St. Lucia or Puerto Rico?

[Bernadine]

We can't decide for the honeymoon.  We want to be beach bums.  We were thinking all-inclusive, which is not available in PR.  I'm worried our liquor bill will really add up.  And if you say St. Lucia, which area?  

[rugbywife]

Feb 16, 2014 19:13:57 GMT -5 Bernadine said:

We can't decide for the honeymoon.  We want to be beach bums.  We were thinking all-inclusive, which is not available in PR.  I'm worried our liquor bill will really add up.  And if you say St. Lucia, which area?  

What is your budget for St. Lucia?

If you have tons of money (like TONS) I would say Jade Mountain or Ladera - they are most expensive on the island.
If you have a lot of money I would say one of the 3 Sandals resorts if you want AI.
If you have good/a lot of money and want something very secluded I would say Ti Kaye - www.tikaye.com, they have all inclusive packages - but it is near NOTHING. It is tiny, very quiet, and the 2nd best place to snorkel/scuba on the island (next to Anse Chastenet)
If you have a decent amount of money I would say the nicest rooms (on the beach, recently renovated) at Smuggler's Cove - bookit.com/st-lucia/castries/hotels/smugglers-cove-all-inclusive/?gclid=CP7p__nx0bwCFcVFMgodFmIAYQ


I could recommend other places on the island but those are the ones I know best.  The thing I like about Smuggler's Cove is that it is one of three resorts in Cap Estate, which is over a ridge of mountains that protects it from weather.  I like TiKaye the best for snorkelling and because I know people who work there, and the food is great. I wouldn't ever stay at the Sandals on the island but that's just because it is out of our price range plus we just stay at a private property anyways (we did stay at Smuggler's once for 4 days).

[Bernadine]

Thanks rugbywife. We do not have tons of money, lol. I'm going to check out Smuggler's Cove. TiKaye might be a little too secluded. I was looking at Coconut Bay- have you heard of it?

[koopa17]

When I went to St Lucia I did 3 nights at Ladera and 3 nights at one of the Sandals resorts. Ladera was a really cool experience but I don't think I would have wanted to stay there any longer. The bugs at night were annoying and you can't easily get to a beach. I really enjoyed Sandals too, the beach was nice and all of the employees were really friendly. Also, zip lining in the rain forest (I think it's a rain forest, lol) was awesome!!

[goaskalice]

We ultimately went to Curacao, but St. Lucia was a close second. Going AI was the best decision we made. It's so nice not to worry about how much anything is costing.

[bluetopaz]

We stopped at both on a cruise, and St. Lucia was one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen. We did an island tour booked through a private company, and it was awesome. One of the other couples on the tour was from an AI resort. They wanted to get out and see more of the island.

[rugbywife]

Feb 16, 2014 19:32:39 GMT -5 Bernadine said:

Thanks rugbywife. We do not have tons of money, lol. I'm going to check out Smuggler's Cove. TiKaye might be a little too secluded. I was looking at Coconut Bay- have you heard of it?

Yep, I have. It is right in Castries, which is nice. Other than that I know nothing about it…sorry!  I am sure it is lovely though - I love the island so I would probably be happy anywhere there. 

[Bernadine]

Feb 16, 2014 19:57:06 GMT -5 rugbywife said:

Feb 16, 2014 19:32:39 GMT -5 Bernadine said:

Thanks rugbywife. We do not have tons of money, lol. I'm going to check out Smuggler's Cove. TiKaye might be a little too secluded. I was looking at Coconut Bay- have you heard of it?

Yep, I have. It is right in Castries, which is nice. Other than that I know nothing about it…sorry!  I am sure it is lovely though - I love the island so I would probably be happy anywhere there. 

Are there things in Castries besides the resorts?  We want to be able to explore a bit.

[underwaterrhymes]

I love St. Lucia. I've never been to Puerto Rico, but SL is gorgeous.

Jump up takes place on Friday nights in Castries. It's a huge street party and TONS of fun. If you go, stick close to J (because people WILL try to dance with you) and leave your purse behind. It's a blast.

There's also fantastic snorkeling. And Pigeon Island Beach is really pretty and a lot of fun.

