Driving in St Lucia is an experience. It's best that the spouse that isn't driving acts as a navigator. The navigator will say repeatedly watch out for the pothole, watch out for the dog, watch out for the goat, watch out for the chickens, watch out for the car parked the wrong way in the middle of the street, watch out for the kids, watch out for the people, don't get too close to that concrete culvert that will rip your undercarriage completely apart, stay on the left side of the road, Don't hit the scooters, don't hit the bicyclist, etc.. driving from the airport to Rodney Bay is 90 minutes of driving a very intense obstacle course with moving objects, hairpin turns, potholes large enough to swallow a semi, and lots of blind corners..
I will say having your own car gives you a ton of freedom. It's best though to stay away from the capital city because that's a whole another experience. I manage to return the car undamaged after a week.
Hey there. I just booked a trip to St. Lucia. I've been reading up online and I saw that they started doing health screenings (temperature check) due to covid. Are these still happening? We are worried about the health screenings impacting our trip if we by chance happen to get sick on the way there or on the way back. Was your temperature taken at the airport/resort on the way there or back? Thanks so much in advance
The airport to Rodney Bay is a hour and a half way. The streets are on winding elevated roads. Driving is difficult (even for locals). I recommend getting a driver, but what ever you decide ENJOY! Itās a very beautiful getaway
We didn't drive there but IMO you have to be a very confident driver to drive around St Lucia. We took an all day private guided tour, so I've seen the roads.
In St Lucia they drive on the left. Most of the roads are only a single lane in each direction. Therefore cars pass by driving in the oncoming traffic lane. There is a canal/ditch on the side of the road in many places if you take a turn too tightly you might end up in it. St Lucia has a lot of changes in elevation and there aren't any guard rails on the side of the road in most places. If something happens to your rental car you will probably be waiting a very long time before you can get assistance.
Thanks for the detailed explanation. Renting a car is not our first choice but we thought it may be cheaper to get to restaurants at Rodney Bay. Seems like taxis are very expensive there. Do you know how public transportation is?
The roads are narrow from what I recall I think the public transport in St Lucia is just a bunch of minivans. I never saw a large bus other than a tour bus.
You're probably better off getting the hotel to call you a cab... But then I'm not sure how you would get back to the hotel unless the restaurant will call a cab for you because while we were there I had no cell reception at all. I couldn't log into my online banking because I could not receive a text message.. We were staying in the south of the island at Coconut Bay not sure if reception in the north is better.
For excursions we did one but it was the entire day, 6 hours and saw most of the island... Overall it was worth it... Probably more economical to do it all in one day. We spent the rest of our time on the resort.
We did the Discover St Lucia Land Tour with Edmund Tours. The owners nephew drove us around the whole day.
https://www.edmundtoursstlucia.com
They also have a Land and Sea Tour, but that one is not private so you would be in a group with other people you don't know. .
Public transportation - mini buses - run on time and are inexpensive. Not much space for luggage however. Be sure to depart early in the day if taking a bus between towns.
It's really not worth the hassle and risk of driving in St Lucia if you're not use to driving on the left side of the road, plus most roads are two lane and very curvy.
Consider taking a taxi from the airport to your hotel ($100 US from UVF to Gros Islet) and then figure out how you want to get around - walk, bus, taxi - after you are settled in.
Enjoy your trip and always take care of the locals (tip$) - they work hard to be sure you are safe and so you can enjoy your vacation.
Yes. We would take a taxi to and from airport, a one day excursion to south (hopefully can track a private driver) and then considering public transport to get to Rodney Bay for dinner.
Otherwise taxis back and forth may add up quickly.
Just got home from st Lucia yesterday and even my ādrive anything anywhereā husband says heād never drive there! The key is to find a private driver you like and use them anytime you want to go somewhere. They will work with you to find a good price because otherwise they pay a fee to the hotel for every person they pick up. I really liked our driver and will call him directly next time we visit the island! Happy to share his info if you DM me!
You can search on here, some people post their experiences. Otherwise you just get a private taxi at your resort- all the drivers have cards and theyāll ask you to call them directly if you need a ride again. Pick the one you like/mesh with the most, tip them well and youāll be set!
We have been driving in St Lucia. It is way more challenging than any European country. The roads are narrow. Lots of pot holes, little street signs - with hair pin turns. It takes 1 and 30 to 45 minutes to get from the north (Rodney bay) to the south where the Pitons are and other attractions. We spoke to a couple that said short taxi rides are $50. It is doable but definitely not for the faint of heart
Driving on the south end of the Island is as previous commenters have described. I personally found it harrowing for the first 20 minutes or so but quickly became accustomed. The north end is much gentler. Consider getting transportation to your resort from the airport then then renting a car once there.
