Airlines:
Air Jamaica, Air Caribe, Air Canada, Air Martinique, American Eagle, British Airways, Caribbean Star, LIAT, Virgin Atlantic and International Charters.

**Please note clients who book a villa on St. Lucia with Villas Caribe are eligible for discounted airfare on Air Jamaica.

St. Lucia Airport:
Guests fly into either the George Charles Airport (Vigie/Castries) located on the northern part of the island or the Hewannora International Airport located at Vieux Fort on the southern trip of the island. The majority of the villas we represent which are located in the Cap Estate area are closer in proximity to the George Charles/Vigie Airport (around a 20-30 minute drive).

Airport Transfers:
Helicopter transfers are available from Hewanorra to Castries and can be booked directly through St. Lucia Helicopters Ltd. by PH# 758-453-6950, or by Fax# 758-452-1553.  Airport transfers are highly recommended and can be arranged for additional fees.

    Airport Transfer Costs:

        HEWANORRA/CAP or TROUYA/HEWANORRA
        US $135 (1-3 PERSONS)
        US $150 (4-5 PERSONS)
        US $175 (6 PERSONS)
        US $200 (7-8 PERSONS)
        US $226 (9-10 PERSONS)

        GEOCHARLES/CAP OR TROUYA/GEOCHARLES
        US $50 (1-3 PERSONS)
        US $56 (4 PERSONS)
        US $66 (5-6 PERSONS)
        US $78 (7-8 PERSONS)
        US $94 (9-10 PERSONS)
         
        HEWANORRA/RODNEY BAY/HEWANORRA
        US $127 (1-3 PERSONS)
        US $145 (4-5 PERSONS)
        US $168 (6 PERSONS)
        US $195 (7-8 PERSONS)
         
        GEO CHARLES/RODNEY BAY/GEO CHARLES
        US $45 (1-3 PERSONS)
        US $54 (4 PERSONS)
        US $62 (5-6 PERSONS)
        US $75 (7-8 PERSON)
         
        CHARLES/ST. REMY(SOUFRIERE)/G. CHARLES
        US $185 (1-2 PERSONS)
        US $200 (3-4 PERSONS)
        US $215 (5-6 PERSONS)
         
        HEW/ST. REMY (SOUFIRERE)/HEWANORRA
        US $114 (1-2 PERSONS)
        US $136 (3-4 PERSONS)
        US $152 (5-6 PERSONS)

        GEO CHARLES/VIGIE/GEO CHARLES
        US $26 (1-3 PERSONS)
        US $33 (4-5 PERSONS)
        US $46 (6-7 PERSONS)
        US $66 (8-9 PERSONS)
        US $85 (10 PERSONS)

        HEWANORRA/VIGIE/HEWANORRA
        US $115 (1-3 PERSONS)
        US $140 (4-5 PERSONS)
        US $152 (6-7 PERSONS)
        US $166 (8-9 PERSONS)
        US $199 (10 PERSONS)

        + EXCESS LUGGAGE
        US $50 GEO CHARLES ROUND TRIP
        US $130 HEWANORRA ROUND TRIP
         
        DIVIDE THE RATES ABOVE BY TWO FOR ONE-WAY TRANSFERS
        AIRLINES:
         

Banks:
Banks on the island are open Monday to Thursday, 8:00 Am-3:00 PM and Friday from 8:00 AM-5:00 PM.

Boating:
Bareboat and crewed yachts are available for charter through several companies located at Rodney and Marigot Bay. Both marinas offer yachts and sail boats that are available for charter to navigate the West Indies and the Grenadines.  Both marinas offer safe anchorage, restaurants and groceries.

Cancellation Penalties:
In the event of a cancellation, penalties will be assessed on any deposits or final payments received. The amount of the penalty can vary depending upon the particular property reserved as well as how far in advance the cancellation is received. Generally, cancellations made prior to 45 days of arrival are subject to a minimum penalty of 25% of the gross rental rate of the property. Generally, there are no refunds for cancellations made within 45 days of arrival during either the winter season and during the summer season. Trip cancellation insurance is advised and available through our company.

Check-In/Check-Out Times:
Check-in time is 2:00 PM or later for the villas on St. Lucia.
Most villas require guests to vacate their villas no later than 12:00 noon unless otherwise noted.
When circumstances permit, allowances are usually made for late departures.

Churches:
Approximately 80% of St. Lucians are Roman Catholic but other churches/denominations may be found on the island.

Communications:
Please note that there are no facilities for direct dialed overseas phone calls from the villas. If you wish to place an overseas call, you must first dial the operator and she will only place an overseas call if you call collect or use a credit card.

Telephones and mobile/cell phones are operated by Cable & Wireless. Phone cards are available at Cable/Wireless offices as well as many other outlets to include airports, Rodney Bay Marina etc.

