Travel Loving Family’s guide to St Lucia

St Lucia is a lush rainforest island which has beautiful beaches, idyllic bays, stunning waterfalls, a rich culture and something to entertain every member of a family.  This guide to St Lucia has been written to help families plan a memorable holiday and make the most of their time on the island.

Travel Loving Family's guide to St Lucia

Best family attractions, excursions in St Lucia

Just a handful of the activities I have enjoyed and I can recommend to parents who are considering booking a family holiday to St Lucia include – whale and dolphin safari boat trips, creating chocolate at the Rabot Estate (the cocoa plantation of Hotel Chocolat), visiting the Caribbean’s only ‘drive-in’ volcano in La Soufrière (I warn you it is rather smelly from the sulphur but well worth a visit!),  ziplining through the rainforest, climbing the Gros Piton and exploring the military ruins and fort at Pigeon Point National Park.   Parents and older ‘kids’ will also enjoy sipping cocktails overlooking the mighty Pitons;)

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St Lucia fam trip 4
St Lucia fam trip

Images – Making chocolate at the Rabot Estate; preparing to go zip lining & cocktails overlooking the Pitons at Jade Mountain (a romantic couples resort, not suitable for under 15 year olds)

Best family accommodation in St Lucia

I was fortunate to visit and stay at several fabulous resorts during a familiarisation visit with the St Lucia Tourist Board. Some of the resorts were particularly well suited for families including the Marigot Bay Resort (which has recently had a multi-million dollar renovation and is now known as the Capella Marigot Bay Resort & Marina).  The new resort offers plenty for children including learning to sail, being a sailor or rainforest ranger for the day and creole cooking classes.

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Image – Marigot Bay, described by legendary American author James A. Michener as “the most beautiful in the Caribbean”

I was particularly impressed by the luxurious Sugar Beach Viceroy Resort.  Located in the south of the island overlooking the Pitons, this family-friendly resort offers a complimentary Sugar Club for 4-12 year olds and Spice Club for teenagers.  The resort pool is set between the two Pitons for maximum wow factor and each room has a private plunge pool.  Families are well catered for with a wide choice of room options from superior luxury one bedroom villas through to four bedroom residences which cater for up to 4 adults and 4 children.

Families looking for the comforts of their home with the amenities of an all-inclusive resort will love Windjammer Landing.  Located near the vibrant Rodney Bay in the north, it is a large villa beach resort which has two pools specifically for children, babysitting services and a dedicated kids club – Jacquot Fun Club.  The beach is also stunning!  The villas at Windjammer Landing are luxurious and yet functional, offering families three and four-bedroom villas with lots of space to enjoy (or avoid) each other’s company!   I thoroughly enjoyed the evening entertainment at the Windjammer as it catered for the whole family.

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Images – Stunning beach at the Windjammer Landing

I was also captivated by Cap Maison, located near Rodney Bay on a cliff edge overlooking the Caribbean sea.  This luxurious boutique resort offers villas which work particularly well with family groups with interconnecting villas which can be booked individually by one family or collectively as several families/or a multi generational family travelling together.  The resorts secluded little beach ‘Smuggler Cove’ can be reached via a staircase of steep steps for a day of relaxing, dining at the ‘Naked Fisherman Restaurant’ or enjoying complimentary kayaking, Hobie Cat sailing and snorkelling.

Top tips for a family holiday in St Lucia

*** The main lesson learnt from my time touring the island with the tourist board is that St Lucia is best experienced with a twin stop holiday.  St Lucia is a large island, approximately 14 miles wide by 27 miles long.  To fully experience the rich culture and diverse nature of the island I recommend you spend time in the north near Rodney Bay which has great beaches and a variety of bars and restaurants and also some time in the tranquil and scenic south near the Piton mountains which have UNESCO World Heritage status.

*** To fully appreciate the sheer beauty of the Pitons I also suggest that you view them from the water.  Book a whale and dolphin tour or a boat sightseeing tour and see the majestical peaks from a uniquely different perspective!

*** Families with older children will enjoy the Gros Islet street party, affectionately known as ‘Jump Up’ which takes place every Friday night.  The live music, Creole and Caribbean street food and party atmosphere are unmissable experiences! (Young local children were present at the party I attended however I would suggest it is an experience to best share with older kids.  Also as with any busy tourist area it is suggested that you leave valuables at home and keep wallets in front pockets). 

*** If you enjoy music, do not miss the family-friendly annual Jazz & Arts Festival. Performers in the past have included UB40, Rihanna, Diana Ross; the star performances the year I attended were The O’Jays and R Kelly. Believe me, the St Lucians know how to party!  It was an incredible event enjoyed by local families and visitors alike.  Although known as a Jazz Festival the music on offer is varied including R&B, Soul, Pop, Reggae and Soca, as well as Jazz.