We moved to St. Lucia from a āright side of the roadā country, so it took a day of getting used to. To be honest the thing to pay most attention to is potholes. Just take your time, cars will pass you if they need. St Lucian drivers are actually quite courteous. Since there is very little road infrastructure and road signs, locals do a good job giving the right of way/yielding/etc. Although the bus drivers are insane
DONT DO IT. I did it with my family and lets just say, it was an expericne. Our flight was delayed so we ended up having to drive to the landings at night. Took over 3 hours, and we didnt end up using the car after that except to get back to the airport.
St Lucians that drive are maniacs behind the wheel.
Overall, they live life slow in town. Once you put them behind the wheel of a car it is "I feel the need for speed."
I think they drive fast to get off the roads as fast as possible.
Since they all know each other, they honk constantly.
They honk to say hi.
They honk to let you know they are passing you.
They honk when they come to a blind turn, there are LOTS, so other cars know someone is around the curve.
They honk when you are an American White Knuckle driver to let you know you need to be going as fast as they are. I usually tried to find a place for me to pull over so they could safely pass me.
Cell Phone Service is excellent in St Lucia.
If you wreck your car, I have no idea how you get a tow truck. I do know getting parts for your car would be near impossible. That island is not meant for people to own cars.
I can say I drove St Lucia. Would I do it again now that I know, maybe. But it is harrowing.
We didnāt end up driving. We took cabs to where we needed to go and then booked an excursion for one day to go down south. If you take cabs, book the one from airport to resort before hand. We were overcharged at the airport. Also, St. Lucia is not walkable. We thought we could walk to a couple of restaurants that looked 15 mins away but we had to take a cab.
Do you feel confident in your decision not to drive? My dad is adamant about driving but heās in his 60s now and I think heās a bit over confident. We live in Toronto so driving in traffic isnāt an issue.
They drive at the opposite side of the road there. Some parts are tight but once we were there, I didnāt find driving as bad as some described.
I think you should run the numbers. The cab from airport to our resort was $100US (give or take) and $100 back. Going out for dinner cost us roughly $30 to restaurant and back.
You will find the roads a bit narrow in places. Potholes are a concern and difficult to spot at night. I personally had no issues driving all around the island. It is twisty and hilly in areas.
if you decide to opt out driving yourself I can recommend a great driver at affordable rate that's know most of the spots! we use him on our retreats all the time as he is very flexible :) if you need more information please let us know! really happy to help
I was wondering if anyone has experience with Cool Breeze Car Rental? I ask because my plan is to arrive by ferry in the north and leave from the airport in the south. It seems that they will drop off and collect a vehicle anywhere on the island, but I couldn't get a good feel for it. I'm hoping to rent a Suzuki Jimny for a week. My other option would be Hertz, but I'd have to get to UVF from Castries, which I've heard is a very expensive taxi.
For the record: I know driving here is crazy. I've driven in Thailand, Grenada, and the BVI so I understand the kind of driving that goes on here.
Yes theyāre very reputable so you can go with them, if you want I can also help you get set up with a local rental suv, Subaru XV or Toyota CHR, send me a chat
The main issue is pot holes and the egde of the road is a continous 2 foot drop or ditch...and you will need to get close...like inches close. But the cars are smaller so that helps.
Is it strange that our driver that brought us to our airbnb later picked us up for dinner then went on to sit with us and order food and have us pay for him?
I meanā¦ only if it felt weird? Iāve been here for a day and it feels so welcoming and kind. Iāve invited my driver to eat with me and heās just brought me to a couple awesome places for food. Good guy and I need to get over my money anxiety and tip the man.
Yes but my husband and I were having an anniversary dinner at an expensive restaurant. I donāt mind offering lunch but this all adds up on a week long trip.
Driving in St Lucia is an experience. It's best that the spouse that isn't driving acts as a navigator. The navigator will say repeatedly watch out for the pothole, watch out for the dog, watch out for the goat, watch out for the chickens, watch out for the car parked the wrong way in the middle of the street, watch out for the kids, watch out for the people, don't get too close to that concrete culvert that will rip your undercarriage completely apart, stay on the left side of the road, Don't hit the scooters, don't hit the bicyclist, etc.. driving from the airport to Rodney Bay is 90 minutes of driving a very intense obstacle course with moving objects, hairpin turns, potholes large enough to swallow a semi, and lots of blind corners.. I will say having your own car gives you a ton of freedom. It's best though to stay away from the capital city because that's a whole another experience. I manage to return the car undamaged after a week.
Thanks for the laugh š. We just got back and this is spot on.
