The currency of the country is the East Caribbean dollar, denoted by the symbol: “$” or “EC$” (ISO currency code: XCD), which is also used by seven other island nations in the Caribbean. The EC dollar is subdivided into 100 cents. It is pegged to the United States dollar at an exchange rate of US$1 = EC$2.70.

Coins circulate in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10 and 25 cents and 1 dollar. Banknotes circulate in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 dollars.

The main way for tourists to get around St. Lucia is by taxi, either arranged by the hotel, taxi agency or individual operators. The tours arranged by resorts are usually the most expensive way to travel but might offer food and drink. Using a local taxi operator to plan your own adventure will be much more affordable. Your hotel staff should provide you with a number of a taxi agency or operator that they use regularly. The prices are generally fixed but you can shop around to get the best rate if given several numbers. Many taxi drivers that run from the resorts to the marketplaces will offer tours of the island for around $145 per van load. Each van will hold between 6 and 12 people.

For the budget travellers or the more adventurous tourists, local buses provide a cheap and fun way of getting around. They are small vans which hold around 10-14 people and vary in quality. They run irregularly, but frequently from rural towns to urban centers, (i.e. Soufriere to Castries, Soufriere to Vieux Fort, Vieux Fort to Castries), each day most travelling to Castries in the morning and returning to Soufriere late afternoon. They are very affordable and provide a unique experience each time; the vehicle operators often decorate the interiors and play their own music, either a mix of Caribbean flavours or country. If you want to try and take a transport discuss your route and travel time with one of the local staff familiar with the bus system. Many of them likely take a transport to and from work.

Water taxis are a main source of income for many locals and can be a much quicker, convenient and picturesque method of traveling short distances to private beaches or coastal towns. Many water taxi operators in the Town of Soufriere can be found at the jetty. The rates of these drivers are a little high and can be bargained down. There are a few taxi owners who regularly play dominoes and sell drinks near the Hummingbird Hotel and Soufriere beach. They can offer a much cheaper rate. From Soufriere, you can take a water taxi to Anse Chastenet and Jalousie Beaches.

A helicopter taxi can be taken from Hewannora airport to Vigie airport and is a quick and spectacular way to get to the resorts on the Northern end of the island.

Renting a car is also possible at rates similar to those found in the United States or Canada. Driving is on the left-hand side and drivers require a permit ($12 US for one day, $21 US for 3 months).

• Windward Islands – Windward Islands, the yacht charter company, can take care of all charter requirements, from bareboat to crewed in St Lucia (starting Rodney Bay and Marigot Bay), Martinique and St Vincent. Operating from 8 offices (USA, UK, Germany, France, Spain, Switzerland, Caribbean, Monaco).
  

EAT:

Local:

St Lucian food consists mainly of fresh fruit and vegetables, fish and a variety of curry, jerk, rice and stewed dishes. The coal pot is a delicious stew, traditional to native carib cultures and can be found at many local restaurants in Castries, Soufriere and Vieux-Fort. Vegetarian and meat rotis can be found at a number of small local restaurants. Ask any local for the best roti shop and he or she will tell you how to get there. Rotis are usually made fresh in the morning so, if eating a spicy early lunch is of interest, it’s highly recommended. Local cuisine is prepared throughout the island so, depending on where you are staying, ask a local if he or she knows someone/somewhere that prepares local food and you will be sure to be welcomed somewhere nearby. Many rum shacks in rural towns also prepare food if given advanced notice. Fish, veggie, chicken and goat meals are very common and usually come with a number of sides including salad, plantain, breadfruit, macaroni, and rice prepared a number of different ways.

For a quick snack, barbeques with chicken and pork can be found in any community on a Friday night. The food is well marinated and spiced. Soak up the sauce with a barbequed or fried bake. Fried chicken and fish can also be found, and are quite delicious.

There are weekly parties and festivals held in various communities throughout the island where you can also sample a range of local foods, including sea food, barbequed meats, salads and drinks. These festivals are filled with dancing, drinks, food and music. Let your hair down, try some cuisine and lime it up. Be sure to ask what is in the pots before you sample the food. For those environmentally conscious, blackfish is porpoise.

