St. Lucia or Aruba?

Which one and why??? We're looking into all-inclusive. Also, any suggestions?

Re: St. Lucia or Aruba?

I think St. Lucia is one of the most beautiful places in the world. Better than Aruba if you're looking for a very relaxing vacation

Aruba is also beautiful, but has lots more by way of restaurants, shopping, etc. And, it's much safer.

Re: St. Lucia or Aruba?

I have been to both places and I absolutely loved Aruba, and absolutely hated St. Lucia. In Aruba we stayed at the Hyatt, and in St. Lucia we stayed at Almond Resorts. I would never go back and we are already planning a return trip to Aruba.

Re: St. Lucia or Aruba?

I've been to Aruba on our honeymoon and loved it. Either way, it won't be super-relaxing because we're bringing along 14 month old DS. I'm just wondering if St. Lucia would be too boring for us.

Re: St. Lucia or Aruba?

Just got back from St. Lucia and would not go back. There isnt much to do other than water sports and hiking/canopying over trees, and seeing the Pitons, the volcano and mudbaths.
Ive never been to Aruba so it may be just as boring but i believe the waters off Aruba are a bit clearer than at St. Lucia.

Re: St. Lucia or Aruba?

I'm glad to hear I wasn't the only one who wasn't overly impressed with St Lucia.

I prefer Aruba hands down.

Re: St. Lucia or Aruba?

Loved St Lucia.

Aruba was OK - if you're not into restaurants and shopping I felt like there was little else to do outside water sports - which you can do anywhere. The water and the beaches are beautiful though, I thought it was good for a 'do nothing' kind of vacation. If you want to lay on the beach - you can't beat Aruba!

In St Lucia there are rainforests, multiple waterfalls, sulfur springs/baths, pigeon pt (an old US military lookout that you can hike up to), gardens, coastline boat tours, and it's extremely safe, the resorts will arrange taxi services for you to go into town and enjoy the culture. There is a law in st lucia that residents cannot own weapons and it is strictly enforced so crime is super low. We've been twice and there is still tons more on my list of things to do there. The beaches aren't as nice as Aruba IMO, but I've only stayed at Sandals.

I think St Lucia is more of a active, adventure type of place and Aruba is more of a laid back lazy, spend most of your time at the beach, kind of vacation. It's hard to compare the two I think, depends on what you are into really.


ETA: Just read you're taking your 14mo old. I don't know if I'd take a young child to St Lucia - there might not be much to do off the resorts. At least in Aruba you can walk around the shops/restaurants, and the water is a lot calmer.

Message edited 7/21/2011 11:57:01 AM.

Re: St. Lucia or Aruba?

Re: St. Lucia or Aruba?

Aruba 150%

Re: St. Lucia or Aruba?

I don't get all the St.Lucia hate. I have been to both, but only for a day each on cruises & preferred St. Lucia.

St.Lucia is a rainforest climate & Aruba has a desert climate-soit is dry & windy, at times. It isn't a affected by hurricane season wihc is a plus.

In St. Lucia, we went on a Catamaran tour, saw the pitons, the volcano, a cocoa plantation-it was a lot in 1 day, that you could stretch out of a few days if you were spending moretime there.

In Aruba we went snorkeling, which was nice, but walking around Oranjestad was kind of boring.

Re: St. Lucia or Aruba?

Aruba! Went to St. Lucia on our Honeymoon. Hated it. If you explore the island its so depressing and run down, and not much to look at. I've been to Aruba 2x, both when ds was 2 and 3 and definitely better for kids. I love Aruba and can't wait to go back.