My fiancee and I recently spent a week at Henry's La Panache guesthouse in Gros Islet. We paid a very reasonable $40/day (low season, weekly rate) for a nice furnished two-bedroom apartment, with fully equipped kitchen, bathroom and a lovely balcony with a great view over Gros Islet. No aircon (just fans), hot showers or a swimming pool, but for $40 a night, it was 1/3 the price of standard hotel accomodation, and given the atmosphere and the size of the place, much better value.

Roger and Henry are excellent and very friendly hosts, long-time residents of St. Lucia and very knowledgeable about the goings-on on the island. I highly recommend this place to anyone who is looking for something a bit more local, quiet and off the standard tourist track.

We stayed elsewhere, but thankfully someone recommended Henry's cooking. Once a week or so they put together a wonderful Carribean meal. Very casual and fun. A great find.

the only good thing about this place is that it's US$45 a night, but that is during the low season, so probably a bit more during high season. the room had no ventilation, no light, and certainly no view. It sleeps 4 with one bath (i wouldn't walk in there without flip-flops) has kitchen facilities, a small fridge, and 2 fans which have to been on the highest speed in order to sleep at all!!. if you are absolutely desperate to find a place to sleep, this place might be for you, but if you do i'd get some sleeping pills to block out the pain.