Driving in St Lucia
✦ On the left (“British”) side of the roads
✦ Driver sits on the right side of the vehicle (opposite of US)
✦ Most roads are unnamed and unmarked
✦ Most homes and stores don’t have street addresses
✦ Roads are narrow, often with steep ditches for drainage
✦ Roads may be only one lane wide in places, such as the roads from Soufriere to the villa
✦ Road hazards, such as stopped vehicles, pedestrians, dogs, chickens, goats and cattle, are common
✦ There are very few straight sections of roads as the roads follow the contours of the mountains and have frequent hairpin curves
✦ Very few safety barriers on the edge of drop-offs
Transportation Options
Driver service
Most of our guests use Junior, a local driver that partners with us. Just like a taxi driver, he provides the vehicle and drives you around. But he is much more than just a driver – he’s a tour guide, an itinerary advisor, a reservation-maker, a luggage and shopping assistant, and a deterrent to persistent vendors.
Our driver has set prices for trips and zones. You may pay cash or set up a line of credit with us and we’ll pay him for you from that.
Driving yourself around
If you think you want to rent a vehicle and drive yourself around, we urge you to first read the guide below on whether to rent or hire a driver. Our vehicle recommendations are in the “Renting a vehicle” document.
You may bring an international driver’s license or get a St. Lucian driving permit through the rental company (about $20 US).
We suggest you hire our driver for your airport pickup. Most car rental companies will deliver the vehicle to the villa at no extra cost.
| Rent a vehicle and drive yourself if… | Hire a driver/taxi if… |
|---|---|
| You seek adventure – you LOVE off-roading! | You want to just relax |
| Your group can fit in a small vehicle | Your group needs a larger vehicle |
| You want to explore independently | You prefer having a tour guide |
| You don’t mind stopping to ask for directions for roads that are so small they are not on Google Maps (like our road) | You don’t like driving in unfamiliar places where the roads don’t have street addresses, and the idea of being lost in a foreign country sounds intimidating |
| You are going to be out and about every day | You want to spend a lot of time at the villa |
| One person will be the designated driver and will abstain from drinking then driving | No one wants the responsibility of being the designated driver |
| You prefer to make your plans for the day while you eat breakfast (or lunch….) | You like to plan ahead on what you’ll do and when |
| Anyone driving will be between the ages of 25 and 65 | The driver is under 25 or over 65 (more difficult/expensive for those age groups) |
| You are comfortable driving on the left-hand side of the road | You have not driven on the left side of the road and you don’t look forward to it! |
| Your whole group will be on the same schedule | You want the flexibility of splitting up for at least part of the time |
| You are comfortable maneuvering through tight spaces | You are worried every time you pull into your garage that you’ll side-swipe the doo |
| You are great at parallel parking | The last time you parallel-parked was during your driving test |
| You want to know your full transportation costs prior to arrival and pay via credit card in St Lucia | You are willing to pay the driver in cash or pay us (the owners) for the driver with a credit card |
| You want to explore every inch of the island, including the furthest points | Most of what you want to do is within a short drive of the villa |