You’ve made your plans and booked the reservations for your dream vacation to St. Lucia! The next step is to make sure you gather everything you will need for your St. Lucia trip. It’s a laidback Caribbean island so casual clothes are perfect for during the day, but people do tend to dress a little more nicely at night. This article will help you prepare your packing list for St. Lucia and make sure you don’t forget any essential items!
St. Lucia Packing Essentials
Passport
A passport is required to get into St. Lucia for U.S. citizens. It must be up to date and more than 6 months away from expiring.
Credit Cards
The easiest and safest way to pay for things during your vacation in St. Lucia is with a credit card. It takes up less room than cash, and you can always cancel a card if it gets stolen. If you are staying in an all-inclusive resort like Sandals, you may not even need that, but it will come in handy when you’re off the resort. Just be sure to call your credit card company and notify them that you are traveling.
Tip: Bring two cards and hide one in a safe place for an emergency backup. Also, make sure you have a record of your credit card numbers, as well as the customer service contact information.
Cash
You will want to bring cash for taxis and places that don’t accept credit cards, such as local markets. If you don’t want to carry much cash with you on the plane, you can always get it from an ATM once you’re in St. Lucia.
Most places in St. Lucia will accept American dollars, especially in the tourist areas, (although you may end up paying a little bit more) or you can get some local currency. Keep in mind that you do not want to walk around with a lot of cash on you at any time.
Tip: You may also need to pay a departure tax in cash at the airport, if it’s not included in your plane ticket, so be sure to ask in advance.
Medicine
As with any trip, make sure you pack all medicine that you need. Put it in your carry-on bag so you don’t have to worry about your luggage getting lost. In addition to any prescription medication, make sure you bring some over-the-counter drugs (like aspirin, ibuprofen, stomach remedies, seasickness medicine, antihistamines) so you’ll have them on hand if you need them. People tend to overindulge while on vacation!
Tip: Keep all prescription medications in the original bottles to avoid any issues.
Destination Information
You may be asked to provide the name and address of where you’re staying when you get to St. Lucia, so be sure to have that readily available. This will also come in handy if you are taking a taxi to your hotel.
Driver’s License
Bring a valid driver’s license or government ID; if you need to do any transactions at banks, they will require two forms of identification. This is also necessary if you want to rent a car in St. Lucia (but remember that they drive on the left side of the road here!).
Travel Insurance Information
If you have purchased travel insurance, make sure you have this on hand as well.
Tip: Take pictures of all important documents (your passport, driver’s license, insurance cards, etc.) and keep these on your phone. You may even want to email them to yourself or to an emergency contact just in case.
Hand Sanitizer
Hand sanitizer is an absolute travel essential these days. Pack several small bottles, and make sure you use them frequently.
Rain Gear
It’s advisable to pack a travel umbrella, poncho, or light rain jacket. The rainy season in St. Lucia is June through November, but sudden rain showers happen in other months as well.
St. Lucia Beach Packing List
Beach Bag
When it’s time to hit the beach, a beach bag is an easy way to carry all your beach packing essentials. Make sure it’s made of a material that can get wet.
Sunscreen
As on any beach vacation, you’re going to need plenty of sunscreen. This is especially true for a trip to the Caribbean, which has stronger sunlight since it’s closer to the equator. Also, being on sand or water intensifies the sun’s rays. The higher the SPF, the better while you’re on the beach! You don’t want to go below SPF 30 while in St. Lucia, but 50 or higher is best.
Bringing it from home ensures that you have the SPF you need, and will save you money. I recommend bringing some in your carry-on or personal item on the plane that is not larger than 3.4 fluid ounces. In addition, you will want a lot more in your checked luggage.
Tip: If you are going to be snorkeling or scuba diving, make sure your sunscreen is reef-safe.
Lip Balm with SPF
Lips are very susceptible to sunburn so protect them with a balm that has sun protection in it.
Sun Hats
Pack a wide-brimmed hat to protect yourself from the sun and help prevent headaches, heat stroke, or sunburn on your face and neck. One that is crushable and can easily fit in a small bag is ideal so you can take it on excursions.
Sunglasses
The sun in St. Lucia will be strong, so you’ll want to make sure you protect your eyes. Sunglasses are a must; they should have UV protection.
Flip Flops
Flip flops are the best footwear for the beach. You don’t want to bring your expensive shoes to the beach or to walk around your resort. I usually bring two pairs, a nicer pair for dining and one for everything else.
Swimsuits
You will likely be wearing a swimsuit most days of your vacation in St. Lucia. Make sure you bring several choices so you don’t have to wear a wet suit.
If you’re planning on doing any water activities, women may feel more comfortable wearing something other than a bikini bottom. Either bring some shorts you can put over your swimsuit, or find swim shorts for women.
Rash Guard
If you’re planning on doing any water sports, a rash guard will come in handy. It can also protect you from the sun.
Clothes Packing List for St. Lucia
Shirts
When packing for your trip to St. Lucia, plan on wearing shirts that are suitable for warm weather. Men can bring t-shirts, polo shirts, and button-up short sleeve shirts. For women, you can bring t-shirts, tank tops, and lightweight blouses. If you’re planning on golfing, make sure to bring the appropriate clothing.
Dresses and Skirts
You will want to add a few casual dresses or sundresses, or a skirt and top, to your packing list, especially if you’re staying at an all-inclusive resort that asks for “resort casual” wear in some areas. If you’re planning on dining at a more formal restaurant, bring a nicer dress and shoes to match. (Don’t forget an appropriate purse, too!)