St. Lucia uses the TDMA (North American) system and therefore the GSM system (European) is not compatible.

Mobile phones are available for rental from Cable & Wireless Caribbean Cellular.

Internet access is available at most shopping malls and at Cable & Wireless.

Currency:
The currency of St. Lucia is the Eastern Caribbean Dollar which is linked to the US Dollar with an exchange rate of 1 US $ to 2.70 ECS.
The U.S. dollar is widely accepted on the island as well as most major international credit cards.

Deep Sea Fishing:
Vast arrays of big game fish live in the oceans surrounding St. Lucia.
Depending upon the time of year, anglers may land a variety of fish including mackerel, king mackerel, white marlin, barracuda, kingfish and sailfish.
 
Departure Tax:
A departure tax of US $22 applies to all passengers over 12 yrs. of age leaving the island.

Driving:
Driving is on the left hand side of the road and all visitors who do not possess an international driving permit must purchase a temporary permit in order to drive in St. Lucia. The permits are good for three months, cost US $20.00 and are available through the major car rental companies.

Electricity:
220-240 volts. Adapters for small personal appliances are required.

Entry Requirements:
Visitors must present valid passports except US & Canadian citizens who may alternatively enter with a certified copy of a birth certificate along with a photo I.D.

Entertainment:
The majority of the hotels and resorts offer some form of entertainment most nights-including live bands and various cultural performances.  Additionally, many of the island’s bars and restaurants offer music in the evenings.

Golf:
The St. Lucia Golf & Country Club located in the scenic, rolling hills of the exclusive Cap Estates offers a newly designed, fully irrigated 6829 yard, par 71 championship golf course. A semi-private golf course it accommodates players of all skill levels all within a gorgeous tropical landscape with panoramic views of both the Caribbean and the Atlantic.

    St. Lucia Golf & Country Club Phone: 758-450-8523

        Golf Packages:
        9 holes:
        $70 US per person
        $20 US for club rental
        $10 US for shoe rental

        18 holes:
        $95 US per person
        $20 US for club rental
        $10 US for shoe rental

Government:
St. Lucia is an independent democratic nation that is part of the British Commonwealth.

Hiking:
A variety of hiking opportunities exist on St. Lucia on a number of nature trails as well as hikes through the mountainous rainforests of ST. Lucia (where hikers can see 30 species of birds-including perhaps the rare and beautiful parrot, Jacquot. Jeep safaris and All Terrain Vehicle trips are available as well for exploring off-road terrain.

Horseback Riding:
A variety of horseback riding excursions are available on the island.  St. Lucia offers lush and dramatic trails along deserted beaches where riders can savor the spectacular serenity and serenity of the island.

    International Riding Stables in Gros Islet Phone: 758-452-8139

Language:
English is the official language, but the majority of St. Lucians speak a French Creole commonly called “patois”.

Minimum Rental Periods:
Christmas & New Year: Minimum stay of 14 nights required.
Annual Jazz Festival: Minimum stay of 5 nights required.
December 15 - April 14: Minimum stay of 5 nights required
April 15 - December 14: Minimum stay of 3 nights required.

Miscellaneous Information:
Roll-a-way beds, cribs, TV/VCR rentals etc. are available for additional charges and all are subject to additional fees and service charges.

Nightclubs:
Indies: Located at Rodney Bay
Le Charlet: Located at Rodney Bay
Shamrock's Pub:Located at Rodney Bay
The Jazz Lounge: Located at Rodney Bay

Payments, Deposits and Final Payments:
A written confirmation along with an invoice will be mailed to guests as soon as they request a confirmation of a reservation. If the reservation is made more than 60 days prior to arrival, a 25% deposit is required within one week to confirm the reservation. Final payments are due approximately 60 days prior to a guest’s arrival date. For reservations made less than 60 days prior to arrival, full payment is due immediately in full. Reservations are not considered final until the deposit is received.

Payments made within 30 days of arrival must be made either a certified or cashier’s check or via a bank wire transfer.

Places to Visit:

    Anse Chastanet:
    Located just north of Soufriere, Anse Chastanet offers a palm studded, gray sand beach against a dramatic backdrop of lush green hills, and offers the best reefs for snorkeling and diving on the island.

    Marigot Bay:
    A beautiful natural yacht harbor.  Parts of the movie, Doctor Doolittle, were filmed here.  Doolittle’s Cafe is nice for refreshments.

    Pigeon Point:
    A National Park with historical and archaeological sites and a small museum.  A nice place to picnic and watch the birds.
     
    Soufriere:
    Including the Anse Chastanet and its great snorkeling, the Diamond Waterfall, the drive-in-volcano, Mineral Baths, the Pitons and the Sulphur Springs.  It is a long (two hour) drive and is best visited by private boat or on one of the day charters (Unicorn, Maho etc.).

