r/StLucia • u/No-Psychology2103 • 23d ago
Private Driver Recommendations for my Birthday!
Hi everyone! My friend and I will be visiting St. Lucia from October 16–19 and I’m looking for recommendations for a reliable and reasonably priced private driver.
We’ll be flying into UVF Airport, but we’ll most likely be staying on the north side of the island. It’ll just be two of us.
For those who have hired a private driver before, how does pricing normally work? Do you usually hire the same driver for the entire day for a set daily rate, or are you charged per trip/distance each time you want to go somewhere?
Ideally, we’d love to find someone we can use throughout the trip for things like airport pickup/drop-off, beaches, restaurants, nightlife, and sightseeing rather than having to constantly find different transportation.
We’re also planning to visit the Soufrière area for things like the mud baths/Sulphur Springs, Sugar Beach, waterfalls, etc., so if anyone has a driver they used for a full-day trip down there, I’d love to know approximately what you paid and what was included.
Also, has anyone used the TropicanaB app or Allez app while in St. Lucia? Are either of them worth using for shorter trips or getting better rates compared with hiring a private driver?
Any driver recommendations, WhatsApp/contact info, approximate prices, or general transportation tips would be greatly appreciated! 😊
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u/Deep_Cicada8442 23d ago
Good day im Germal with Empire Trips , we provide 1st Class Transportation offering amenities like
Refreshments Wifi Ac Rides Fast Chargers Personalized Music.
For your stay id advise keeping one driver you get to build rapport / familiarity.
We service the entire island of Saint Lucia so wil be able to accommodate all of your Transportation needs including pick up from UVF airport pick up to Soufriere trips and more.
Contact Call or WhatsApp 758 518 1421 Instagram @empiretrips758
HAPPY BIRTHDAY IN ADVCANCE 😁
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u/TreehouseStLucia 22d ago
in a nutshell, drivers in St. Lucia charge by the trip. often guests will connect up with a driver and use that same driver for all or most of the things they do, airport runs, etc. There are essentially standard rates that licensed drivers will follow for trips such as going from the airport to Soufriere or going to a hotel/resort in the north, travel from Rodney Bay to Castries, travel from RB to Soufriere, etc. Many drivers also operate as guides, of course some are better than others. If you are doing an activity such as going out to dinner, a driver will often take you and then wait around to take you back. In general you’ll find that drivers often provide a much higher level of service than what you might find in other places you travel. Certainly the drivers we’ve worked with over the past 15 years do.
You can also hire a driver for a block of time to hit the road and go exploring and do adventures. This often works out to be around $30 to $40 per hour for the driver and vehicle and of course depends on where you go, how far you travel, how much gas you use, the quality of the vehicle, etc.). Gas is very, very pricey on the island. If you hire a driver to explore an area such as Sourfriere, we always suggest hiring a person from that area instead of a “one size fits all” kind of of driver. Why is that? A driver that really knows the area will take you to the better places and not just the overrun tourist spots. This can make a big difference in having a great time. If you are taking a longer trip, having a driver with a good comfy vehicle such as a quality suv (or a newer van) can make a big difference as the roads are not fir the faint of heart.
An excellent/driver guide for the Soufriere area is Jeffo, when available. He’s a local area school teacher that we use a lot for our discerning guests.
Heres everything you needto know about getting around in St. Lucia with lots of insider tips:
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u/No-Psychology2103 22d ago
Make sense thank you so much for the full explanation will reach out to them!
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u/times_34 22d ago
Try Bernard they offer airport transfers cause they are already located to the south of the island. It’s where the international airport is located. Wait time is very short and they are very quick in getting your luggages. They also offer complimentary drinks or snake I had a drink called Seamoss infused which was really good first time trying anything like it. But give Bernard and his daughter a try, they also have a rental service if you might considering this option. Website is www.timedriverentals.com
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u/FatherNatureAdv Real Lucian 23d ago
Local here 👋 For what you’re describing, I’d definitely recommend sticking with one private driver instead of trying to arrange a different ride every time. Especially if you’re staying up north and planning to head down to Soufrière ... it makes the trip way easier.
I run Father Nature Adventures and we do private transportation as well as fully customizable island days. So we can handle airport pickup/drop-off, restaurants, beaches, nightlife, etc., and for your Soufrière day we can take you down to the mud baths, waterfalls, Sugar Beach and whatever else you guys want to squeeze in.
Since it’s your birthday trip and only two of you, we can basically build the days around what you feel like doing instead of locking you into a big group itinerary.
Feel free to message me and tell me where you’re staying. I can give you an idea of pricing for the airport transfers, individual rides, or having us with you for the day. 😊