Just booked our fall trip for St. Lucia. We'll be getting in Saturday afternoon on the 10th and departing Sunday afternoon on the 18th. Boat will be No Regrets (our boat) out of the Moorings in St. Lucia.

This is our first trip and while I wish we were staying longer, past trips have eaten up all my vacation time <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/cry.gif" alt="" />

I'd like to plan on sailing down the coast with a stop or two and then heading to St. Vincent and perhaps the Tobago Cays. Looking for any advice from any that have been before. I realize our 8 days limits us, so we're hoping to get a good sampling in and do some more open water sailing.

With our boat being located there, we'll be going back more frequently, so I know there will be plenty we'll want to do and just won't have time for this trip.

So, let the suggestions begin <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

8 days isn't very long to do St Lucia, St Vincent and the Tobago Cays. Also at that time of year you might have a bit of north of east in the wind and that makes St Vincent to St Lucia a brutal trip.

You might want to limit yourself to St Lucia and Martinique. Some great places around the southern end of Martinique.

Thanks, we'll look into that. I really wish we had more time - guess we'll have to plan a two week trip early next year.

Ha - I spent two weeks leaving from St. Vincent and still didn't get to do all I wanted! There is never enough time!

I know that a few people on here have done St. Lucia one way to Grenada in about a week, but not sure how they made out.

I also think that spending time in St. Lucia instead of trekking to the Grenadines is a better use of time unless you can arrange a one way.

We could have done a one way, but flights were much better through St. Lucia and I didn't want to spend the extra on the one way fee.

I'm glad we've got quite some time before our trip, it will give me time to look at all the options.

Matt, what month? You don't say...

LOL - I guess that would help, wouldn't it? Nov. The week before Thanksgiving. We really thought about going during Thanksgiving, but it's one of maybe two times a year we get together with certain family... It probably would have allowed us a few more days though.

Yes, that helps! LOL

Like I said before, it's never enough time. But if you know you are going back, then you can pick and choose the "must do's" to the "I wish I coulds" and do them the next time!

Hope you get to do all your "must do's"!

First I need a list of "must do's"

I feel more overwhelmed then I think I did before our very first charter in the BVI. Just so much in the area it's hard to narrow things down. BVI is definitely easy

I know 1 must do is a rain forest hike. And then some scuba diving, which I have now found out you do need a dive operator for. I'll have to go through my guides and start making lists.. Hopefully that will help keep the DIF in control <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

You could always just head to St Vincent and Bequia. Not too far. When you have longer the Southern Grenadines and the Tobago Cays will be "must do's"! I would do the rain forest part on St Lucia and the diving on St Vincent and Bequia. Ck out Dive Bequia's website. Lots of neat dives there. IMO better than St Lucia for diving.

It would be tough to get to the Cays in that amount of time. Could try something like this:
10th - Marigot
11th - Marigot to Soufriere, nice short morning sail to get familiar with the boat, nice anchorage near Petit Piton,then either dingy to town and walk to the Botanical Gardens or pre-arrange an afternoon dive, the diving is said to be good near the Pitons.
12th - Soufriere to Wallilabou, clear into St. Vincent, have dinner at the restaurant with the Pirates of the Caribbean set.
13th - Hike La Soufriere volcano,from the leeward side you get to see 3 different eco systems, the sea shore and rivers, the rain forest and the high peaks.
14th - Wallilabou to Bequia
15th - Scotter rental for a trip around the island or diving
16th Bequia to Soufriere, leave early it will be a long and trying sail
17th - Soufriere to Marigot, stop at the snorkling spot just north of Soufriere near one of the big resorts (can't remember the name of it just now, but Kim said it was the best snorkling she has ever done)
18th - Head back home and remember, you can't come back unless you go home first, kinda takes the sting out of it.