OUR DESTINATIONS
Let us help you find your perfect holiday by phoning us on
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.
Alternatively, check out some of our holiday offers below.
- Destinations
- North America
- United States of America
- St Louis
St Louis
Fur trader Pierre Laclede settled St Louis as a French trading
post in 1764 at the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri
Rivers. This location proved to be an ideal meeting point and it
subsequently became a major port for boats on the Mississippi, and
the main departure point for explorers on the western-bound wagon
trails. As the 'Gateway to the West', St Louis became a
manufacturing centre for everything a pioneer would need on his
journey, such as saddles and guns, and it was here that Lewis and
Clark stocked up with provisions for their famous expedition.
Today St Louis is the biggest city in Missouri and one of the
largest inland ports in the country. It is a modern, commercial,
industrial and cultural centre. Although a cosmopolitan river
metropolis, reminders of its frontier history are in evidence
throughout the city, most visibly in the shining steel Gateway Arch
that is the famous landmark of St Louis, dedicated to the pioneers
of the western frontier.
It is a city with numerous personalities: a mix of authentic
America with a vaguely European air. Music from the nations past
floats from the famous jazz and blues clubs over the waters of the
Mississippi, paddle steamers dock along the riverfront where
warehouses that once housed industrial cargoes now contain antique
shops and restaurants as part of the revitalised Laclede's Landing
Historic District.
Its distinctive neighbourhoods retain the lingering influence of
the many ethnic groups that settled the city, comprising the real
heart of St Louis. The Hill is known for its old-world charm and
excellent restaurants imbued with a Latin flavour lent by its
Italian community. The Central West End is a trendy quarter filled
with chic boutiques and antique shops, sidewalk cafes, art
galleries and some of St Louis' finest residential properties. The
French neighbourhood of Soulard has a colourful Saturday produce
market.
Free attractions are a St Louis tradition, and today's visitor
will find more attractions here at no cost than almost anywhere
else on earth. There are scores of interesting things to do, and
these include some of the best attractions in the city as well as
numerous activities geared towards children, making it an excellent
family destination.
Information & Facts
Climate
St Louis has moderate, seasonal weather, but storms can occur at
any time of the year. July and August are the hottest and most
humid months of the year, and January and February are cold,
usually with snow. Winter temperatures range from below 32°F to
55°F (0°C to 13°C), while summers have daily temperatures of
between 57°F to 90°F (14°C to 32°C).
Getting Around
The pride of St Louis is the city's clean, efficient light rail
system, called the MetroLink, which is regarded as one of the best
mass transit systems in the United States. Using the MetroLink
visitors can see most of St Louis' attractions without a car. The
system's zone covers the airport and East St Louis, stretching for
34 miles (55km) through downtown, trains stopping at 27 stations in
Missouri and Illinois where the line ends at suburban Belleville.
Fares are exceedingly cheap and rides are free between Laclede's
Landing and Union Station weekdays from 10am to 3pm. Shuttle
services carry visitors from some MetroLink stations to nearby
attractions. St Louis is also served by the MetroBus network, which
covers not only the city but also most of the county, buses run to
schedule from 4am to 2am. There are taxi ranks near most major
hotels and attractions in the city, or cabs can be ordered from
various companies. Those who opt for self-driving will find the
city easy to navigate, the downtown streets laid out on a grid
pattern and the city being served by a good network of highways.
There is abundant parking in high-rise garages.
Language
English is the most common language but Spanish is often
spoken in south-western states.
Money
The US Dollar (USD) is the unit of currency and is divided into
100 cents. Only major banks exchange foreign currency. ATMs are
widespread and credit cards and travellers cheques are widely
accepted. Travellers cheques should be taken in US Dollars to avoid
hassles. Banking hours are Monday to Friday 9am to 3pm.