Holidays To St Lucia

Getting To, From And Around St Lucia

There are a number of direct flights from the UK to St Lucia, with the likes of TUI, offering direct flights on certain days of the week, allowing for 7 nights and 14 night holidays. The journey takes just short of 9 hours and lands at Hewanorra International Airport (airport code UVF) in the very south of the island near Vieux Fort. British Airways also offers flight inclusive holidays with direct flights, however, other options include indirect flights via the US such as Miami and New York.

Once you've arrived, you can take a taxi or private transfer to your hotel, the price of which will vary depending on where you are staying on the island. A really good option is organising either a private transfer or shared coach transfer when you book with your travel agent or tour operator, especially if you plan on simply staying at your resort and enjoying the facilities. Car hire is another fantastic option if you like to get out and explore. There's plenty of the island to discover and hiring a car from the airport gives you thr freedom to do so. For just a hire care for one or two days, the reception staff or concierge at your hotel can help you organise one locally.

Booking a package holiday can often be the best option, rather than booking a flight and hotel separately, however, especially in times of Covid 19, it's important to book an ATOL protected package for your financial protection with the likes of TUI Holidays, BA Holidays, Kuoni and First Choice. Always check the latest travel advice from the Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office before you book and travel.

Things To Do

Although you might come on holiday to relax by the pool with a cocktail, there are lots of things to do, from beautiful white sand beaches to a drive in volcano. Here are a few of our favourites:

Beaches

St Lucia offers some mesmerising tropical beaches, with soft golden sand and palm trees lining the shore. There's a good chance your hotel will be located on or very close to one of the island's incredible beaches with a few of our favourites including the Anse Chastanet, a typical tropical stunner, perfect for those Instagram photos, and Anse des Pitons with the beautiful and iconic backdrop of the Gros Piton volcanic spire.

Day Trips & Attractions

Gros Piton is a wonderful day trip if you love hiking. Reaching a peak of 798m, the 4 mile trail can be tough and will take around 3-6 hours from the trail head, depending on your level of fitness. Make sure to take plenty of water and appropriate shoes up the hike and it's advised to go much earlier in the day to avoid the midday and afternoon heat. The dry season is also best to hike to ensure a firm and stable path.

Pigeon Island National Landmark, located in the north of the island, and not far from Reduit Beach, is an exploration into a bit of the history of the island. The reserve was joined to the island by a manmade causeway in the 1970s and offers visits the opportunity to wander around military building ruins, and a lookout point for wonderful views of the coast.

Scuba Diving And Snorkelling

The turquoise waters of this Caribbean island make St Lucia a wonderful place to enjoy scuba diving and snorkelling, often considered one of the world's best spots. Here you'll find interesting marine parks, unusual shipwrecks and colourful corals reefs, perfect for exploring if you fancy time away from the pool. Some hotels may have snorkelling and even diving facilities onsite, however, you can also organise a trip with one of the local diving businesses, and your hotel can also help you organise this.

Eating Out

While many hotels focus on keeping you in resort with all inclusive options, there are so many fantastic places to eat out at around the island, from well known restaurants to local cafes serving up delicious Caribbean cuisine. A trip into Castries, Saint Lucia's capital city, provides plenty of choice for a bite to eat, including popular places like The Pink Plantation House and The Coal Pot, or for a special treat, the Jade Mountain Club, a couple of kilometres outside of Soufriere offers exquisite dishes with one of the most incredible views on the island.

Where To Stay

Wherever you stay, you're sure to have a wonderful Caribbean holiday, however, with such a diverse island, you might want to make sure you stay at a particular type of resort or region. There are plenty of hotels in St Lucia to choose from and here are some of the key places to stay:

Soufriere

Located in the west, the region of Soufriere is home to the Piton Mountains, Soufriere town, Diamond Botanical Gardens and a number of warm water beaches including Anse Mamin, Anse Chastanet and Malgretoute Beach. Popular resorts you might want to look at here are Bel Jou, Sugar Beach and Sugar Beach Residences. Once you're outside of the main town, the resorts are relatively quiet.

Castries

The capital of the island, staying close to Castries allows you to combine the beach with the hustle and bustle of a vibrant market town. Although you'll likely stay outside of the city, it's a nice way to break up your trip, taking in a bit of culture and some Creole dishes, amongst the colonial architecture.

North St Lucia And Rodney Bay

Although the furthest region from the international airport, Rodney Bay, Smugglers Cove and Cap Estate in the north provide some fantastic resort style hotels, and more of a holiday and touristy feel. Away from hotels like Sandals Grande St Lucian, BodyHoliday and the Royalton Saint Lucia, you can head into Rodney Bay to enjoy a bit of shopping, some great restaurants and the marina.