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Images – Fun at the St Lucia Jazz Festival

***If you have a head for heights I recommend zip lining through the lush green rainforest.  Soaring 150 feet off the forest floor on 12 different zip lines some with 800 feet between platforms will be an unforgettable moment of your holiday.  (Top tip – wear sensible footwear!  The first time I zip lined in St Lucia I was wearing flip flops… not ideal!) 

Best time to travel to St Lucia

Peak season runs from mid-December to April. Weather is generally at its best during these months however of course accommodation costs are also higher particularly over the school holidays.  It is worth noting that out of season the rainforest island of St Lucia gets more rain than other less mountainous islands such as Antigua and Barbados.

The hurricane season runs from June to November, with September and October the likeliest months for large storms. Taking all of this into account, May is a good time to visit – and it coincides with the Jazz Festival as mentioned above:)

Getting to St Lucia

The flight time is round nine hours from London and eight hours on the return back to London.  Two scheduled airlines fly direct from Gatwick to St Lucia’s Hewanorra International Airport, in the far south of the island: British Airways ba.com and Virgin Atlantic virgin-atlantic.com

Twin island holiday options

As recommended above, St Lucia works particularly well for a twin holiday stop.  For example a weeks stay at Cap Maison near Rodney Bay and a weeks stay at Sugar Beach overlooking the Pitons.  Alternatively fly approximately 35 minutes from St Lucia to the Grenadines i.e St Vincent or Mystique or fly by 45 minute charter flight with Liat liat.com to Barbados.

For more information about St Lucia check out the official tourist board website
www.saintluciauk.org

We hope Travel Loving Family’s guide to St Lucia is helpful in planning your family holiday.

Disclosure – I visited the island on a luxury tour operator familiarisation visit with the St Lucia Tourist Board.   All opinions are (as always) my own.  All images are copyright Travel Loving Family. 

Further reading – My friend Sarah has just returned from St Lucia and shares her top tips in this helpful post – Six things you must do when in St Lucia

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17 Comments

  1. John
    15th September 2016 / 12:50 am

    Very well written guide to St Lucia. We have visited the island a few times but I still picked up some great tips from reading your guide. Our next Caribbean holiday is to Tortola so I am going to bookmark your BVI guide for future use. Many thanks, John

  2. 9th February 2016 / 1:49 pm

    I would also love to visit St Lucia, every photo I see if just simply breath taking and stunning x

    • Lisa
      Author
      10th February 2016 / 4:56 pm

      It is a simply stunning island Rachel:) I hope you get to visit one day

  3. 9th February 2016 / 1:36 pm

    Oh wow, this place looks so beautiful. I would love to go – great post for those considering a holiday here. Kaz x

    • Lisa
      Author
      10th February 2016 / 4:57 pm

      Thanks Kaz:) I hope families find it to be a useful guide

  4. 7th February 2016 / 6:06 pm

    This looks amazing, yet another destination to add to my ever growing bucket list

  5. 7th February 2016 / 4:46 pm

    That all looks amazing – I have not been to St Lucia but would love to visit with the family now that the children are older.

    • Lisa
      Author
      7th February 2016 / 9:06 pm

      I forgot to add above Emma that older kids will love the opportunity to watch turtles hatch on the beach in St Lucia. I have not unfortunately experienced this myself but it was recommended to me by the lady from the tourist board who escorted our group fam trip – http://www.landingsstlucia.com/news-blog/turtle-hatchlings.htm

  6. 7th February 2016 / 4:28 pm

    Looks amazing. St Lucia is one of the Caribbean Islands that I’d like to visit but realistically have no way of affording! Maybe one day when the kids have left home……

  7. 7th February 2016 / 4:09 pm

    It looks amazing, such a beautiful place to visit – fingers crossed we get there one day

    • Lisa
      Author
      7th February 2016 / 9:06 pm

      I will keep my fingers firmly crossed for you Kara:)

  8. 7th February 2016 / 9:26 am

    Oh it looks so beautiful! Will put it on my wishlist until my youngest is a little older though, not sure I can face a long fight with such a fidget!

    • Lisa
      Author
      7th February 2016 / 9:07 pm

      It is a direct flight though Sonya:)

  9. 7th February 2016 / 9:02 am

    I would love to go to St. Lucia and I have never thought of it as a family holiday place. It looks and sounds fabulous x

  10. 5th February 2016 / 10:26 pm

    I did love our trip to St Lucia and the drive-in volcano and Rabot Estate would definitely top my list too.

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