Fantastic hiking too.

[rugbywife]

Feb 16, 2014 20:01:36 GMT -5 Bernadine said:

Feb 16, 2014 19:57:06 GMT -5 rugbywife said:

Yep, I have. It is right in Castries, which is nice. Other than that I know nothing about it…sorry!  I am sure it is lovely though - I love the island so I would probably be happy anywhere there. 

Are there things in Castries besides the resorts?  We want to be able to explore a bit.

Oh yes!  There aren't actually that many resorts in Castries…like, not right near by.

There is the Market, which is really touristy but still fun - if you can hack it do the food areas (the fish stinks), and then then about a block area of stores/commercial stuff. I feel comfortable in that area but wouldn't necessarily go outside that area. There is also the Maison de Ville (I think that is what it is called - it is like Town Hall) up on the mountain that is beautiful.  There are short day trips that go there (and up on the hill there is an amazing view).  You can also go to duty free shopping at Pointe Seraphine (it isn't far from the market area but I don't know if I would walk it - probably).

Other areas to explore:
- take a tour trip to Soufriere on a catamaran - this trip is worth the $$ but you could also just rent a car and do it - minus the catamaran obviously. Remember that if you rent a car, they drive on the opposite side. In Soufriere you can see the volcano, go to the botanical gardens and see the waterfall there (you can't swim in it - the one you used to be able to swim in was destroyed by a hurricane about 2 years ago), go to the mud baths at the sulfur springs, climb the Piton (if you want, it is quite the work out - I did it but once was enough), go for lunch, go to the beach.
- get a taxi and go to Gros Islet and Rodney Bay Marina area. The Rodney Bay area has tons of shopping and is pretty. Lots of resorts there.
- take a tour (this one is cheap, just transport and entry) to the National Park at Pigeon Island (near Rodney Bay), it is beautiful and has lots of places to hike.
- rent a car or a taxi to Marigot Bay, it is a docking area for sailboats and yachts. Great restaurants and a cute little island you can take a boat ride to and do some swimming


I think that's most of what I would do. I did ziplining on my last trip but not through the place that most of the resorts work with…a newer place that I, personally, just more.  I can get you their info but really, zip lining is zip lining - we got a local price so it was worth it, not sure I would do it if I were just there for a week. 

[rugbywife]

Oh, I forgot Fish Fry - it is like Jump Up that a PP mentioned but in a small fishing town called Anse la Raye - Fish Fry is on Fridays, Jump Up is actually on Saturdays, not Fridays (unless it has changed recently). Fish Fry is smaller but still fun, we go there because it is closer to where we live.

[underwaterrhymes]

Feb 16, 2014 20:18:52 GMT -5 rugbywife said:

Oh, I forgot Fish Fry - it is like Jump Up that a PP mentioned but in a small fishing town called Anse la Raye - Fish Fry is on Fridays, Jump Up is actually on Saturdays, not Fridays (unless it has changed recently). Fish Fry is smaller but still fun, we go there because it is closer to where we live.

Sorry. Gros Islet has the Friday Jump up, not Castries. I served Peace Corps in the Eastern Caribbean and lived with a homestay on St. Lucia for a few weeks. Just misspoke above.

[rugbywife]

Feb 16, 2014 20:31:55 GMT -5 underwaterrhymes said:

Feb 16, 2014 20:18:52 GMT -5 rugbywife said:

Oh, I forgot Fish Fry - it is like Jump Up that a PP mentioned but in a small fishing town called Anse la Raye - Fish Fry is on Fridays, Jump Up is actually on Saturdays, not Fridays (unless it has changed recently). Fish Fry is smaller but still fun, we go there because it is closer to where we live.

Sorry. Gros Islet has the Friday Jump up, not Castries. I served Peace Corps in the Eastern Caribbean and lived with a homestay on St. Lucia for a few weeks. Just misspoke above.

Meh, I was wrong too…I knew it was in Gros Islet (I lump Gros Islet/Castries and Rodney Bay together half the time because they aren't far from each other). I always thought Jump Up was on a different night than Fish Fry, for some reason that was in my head. I was wrong!