u  St. Lucia is located northwest of Barbados in the Windward Islands.
u  St. Lucia features dramatic scenery, cosmopolitan hotels and unique creole culture.  Natural beauty, especially in the form of the twin Piton Mountains, captures the essence of St. Lucia.
u Special features of St. Lucia include Soufrière's “drive-in volcano,” complete with smoking mud, and nearby botanical gardens. 
u  St. Lucia is a great choice for the nature enthusiast, boasting spectacular natural trails and climbing opportunities, and ideal for watersports enthusiasts, featuring snorkeling, diving, windsurfing, sailing. 
u  The busy little capital Castries features an open-air market where farmers from the countryside come in to sell their produce every Saturday morning.  For more 21^st century-style shopping, head to the Pointe Seraphine duty-free complex just miles away. 
u  The nightlife is alive and hopping at Gros Islet, where vacationers can enjoy powerful music and cold beer. 
u  The common currency is the Eastern Caribbean dollar, while the US dollar is widely accepted.
u  Vacationers can expect some rain from August to October.  Average rainfall ranges from 21^oC to 31^oC year-round. 
u  St. Martin is an exciting mix of cultures and languages, boasting a cosmopolitan population from 86 nationalities.  Vacationers will feel they are walking the streets of Europe – until they spy a slice of turquoise tropical sea between Dutch buildings or swaying palm trees by a trendy French bistro.
u  St. Martin is the smallest piece of real estate in the world shared between two nationalities; it features two capitals: Philipsburg on the Dutch “side” and Marigot on the French “side.”  Commuting from one side to the other is convenient and welcoming. 
u  Special attractions include golfing, gambling, sailing, snorkeling and diving, white sand beaches, and duty-free shopping. 
u   A special feature is the Butterfly Farm, where butterflies from all over the world fly freely around you. 
u   The common currency is Euros on the French side; the US dollar is widely accepted on the Dutch side.
u   Vacationers can expect some rain four days a month from August to October.  Average rainfall ranges from 22^oC to 30^oC year-round.