How bad are the roads really?
 

Specifically roads traveling from the southern airport to the north (rodney bay, etc)? I've heard conflicting reports. Some ppl have said it's terrible and can make you sick while others have said it's not that bad. I know it's an 1 1/2 hour trip and the roads are windy and rough (from what I hear) but is it really THAT bad? have the roads improved at all?
Any info is appreciated

They are hilly, bumpy, and skinny.....and the locals drive a little crazy by riding your bumper....and everyone honks. This is just what I observed from our chartered van. Is it a total nightmare?....no.

Of course what I see as a challenge but (doable) others may see as a NFW!! LOL

If you're worried about it....just take the transport van and enjoy your vacation. If you have ever driven in St John, I'd say it is maybe a little rougher than that....which again I see as not that bad if you just go slow.

Driving crazy I can deal with (i live in ny :-) I was just worried about the comments ppl have made about getting sick. Just seeing if it should be a concern or not. of course that varies from person to person, I get that, but I didn't want to start off a vacation like that if it can be avoided. (i know about the helicopter. If the roads aren't that terrible then helicopter isn't necessary)

It really depends on you. Are you the type of person that gets car sick easily? I got the feeling that many of those types of comments are from people who are senative to car travel. We personally, did not have any problems with the roads. We took a full day Island tour and were driven all over the Island that lasted several hours and had no porblems what-so-ever. Would I personally rent a car and drive myself. No. Mainly because everything is so spread out and if you don't know where you going it would be a challenge to find things.

We also did not have the 1 1/2 hour drive from the airport to our hotel. We flew into the smaller airport on American Eagle and our hotel was 30 minutes away. I'm thinking also after a 12 hour day getting there, people can be senative to another 1 1/2 road trip to the hotel. If you arrive after dark, the helicopter trip would probably be a waste as you won't be able to see the sites.

I felt the roads in St. Thomas were way worse. So hilly, you can't see over them until you already are over it, and very winding. People drove beyond crazy and fast. We saw many wrecks. The locals would laugh and make ugly comments at the tourists for trying to drive there. I felt sometimes the cab drivers would pull out in front of them on purpose.

Thanks for the info. Since you mentioned it, may I ask what city you flew into the northern airport from?

We flew on American Airlines from Dallas, TX to Puerto Rico to the smaller airport in Castries. We stayed at the Sandals Grande. If you find a flight that goes through PR and uses American Eagle to get to St. Lucia instead of the big American Airlines planes, you will more than likely go into the smaller airport.

I found this also. Don't know how current it is though: "Airlines who have a service to St. Lucia are American Airlines, US Airways, Air Jamaica, BWIA, Air Canada, Delta Air Lines, American Eagle, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, LIAT and Caribbean Star".

We actually did 2 Island tours: The Land and Sea and a Jeep Tour. Loved both of them. The Island is beyond gorgeous.

We didn't have a problem with the roads but 1.5 hours is a conservative estimate. It took us an extra 20 minutes or so and we did hit some traffic around Castries.
Pull over to let local pass especially the mini vans (local buses).
The honking is most often used as a greeting when passing friends on the road and not usually aimed at tourists

Note, I would not do this drive for the first time at night!

We didn't have a problem with the roads either and we rented a car straight from the airport (Hewanorra)and drove to the north of the island.

Jetblue also fly to St Lucia (Hewanorra) from JFK, BWIA ceased operations about 2006, same with Caribbean Star who I think are now part of LIAT. Basically the airport in the south can handle the bigger aircraft such as the 747s that Virgin Atlantic fly for example and the airport in the north can only handle the smaller aircraft.