public transport in st lucia
#1
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Joined: Mar 2011
Location: Manchester
Posts: 8
public transport in st lucia
Hi,
I will be travelling to St lucia in August to visit my sister who is currently working at Victoria Hospital in Castries.
I'll be flying from London into Hewanorra. I am trying to do this visit as cheaply as possible and have looked at transfers from the airport to Castries and have seen prices from £70+. So am keen to use the public transport.
I was wondering if there are public buses from Hewanorra to Castries and how reliable they are (will be arriving early afternoon on a Friday), also will be travelling alone, which I'm sure wont be a problem but worth noting.
Any info/advice anyone has on this would be much appreciated.
Many thanks,
Olivia
I will be travelling to St lucia in August to visit my sister who is currently working at Victoria Hospital in Castries.
I'll be flying from London into Hewanorra. I am trying to do this visit as cheaply as possible and have looked at transfers from the airport to Castries and have seen prices from £70+. So am keen to use the public transport.
I was wondering if there are public buses from Hewanorra to Castries and how reliable they are (will be arriving early afternoon on a Friday), also will be travelling alone, which I'm sure wont be a problem but worth noting.
Any info/advice anyone has on this would be much appreciated.
Many thanks,
Olivia
#2
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Joined: Jan 2011
Location: Tunbridge Wells KENT
Posts: 2,914
Re: public transport in st lucia
Hi,
I will be travelling to St lucia in August to visit my sister who is currently working at Victoria Hospital in Castries.
I'll be flying from London into Hewanorra. I am trying to do this visit as cheaply as possible and have looked at transfers from the airport to Castries and have seen prices from £70+. So am keen to use the public transport.
I was wondering if there are public buses from Hewanorra to Castries and how reliable they are (will be arriving early afternoon on a Friday), also will be travelling alone, which I'm sure wont be a problem but worth noting.
Any info/advice anyone has on this would be much appreciated.
Many thanks,
Olivia
I will be travelling to St lucia in August to visit my sister who is currently working at Victoria Hospital in Castries.
I'll be flying from London into Hewanorra. I am trying to do this visit as cheaply as possible and have looked at transfers from the airport to Castries and have seen prices from £70+. So am keen to use the public transport.
I was wondering if there are public buses from Hewanorra to Castries and how reliable they are (will be arriving early afternoon on a Friday), also will be travelling alone, which I'm sure wont be a problem but worth noting.
Any info/advice anyone has on this would be much appreciated.
Many thanks,
Olivia
However, you would still be saving big money by getting a cab into Vieux Fort and then taking the bus from the terminus.
On the day, you could just be lucky and be at arrivals at the time a bus happens to come in on its way to Castries, dropping off an airport passenger from Vieux Fort but I've never witnessed this.
Anybody?
#3
...
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,165
Re: public transport in st lucia
For me personally after such a long journey I would prefer to have someone meet me at the airport and take me to my destination. This should be able to be done for about £50 UK and no more than 200 EC. Sometimes you can split the fare if you know or meet somebody traveling to Castries or to the North of the island who is on the same flight as you.
#4
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Re: public transport in st lucia
For me personally after such a long journey I would prefer to have someone meet me at the airport and take me to my destination. This should be able to be done for about £50 UK and no more than 200 EC. Sometimes you can split the fare if you know or meet somebody traveling to Castries or to the North of the island who is on the same flight as you.
However, when on a shoe-string budget one has precious little choice but to cut corners where one can and the transportation cost to/from the airport is one such area where this is possible and I've done it going out on several occasions in spite of the impending night flight with little or no sleep and then a journey onwards quite some distance from Gatwick.
#5
...
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,165
Re: public transport in st lucia
I agree with you wholeheartedly! One of the things I dread more than anything else when returning to St Lucia is the bit between the plane touching down and the actual arrival on my threshold at home with bags plonked, particularly when you've had to get up at around 5:00am to make the flight
However, when on a shoe-string budget one has precious little choice but to cut corners where one can and the transportation cost to/from the airport is one such area where this is possible and I've done it going out on several occasions in spite of the impending night flight with little or no sleep and then a journey onwards quite some distance from Gatwick.
However, when on a shoe-string budget one has precious little choice but to cut corners where one can and the transportation cost to/from the airport is one such area where this is possible and I've done it going out on several occasions in spite of the impending night flight with little or no sleep and then a journey onwards quite some distance from Gatwick.
Hopefully someone who is also going North will be willing to share the fare.
#6
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Location: Manchester
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Re: public transport in st lucia
Thank you both for your advice - I have a feeling I will be falling into a taxi after the mammoth journey, or get a taxi a Vieux Fort. Either way I'm sure it will be an exciting adventure!
With regard to getting a taxi, are most of them set on a meter or am I at risk of getting sorely over charged being a tourist/on my own? If so are there anyways of avoiding this?
I only ask because I know cabbies in Manchester (home) always try and do this when they are not on a meter, so I think I am generally of the view taxi drivers will try and hustle you out of extra cash some way or another, however St Lucian cabbies may prove me wrong!
With regard to getting a taxi, are most of them set on a meter or am I at risk of getting sorely over charged being a tourist/on my own? If so are there anyways of avoiding this?
I only ask because I know cabbies in Manchester (home) always try and do this when they are not on a meter, so I think I am generally of the view taxi drivers will try and hustle you out of extra cash some way or another, however St Lucian cabbies may prove me wrong!
#7
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Joined: Jan 2011
Location: Tunbridge Wells KENT
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Re: public transport in st lucia
Thank you both for your advice - I have a feeling I will be falling into a taxi after the mammoth journey, or get a taxi a Vieux Fort. Either way I'm sure it will be an exciting adventure!
With regard to getting a taxi, are most of them set on a meter or am I at risk of getting sorely over charged being a tourist/on my own? If so are there anyways of avoiding this?
I only ask because I know cabbies in Manchester (home) always try and do this when they are not on a meter, so I think I am generally of the view taxi drivers will try and hustle you out of extra cash some way or another, however St Lucian cabbies may prove me wrong!
With regard to getting a taxi, are most of them set on a meter or am I at risk of getting sorely over charged being a tourist/on my own? If so are there anyways of avoiding this?
I only ask because I know cabbies in Manchester (home) always try and do this when they are not on a meter, so I think I am generally of the view taxi drivers will try and hustle you out of extra cash some way or another, however St Lucian cabbies may prove me wrong!
Hewanorra - Castries, Hewanorra - Gros Islet/Rodney Bay
Rodney Bay - Victoria Hospital
You should really consider buses for Castries to Gros Islet and Victoria Hospital to Gros Islet via Castries.
Be aware that there is mayhem at Hewanorra at flight arrivals time and there will be all sorts of hustlers trying to get you into a taxi so just be clear on the correct rate for your desired run.
#8
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Location: Amsterdam
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Re: public transport in st lucia
As far as I know 200EC is the regular fare to Rodney Bay/Castries. Maybe try asking in the queue at immigration if anyone is looking to share a taxi. Otherwise post your arrival date here - maybe someone will be meeting someone on your date. Eg my niece is arriving August 5th & we would have space in the car for one more....
#9
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Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 9
Re: public transport in st lucia
Hi, sorry I know this a bit off topic, but can I ask what job your sister has at the hospital. Trying to get an idea of the sort of jobs there are out there before making the move.
Regards, Amy
Regards, Amy
#10
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Re: public transport in st lucia
Anyway as I said hope it all works out for you!
Best Wishes!