How to Plan a Last-Minute Trip to St. Lucia During the Pandemic

The Caribbean, home to turquoise waters and tropical treats! It’s my happy place and I’ve purposed to visit at least one of the islands every year.

However, the 2020 pandemic disrupted that delightful pattern. In November of 2019, I’d had the opportunity to visit The Level at Melia Braco Village in Jamaica. As 2021 unfolded, my mind and body were craving a return to the Caribbean, so I spent months researching which island would be best to visit during the pandemic. 

At the top of June, I decided I’d waited long enough and wanted to go now!

Is it possible to book a last-minute trip during a pandemic?

Yes, if you are willing to stretch your budget a bit. I knew just where I wanted to stay:

Ladera Resort on the Island of St. Lucia, one of the top resorts in the Caribbean.

I booked and paid for the airfare and accommodations on June 8^th and we traveled on June 13^th!

As I was searching for the ideal Caribbean destination, there were specific things I was looking for:

• Direct flights from NYC
• No quarantine for fully vaccinated travelers
• An island with amazing views, landscape, and beach access.
• A resort with a private plunge pool
• A resort that offered Covid testing on-site
• A resort that provided airport transfers

In addition to this criterion, I also wanted a resort with a local or toll-free number that would enable me to speak to a live representative able to respond to my questions.

Pre-pandemic travel consisted of packing an overnight bag, going to the airport, and buying a ticket. Travel has changed and I wanted to be sure that my concerns were addressed prior to committing to a destination.

In short, I was looking for convenience, accessibility, and safety. St. Lucia offered all of this and so much more!

Are you craving a mid-pandemic getaway to the beautiful island of St. Lucia?

You can make it happen too!

Here are the practical steps to make your dream a reality.

1. Go to St. Lucia tourism website to check out the latest travel advisory and latest mandatory entry requirements. Rules are different for fully vaccinated and not fully vaccinated travelers. Read through your category thoroughly. At the time of my visit, fully vaccinated travelers were given a wristband upon arrival at the airport and were free to visit places of interest, while not fully vaccinated travelers were required to quarantine for 14 days.
2. Check out air flights. I chose JetBlue because it was the only airline that provides direct flights to St. Lucia from New York City. Purchase your airline ticket.
3. Buy travel insurance that covers cancellation, delay, Covid related issues, etc. I bought my insurance from World Nomads. JetBlue and other airlines offer travel insurance prior to completing ticket payment. (JetBlue offers Allianz.)
4. Look for Covid-certified accommodations in St Lucia. I chose Ladera Resort because it had been a destination on my bucket list. (Keep reading below to learn more about why this resort is a great choice!)
5. Be sure to complete and submit a St. Lucia travel registration form. The form is available at https://travelslu.govt.lc/. You can only submit the travel registration form after you received a negative PCR Covid test.
6. You must take your Covid PCR test no more than 5 days before travel. 

Whether you choose to travel to St. Lucia or elsewhere, be sure to find out what documents may be required by the airport or the country you are visiting.

For St. Lucia, you’ll need to print out the following three items:

• Negative Covid PCR test result (dated within 5 days of flight)
• Travel authorization form
• Completed health screening questionnaire for each traveler. The questionnaire is located here: https://34a1ju2gva4u3yrm051vedfb-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/SCREENING-QUESTIONNAIRE-PASSENGERS.pdf 

Additional Note: Be sure to bring your vaccination card if you have one.

Why is Ladera Resort an excellent choice for your visit?

Here are a few reasons this resort is a delight:

As part of the Rabot Estate, one of St. Lucia’s oldest cocoa plantations, Ladera Resort offers unique beauty. It is the only resort located on a UNESCO World Heritage site sitting on the volcano ridgeline, 1,000 feet above sea level affording spectacular views of the Caribbean Sea and of the Pitons-Gros and Petit.

Ladera Resort offers 37 suites, each with one open-air wall, a private plunge pool, and views of the Pitons as well as the Caribbean Sea! On the premises, you’ll find an award-winning restaurant called Darsheene which offers authentic St. Lucian cuisine, amazing views, and top-notch service.

The peacefulness of this adult-only resort is evident as you walk Ladera’s private trails, relax by your private plunge pool, listen to the harmony of nature, and indulge in relaxing yoga. Convenience amenities include airport transfers, tour consultations, and an onsite wellness gym.

Due to my late booking date, my only option was the Petit Piton Suite, which I was very pleased to book. If you are booking in advance, you might try using booking.com, expedia.com, or hotels.com. However, if you are unable to find room availability, call the hotel directly. While I enjoyed my stay in the Petit Piton Suite, on future visits, I’d be interested in booking either the Hilltop Suite, the Heritage Suite, or La Petit Fleur.

There are many things that captivated me during our stay at Ladera. At the top of the list are the private plunge pool and the incredible views. In addition to those, we relished the privacy provided us as we relaxed in nature’s beauty with cooling breezes that made air-conditioning unnecessary.

The accommodations featured natural furniture and textures found locally.  The breakfast included with our suite was delicious and also locally sourced. Topping of our incredible stay was the friendly staff and the convenience of on-site Covid testing which was required before returning home to the States. 

We have no regrets looking back on our spur-of-the-moment St. Lucia adventure!

Included here are a few snapshots of our amazing stay.