Trying to figure out if buses and metros in Saint Lucia take cards or if Ill need small cash. Any recent experiences?
Saint Lucia has no metro, only minibuses that run fixed routes across Castries, Soufrière, and beyond. These buses are strictly cash-only-Eastern Caribbean dollars (XCD) are the norm. You pay directly to the driver and keep your ride short. No card systems exist at all, and fares must be exact or drivers won’t give change. If you’re staying in Rodney Bay or Soufrière, always carry small bills-rides as low as EC$2 don’t take notes bigger than EC$5.
Thought I’d tap my Mastercard like in London-and nearly had a meltdown when the bus driver laughed at my phone. Nope, zero tech. Paid XCD 8 cash, got my seat, and that was it. No metro lines, no card readers, just old-school small vans. I started carrying handfuls of coins and small notes-and felt like a pro. Bring enough local bills and you’ll avoid standing there deer-in-headlights at the bus door. Cash is king.
I used public transport a bunch - Castries to Soufrière, then around Rodney Bay - and every single ride was strictly cash. Drivers had no card machines or tumbling phones. I once tried to pay with small XCD 50 note and they hesitated, but accepted when I handed exact change. No contactless, no ticket apps-just a simple fare box or direct payment. Small bills or coins are your best friend here, so bring enough to cover your rides.
Jumped on a minibus in Castries last month, waved at a driver thinking they’d take card-big mistake. They just handed me a seat and a side-eye. Every bus ride was XCD 8 or so, cash only, exact change expected. No taps, no scans, no apps. I kept a roll of small notes in my day bag after that. If you’re island-hopping or doing daily bus legs, cash’s your only option-makes it real simple.