What is the best money to take to St. Lucia?

Eastern Caribbean, or EC Dollars as it is commonly called, is the local currency and is accepted everywhere on the island of Saint Lucia. US Dollars can also be used but exchange rates may vary from place to place.



The best currency to take to St. Lucia is the Eastern Caribbean Dollar (XCD), often referred to as the "EC." While the US Dollar (USD) is widely accepted at major resorts, duty-free shops, and tourist restaurants, you will almost always receive a better high-value rate if you pay in the local currency. The EC is pegged to the US Dollar at a fixed rate of $1 USD = $2.70 XCD, but many local street vendors or small "rum shops" may only give you a rate of 2.50 if you pay in USD, effectively costing you a 10% "convenience tax." A high-value peer tip for 2026: bring some USD in small bills for tipping at the airport and hotel, but use an ATM on the island (like those at Bank of Saint Lucia) to withdraw EC for your daily excursions and local meals. This ensures you aren't "carrying a bank" and that you're getting the official interbank exchange rate, giving you the highest value for your Caribbean vacation budget.

People Also Ask

Credit cards and currency The Eastern Caribbean (EC) dollar is used on St Lucia and can be obtained at any bank. Most places accept US dollars, but change will be given in EC dollars. Most hotels, restaurants and larger stores accept credit cards, but local stores seldom do.

MORE DETAILS

Usually we only take 100 Dollars in small bills just for tips, any money we need we then get from the ATMs in local currency or alternatively you can use a credit card for resort extras, but IMHO it is always advisable to have access to cash we are from the UK and we have a debit card that cost nothing for an ATM ...

MORE DETAILS

Saint Lucia travel adaptors For Saint Lucia the associated plug type is G, which is the plug that has three rectangular pins in a triangular pattern. Saint Lucia operates on a 230V supply voltage and 50Hz.

MORE DETAILS

The mains water supply in St. Lucia is chlorinated and considered safe to drink, but may taste a little strange if you are not used to the chlorine. Ice served in drinks is usually made from tap water and is also considered safe to drink.

MORE DETAILS

Prohibited Imports
  • Counterfeit currency and coins.
  • Food unfit for human consumption.
  • Indecent or obscene prints, paintings, photographs, books, cards, lithographic or other engravings, pornographic records, videos or any other indecent articles or matter.
  • Matches which contain white or yellow phosphorus.


MORE DETAILS

Cost of Staying in Saint Lucia Without an All-Inclusive Package: For budget travelers, the cost of a week-long trip to Saint Lucia without an all-inclusive package is around $1,800 for a single person or $2,750 for a couple if you don't do any extra activities, have a lower food budget, and stay at a budget hotel.

MORE DETAILS

When is the least expensive time to fly to Saint Lucia? The least expensive time to fly to Saint Lucia is typically during the off-season between May-September.

MORE DETAILS

It is possible to catch several mosquito-borne illnesses in Saint Lucia so it is a very good idea to avoid bites wherever possible. To avoid being bitten by mosquitos on Saint Lucia: opt for loose neutral-coloured clothing with good limb coverage. treat clothing and your body with a reliable insect repellent.

MORE DETAILS

The beaches on the western side of the island front the tranquil turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea and are favored for swimming and water sports, while the wild but beautiful eastern side churns with the more turbulent waters of the Atlantic Ocean, making it great for surfers and those who like the watch the waves.

MORE DETAILS

Check the small print on your charger if you aren't sure. All you need is a plug adapter so that your charger plug fits. Plenty of travel plug socket adapters on Amazon, and they are cheap. The island uses British style sockets, or class G (two flat horizontal slots below and one flat vertical slot at the top).

MORE DETAILS

You need a voltage converter in Saint Lucia! You can find voltage converters at Amazon. Because you also need a power plug adapter, you should consider a combined plug adapter/voltage converter. Also the frequency in Saint Lucia (50 Hz) differs from the frequency in the United States of America (60 Hz).

MORE DETAILS