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About St. Lucia
Capital: Castries Driving Rental cars are available in Marigot Bay. Foreign drivers need a national license or an international driving permit in order to obtain a requisite local driver's license. Traffic proceeds on the left. For further details about renting a car, click here. Economy Though tourism has been growing rapidly, the principal business sectors remain those of agriculture (especially bananas and coconuts) and manufacturing, with over 40 relatively diversified enterprises. Electricity The electric current is 220 volts AC, 50 Hz. Plugs are square with three pins. Oasis Marigot offers adapters. Visitors may wish to bring their own voltage and plug adapters. Emergencies Throughout the country, the number to dial for all police, fire, and medical emergencies is 911. Geography The second largest of the former West Indies Associated States, the avocado-shaped St. Lucia lies between Martinique and St. Vincent in the Windward Islands chain of the eastern Caribbean. It sprawls over a total area of 616 square kilometers (238 square miles), covered with dense tropical flora, such as hibiscus, frangipani, orchids, jasmine, and poinciana. Government Constitutional monarchy and member of the Commonwealth. Executive power is vested in the British monarch, who is represented by a governor-general. Parliament consists of the 17 elected members of the House of Assembly and the 11 appointed members of the Senate.
For over 164 years since 1660, the island exchanged hands 14 times between the French and British. Although the island gained control of its own government on 22 February 1979, its official head of state still remains the British throne, represented by a governor general who appoints the 11 members of St. Lucia's senate. The House of Assembly is elected by popular vote. St. Lucia has given birth to two Nobel Laureates: Sir W. Arthur Lewis won the Nobel Prize in Economics in 1979 and the poet Derek Walcott won the 1992 Nobel Prize in Literature. Money The basic unit of currency is the Eastern Caribbean dollar (EC$), which is equivalent to 100 cents. U.S. dollars are linked to the Eastern Caribbean dollar, with an equivalency of around EC$2.65 per US$1; this rarely fluctuates. All businesses—even roadside vendors—accept U.S. currency, as well as traveler's checks in U.S. dollars. Credit cards are all widely accepted. Official Languages English; a French patois is widely spoken. Passport/Visa Requirements Canadian citizens: Proof of citizenship and a return or onward ticket are required for entry. EU citizens: A valid passport and a return or onward ticket are required for entry. U.S. citizens: Proof of citizenship and a return or onward ticket are required for entry. Population: 136,041 Taxes Hotels and restaurants charge an 8 percent government tax, as well as a 10 percent service charge, both of which are sometimes included in the quoted price. The airport departure tax is EC$54. Tipping Tips of 10 to 15 percent are customary. If a service charge is added to the bill, any further tipping is discretionary. Ten percent is acceptable for taxi drivers and approximately EC$2–3 or US$1 for each piece of luggage a porter or bellhop carries. Weather St. Lucia's climate is hot and tropical, with an average annual temperature of 26° C (79° F) and mild trade winds for a good portion of the year. The average annual rainfall is 152 centimeters (60 inches). Oasis Marigot is a proud supporter of the St. Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association.  St. Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association |
 Oasis Marigot USA & Canada: 1-800-263-4202 UK and Worldwide Free Phone: 00-800-2785 8241 Fax: 305-946-6372 info@oasismarigot.com |
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