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My good friend and I are going to St Lucia Jan 9-16 we are staying at Bay Gardens Beach Resort in Castries (Rodney Bay) and here is what I'm wondering
1) I read that there is a market to buy groceries, we have a kitchen in our room is this market sufficient to buy foods to cook lunches and dinners?
2) I have also read about many fantistic activities, any suggestions? and how pricey are these activities?
3) bars? restaurants? please suggest some good ones (we will be on a bit of a budget so nothing over the top)
4) any other valuable info would be much appreciated 
St. Lucia in January
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My good friend and I are also going to be at Bay Gardens Beach Resort but on Jan 14-24, so we will overlap a bit. I've been to SL approx. 15 times, so I'll try and help you. You've picked a great place to stay. You're within walking distance to many restaurants/bars. If the market closest to BGBR doesn't have what you want, BGBR I believe offers a shuttle to the Rodney Bay Mall which has a larger supermarket and you should be able to find everything you need there. If no shuttle, you can walk. Will take about 15 mins. down one street. I would suggest going to Happy Day Bar near the hotel - 2 for 1 specials all the time. It's great to sit out and watch the boats as they come in and out of the marina. Just walk down the street and you'll see various places to eat and drink. Most of them have menus posted outside with prices, so you can look at them and decide.
Be sure to do a trip to Pigeon Island, 10 mins. by cab, and climb Ft. Rodney, and stop at Jambe de Bois on the water for snacks and cocktails! $5 to enter park, but well worth it!
If possible, do a land/sea tour to southern part of island and see Pitons, Marigot Bay, Soufriere, etc. I'm sure the hotel can set you up. There's also vendors on the beach that can set you up, at probably a better rate.
Hope this helps.
Hello Fellow Fodorites,
Looks like St. Lucia is quite popular!
We are two couples, also considering a 1-week trip to St. Lucia in January or February, and have looked into the Bay Gardens Beach Resort. How did you like the hotel? How do most folks get from the Hewanorra Airport to the Rodney Bay area - if they're not renting a car? Does the resort offer an airport transfer(I understand it is a 90 minute drive?) Seems like some folks spend a week at one of the resorts at Rodney Bay/Reduit Beach and then take various day-trips south, or into the interior, whilst others use Soufriere as their base. Has anyone split their time in St. Lucia between the northern and southern regions?
We were thinking of spending the first 3 nights at Rodney Bay - for the watersports (diving, snorkeling, kayaking, etc.)and a hike/picnic among the Fort Rodney ruins on Pigeon Island. We would then spend 4 nights in the Soufriere area. Has anyone stayed at the Villa des Pitons? We could visit the Diamond Mineral Baths, Botanical Gardens and Waterfalls, as well as the "drive-in" volcano. I understand there are also ATV tours, jungle-biking, plantation and rainforest tours. How is the snorkeling and diving in this area, compared to the Rodney Bay area?
Thank you.