Let me tell you about our family trip to the southern Caribbean this past spring break: the good, the unexpected, and the tips I wish I’d known before we’d flown.
We chose St. Lucia for its truly dramatic landscape.
The most gorgeous sunsets!
Picture volcanic mountains that dive into the sea, and the promise of adventure that would excite even teenagers. With a direct flight from Chicago (thank you, United… I think?), we landed smoothly and picked up a rental car at the airport. We were glad we did—despite some intense driving, it gave us the freedom we needed.
Where did we stay?
Our first hotel, The Green Fig, was something out of Swiss Family Robinson—wooden huts clinging to a jungle-covered hillside, with views of the majestic Gros and Petit Pitons across the bay. It wasn’t the fanciest or the cleanest (hello, jungle dust), but it was packed with charm. Our family suite had plenty of space, and we even had access to a shared pool that we mostly had to ourselves.
A view of Soufriere from our resort, the Green Fig
Steps at the Green Fig are very steep and not accessible for many people.
Marigot Bay Zoetry Resort is comfortable and welcoming.
Eventually, we traded jungle chic for full-on resort life in Marigot Bay. Think: perfectly clean rooms, French fries on arrival, Le Labo toiletries, and mega-yachts docking nearby. It was beautiful, comfortable, and a bit sterile after our stay in the wild. We lounged by the pool, played board games, and just soaked in the slower pace.
A dock that connects the resort to the rest of the harbor at Marigot Bay
What did we do?
Soufrière, a town near the Green Fig, was filled with life—roosters crowing, church choirs singing, kids laughing in the streets. We walked down into town to board a sunset cruise boat, snorkeled at Sugar Beach (stunning, but the resort vibe was a bit ‘exclusive’ for my taste, ie. resort guards keeping us in the public roped off area, and even saw a local party boat with hundreds of people dancing as the sun set behind the mountains.
Not every activity was a hit—horseback riding on the beach, for instance, was more “meh” than magical. The beach had piles of seagrass, and the guides seemed kind of over it. That said, I’m glad that my horse-loving daughter got to check that off of her bucket list.
Horseback riding amidst the seaweed.
We also visited a local chocolate factory with a sweet little café—charming, delicious, and a perfect break from all the driving.
What did we eat?
Speaking of treats, our very first stop once we’d arrived on the island, believe it or not, was a gas station across from the airport. We happened across these magical lime plantain chips that we ended up dreaming about for the entire trip. We literally made a detour back just to grab more before flying home.
Another surprise highlight came after our horseback riding, from a local grocery store where we found incredible meat-filled hand pies the boys are still talking about. The food at both are resorts was fine but nothing special that I remember.
Jalousie Bay/Sugar Beach is a public bay in a private resort, but one part of the beach is open to anyone.
What we wish we’d known
Let’s talk about roads. St. Lucia’s are intense. Twisty, narrow, and full of blind turns. From talking to other travelers, it isn’t uncommon for unseasoned drivers to end up in a roadside ditch, in desperate need of a tow.
So yes, while driving was thrilling, it was also occasionally terrifying, and always a two-person job with person two being navigator. I recommend motion sickness meds for everyone, because those steep inclines, switchbacks, and driving on the other side of the road (as St. Lucia is a British territory) are a potent combination.
If you're not up for that kind of ride, a water taxi to avoid the mountain switchbacks might be a must on your booking to-do list.
In conclusion
Looking back, the trip was perfect for our teens, with challenging hikes, vibrant nature, and just enough comfort to balance the adventure. Bear in mind, though, that for little kids it might be a bit much.
Would we go back? 100%. But next time, we’re picking up some extra lime plantain chips, packing our Dramamine, and looking into that water taxi.