About St. Lucia

LOCATION - One of the more mountainous of the Windward islands, Saint Lucia is 238 square miles and is shaped like a mango -- about 27 miles long and 14 miles at its widest. St. Lucia has a population of 140,000.

ACCOMMODATIONS - Properties range from luxurious, all-inclusive resorts to private villas, intimate inns and budget-friendly hotels.

CALLING ST. LUCIA - St. Lucia's international area code is 758.

COMMUNICATION - Telecom facilities are well developed.

CREDIT CARDS - Credit cards are widely accepted by most hotels, restaurants and stores.

CURRENCY - St. Lucia's currency is the Eastern Caribbean dollar (EC$). Currency exchanges can be made at banks, most major hotels and at Pointe Seraphine. The current exchange rate is about $2.70 EC to $1 U.S. at banks and about $2.60 through stores or hotels. Shops, restaurants and resorts accept most major credit cards.

DRINKING WATER - Although St. Lucia's water system is to modern standards, it is generally advisable to boil all tap water before drinking. Never drink water from rivers or streams, no matter how clear it seems. Bottled water is widely available.

ELECTRICITY - 220 Volts, 50 cycles (Hz) with square 3 pin plug. A few hotels have 110 Volt, 50Hz supply.

TIME - St. Lucia lies in the Atlantic Standard Time Zone -- four hours behind Europe (five during daylight saving time), and one hour ahead of Eastern Standard Time.

WHAT TO WEAR - Casual resort clothing is appropriate year-round on St. Lucia, although a wrap or pullover may be needed on cooler winter evenings. Some of the larger restaurants require men to wear jackets and sometimes ties. Swimwear and short shorts should be reserved for the beach. Go bare-backed only on the beaches.