St. Lucia

Temperature
St. Lucia has a tropical climate. August and September are the hottest two months with temperatures reaching 95 – 100F. Trade winds provide cooling breezes most of the year. St. Lucia enjoys an average of 7-11 hours of sunshine daily all year round. A sun hat and sunscreen (Coral Safe) is recommended at all times. Rainy season is between June and November. Humidity is particularly high during August and September (the hottest months) as the Trade Winds ease off. St. Lucia is located in the hurricane belt. Generally, the strongest storms coincide with the rainy season, which runs from June to November. Trip insurance is highly recommended.

Electricity
Anse Chastanet has both 220 V and 110 V outlets so no need for adapters. If for some reason adapters are needed, extra adapters are available at the front desk.

Passports
Please ensure your passport is valid for at least 6 months after your return to your country of origin.

Taxes
The government imposes an 8% occupancy tax on hotel rooms, and there’s a $26 departure tax for both airports. Children 11 and under don’t pay departure tax.

Etiquette & Customs
The dress code at the resort in the evenings is smart casual. Gentlemen usually wear collared shirts and bermuda shorts in the evenings. Light cotton or linen clothing is the most comfortable. At lunch, we request dry clothing in the beach restaurant and a light cover up.

Language
The language most commonly spoken in the village and rural areas is Kwéyo`l,a creole. It’s a mixture of French and African languages. English is the language of instruction in the schools and the language used in business, governmental institutions, and most formal settings.

Water/Food
The main water supply in St. Lucia is chlorinated and considered safe to drink, but may taste a little strange if you are not used to the chlorine. Ice served in drinks is usually made from tap water and is also considered safe to drink. Bottled mineral water is available from Hotels and shopping malls and is inexpensive if you prefer not to drink tap water. St Lucian food is a combination of Creole with French and West Indian influences. Fresh seafood is abundant and often caught locally and many of the upmarket restaurants serve locally produced vegetables and fruits. Other popular Caribbean dishes are lobster, stewed fish and plantains and Callaloo, a spinach-like soup made from the leaves of the dasheen plant.

Tipping
St. Lucia doesn’t share quite the same tipping culture as the U.S. Most restaurants and bars will add 10% for service to the bill, anything additional is up to you. That said, St. Lucia is an island that relies heavily on tourism, so feel free to tip to your heart’s content if you feel you’ve received exceptional service from your taxi driver, tour guide, or bartender.

Currency
St. Lucia has its own currency, the Eastern Caribbean dollar, but that doesn’t mean you need to convert an obscene amount of cash before you arrive. Most places accept U.S. dollars, though you might be given change in Eastern Caribbean dollars. Tip: Always carry some cash because the option to pay by card isn’t always available.