Helicopter Transfer: For those who can afford to fly high, helicopter transfers are available from Hewanorra airport to Castries or Soufriere . There is also a heli-pad at Charles/Vigie airport. The Jalousie Hilton Hotel also has its own heli-pad. Helicopter tours of the island are available anytime.

Currency: The Eastern Caribbean dollar or EC$, worth about EC$2.67 for each US$1. US$ can be spent anywhere but change is given in EC$. Banks are open 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Thursday, on Friday from 8-noon and 3-5 p.m.

Taxes & Tipping: The government collects an 8% tax on hotel rooms and hotels add a 10% service charge to the bill, a combined total of 18%. There's a US$21 departure tax.   

Electrical Current: 220 volts, 50 cycles.

Telephone/Internet: The area code for St. Lucia is 758. International direct dialing is available to 180 countries around the world. Mobile cellular service with short messaging and roaming, credit card calling and prepaid phone cards are also available. Some hotels have rooms equipped with dial-up 56K Internet access. Internet Cafes are available at J.Q. Charles Shopping Mall and at Cable and Wireless Ltd. outlets in downtown Castries, Gablewoods Mall and Vieux-Fort.

Getting Around: For a rental car, drivers must be 25 years old and possess a St. Lucian driver's license (EC$30). Driving on some of the crater-pocked roads of St. Lucia is not unlike off road driving over very bumpy terrain. Drive on the left.

The following driving time estimates assume good road conditions:
Cap Estate to Castries: 20 minutes
Castries to Soufriere: 1 hour
Soufriere to Vieux-Fort: 1 ½ hours
Vieux-Fort to Fregate Islands Nature Reserve: 25 minutes
Fregate Islands Nature Reserve to Castries: 45 minutes

Carnival: Held for 2 weeks in July, it embraces all of the nation's art forms: theatre, music, dance, song, costumes and drama. As on many islands, St. Lucia 's Carnival traditionally took place in February, 45 days before the start of Easter.  Realizing that many islands also held their Carnivals at this same time, most notably Trinidad, St. Lucia moved its celebration to July when there is much less competition. Visitors are encouraged to take part in the two-week event by joining one of the carnival bands in costume. Information is available at www.luciancarnival.com.

Special Doings: Every Friday is fete or party night at Gros Islet, a fishing village near Castries . The Mardi Gras-like street party features crowds, blaring reggae, rum carts and coalpot barbecue cook stands.

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