Pre-Stocking and Food Packages:
Guests may have the villa pre-stocked with the food and beverages of their choice for their arrival for additional fees.

    STARTER FOOD PACK
    1 SMALL BOX OF TEABAGS
    1 NESCAFE 50g
    1 ORANGE JUICE – SMALL BOTTLE
    1 PACKET OF CRACKERS
    1 lb FLOUR
    1 SMALL PACKET OF SALT
    1 MAYONNAISE 250 ml
    1 OIL (NOT COCONUT OIL)
    1 KETCHUP SMALL
    1 SALAD DRESSING
    1 PACKET BLACK PEPPER
    1 JAM OR MARMALADE
    1 BOX OF CEREAL
    1 BOTTLE OF LARGE SODA ( USUALLY COKE OR SPRITE)
    1 BOTTLE OF WATER PER PERSON
    1 BEER PER PAX.
    1 LOAF OF BREAD
    BUTTER
    MILK
    1 PACK BACON
    1 PACK OF PORK SAUSAGES
    CHICKEN LEGS OR BREAST OR FISH
    ½ LIT. ICE CREAM
    1 DOZ. EGGS ( 2 – 3 PESONS – ½ DOZEN EGGS)
    CHEDDER CHEESE
    SALAD, FRUIT, VEGETABLES – LETTUCE, TOMATOES, ONIONS, GARLIC, PARSLEY, CARROTS, LOCAL FRUIT IF POSSIBLE
    RICE OR PATATOES


    PLEASE NOTE THIS IS TO BE USED AS A GUIDELINE AND WILL BE PROVIDED, SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY. Please delete from, or add to list.Cost approximately – US$40.00 per person and is subject to a 15% service and delivery charge which will be assessed on the total amount of your grocery order. Approximate cost of US$40.00 is for 1 person but this drops to approx. US$35.00 per person if buying for 2 or more persons.

Rental Vehicles:
Rental vehicles are highly recommended and may be arranged for additional costs. We strongly recommend clients rent 4 wheel drive vehicles due to the poor condition of the roads on St. Lucia. Rental vehicles may be picked up at the airport upon arrival or delivered on a complementary basis to the villa. Weekly rental rates range from US $300 to US $000 depending upon the type of vehicle.  Children’s car seats are available for rental upon request for additional fees.

    Group A Vehicles:
    Small Manual car No A/C, 4 seater - $270/wk - $45/day
     
    Group B Vehicles:
    Small Automatic car with A/C, 4 seater - $300/wk. $50/day
     
    Group C Vehicles:
    Medium Manual car with A/C, 5 seater - $360/wk. - $60/day
    Soft Top Manual 4 x 4 – No A/C, 4 seater - $360/wk. - $60/day
    Hard top Manual or Automatic 4 x 4 with A/C, 4 seater - $360/wk. and $60/day
     
    Group D Vehicles:
    Automatic car with A/C, 5 seater - $390/wk. $65/day
     
    Group E Vehicles:
    Fully Loaded 4 x 4, 5 Doors, A/C, Manual - $450/wk. - $75/day
     
    Group F Vehicles:
    Mini Bus, Automatic, A/C, 8 seater - $500/wk. - $85/day

Scuba Diving Operators:
Scuba St. Lucia: Phone 800-223-1108
Buddies Scuba: Phone 758-452-5288
Dolphin Divers: Phone: 758-451-1476

Shopping:
While there are individual shops dotted here and there around the island, for the most part the shops tend to be collected in specific, developed parts of the island.  Duty-free shopping is available at Pointe Seraphine Shopping Complex which is located on the west side of Castries Harbour.  In order to be eligible to make duty-free purchases, you must bring your airline ticket with you.  Gift items and souvenirs are available at the Sea Island Cotton Shop in Castries, Bagshaws at La Toc and Noah's Arcade in Castries and at Reduit. Other notables include the wonderful cotton clothing at the Windjammer and the Caribelle Batik.  Bagshaws has a wonderful silk screen studio where you can shop, as well, for beautiful original designs in a wide variety of tropical clothing and gifts.
 
** Store hours vary, but are generally from 8:30 AM until 12:30 PM, and 1:30 -4:30PM on Mondays through Fridays.  Stores are usually only open a half day on Saturday from around 8:00AM until noon.  Most stores are closed on Sunday.

Security Deposits:
At present, none of the properties on St. Lucia require a security/damage deposit.

Squash:
St. Lucia Racquet Club at Club St. Lucia Phone: 758-450-055

Stables:
Located at Cas en Bas-phone:  452.8273
Offers a variety of one and two hour sessions throughout the day.
 
Sports:
Golf, Horseback Riding, Scuba Diving, Squash, Tennis.

Staff:
The majority of the properties on St. Lucia include a minimal staff of a cook/housekeeper six days per week. Larger villas may have more extensive staffs. The staffs at the villas are responsible for the villa’s house laundry. If you wish them to do your personal laundry, prior arrangements should be made with our on-island representatives for additional fees.

