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We offer holidays to the four corners of the globe. If you want specialist advise please phone our travel team and we will be happy to help.
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- Destinations
- Caribbean
- St Lucia
- Castries
Castries
The main reason for the existence of the town of Castries,
capital of St Lucia, is as a port of call for hundreds of cruise
ships that dock in the deep harbour every year, disgorging
thousands of day-trippers who shop till they drop in the market and
duty-free shopping malls. Visitors who linger find the town has a
certain charm surrounded by hills, although little to offer in the
way of sightseeing or architectural heritage. Most of the buildings
are fairly new, Castries having been destroyed several times by
fire during its history, most recently in 1948. There is a very
vibrant and colourful market on the go every day except Sunday,
some good waterfront restaurants and a few remains of the defences
of the island's various occupiers, to claim the attention. Castries
also serves as a good base for island exploration, whether it is by
road or water.
Information & Facts
Climate
The climate in Castries is typically tropical, featuring hot and
humid weather year-round that is sometimes cooled slightly by trade
winds. June to November sees the highest rainfall in Castries, and
the best months to travel there are most likely from December to
May when temperature average around 27°C (80°F).
Language
English is the official language, but St Lucian Creole is
widely spoken.
Money
The unit of currency in Saint Lucia is the East Caribbean Dollar
(XCD), which is tied to the US Dollar. The EC$ is divided into 100
cents. US dollars are also accepted at most tourist establishments
and ensure a better exchange rate. ATMs are available in Castries,
Rodney Bay, Soufriere and Vieux Fort. Banks are open Monday to
Friday from 8am to 2pm, some are open till 5pm. Major credit cards
are accepted at all large hotels, shops and restaurants. Most
hotels will exchange foreign currency, and there are change bureaux
in Castries.
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