Our tomtom win didn’t just include air travel and accommodation for 5 to St. Lucia and 15k, it also included an island tour.  We had arranged for this on day 2 of our trip, thinking it would be a good day to get out of the sun and recharge a bit.

We have a few rules when travelling with our kids, and for some reason thought this little tour would fit into them.
We were wrong!

RULE 1: We go solo!
We never, ever, ever participate in large group tours with our kids. We would rather pay more and do less, but do it on our own! This is not for selfish reasons, trust me, this is for the good of “the people”.  Having a group adapt to a 3 year old is unfair and stressful for all involved.

RULE 2: Adapt. Adapt. Adapt.
Whatever activities we plan or participate in must always include time and opportunity for adapting. Bathroom stops, drink breaks and “OMG- they need to get out of the car NOW” moments must be factored in.

RULE 3: Think like a kid.
Sometimes distances just need to be traveled  but as long as kid friendly activities are included somewhere on the agenda, our little people can hack it.  We always schedule in something fun and entertaining and then make this a focal point of our journey, as in “just wait until we travel this 40k of dirt road and get to the beach the turtles may possibly be hanging at” Whoohoo.

As mentioned above, we had a tour booked. It wasn’t booked by us, but for some strange (and possibly egotistical reason) we thought we would be going solo on the tour, and therefor able to ensure that rules #2 & #3 were followed.

First bad start to the day was struggling and rushing the kids through breakfast, only to arrive a few minutes late to the lobby to meet our tour guide. Note here we are lugging an toddler car seat (one of those heavy buggers) food for 5 for the day, and all varieties of books and snacks for the kids.

And remember, it is bloody hot in St. Lucia and we have yet to acclimatize to the heat (or humidity)

And then, when we found out we were just the first group to be picked up for the tour, we panicked.

We were sweaty, smelling and freaking out . . . and were only 5 minutes into a 6hr day.

We drove the island, all the windy roads, visited the volcano, waterfalls and botanical gardens. They kids were less impressed with the sulfur springs seeing as we are still showering in sulfur laden water from our well at home, but it did bring back memories.

We enjoyed getting the lay of the land, picked up a few bits at the road side stalls (banana liquor YUM!) and kept our winter skin out of the sun.

But, it was a struggle. Keeping up with the group, and rushing the girls through their shopping and maintaining the mood of the 3 yr old was frustrating.  Fighting to secure the hysterical toddler into the car seat in a hot car at the end of the day was traumatic, especially when the driver shouted to just let him sit on my lap (are you kidding me?) 

Our co-tour participants tried, we tried and in the end it solidified the reasons why we have the rules above .

We finished the tour tired and stressed out and just needing a swim! And rum . . . lots of rum.

Was the island beautiful, yes, but far more rural than we had imagined. We want to see more somehow, we just need to find a better way!