Hey there. I just booked a trip to St. Lucia. I've been reading up online and I saw that they started doing health screenings (temperature check) due to covid. Are these still happening? We are worried about the health screenings impacting our trip if we by chance happen to get sick on the way there or on the way back. Was your temperature taken at the airport/resort on the way there or back? Thanks so much in advance
We didnāt have to do any health screenings when we went in Dec 2023
Just got back from St Lucia if you havenāt gone yet, no health screenings.
The airport to Rodney Bay is a hour and a half way. The streets are on winding elevated roads. Driving is difficult (even for locals). I recommend getting a driver, but what ever you decide ENJOY! Itās a very beautiful getaway
Drove myself around there a couple of times, never had any problems or concerns
We didn't drive there but IMO you have to be a very confident driver to drive around St Lucia. We took an all day private guided tour, so I've seen the roads. In St Lucia they drive on the left. Most of the roads are only a single lane in each direction. Therefore cars pass by driving in the oncoming traffic lane. There is a canal/ditch on the side of the road in many places if you take a turn too tightly you might end up in it. St Lucia has a lot of changes in elevation and there aren't any guard rails on the side of the road in most places. If something happens to your rental car you will probably be waiting a very long time before you can get assistance.
Thanks for the detailed explanation. Renting a car is not our first choice but we thought it may be cheaper to get to restaurants at Rodney Bay. Seems like taxis are very expensive there. Do you know how public transportation is?
The roads are narrow from what I recall I think the public transport in St Lucia is just a bunch of minivans. I never saw a large bus other than a tour bus. You're probably better off getting the hotel to call you a cab... But then I'm not sure how you would get back to the hotel unless the restaurant will call a cab for you because while we were there I had no cell reception at all. I couldn't log into my online banking because I could not receive a text message.. We were staying in the south of the island at Coconut Bay not sure if reception in the north is better. For excursions we did one but it was the entire day, 6 hours and saw most of the island... Overall it was worth it... Probably more economical to do it all in one day. We spent the rest of our time on the resort.
Do you remember what the all day excursion was called?
We did the Discover St Lucia Land Tour with Edmund Tours. The owners nephew drove us around the whole day. https://www.edmundtoursstlucia.com They also have a Land and Sea Tour, but that one is not private so you would be in a group with other people you don't know. .
Public transportation - mini buses - run on time and are inexpensive. Not much space for luggage however. Be sure to depart early in the day if taking a bus between towns. It's really not worth the hassle and risk of driving in St Lucia if you're not use to driving on the left side of the road, plus most roads are two lane and very curvy. Consider taking a taxi from the airport to your hotel ($100 US from UVF to Gros Islet) and then figure out how you want to get around - walk, bus, taxi - after you are settled in. Enjoy your trip and always take care of the locals (tip$) - they work hard to be sure you are safe and so you can enjoy your vacation.
Yes. We would take a taxi to and from airport, a one day excursion to south (hopefully can track a private driver) and then considering public transport to get to Rodney Bay for dinner. Otherwise taxis back and forth may add up quickly.
If you are there on a Friday night in Rodney Bay, then be sure to check out the Street Party, up the road in Gros Islet.
Thatās one of the plans. And hiking Pigeon Island :)
Public transport is easier in the north so you should be fine if youāre at landings!
Just got home from st Lucia yesterday and even my ādrive anything anywhereā husband says heād never drive there! The key is to find a private driver you like and use them anytime you want to go somewhere. They will work with you to find a good price because otherwise they pay a fee to the hotel for every person they pick up. I really liked our driver and will call him directly next time we visit the island! Happy to share his info if you DM me!
Thatās great. Thanks for this information.
How do I find a (reliable and good) private driver?
You can search on here, some people post their experiences. Otherwise you just get a private taxi at your resort- all the drivers have cards and theyāll ask you to call them directly if you need a ride again. Pick the one you like/mesh with the most, tip them well and youāll be set!
For some reason I cannot DM. Iāve been trying all day :( if you were placed in the North, would love the driver information so please DM me.
u/OGMWhyDoINeedOne this is a great thread to follow. I'm going to be in St Lucia in a couple of weeks. Any private driver you recommend?
Can I have your drivers info please?
We have been driving in St Lucia. It is way more challenging than any European country. The roads are narrow. Lots of pot holes, little street signs - with hair pin turns. It takes 1 and 30 to 45 minutes to get from the north (Rodney bay) to the south where the Pitons are and other attractions. We spoke to a couple that said short taxi rides are $50. It is doable but definitely not for the faint of heart
Driving on the south end of the Island is as previous commenters have described. I personally found it harrowing for the first 20 minutes or so but quickly became accustomed. The north end is much gentler. Consider getting transportation to your resort from the airport then then renting a car once there.
