St Lucia airports are the first place many vacationers experience this beautiful island in the eastern Caribbean if they don't arrive on cruises. Two modern airports welcome passengers from around the world, along with flights from all over North America and other islands of the Caribbean.

Because of the island's relative compactness, you'll be able to arrive at your hotels easily no matter which airport in St Lucia is on your itinerary. The two airports, one in Vieux Fort and the other near the capital city of Castries, are less than an hour's drive apart. Both of these St Lucia airports are connected to the island's modern transportation network, making it easy to begin enjoying your vacations as soon as possible.

Which airport you arrive at is mainly a function of where you begin flying. Vieux Fort's Hewanorra International Airport handles most of the flights from outside the Caribbean, while interisland flights typically arrive at the George Charles Airport in Castries. Both of the St Lucia airports are operated by the St Lucia Air & Sea Ports Authority, an organization charged with keeping transportation safe and readily available.

St Lucia Map

Deciding when to go affects the airport of arrival as well. In the winter, which is high season for tourism here, many charter flights head to the Charles Airport. At precisely the time when it's the coldest in many places, tour operators offer vacation packages to the island where the average temperature fluctuates between 82 and 86 degrees all year round.

All year, direct flights from Chicago, Miami, and New York City link these major cities with the Vieux Fort airport, which had its beginnings as an American military base during World War II. Other cities, including Toronto and Atlanta, also offer nonstop service to the island. Seasonal service is available from Charlotte and Philadelphia.

With so many connecting flights, you'll likely get to this airport in St Lucia in just a few hours from wherever you begin. The flight time from Miami clocks in at three hours, while New York's JFK airport is only four hours away.

While the majority of the flights begin on the mainland, the Vieux Fort airport also welcomes flights from San Juan, Puerto Rico, as well as the nearby islands of Barbados and Martinique.

Not all of the flights to the Vieux Fort airport originate from North America; one airline offers service from across the pond, London's Gatwick Airport to be exact. The direct flight, which is available all year, clocks in at about nine hours.

If you'd like to do some island hopping, you will likely pass through the other airport in St Lucia, the Charles Airport. As soon as your plane touches down, you'll see one of the most beautiful and popular beaches on the entire island, Vigie Beach.

This airport is serviced by several smaller airlines, which operate flights throughout the Caribbean. Martinique and Barbados are just minutes away, while short flights will also bring you to Grenada, Trinidad, and Antigua.

When you arrive, no matter at which airport, you'll find the typical services you need for a successful vacation. Both airports feature car rental desks, restaurants, and plenty of taxis and hotel shuttles that get you to your desired destination.