There
is a broad array of exciting and exotic activities available on
St. Lucia. The island's steep coastlines and lovely reefs offer
excellent snorkeling and scuba diving. The rainforest preserves
of St. Lucia's mountainous interior are one of the Caribbean's
finest locales for hiking and birdwatching. Of course, the island
also possesses excellent facilities for golf, tennis, sailing,
and a host of other leisure pursuits. Not to be missed is St.
Lucia's Soufriere volcano, the world's only drive-in volcanic
crater.
General
Information
Banking
Hours--Banks are open Monday to Thursday from 8am to 1pm
and on Friday from 8am to noon and 3 to 5pm.
Currency--The
official monetary unit is the Eastern Caribbean dollar (EC$).
Customs--At
either airport, Customs may be a hassle if there's the slightest
suspicion, regardless of how ill-founded, that you're carrying
illegal drugs.
Documents--U.S.,
British, and Canadian citizens need a valid passport, plus an
ongoing or return ticket.
Drugstores--See
"Pharmacies," below.
Electricity--Visitors
from the U.S. will need to bring an adapter and transformer,
as St. Lucia runs on 220 to 230 volts AC (50 cycles).
Emergencies--Call
the police at tel. 999.
Hospitals--There
are 24-hour emergency rooms at St. Jude's Hospital, Vieux
Fort (tel. 758/454-7671), and Victoria Hospital,
Hospital Road, Castries (tel. 758/452-2421).
Language--Although
English is the official tongue, St. Lucians probably don't speak
it the way you do. Islanders also speak a French-Creole patois,
similar to that heard on Martinique.
Pharmacies--The
best is William Pharmacy, Williams Building, Bridge Street,
in Castries (tel. 758/452-2797), open Monday through
Thursday from 8am to 4:30am, Friday from 8am to 5:30pm, and
Saturday from 8am to 1pm.
Safety--St.
Lucia has its share of crime, like every other place these days.
Use common sense and protect yourself and your valuables. If
you've got it, don't flaunt it! Don't pick up hitchhikers if
you're driving around the island. Of course, the use of narcotic
drugs is illegal, and their possession or sale could lead to
stiff fines or jail.
Taxes
& Service Charges--The government imposes an 8% occupancy
tax on hotel rooms, and there's an $11 departure tax for both
airports. Most hotels and restaurants add a 10% service charge.
Telephone--On
the island, dial all seven digits of the local number. Faxes
may be sent from your hotel or from Cable & Wireless,
in the NAS Building on the waterfront in Castries (tel.
758/452-3301).
Time--St.
Lucia is on Atlantic standard time year-round, placing it 1
hour ahead of New York. However, when the United States is on
daylight saving time, St. Lucia matches the clocks of the U.S.
East Coast.
Water--
Water here is generally considered safe to drink; if you're
prudent, however, you'll stick to bottled water.
Weather--This
little island, lying in the path of the trade winds, has year-round
temperatures of 70° to 90°F.
© 2000
IDG Books Worldwide, Inc. All rights reserved.
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