Vacationing on the Island of St. Lucia

Located on the boundary where the Caribbean Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean, St. Lucia is an idyllic island country covering only 238 square miles. St. Lucia is a more mountainous than many of its fellow islands, with the Pitons mountains and Mt. Gimie being two major landmarks. St. Lucia is most popular as a vacation site during its dry season, which ranges from January to April. It's warm waters, white-sand beaches, tropical rainforests, mountains and quaint resorts make St. Lucia an extremely popular getaway.

Where To Stay

St. Lucia has a wide variety of accommodations for travelers, from quaint bed and breakfasts to luxury resorts. Before choosing a place to stay in St. Lucia, consider what type of experience you want to have and how much time you plan on spending in your room. Smaller accommodations are often owned by retirees or empty-nesters, often as the culmination of a life-long dream. One example is the Bay Garden Hotel and its sister property, the Bay Garden Inn. Rooms in the Bay Garden Hotel start at $102.00 USD, depending on the type of room and time of year you travel. They are also less expensive than a room in a luxury resort. If you plan on spending most of your time lying on the beach or exploring the island, a smaller resort may be your best bet.

If you want to include a little luxury and some pampering in your trip, you should consider one of the deluxe resorts of St. Lucia. One example of a luxury resort in St. Lucia is the Ladera St. Lucia, which was transformed from a cocoa plantation into a luxe resort in 1982. In addition to its full-service spa, Ladera offers a gourmet restaurant and sea view bar. But you do pay for the added luxury - the cheapest room at any time of year is $380.00 USD per night, ranging to as high as $1330.00 USD per night. Again, rates depend entirely upon the type of room and season in which you will travel.

What To Do

St. Lucia's perfect beaches and pristine ocean water make lounging on the beach, swimming and scuba diving perfect activities for any traveler. But aside from these activities, which can be done at most tropical locales, what is there to do on St. Lucia? More than you might think.

Visitors to St. Lucia can enjoy a wide variety of activities. Touring the island by horseback is one interesting activity, while shopping at the local market gives visitors a better feel for the island's unique culture. The number of natural attractions on St. Lucia is mind-boggling, as well, and can be enjoyed via organized tours or freelance hiking. Some of these natural attractions include the Maria Islands nature reserve, Diamond Falls, the Pitons mountains, the National Rainforest, Sulphur Springs and more.

St. Lucia offers the complete island experience. Many people I know who have been to St. Lucia have gone repeatedly and speak highly of the experience. If you've never been, it's certainly worth considering a vacation on the island of St. Lucia.

Information obtained on July 28, 2010 via:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Lucia

http://www.baygardenshotel.com/

http://www.ladera.com/TheResort/tabid/357/Default.aspx

http://www.geographia.com/st-lucia/lceco01.htm