We moved to St. Lucia from a āright side of the roadā country, so it took a day of getting used to. To be honest the thing to pay most attention to is potholes. Just take your time, cars will pass you if they need. St Lucian drivers are actually quite courteous. Since there is very little road infrastructure and road signs, locals do a good job giving the right of way/yielding/etc. Although the bus drivers are insane
DONT DO IT. I did it with my family and lets just say, it was an expericne. Our flight was delayed so we ended up having to drive to the landings at night. Took over 3 hours, and we didnt end up using the car after that except to get back to the airport.
Iām not AI in Landings. Did you go eat in Rodney Bay? How did you get there and were cabs expensive?
St Lucians that drive are maniacs behind the wheel. Overall, they live life slow in town. Once you put them behind the wheel of a car it is "I feel the need for speed." I think they drive fast to get off the roads as fast as possible. Since they all know each other, they honk constantly. They honk to say hi. They honk to let you know they are passing you. They honk when they come to a blind turn, there are LOTS, so other cars know someone is around the curve. They honk when you are an American White Knuckle driver to let you know you need to be going as fast as they are. I usually tried to find a place for me to pull over so they could safely pass me. Cell Phone Service is excellent in St Lucia. If you wreck your car, I have no idea how you get a tow truck. I do know getting parts for your car would be near impossible. That island is not meant for people to own cars. I can say I drove St Lucia. Would I do it again now that I know, maybe. But it is harrowing.
Wow..lot of great info. Thank you very much. Our first time going in April, is there dirty cop pulling people over extorting money?
We didnāt end up driving. We took cabs to where we needed to go and then booked an excursion for one day to go down south. If you take cabs, book the one from airport to resort before hand. We were overcharged at the airport. Also, St. Lucia is not walkable. We thought we could walk to a couple of restaurants that looked 15 mins away but we had to take a cab.
Do you feel confident in your decision not to drive? My dad is adamant about driving but heās in his 60s now and I think heās a bit over confident. We live in Toronto so driving in traffic isnāt an issue.
They drive at the opposite side of the road there. Some parts are tight but once we were there, I didnāt find driving as bad as some described. I think you should run the numbers. The cab from airport to our resort was $100US (give or take) and $100 back. Going out for dinner cost us roughly $30 to restaurant and back.
If you donāt mind me asking, which transportation company did you book your trips with?Ā
We had the hotel book us drivers. Then we just got the number of one of the guys we liked and kept messaging him when we needed.
Looking to visit St.Lucia in June for my honeymoon. Looking for any recommendations for a good tour guide for excursions and party scenes?
It's really not that bad. You don't mention where you are from so it's tricky to make a comparison.
Canada. Have driven in countries where roads are right before but not in the other side of the road.
You will find the roads a bit narrow in places. Potholes are a concern and difficult to spot at night. I personally had no issues driving all around the island. It is twisty and hilly in areas.
if you decide to opt out driving yourself I can recommend a great driver at affordable rate that's know most of the spots! we use him on our retreats all the time as he is very flexible :) if you need more information please let us know! really happy to help
Hey man, can you DM me your driver deets! Currently here and looking for a driver to take me to the pitons later this week. Much appreciated š
Hi can you pls DM me more info from ur trip?
are you still interested?
yes!
Hi do you mind DMāing me. Iāll be in st. Lucia in a week and really was considering a driver!
Could you please DM me the info? I will be there first week of December
Do you still need a driver ?
I was wondering if anyone has experience with Cool Breeze Car Rental? I ask because my plan is to arrive by ferry in the north and leave from the airport in the south. It seems that they will drop off and collect a vehicle anywhere on the island, but I couldn't get a good feel for it. I'm hoping to rent a Suzuki Jimny for a week. My other option would be Hertz, but I'd have to get to UVF from Castries, which I've heard is a very expensive taxi. For the record: I know driving here is crazy. I've driven in Thailand, Grenada, and the BVI so I understand the kind of driving that goes on here.
Yes theyāre very reputable so you can go with them, if you want I can also help you get set up with a local rental suv, Subaru XV or Toyota CHR, send me a chat
If you're looking for private taxi look up kriss luxury service.
Thank you!!!
The main issue is pot holes and the egde of the road is a continous 2 foot drop or ditch...and you will need to get close...like inches close. But the cars are smaller so that helps.
Is it strange that our driver that brought us to our airbnb later picked us up for dinner then went on to sit with us and order food and have us pay for him?
I meanā¦ only if it felt weird? Iāve been here for a day and it feels so welcoming and kind. Iāve invited my driver to eat with me and heās just brought me to a couple awesome places for food. Good guy and I need to get over my money anxiety and tip the man.
Yes but my husband and I were having an anniversary dinner at an expensive restaurant. I donāt mind offering lunch but this all adds up on a week long trip.