Family Holidays: St. Lucia family holidays

Take the Family holiday rating 4½ stars out of 5

Why

One of the most beautiful and least spoilt of the Caribbean islands, St Lucia has recently become much easier and cheaper to visit. Tour operators are increasingly offering competitive deals here, especially outside the most popular winter months. Although this has resulted in a spate of new developments, the island is still a long way from being overly sanitised or developed. Bananas are still a bigger business than tourism. St Lucia more than lives up to the paradisal Caribbean stereotype: a lovely mix of golden sand beaches, clear waters sheltering reefs swarming with tropical fish, lush rainforests, and a thriving culture. Many of St Lucia's tourist facilities are top-notch and cater to all budgets. St Lucia makes for a relaxed, informal and incredibly family friendly place to visit.

Top left: Lounging on the beach
Top middle: Divers come up for giggle
Top right: gorgeous st lucian sunset

Bottom left: beautiful st lucian flower
Bottom right: st lucia pitons and carribean sea

When

Temperatures range from 18-25 ° C between December and May, and 24-35 ° C between June and November, with July and August being the hottest months. June to November, (official hurricane season), sees the beaviest rainfall, with occasional tropical storms. Peak season, both busiest and most expensive is between the months of December and February, so a great time to go is a bit later on in March, April and May, when there are fewer visitors and whilst the weather is still gorgeous.

How

You can fly from the UK to Hewannora International Airport in St Lucia from many main and regional airports. Direct flights are available with British Airways or Virgin Atlantic, flying from Gatwick to Hewannora, which take about 8 hours. There are also charter flights that offer a cheaper alternative to the scheduled carriers. Remember that charter flights tie you to a 7 or 14 day stay though (which is not necessarily a bad thing!). You can also check and find the best flight deals with Expedia, Opodo and Last minute.com. The 'Caribbean Express' runs a hydrofoil service between Martinique and St. Lucia by sea.

Stay

Although St Lucia is relatively new to tourism, they are growing in experience and providing a wealth of great accommodation. From a 3 Star hotel to a 5 Star Spa Resort with acres and acres of grounds; Choose from a room only basis to all inclusive options. Check Expedia for holiday deals.

Do

This is not only a beach-lovers island, children can get bored of even the most golden of sand and need other adventures. Drive them into a volcano at a Soufriere, if you can cope with the smell of bad eggs, (cue children's hilarious bad jokes!) then you can take them on a lunar trip past bubbling pools of boiling mud - just don't get too close. Or try Pigeon island where you can go on gentle hikes away from the tourists and glory in the natural beauty of it all. Put your name down to go on a marine turtle-watch and let your children stay up to witness the leatherback turtles by moonlight. Or lie back in a spa, with the view of St. Lucia's glorious vocanic peaks, the Pitons, before you.

Eat

There is an excellent range of restaurants, small cafes and roadside bars to cater for most tastes. You can, of course, limit your family to western food in the hotels, but much better to try something a little more Caribbean. You can get excellent fast food like rotis or fried fish and chicken with fries, callaloo soup (a caribbean vegetable a little like spinach, served with crabmeat, salt beef and avocado). You can sit down for a feast of caribbean stew of salt/fresh fish, chicken or mutton or the ubiquitous jerk chicken, rice and peas. Fresh fruit is always a treat and wonderful juices include tamarind, coconut, passion fruit and soursop.