Nearly all lodgings on St. Lucia line the western coast where the water is calm and the sunsets magnificent. Accommodations vary from palatial resorts with marble bathrooms and four post beds to low-rise buildings with a bevy of more common accoutrements.
Small hotels often offer spa facilities, health clubs, tennis, volleyball, and croquet courts. No hotel is considered complete without at least one sapphire-colored of a swimming pool. Personal instruction packages in scuba diving, massage, and horse-back riding are definite treats to be enjoyed.
However, while the lap of luxury is certainly available to be explored and enjoyed, there are a great number of less posh and pampering-oriented hotels for visitors simply looking for a place to sleep at night. While this number is shrinking - the pull of luxury and all-inclusives is strong - travelers still have plenty of options to enjoy.
The greatest concentration of hotels is in the northwest corner of the island, in the Castries and Gros Islet regions. This is the abode of the large resort hotels for which the Caribbean is famous. Travelers looking for a slower and more relaxed pace would may want to explore the south: Vieux Fort, Laborie, and Choiseul. Lodgings there are few and far between, but this is a good way to skirt the hustle and bustle of the more tourist-oriented north. Soufri�re, just above Choiseul in the southwest corner of the island, is touted as a diver's paradise and the center for anyone seeking excitement and high-adventure.
Guesthouses are a unique way to spend your stay and The Inns of St. Lucia is a trade group made up of guesthouses and small inns. These can house anywhere from three to 70 visitors at a time, depending on which you choose, and can cost around $20(USD) per night. These are a popular style of accommodation for local travelers as well.
Prices are seasonal and vary just as widely as the hotels themselves. They can be high - St. Lucia is a British island, after all - yet a thrifty traveler can usually find a room for $30(USD) to $40(USD) a night. Be aware that the government levies an 18 percent room tax on St. Lucian hotels and this is rarely ever factored into the quoted price of a room. Ask, however, to be sure.
One small but important detail to check when picking a hotel is to be sure it offers either a wide assortment of common electrical appliances, such as hair dryers, or a combination of power sources. St. Lucia runs on 240 volt power, which is incompatible with all American and some European appliances. Older hotels often supply nothing but 240 volts, so be sure to bring an adapter if you're planning a stay at an older hotel.
Tucked away in a sandy cove or set on a lush tropical hillside, St Lucia's many low-rise resorts and charming inns simultaneously have it all as well as a place where you can get away from it all.
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