for a luxury beach retreat, St Lucia holidays tick all the right boxes and it's a great destination for families too, with a wide choice of all inclusive hotels. A picture-book Caribbean island, St Lucia has honey coloured beaches, coral reefs, wild orchids, sulphur springs and magnificent waterfalls, scattered with banana plantations and the occasional clapboard rum shop. Perhaps most impressive are its jungle-clad volcanic peaks, the Pitons, which rise dramatically from the sea. Holidays to St Lucia will have you in seventh heaven.
St Lucia Highlights
Beaches: To the west of the island the tranquil turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea are great for swimming and watersports. Reduit Beach, the most popular of St. Lucia's beaches, is the place for a long stroll or a tranquil swim. If you are a keen snorkeler or diver, head to either Jalousie or Anse Chastanet beach which are both perfect for viewing the spectacular ocean life. Soon to become a part of a new national park is Grande Anse, this mile long stretch of beach is now a major nesting ground for the endangered leatherback turtles to lay their eggs.
Romance: With the iconic Piton Mountains as its back drop, lush tropical scenery, palm fringed beaches and warm tropical climate it's easy to see why there's no better place for romance than St. Lucia. Relaxing under a beautiful Caribbean sunset with the one you love, glass of champagne in hand, makes for the perfect romantic getaway.
Natural Wonders: St. Lucia's most notable natural wonder is of course the Piton Mountains, a stunning backdrop to what is a beautiful island but that's just the beginning. Marvel at Soufriere's famous "drive-in" volcano, a rocky lunar landscape of bubbling mud and sulphur, and the Diamond Waterfall in the Botanical Gardens where bubbling sulphur rich water changes colour - from yellow to black to green to grey, several times a day.
Music: Traditionally the music of St. Lucia is based on the music of Africa, accompanied by dances like the quadrille, polka and waltz. The banjo and cuatro are traditional St. Lucian folk instruments, especially a four-stringed banjo called the bwa poye. St. Lucia holidays can be as lively as you want them to be. In Rodney Bay, there's live music bars, clubs and waterfront restaurants or nearby, Reduit Beach, has calypso nights and beach bars competing for the longest happy hour.
Sports & Activities: Activities in St. Lucia include scenic helicopter excursions, zip lining through the rainforest at Treetop Adventure Park or Kite surfing at the north eastern beach of Cas en Bas. Rodney Bay Village is a must see with numerous restaurants, activities and its notorious marina, but if your looking for a gentle scenic stroll head to Pigeon Island, St. Lucia's living museum showcasing local wildlife and legendary pirate history.
St Lucia Factfile
When to go
Temperature Range: 21°C - 32°C
Most popular: Mid December - mid April
Best value: End of May, June, September, October and November
Best weather: December - April
Travel Information
Direct flights: British Airways and Virgin Atlantic
Indirect flights: British Airways via London Gatwick from regional airports such as Manchester
Visa information: None for British citizens
Health information: Typhoid, Polio and Hepatitis A are recommended
Time Difference: GMT -4 hours
When To Go
Best Value
Those looking to avoid higher prices and crowded beaches should stick to mid April to early December. Prices on airline tickets and hotels can drop significantly and will remain low for the summer and hurricane season, although you will find prices do increase towards July due to St. Lucia's carnival and also early May when the annual Jazz Festival is held.
Best Time to Go
St. Lucia is best visited in the dry months from mid December to Mid April as the island experiences the least amount of rainfall during this time and weather remains warm without being stifling. Hotels will generally use this season to schedule most of their events and attractions, meaning there can be slightly more on offer.
Most Popular
Most people chose to visit St. Lucia during the high season of December to April, in particular visitors from Europe, Canada and America in order to escape the cooler climate back home. Those looking to socialise will find that this is the best time to visit as bars and restaurants are busier and nightlife lively and bustling.
Hottest
The summer months of June through to August are usually the hottest in St. Lucia, temperatures during these months can reach up to 35°C. During July and August the island has more rainfall which increases humidity, showers tend to be brief and blue skies usually quickly follow. The heat is less noticeable when you are staying close to the beach due to the trade winds, but be prepared that main town areas will be hotter with little or no breeze.
Climate
St. Lucia enjoys a warm climate throughout the year with an average yearly temperature of 27°C. The island has gentle trade winds most of the year and has year round temperature between 21 and 32°C with humidity ranges from 66 to 94 percent. Hurricane season runs from June through November, but bad weather is rare.
St Lucia Travel Information
Etiquette and Customs
Beach attire should be worn for the beach, beach bars and pool; it is not suitable for town, shops or restaurants.
It is advised to drink bottled water in Saint Lucia.
Possession or trafficking illegal drugs will result in long prison sentences and heavy fines.
Any camouflage clothing is illegal as is reserved for the military.
Although crime is relatively low always be aware of possessions and do not draw attention to yourself with extravagant expensive jewellery.
Tipping
The local standard for gratuities is around 10 percent of your total bill for restaurant staff and taxi drivers. Bellboys, room service, and maids should be given at least $1(USD), although tipping may be prohibited in all inclusive resorts and some larger hotels so please check first.
Flight information
There two main carriers offering flights to St. Lucia from the UK giving you the option to fly seven days a week.
Direct Carriers: Direct carriers from the UK are British Airways and Virgin from London Gatwick.
Indirect Carriers: British Airways offer flights from most other regional airports such as Manchester, Glasgow and Edinburgh with a connection via London Gatwick.
Visa information
British Citizens are NOT required to have a visa to enter St. Lucia for up to 42 days but your passport must be valid for at least six months after your date of return.
St Lucia Special Offers
per person
per couple
Direct Flights Available
