Visiting St Lucia with a Friend

SO Romantic Platonic!

Couples looking for the perfect getaway typically tend to FLOCK to St. Lucia. It is famous for its romantic atmosphere and vibes. It’s frequently a “go to” destination for couples as a honeymoon spot, or just an idyllic vacation. The rum punch, spectacular sights, and ample opportunities for relaxation provide all of the motivation needed for loving each other. As a result, most people hardly would consider visiting St Lucia with a friend.

So, imagine everyone’s shock when Amanda (my best friend) and I decided to visit the island – not with our boyfriends (now husbands) – but with each other. We’ve always been super close, but that didn’t stop us from getting some raised eyebrows when we excitedly told people of our next destination for a girls’ trip: St Lucia.

We didn’t let that stop us! We never let anyone thinking we’re weirdos stop us from doing much of anything! 

The truth is, all types of relationships need to be cared for, whether they’re platonic, familial or even just with ourselves. Traveling to anywhere is a great way to strengthen any type of relationship and build memories of a lifetime! Even if that means traveling to a classically “romantic” island, like St Lucia, with a friend.

(This is the line of bullshit we sold our husbands. We actually just wanted to get drunk and not have to deal with responsibilities. – KIDDING!!) 

Well Deserved Relaxation in St Lucia

We cook and clean. We teach. Basically, we do everything for everyone. We is tired. Typically when we travel, we spend so much of our time “on the go.” So it was nice for a change to lay out on the beach or by the pool, and just settle down without a care in the world. Sometimes, we would talk deeply about our frustrations, dreams, and past memories. 

During other times, we would nap on lounge chairs and quietly watch the sun go down.

And other times, we got to be our normal silly selves. There is nothing better than having someone that you can be absolutely childish and stupid with together! We would laugh until we cried sometimes, and there’s no better medicine for the soul than that.

Drinking! The Flight of the Tropical Bird

Being the good Long Island gals that we are, we started our long weekend with the ever so potent rum punch. When we ordered it off the menu, I just thought it sounded refreshing. But I had no idea that it would knock me on my ass.

Potent rum punch! Knocked me on my ass for sure!

A bird kept visiting our table, trying to eat our french fries. The first fry he took was too large, and when he tried to fly with it, he fell down. He consequently made several more attempts to find or build the perfect sized fry with his beak, each one a failure. During all this we were absolutely astonished, inebriated, and couldn’t stop laughing at this incessant little bird. We were cheering him on, sipping our drinks, and completely marveling at his engineering capabilities.

Finally, with our rum punch nearly finished, HE DID IT! He found the perfect sized fry and flew off with it! This is the tale of hope that I’m sure so many of you need during these trying times of COVID, and I’m here to deliver. 

Drinking! And Jammin’ 

During another evening, we found ourselves experiencing a different type of drunken-ness. The kind where you just jam out to music, sip a daiquiri, and admire the scenery around you – watching the world go by. We sat on the balcony of our resort listening to Bob Marley and other reggae music that our guide had been playing, all the while saying absolutely nothing to each other. It’s REALLY hard to live in the present in New York. It’s really easy to do this in St Lucia. My mind was on my music, palm trees, and the sun going down over the water. 

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Drinking! Piton beer at the beach

St Lucia has its own beer – a nod to its crowned natural jewel – the Pitons! There is something so refreshing about throwing back beers on the beach with your home girl, and not having to worry about that inevitable-bloating-in-a-swimsuit look.

In fact, that is one of the many benefits of visiting St Lucia with a friend: you don’t have to constantly worry about looking your best. I can assure you, Amanda had no expectations of me coming to dinner in some flowing, tropical, ball gown-like outfit.

As teachers, we cannot go somewhere and not learn. That would be blasphemous. Therefore we ALWAYS make sure to jam pack our schedules with sightseeing and tours. As much as we loved relaxing, we had to spend a day exploring! We ended up taking a private tour of Soufriere. So, were we met with heart shaped jacuzzis and couples only dance lessons? Since this is a “romantic destination?” No! Amanda and I were met with opportunities to explore that anyone visiting St Lucia with a friend, family, or on their own can do. Not just “honeymooners!”

First we relaxed in the sulfur baths, and then afterwards had the most lavish lunch views at a chocolate themed restaurant! Lastly, and definitely not to be missed, we gawked at the Pitons! For a more detailed account and to follow our itinerary, click here.

Getting Into Trouble

What’s a girl’s trip without getting into some trouble? 

We became really good friends with a security guard at our hotel. He was a nice man, and elderly. He always looked out for us and gave us suggestions on where to eat and where to go in general. One day, he came up to us after a swim. He was clutching a black drawstring backpack and looking around nervously. “I got you a surprise, but you can’t tell anyone. Bring the backpack to me when you’re done.” Anddd he was off. 

Wtf? What could it possibly be inside this bag? Marijuana? Cocaine? Local rum that has the alcohol content high enough to sedate a horse? We brought the bag back to our room. It was…

TWO MANGOES.

I have no idea why this was such a shrouded secret, but they were delicious and there was nothing hidden inside of them. Imagine if we had brought this to the attention of the staff? “Excuse me, this man is trying to smuggle this bag of…oh…um…this bag of mangoes to us.” 

Isn’t that what any trip is all about? Remembering the things that made you smile, laugh, and brought you closer together? It’s TOTALLY OK to visit a “romantic destination” with someone that you are not in a romantic relationship with. If you’re visiting St Lucia with a friend, it just becomes a an exciting place to explore. Vacations like these totally strengthen your love for each other, but since when is love just limited to people you only have a sexual interest in?

Sitting at lunch and overlooking the Pitons with a bottle of champagne and your partner is romantic. Sitting at lunch and overlooking the Pitons with a bottle of champagne and your bestie makes you a pair of badass, bougie bitches. It’s all about perspective. I definitely think that this trip strengthened our friendship. We spent so much time talking because we had a ton of down time to relax. And most importantly, we made so many memories that we couldn’t possibly forget. I’m looking forward to the next girls trip, ASAP! For these reasons, have NO shame in your game about visiting St Lucia with a friend, neighbor, co-worker, or just by your gorgeous self.

So, what are your feelings on guys and girls trips when you’re in a relationship? Have you ever traveled to a “romantic” place with someone who was a friend? Give me all the tea in the comments!