Customs Regulations
The duty free allowance into St. Lucia is 200 cigarettes or 250 grams of tobacco or 50 cigars, one litre of spirit or wine. Duty free shopping is available at Pointe Seraphine, La Place Carenage and at the departure lounge of Hewanorra Airport. Luxury items include Jewelery, Batiks, Giftware, Local Crafts, Liquor, Cigarettes and Cigars.

Churches
Almost 80% of St. Lucians are Roman Catholic. Other denominations include Anglican, Methodist, Baptist, Seventh Day Adventists, Church of the Nazarene, Christian Science and the Salvation Army. Times of services vary at individual churches, so it is best to inquire at your hotel reception.

Departure Tax
There is a Departure Tax of EC $68 or US$28 for all passengers over 12 years old leaving the Island.

Domestic Travel within the Island
Buses serve the north of the Island around Castries and Gros Islet very well and run until around 10.00pm: (longer on Friday night when the weekly "jump-up" takes place at Gros Islet). However, there is no scheduled bus timetable.
Bus fares: Castries - North end of the island EC $2.00, Castries - South end of the island (Vieux Fort) EC $8.00. Car travel via the new West Coast Road from Castries to Soufriere takes about an hour. From Hewanorra Airport to Castries takes around an hour.
For your added comfort, Helicopter transfers are available from Hewanorra to Castries. There is a Heli-pad located at Vigie Hanger and the Jalousie Hilton Hotel. This can be booked directly with St. Lucia Helicopters Ltd on Tel: 758 453 6950, Fax: 758 452 1553 or Paradise Helicopters 758 450 9203.

Electricity
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. Adaptors are generally available at the hotels.

Emergency Telephone Numbers
Police, Fire and Ambulance - Tel: 911.
Po l i c e Headquarters - Bridge Street, Castries, Tel: 758 452 2854
or request the Police Rapid Response Unit - Tel: 758 452 2854 ext. 167.
You may also contact the St. Lucia Tourist Board - Tel: 758 452 5968/453 0053/452 4094.

Entry Requirements
Visitors must carry valid passports. Visas are not required where the visitor is a citizen of the USA or a Commonwealth country, or where there is agreement for exemption between the home country and St. Lucia. Russia or former Soviet Union citizens, both Incoming and Outgoing, require Visa's.

Nationals from the following countries require visas to enter St. Lucia:

Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh,
Belarus, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Burundi,
Burkina Faso, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African
Republic, Chad, People's Republic of China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic
Republic of Congo, Cote D'Ivoire, Croatia, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic,
Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon,
Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Haiti, Hungary,
Iceland, India, Indonesia, Islamic Republic of Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakstan,
Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea, Democratic Republic of Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos,
Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Macau, Macedonia,
Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova,
Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar (Burma), Nambia, Nauru,
Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Palestine, Panama,
Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Philippines, Qatar, Romania, Russian Federation,
Rwanda, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia,
Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South
Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand,
Togo, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United
Arab Emirates, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Wallis and Fortuna
Islands, West Bank, Yemen, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

St. Lucia Visa Fees and Exemptions:

UK - Diplomatic Passports: Exempt, Official: Exempt, Vacation £35.00, Business£40.00, Student £30.00

US - Diplomatic Passports: Exempt, Official: Exempt, Vacation US$30.00, Business US$35.00, Student US$25.00

Canada - Diplomatic Passports: Exempt, Official: Exempt, Vacation CD$30.00, Business CD$35.00, Student CD$25.00

Rest of the World - Diplomatic Passports: Exempt, Official: Exempt, Vacation US$45.00, Business US$50.00, Student US$40.00

Saint Lucia - Diplomatic Passports: Exempt, Official: Exempt, Vacation US$45.00, Business US$50.00, Student US$40.00

Documents to be submitted with visa application:
2 certified passport size photographs
A valid passport for up to 6 months
A return ticket to port of origin
Copy of travel itinerary
Proof of hotel/private accommodation
Letter of invitation (if invited by friend or relative with telephone numbers and address)
Students - letter from school, college or university
Proof of sufficient funds
Job letter
For further details or to request a visa application form please visit the St. Lucia Government Offices page.

Geography
Our neighbors are Martinique, 21 miles from our Northern tip and St. Vincent, 26 miles from our Southern tip. Both are visible on a clear day. Barbados is 110 miles Southeast. The island is 27 miles long and 14 miles wide, a total of 238sq. miles.

Government
An independent democratic nation and part of the British Commonwealth.

