Driving in St Lucia, honestly
We drive on the left
Saint Lucia drives on the left, and most of our fleet is right hand drive and automatic. If you are coming from North America or continental Europe the first twenty minutes take concentration, particularly at roundabouts, and after that most people stop thinking about it.
The roads are narrow and steep, and that is the point
The main coast road between Castries and Soufriere climbs and descends constantly with tight switchbacks and few barriers. It is comfortably driveable at a sensible speed, and the views from it are the reason people rent a car here rather than sitting in a coach. Allow more time than the distance suggests.
Do you need a 4x4?
For the main roads and the resorts, no. A Compact SUV is the class we recommend for most visitors because the extra ground clearance helps on the steeper inland turnings without the running costs of a large vehicle. If you are heading well inland on unpaved tracks, take the Premium SUV, which is genuine four wheel drive.
Practical things nobody tells you
Fuel stations are plentiful in Castries and Rodney Bay and sparse in the south, so fill up before a long inland run. Drivers here flash their lights to let you through rather than to warn you off. Minibuses stop without much notice. Rain comes hard and briefly, and the road surface takes a few minutes to recover.