OVERVIEW
GENERAL INFORMATION Visitor Information:
Saint Lucia Tourist Board
P O Box 221
Top floor
Sure Line Building
Vide Bouteille, Castries Saint Lucia
Tel (758) 452 4094/5968
Fax (758) 453 1121
Email slutour@candw.lc
Director: Mr Hilary Modeste
Deputy Director: Mrs Maria Fowell
USA
Saint Lucia Tourist Board
820 2nd Avenue, 9th Floor
New York, NY 10017 USA
Tel (212) 867 2950
Fax (212) 867 2795
Toll free 1-800-4ST LUCIA
1-800-456-3984
Canada
Saint Lucia Tourist Board
8 King St East
Suite 700
Toronto, Ontario M5C 1B5 Canada
Toll Free: 1-800 869 0377
Tel (416) 362 4242
Fax (416) 362 7832
UK
Saint Lucia Tourist Board
421a Finchley Road
London, NW3 6HJ
England
Tel 207 431 3675
Fax 207 431 7920
Entry Requirements/Customs:
Valid passports are required for all visitors, except US and Canadian citizens who possess valid return tickets and I.D. and stay for less than six months. Visas are not required for citizens of the US or Commonwealth countries, or where there is agreement for exemption between the home country and St. Lucia.
The duty-free allowance into St. Lucia is 200 cigarettes (or 250 grams of tobacco or 50 cigars) and one litre of spirits or wine.
There is a Departure Tax of EC$35 for all passengers leaving the island.
Currency:
The currency of St. Lucia is the Eastern Caribbean Dollar which is linked to the US Dollar at the exchange rate of US$1 to EC$2.65. US Dollars are readily accepted throughout the island. Most hotels will exchange reasonable amounts of foreign currency, and there are change bureaus in Castries. The National Commercial Bank (NCB) has a branch at Hewanorra International Airport where EC Dollars can be exchanged for foreign currency. It is open daily from 12:30pm until the last flight departs. A passport and ticket are required as proof of returning visitor status.
Major international credit cards are widely accepted at all large shopping centers, restaurants, hotels, etc.
Time:
Greenwich Mean Time minus four hours; Eastern Standard Time plus one hour.
Language:
St. Lucia's principal language is English, but a French-based patois is widely spoken.
Health:
• Immunization is not required unless coming from an infected area within six days of arrival.
• Drinking water is safe from the tap and bottled mineral/distilled water is also available.
• All hotels have doctors, either resident or available on call. A resident doctor's visit costs approximately EC$40-50. A "call out" visit may cost more.
• There are several pharmacies in Castries, one on the Gros Islet Highway and one in Gablewoods Shopping Mall. Most hotels have "over the counter" medication, such as Aspirin, and first aid facilities.
There are four medical facilities:
• Victoria Hospital - Tel: 453-7059
• St. Jude's Vieux Fort - Tel: 454-6041
• Soufriere - Tel: 459-7258/5001
• Dennery - Tel: 453-3310
Electricity:
Electric current is 220 volts, 50 cycles AC. (A few hotels are 110 volts, 60 cycles.) Most sockets take 3-pin square plugs (UK standard) but some take 2-pin round plugs or flat American plugs which are more rare. Adapters are generally available at the hotels.
Climate:
St. Lucia's temperature ranges from 65-85 degrees (Fahrenheit) from December to May and 75-95 degrees from June to November. The winter is relatively more dry as well. Visitors should bring cool, comfortable clothing. While jacket and tie are rarely requisite, overly casual beachwear is rarely appreciated off the beach.
Images and Information Courtesy of:
www.st-lucia.com Copyright St. Lucia Tourist Board
