We’ve all dreamed of passing the hours away, soaking up the sun and sipping rum-infused cocktails on an idyllic island, but which island paradise is perfect for you?
After visiting both St Lucia and Bermuda for myself, I thought I’d put together this guide on the key differences between them.
Let’s jump straight in!
Table of Contents
St Lucia vs Bermuda – Summary
St Lucia and Bermuda are two of the world’s most beautiful island destinations and a vacation to either will be memorable and relaxing.
Overall, Bermuda is a little more exclusive and expensive than St Lucia and it often attracts older and more affluent tourists, whereas St Lucia is a little bit more affordable and tends to attract a younger crowd.
I’ve visited both islands and I personally preferred St Lucia.
Both islands were incredibly beautiful and I enjoyed my time on both but I definitely enjoyed my time on St Lucia just a little bit more.
Bermuda definitely had a more laid back feel and it was very quiet and peaceful. I really loved this at first but after a few days, I found myself craving some activity.
St Lucia felt a lot more lively which is exactly what I was looking for. I also really loved the mountainous scenery of St Lucia although Bermuda was also stunning.
Here are the main key differences I noticed between St Lucia and Bermuda:
- Bermuda is famed for its stunning pink beaches whereas St Lucia is a volcanic island so has both black and golden sand beaches.
- Bermuda felt a lot more luxurious location.
- Bermuda has excellent fine dining options whereas St Lucia’s food scene has a Creole influence and mainly features barbecue and seafood delights.
- Bermuda felt much quieter and more secluded compared with St Lucia which felt a bit busier.
- Bermuda is best for golfing, shopping and discovering historic forts.
- St Lucia is best for hiking, family vacations and laidback vibes.
The rest of this article will go into more detail on each aspect to help you decide which is better.
Things To Do & Atmosphere
I was greeted by warm welcomes and big smiles when I first arrived on both of these beautiful islands.
If you’re planning a relaxing beach vacation, then don’t worry as both islands have excellent beaches but with different characteristics.
Bermuda is famed for its pink-sand beaches and Horseshoe Bay Beach is the island group’s most popular.
The pink sand and azure waters are perfect for a beach day and the snorkeling around the rockier areas of the beach offers some much needed respite from the hot sun.
St Lucia, on the other hand, is a volcanic island, and as such, some of its beaches have taken on a different hue.
You can choose to relax on a black-sand beach or you can enjoy an afternoon relaxing on one of St Lucia’s golden-sand beaches.
My personal favorite was Sugar Beach as I saw so many turtles just swimming around close to the shore there.
Another plus for St Lucia is the stunning views that can be seen from all over the island.
St Lucia’s mountainous terrain is dominated by the majestic Piton mountains which lie to the southwest.
These twin peaks are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and you can get some incredible Piton views from several viewpoints in the area.
I even hiked to the summit of Gros Piton and was rewarded you with stunning panoramic views and you can look down onto the stunning Sugar Beach below.
If you have enjoyed a hike in the Pitons region, maybe you are in need of a little bit of pampering afterward.
Nearby is the world’s only drive-in volcano and its energising sulphur springs can help ease any aches and pains. I explored this volcano for myself and really enjoyed it.
I got the chance to cover myself in mud and then jump into a steaming hot bath to wash it all off. I did feel very relaxed and rejuvenated afterwards.
Bermuda also has its fair share of interesting activities and things to do.
One of Bermuda’s most popular excursions is a visit to the Crystal Caves. I really enjoyed doing this activity.
These ancient caves feature a lake with a boardwalk and dazzling crystal formations hanging from the cave ceiling. It was a truly unique experience.
Both Bermuda and St Lucia are perfect destinations for ocean lovers as scuba diving and snorkeling are excellent in both locations.
Bermuda, with its infamous Bermuda Triangle myths, is renowned for its shipwrecks. Some are excellent scuba diving spots and some are accessible to snorkelers too.
One of the highlights of my Bermuda trip was swimming around one of these shipwrecks for myself. I spent an hour or two snorkeling around the Vixen wreck near Daniel’s Head.
St Lucia’s waters are also teeming with tropical fish and you may even spot a leatherback turtle if you are lucky.
I was lucky enough to spot several of these cute creatures after visiting beaches across the island.
Aside from its natural beauty, Bermuda offers excellent fine dining and high-end shopping which attracts the more affluent traveler to its shores.