Cover-ups
Instead of changing in and out of your swimsuit, it’s much easier to just throw on a cute cover-up. These are easy to pack and will save you time when you’re getting ready for dinner or drinks by the pool. Note that it’s expected in St. Lucia to wear some kind of cover-up in public areas.
Shorts
St. Lucia is a warm climate, so shorts are essential for both men and women. Cotton shorts, khaki shorts, and even workout shorts can all be worn during the day. Just make sure they’re comfortable. Breathable fabrics like linen are ideal.
Pants
For men, pack lightweight pants such as linen or khakis. Women can pack Capri pants or lightweight slacks. If you’re planning on golfing, make sure to bring the appropriate clothing.
Shoes
The type of shoes you bring will depend on what activities you want to do while in St. Lucia. You will probably want to bring water shoes, flip flops, and sandals; you may want to add tennis shoes if you’re going to do a lot of walking or playing sports.
If you want to hike through The Pitons, you may want to bring hiking shoes. If you plan on going to a nicer restaurant, bring a pair that will fit in there. And if you’re going to golf, bring appropriate shoes.
Underwear and Pajamas
Make sure you pack enough pairs of underwear for your vacation and bring whatever you like to sleep in.
Scarf or Shawl, or Light Jacket
Women may want to bring a scarf, shawl, or light jacket in case they get chilly in air-conditioned places. It can also get cool after rain showers in St. Lucia.
Tip: It’s illegal in St. Lucia to wear or carry any sort of camouflage or military style print, so don’t pack any items with that.
Other Items to Consider for Your St. Lucia Packing List
Camera
The great thing about smartphones today is they have such great cameras built-in. There’s no need to pack an extra camera unless you want higher quality pictures than your phone can provide. If you do bring a camera, pack extra supplies like batteries and memory cards—and bring the charger if it has one!
GoPro Camera
The one camera we do recommend is a GoPro. That way you can make some videos of your adventures underwater or other places where you won’t want to take your phone.
Waterproof Phone Case
A waterproof phone case can be a lifesaver when you’re on a beach vacation!
Phone Charger
You can’t use your phone if it isn’t charged!
Travel Adapter/Plug
And you can’t charge your phone if you can’t plug in the charger; the voltage in St. Lucia is 220-240V, so you need to bring a universal travel adapter plug and a step-down voltage converter. (Some hotels, such as the Sandals resorts in St. Lucia, provide 110V outlets—you can call your hotel ahead of time to check.)
Hairdryer
Most resorts these days have hairdryers in the room, but you may want to double-check this in case you need to bring your own. (Again, if you do bring your own, it won’t work on the outlets in St. Lucia so you’ll need to bring an adapter plug.)
Mosquito Repellant and Insect Bite Relief Cream
St. Lucia is a tropical climate, and there are mosquitoes. No one wants to deal with itchy mosquito bites, so make sure to pack some mosquito repellant and insect bite relief cream.
Rucksack or Backpack
You’re going to want both hands free at times, so I recommend bringing a backpack for all your water activities. It’s also perfect for taking sightseeing or hiking if you plan to do that.
Beach Towels
Resorts will provide you with beach towels, but if you won’t be staying at a resort, bring a couple of towels if you have room.
Snorkeling Gear and/or Goggles
While all-inclusive resorts will often have complimentary snorkeling equipment, and you can certainly rent it if not, you may prefer to bring your own. Goggles especially are easy to pack; if you wear prescription goggles you will definitely want to bring those.
Waterproof Bags
Waterproof bags are great for keeping your things safe from sand and water. You can take them with you snorkeling or scuba diving and leave the bag in the boat knowing your valuables won’t get wet. They are also perfect to bring to the beach or the pool.
First Aid Kit
While most resorts will have a first aid kit on hand, it is always good to be prepared. A small first aid kit should include bandaids, antiseptic wipes, antibiotic ointment, and pain reliever medication.
Luggage Tags
Make sure to put your name and address on all of your luggage with tags. That way if your luggage gets lost, it will be easier to get it back to you. If it’s your honeymoon, you can find honeymoon-specific luggage tags.
Tip: Use luggage tags that are brightly colored or tie a unique ribbon on your bags to help them stand out on the baggage carousel at the airport.
St. Lucia Packing Tips
As you prepare for your trip, here are some tips to make sure you bring everything you need.
- Check your resort’s dress code. Most resorts in St. Lucia are fairly casual, but they may have a nicer restaurant or two that require you to dress up a bit more.
- Make sure you pack a change of clothes in your carry-on bag. This way, if your checked bag is lost, you will have at least one fresh outfit. With most of your clothes being so light, and since you will likely be wearing a bathing suit most of the time, you may be able to travel with just a carry-on anyway.
- Do not pack your valuables in your checked luggage. Luggage gets lost (or rummaged through) all the time; you can easily replace clothes, but not your jewelry or cash. The same goes for your prescription medication. Many people don’t bring irreplaceable jewelry like wedding rings when they travel but wear less expensive replacements.
- Pack light. Not only will this make packing and unpacking easier, but you’ll be thankful when you’re carrying your bags around.
- Leave some room for shopping. St. Lucia has some beautiful items available at the local markets. You will want to leave some room in your suitcase to bring a few treasures home with you.
When it comes to what to pack for St. Lucia, these packing tips, will help you enjoy your trip without any worries.