• Friday night: Anse La Raye “Seafood Friday”
• Friday night: Rodney Bay Jump-up
• Every Second Saturday: Canaries Creole Pot
• Saturday: Dennery (East coast) Fish Fry

International:

Rodney Bay is full of people from all over the world and the restaurants reflect the diversity. You can find a variety of cuisines, from East Indian to Italian including local dishes of course, in a small area.

DRINK:

Saint Lucia Distillers produces a variety of rums across a wide price range.

• 1931 – A super premium series of rum that’s produced in limited quantity batches each year
• Chairman’s Reserve – Premium rum that includes a spiced rum, a white rum, and two dark rums
• Crystal Lime – A rum-based lime liqueur
• Bounty – A mass market red rum that’s commonly drunk on the island
• Marigot Bay Liqueurs – Rum-based cream liqueurs. Varieties include coconut and banana
• In addition to rums, Piton Lager beer is brewed and bottled on the island and is quite good. It has 5% alcohol by volume, a slightly greater percentage than most American beers but very much in line with many European beers.

St. Lucia is home to a huge number of resort hotels as well as small boutique hotels and self-catering villas, condos, and vacation apartments.

• SunWest Villas, Rodney Bay, Gros Islet. Good location.
• Oceanview Hotel, Rodney Bay, Gros Islet. Small hotel resort with 37 rooms and a spa.
• Villa Beach Cottages, Castries. Self-catering beachfront villas.
• The Inn On The Bay, Marigot Bay. 5-room hotel overlooking Marigot Bay.
• Jade Mountain, Castries.
• Oasis Marigot, 177 Seaview Ave (Marigot Bay), +1-800-263-4202. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: 11AM. Oasis Marigot is a vacation community nestled on the hillside overlooking Marigot Beach. It offers different types of accommodations to fit a range of budgets. All units enjoy a spectacular view of the bay. From $159.
• Windjammer Landing, Labrelotte Bay, +1 758-456-9000. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: 11AM. Merranean village-style resort on 55 acres of lush tropical landscaping overlooking picturesque Labrelotte Bay.
• The Jalousie Plantation, Forbidden Beach Soufriere, +1 758 456-8000. Beach resort, embraced by the majestic Pitons.
• Harbour Lights inn, Castries, City Gate, +1 758-452-3506. A cheap guest house just next to the Vigi airport. Rooms include showers and toilet, and A/C rooms are available for extra money. Has Wi-Fi. 33/44 USD Single/Double no AC.
• Bay Gardens Beach Resort and Spa, Rodney Bay, Gros Islet, +1 758-457-8500. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: 11AM. 4-star Caribbean beach resort located on Reduit Beach.
• Bay Gardens Hotel, Rodney Bay, Gros Islet, +1 758-457-8000. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 11AM. Medium-sized 3-star property, 5 minutes away from sister property, Bay Gardens Beach Resort. From $70.
• Bay Gardens Inn, Rodney Bay, Gros Islet, +1 758-452-8200. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 11AM. Cozy, intimate 3-star hotel, voted Best Small Hotel in the Caribbean by Virgin Holidays. From $66.
• Cap Maison, Smugglers Cove Dr, +1 758 457-8670. Designed in an elegant Spanish Caribbean style, Cap Maison is a stylish boutique resort.
• Royal St Lucia, Castries, +1 305-471-6170 (N.A.), +44 20 8741-5333 (UK). A peaceful resort.
• La Panache Ocean View Guesthouse (corner of Hill Top Avenue and Cas En Bas Road, Gros Islet). Near Gros Islet, Rodney Bay and the marina yacht harbour, on a hill with a nice view. All apartments are equipped with a basic kitchen, bathrooms and ocean view balconies. High speed wireless Internet access is free. US$65.

All-inclusive resorts:

• East Winds Inn
• Ladera – 5 Star, amazing views, Eco-tourist
• Sandals – Exclusive, couples only
• Rendezvous, The Couples Resort
• The BodyHoliday LeSPORT Resort
• Stonefield Estate Villa Resort
• Anse Chastenet
• Fond Doux Plantation – 3 Star
• Coconut Bay Resort & Spa (Vieux Fort)
• Calabash Cove Resort – Boutique, Ocean front cottages 5 Star

TBC.