Taxes:
None of the villas we currently represent on St. Lucia are currently subject to any additional taxes with the exception of the villas located at the Windjammer Hotel/Resort.
Hotel and restaurants, however, will add an 8% government tax and some will, also, add a 10% service charge.

Tennis:
Most of the major hotels on St. Lucia have tennis courts that are available for use for a small fee.
The St. Lucian Hotel and Windjammer Beach Resort have courts with prices varying. The St. Lucia Racquet Club at Club St. Lucia in Cap Estate offers good facilities with 9 flood lit tennis courts.

    St. Lucian Hotel: 758-452-8351
    St. Lucia Racquet Club Phone: 758-450-5441

Time Zone:
St. Lucia is on Atlantic Standard Time, one hour ahead of Eastern Standard Time. When the east coast of the U.S. observes Daylight Savings Time, St. Lucia’s time remains the same.

Tipping:
We recommend guests tip the entire staff US $25 per week, per couple.

Weddings:
A wedding at a private villa on St. Lucia is an excellent choice and provides a romantic backdrop of lush flowering gardens and expansive ocean views - a perfect setting.

It is necessary to meet with a local lawyer to arrange the legal formalities. The ceremony is conducted by the Registrar and is legal according to British Law. Ceremonies may be arranged Monday-Friday between 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM. The date and time selected is at the Registrar’s availability and should be confirmed before arrival.

A residency period of two full working days is required before applications can be made to the Governor.  Please keep in mind that time must be allowed to process the application so please allow 3-5 full working days prior to the actual wedding ceremony.

    Original Documents Required:
    -Valid Passports
    -Birth Certificate
    -If one of the parties is a divorced, the divorce certificate including the Decree Absolute is required.
    -In the case of a widow/widower, a Death Certificate is required.
    -If a name has been changed, full proof is required.
    -Notarized sworn affidavit stating parental consent for anyone under the age of 18 yrs.

The maximum number of guests that can be accommodated at the wedding ceremony are the maximum number of guests permitted at the villa plus six invited guests. With prior permission and additional charges, larger parties may be accommodated.

    Wedding Packages:
    -A wedding package for US $650 is available and includes the following:
    -Basic decorating of location
    -Bouquet for the bride
    -Buttonhole for the groom
    -Fruit cake or cheese cake
    -Two bottles of Californian Champagne
    -Wedding cake
    -Legal Fees
    -Register Fees
    -General Wedding coordination, which includes; organization of the Registrar, arranging the ceremony and reception at the villa, ordering the bouquet for the bride and the buttonhole for the groom and any extras requested by the couple

    Suggested Locations:
    Cap Pavilion
    Hummingbird House
    Smuggler’s Point

    Optional Extras:
    Music:
    Steel Band-US $185
    Trio-US $95
    Guitarist-US $66
    Saxophonist-US $165

        Video:
        Standard: US $115
        Extended: US $185
        Duplicate Copy: US $50
        Standard video includes: The actual ceremony, cutting of the cake and champagne toast.
        Extended video includes: Shots of the island, bride preparing in room, groom waiting in another room, wedding site, ceremony, signing of registrar book, presentation of marriage certificate, cutting the cake, music and graphics.

        Photos:
        36 Prints & Negatives: US $136
        24 Prints & Negatives-US $95
        Extra Prints (each)-US $24

        Flowers:
        Bridesmaid Bouquet-US $25
        Flower Girl Basket-US $15
        Corsage (for ladies)-US $8
        Buttonhole (for gentleman)-US $4

        Flowers for Hair:
        Comb or Tiara-US $10
        Garland-US $15

        Beauty:
        Hairdresser-US $20
        Manicurist-US $10
        Pedicurist-US $15
        Make-Up Artist-US $10

Windsurfing:
Beginners will find the calmer waters of the West Coast ideal and equipment and instruction is available at most hotels and several windsurfing centers around the island.

Yacht Charters:
Sunsail Stevens, located at Rodney Bay Marina offers a wide variety of yachts, bareboat or crewed charters, phone, 28648.  Tradewind Yacht Charters Ltd., at the Rodney Bay Marina, offers luxury crewed yachts up to 80ft. and a selection of bare boats for charter.  Day and overnight trips to Martinique can be arranged, phone 28424.  Via Carib Yacht Charters, located at the Rodney Bay Marina, offers daily and weekly charters that are either bareboat or crewed.  Selections include a 31ft. Pearson and 28 and 43ft. Irwins.  Arrangements can be made by stopping by the marina.
 
If you have further questions regarding your St. Lucia rental villa, or the sights and activities that are nearby, please do not hesitate to contact one of our experienced St. Lucia villa rental consultants or visit our complete collection of St. Lucia villas by clicking here.