St Lucia / Island Essentials

All travellers to St Lucia will need to know the essential island facts.  The information on St Lucia shown below is current (2011-12).

Currency/Credit Cards

The currency of St Lucia is the Eastern Caribbean Dollar (EC$) which is fixed to the US dollar at a rate of US$1 = EC$2.65 and is used by all the former British islands between Anguilla and Grenada. All prices on island are quoted in EC Dollars, with the exception of hotel rates, which are in US only, and duty free items, for which prices are given in both EC and US Dollars. When out and about in St Lucia you will find that the US dollar is accepted (notes, not coins) by everyone. However in restaurants, supermarkets and large stores you will find that the rate of exchange will not be as favourable as against exchanging money at the bank. 

Credit cards are widely accepted by anywhere that deals regularly with tourists, in restaurants, duty free shops, large stores and supermarkets. Most major cards are accepted, but perhaps double check in advance when making reservations at restaurants. Do not expect local bars or small local restaurants to accept them.

Check-in/Check out

As a general rule check-out times are at around 12 noon and check-in is some time after 2pm. This may not be inconvenient because the majority of international arrivals into St Lucia arrive in the mid afternoon. Some properties may be flexible on check-in or check-out times by prior arrangement. If you are arriving on-island earlier in the day let them know and they may be happy to provide a day room/shower facilities subject to availability.

Departure Tax/Taxes

From early 2008, the departure tax of US$26 per person will be included to airline ticket prices, meaning that your departure tax will be paid at the time of purchase. 

Hotels are required to add 8% tax to all bills (including bar and dining room bills, unlike outside restaurants) and they will usually add a 10% service charge too.

Electricity

The electrical current in St Lucia is 220 volts AC, 50 cycles, with three-pin sockets in square UK style, so you may well need an adapter. Some hotels offer dual voltage or transformers, so you are advised to check in advance.

Embassies/Consulates

British High Commission, 2nd Floor, Francis Compton Building, Waterfront, Castries, t 452 2484 

French Embassy, Nelson Mandela Drive, Vigie, Castries, t 455 6060 

Italian Vice Consulate, Reduit, PO Box GM848, t 452 0866 

Venezuelan Embassy, Casa Vigie, Castries, t 452 4033 

US and Canadian consular issues are handled in Barbados. 

Canadian High Commission, Bishop’s Court Hill, St Michael, t (+1246) 429 3550

Embassy of the United States, Broad Street, Bridgetown, t (+1246) 436 4950

Emergencies

Police, t 999 or 456 3700 
Fire and Ambulance t 911 
Air/Sea Rescue, t 452 2894, 452 1182, 453 6664

Medical

Generally St Lucia is pretty benign with regard to health and there are only a couple of diseases that you can encounter here that are not an issue in Europe or the States. Check that your coverage for polio and tetanus is in date. There is no malaria on the island, but there are very occasional outbreaks of another mosquito-borne disease, dengue fever. If there is an alert then you need to make sure that you don’t get bitten. 

There are no special requirements as far as vaccinations are concerned, but if in doubt please check with your GP. 

There are five medical facilities: 
In Castries is Tapion Hospital, t 459 2000, which is private and relatively expensive and has an emergency service. Victoria Hospital also in Castries, t 453 2421 is very basic. Around the island there is the Rodney Bay Medical Centre, t 452 8621, clinics in Dennery, t 453 3310 and Soufrière, t 459 72581 and the St Jude Hospital in Vieux Fort, t 454 6041. If you are seriously ill the best option is probably to be taken by air ambulance to Martinique which is part of France and therefore a member of the EC.

Nudity

Besides being against the law, nudity is not appreciated by the St Lucians on public beaches while in view. It happens on the remote east coast beaches occasionally, but they are hard to get to. A few hotels with effectively their own beaches do tolerate toplessness but that’s the limit.

Places of Worship

With their French heritage, almost 80% of St Lucians are Roman Catholic. As in most West Indian islands there is a plethora of other denominations including Anglican, Baptist, Methodist and Seventh Day Adventist. 

The Catholic Cathedral is on Sir Derek Walcott Square at the centre of Castries.

Service Charge/Tipping

Hotels in St Lucia have to apply government tax at 8% to all accommodation bills and then most levy a service charge, usually 10%, on top aswell. If you have booked through a tour operator or wholesaler then it will usually be included depending on you package, but if you are booking direct, make sure you calculate this in when pricing up your holiday. It can make quite a difference to the eventual price. 

Tipping for good service is the norm. In restaurants, check the bill, but around 10% should be added. In private villas and apartments, service is not included so all members of staff including, the ground staff, should be tipped on your departure. Check with the local property manager for guidance.

Time Zone

St Lucia is in the Atlantic Standard Time Zone, which is four hours behind GMT, ie Britain in winter, and five hours behind Europe. During the winter it is an hour ahead of the eastern seaboard of the USA. 

St Lucia has no daylight saving time, so when the clocks change in summer the island is five hours behind Britain, six behind Europe and on the same time as the eastern seaboard.

Water

The water in St Lucia is safely drinkable from the tap, but you may want to drink bottled water to reassure yourself. Water bottled in St Lucia includes Paradise and Piton Spring.