If you are looking for a bit more of a party vibe and the chance to let your hair down, then maybe St Lucia’s chilled Caribbean vibe will be the better choice for you.
Accommodation
If you’re looking for a luxury hotel for your island getaway then you should have no problems finding the ideal accommodation in either place.
Both St Lucia and Bermuda have some stunningly luxurious hotel options.
I personally stayed at the Sandals Grande St Lucian resort which was super luxurious, peaceful and offered breathtaking views.
If I visited St Lucia again, I’d definitely check out the Sugar Beach Resort which located on the calmer western side of the island.
The stunning beachside setting and superb amenities allow for a relaxing vacation, far away from the bustling crowds.
In Bermuda, I stayed at the luxurious St Regis Bermuda Resort which is located on Bermuda’s northeastern edge.
Just a few steps away from St Catherine’s Beach, the hotel also boasts an 18-hole golf course, two restaurants, and a relaxing spa. What’s not to like?
I really loved my stay here but it was very expensive. If I visited again, I’d maybe go for a slightly cheaper option.
For a more low-key option in St Lucia, check out Bay Gardens Marina Haven on the northern side of the island.
Located in the bustling Gros Islet area, this hotel is much more affordable and features a pool as well as a complimentary breakfast.
For Bermuda, St George’s Club is a highly rated hotel located close to St George town center and all of the rooms feature a small kitchen area (ideal for whipping yourself up some lunch!).
The pool is perfect for a refreshing dip after a long day in the sun and the hotel is a great mid-range option for those on more of a budget.
If you are really looking to keep the costs down, another great option would be to check Airbnb. I’ve regularly stayed in Airbnb’s across the globe and really love the service.
You can find some great deals, especially outside of peak times, and the self-catering option is a great way to save money.
Cost
Based on my own first hand experience, Bermuda is way more expensive than St Lucia and I actually spent considerably more in Bermuda.
Bermuda’s lonely location, sitting all on its own in the Atlantic Ocean, adds a little to its general cost of living. As you can imagine, it costs a lot to import things to the island.
I noticed that the average prices for eating out are higher in Bermuda compared with St Lucia as most ingredients need to be imported.
The nearest major landmass to Bermuda is the coast of North Carolina, which is around 650 miles away. Due to its secluded location, prices are naturally higher.
St Lucia, on the other hand, is part of the Windward Islands chain and enjoys the company of other Caribbean islands in the vicinity.
With the coast of Venezuela just 200 miles to the south, importing goods to St Lucia is much easier than to Bermuda, and this is reflected in the lower prices of many day-to-day items.
In terms of excursions and activities, I noticed that the prices are very similar although Bermuda is still slightly more expensive.
For example, a three-hour snorkeling trip to explore some of Bermuda’s shipwrecks costs around $80.
In St Lucia, a five-hour snorkeling trip to visit a couple of the island’s best snorkeling spots costs a similar amount.
If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly option then St Lucia will be way kinder to your wallet.
Location & Climate
It’s quicker to get to Bermuda than St Lucia from most major airports in the US and Europe.
I flew from London so I only saved around 40 minutes of time by heading to Bermuda but if you’re departing from somewhere like New York, you’ll save a lot more time.
Take a look at the minimum flights times below:
Bermuda, which actually consists of 181 islands, is located in the north Atlantic Ocean and is well-served by direct flights from London and other major cities on the US’s eastern coast.
Its geographic location means that the island has a tropical rainforest climate with year-round sunshine and not too much rain, although the temperatures during winter may not be quite warm enough for a vacation centered around the beach.
Flights from the big cities in the eastern US take between two and three hours to reach Bermuda’s L.F. Wade International Airport (BDA), and a little over seven hours from London’s Heathrow.
The island nation of St. Lucia lies south of Bermuda, in the eastern Caribbean close to Barbados, St Vincent and Martinique.
St Lucia’s main airport, Hewanorra International Airport (UVF), receives direct flights from similar locations as Bermuda’s airport, but the flight times are slightly longer, with a flight from London taking around nine hours.
The tropical climate of this mountainous Caribbean island ensures it receives plenty of hot sun throughout the year as well as enough rain to keep its rainforests lush and green.
And that’s it!
Thanks for reading this post all about the key differences between St Lucia and Bermuda.
If you’re trying to choose between the two then there really is no wrong choice as both locations are ideal for a vacation.
Still not sure where to visit?
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