Health
Immunization is not required unless coming from an infected area within six days of arrival, however Hepatitis A, Polio and Typhoid are recommended. Drinking water is safe from the tap and bottled mineral/distilled water is also available. There are several pharmacies in Castries, one on the Gros Islet Highway and one in Gablewoods Shopping Mall and in JQ Charles Mall Rodney Bay. Most hotels have "over the counter" medication, such as Aspirin and first aid facilities. All hotels have doctors either resident or available on call. A resident doctor's visit costs approx. US$ 15 (approx. EC$40- EC$50). For a"call-out" visit it may cost more.

Hospitals
In an emergency, call 911 - there are five medical facilities which are:
Victoria Hospital   758 452 2421/7059
St. Jude's Vieux Fort   758 454 6041
Soufriere   758 459 7258/5001
Dennery   758 453 3310
Tapion Hospital   758 459 2000


Language
English is the official language, but St. Lucians speak a French Creole commonly called patois.

Ports
The main sea port is Castries and many cruise ships anchor at Pointe Seraphine and La Place Carenage. There is an additional deepwater anchorage for cargo and container ships at Vieux Fort in the south near the airport.Marigot Bay and the
Rodney Bay Marina are smaller alternative ports for Sea faring visitors

Service Charges & Tax
On hotel and restaurant bills there is a Government tax of 8%. A service charge of 10% is also applicable. In some instances these charges are included in prices quoted, so it is best to clarify. The prices on labels in shops are what you pay.

Shopping
Local shops are generally open weekdays 8.30am to 12.30pm and 1.30pm to 4.00pm and on Saturday 8.00am to noon. There are a wide variety of shopping experiences from Castries market, where local crafts are available, to Pointe Seraphine and La Place Carenage, two duty free shopping centers in Castries where resort wear, Colombian Emeralds jewelery, cosmetics and perfumes are available. A variety of shopping malls with extended opening hours offer a wide selection of boutiques and restaurants. Most hotels have boutiques and vendors' markets.

Taxis
Taxis are easily available at taxi stands or by telephone and minibuses can be hired as taxis for groups. They generally can take up to 10 persons. Some guideline fares are from Castries to Hewanorra Airport (EC $120 up to 4 persons), Castries to Rodney Bay (EC $40 up to 4 persons). (Water Taxi is also available to some destinations - Click here for pricing)

Telecommunications
Telephones and Mobile Phones are operated by Cable & Wireless, AT&T Wireless and Digicel St. Lucia. Many card and coin public phone boxes are available around the island. Cards can be purchased at Cable & Wireless offices, St. Lucia Tourist Board Information Centres and many other outlets including Airports, Rodney Bay Marina etc. Cellular phones are available for rent from the Cable and Wireless Caribbean Cellular offices at the Gablewoods Mall, Rodney Bay and the Castries Waterfront.

Wireless and high speed internet service is now available island wide. Internet
access is available at most shopping malls and at Cable & Wireless.

Both domestic and international direct dialing are available in St. Lucia. Facsimiles are available through most hotels or through the Cable & Wireless office in Castries. The international dialing code for St. Lucia is 1 758. To call the UK from St. Lucia dial 011 44 plus number. To call the USA dial 1 plus number.

Time
St. Lucia is 4 Hours behind Greenwich Mean Time.

Tipping
Tipping is not automatically added and is customary at about 10% to 12% of bills. Tips are generally accepted by bell hops in hotels, taxis and other persons providing service.

Tourist Information
Tourist Information can be obtained from hotel front desks and the St. Lucia
Tourist Board's Information Centers: Pointe Seraphine and La Place Carenage,
Castries Tel:758 452 7577 or Soufriere, Tel:758 459 7419 and at both airports;
George F.L. Charles Airport Tel:758 452 2596. Hewanorra International Airport
Tel:758 454 6644. Generally, the information centers are open from 8.00am to
4.30pm Monday to Friday. Pointe Seraphine is open whenever cruise ships are in
port. Information Centres at the airports are open during flight times.

Water Taxi The Marigot Bay Water Taxi service is available from the resort to most popular ports/bays. Click here for pricing.

Privacy and Security
Please note our Resort is situated on the other side of the Bay, accessible only by ferry. Privacy and security is our Number One priority 24 hours a day. Therefore, a water taxi is available anytime (24 hours a day); this one minute ferry ride of US $2 is included in your room rate .

Area map of the resort

(click image to view)

Other useful information:

St. Lucia Map

(click to view large image)

All information was correct at the time of publishing and may be subject to change without notice.