Money & Payments in Castries

Good to Know

• Castries Market operates almost entirely on cash only; bring EC dollars for best prices and to avoid unfavorable on-the-spot exchange rates.
• Minibuses between towns and local street vendors are strictly cash-only; always carry small EC$ notes.
• If paying with USD in shops, you will likely receive change back in EC$ at a worse-than-official rate; converting to EC$ at a bank ATM beforehand saves money.
• Dynamic currency conversion (DCC) at ATMs—when asked whether to charge in USD or local currency—often includes hidden markups (3–5% or more); always choose 'XCD' or 'local currency'.
• Bank ATMs are generally more reliable than standalone machines, especially those near cruise ports and resorts which often charge higher operator fees.
• Larger restaurants and most tourist-facing businesses in Castries accept Visa and Mastercard, but small local eateries often accept cash only.
• Many restaurants automatically include a 10% service charge in the bill; always check before adding an extra tip.
• Contactless payments (Apple Pay, Google Pay) are growing but not yet universal; Chip+PIN is more reliable across the island.
• Notify your bank before traveling to Saint Lucia to avoid fraud holds on your card, which can be especially problematic in remote areas.
• The East Caribbean dollar has been pegged to the US dollar at EC$2.70 = USD$1.00 since 1976, so exchange rates are stable and predictable.