TRAVEL INFORMATION

Getting to St Vincent and the Grenadines

There are six airports in St. Vincent and the Grenadines with ET Joshua Airport just outside Kingstown being the largest. Four small domestic airports are located in Bequia, Mustique, Canouan and Union Island. Palm Island also has a private airport.

International airports at:  Barbados, Grenada, Martinique, St. Lucia, and Puerto Rico are the places you would get connecting flights. Many major airlines travel to these destinations:  British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, American Airlines/American Eagle, Air Canada, Air France, BWIA, Air Jamaica and Caribbean Sun (Puerto Rico).

Local airlines are:  Liat/Caribbean Star Airlines, SVG Air, Trans Island Air, Mustique Airways and Grenadine Airways.

Flight times to St. Vincent:

Entry Requirements

All visitors must have valid passports including nationals of the UK, USA, and Canada. Visas are required from Nationals of the following countries before entering St. Vincent and the Grenadines: Dominican Republic, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Iran, Nigeria, and China. A return or ongoing ticket is required.

Language

English is the official language of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Some islanders speak a French patois, (mixture of African and French grammar), A few islanders speak French as their first language.

Health

Always check with your doctor before travelling which vaccinations you will need.

Drinking water is generally safe to drink out of the tap, even though boiled or bottled water is recommended.

Sunscreen is always advisable as sun is strong.

Mosquito and Sand fly bites are not a major problem but people with sensitive skin should use insect repellents to prevent bites.

Manchineel trees are very poisonous, the fruit is know as a Manchineel Apple and smells and looks like small apples. DO NOT touch or eat this fruit.

When in the sea take care not to touch anything, just look. Be careful not to stand on a Sea Urchin, if you do and the spines are protruding from your skin, remove them with care. If the spine is beneath the skin do not try to remove as they will eventually dissolve. Soak with vinegar or some form of antiseptic to stop infection.

Safety

Like most countries in the world petty crime is always a common problem. Make sure personal belongings and travel documents are secure at all times. 

If you are going to walk into the rainforests or to visit sights it is recommended that you take a reputable guide as some parts of the area can be quite isolated.

It is not advisable to drive any vehicle at night as the roads in St Vincent are very narrow,  lighting is  poor, and the roads have steep inclines with no guardrails.

Taxes and Service Charges

A departure tax of EC$40 is charged for all passengers leaving the country. 
Room Tax – 7% 
Service Charge – 10%, this is often added to the bill so check before you leave further gratuity.
Gratuity is discretional, usually 10 – 15% depending on the level of service.
Cruising Tax $EC 5.00 per person per day to a maximum of 7 days.

Restrictions

Fishing: The use of spear guns or quantity fishing is not allowed unless written approval is given by the Fisheries Department.
One can request this permit from customs on arrival.
Trolling and hand lining a few fish for one's own consumption is allowed.

There is a closed season for lobsters from 1 May to 31 August. 
The closed season for turtles from 1 March to 31 July.

The removal of coral is forbidden.

Currency

St. Vincent and the Grenadines' currency is the Eastern Caribbean Dollar (EC$), a regional currency shared among members of the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU). The EC$ pegged at EC$2.7=U.S. $1.

Normal banking hours are Monday through Thursday from 8.OOam-1.OO pm, although some banks remain open until 3.OOpm. On Fridays, most banks re-open from 3.OOpm-5.OOpm.

ATM machines are available at Scotiabank, National Commercial Bank, First Caribbean International Bank and RBTT Bank.
Travelers cheques, US dollars and Canadian dollars are accepted in many hotels and businesses. Credit cards are accepted at most hotels, car rental agencies and businesses.

Time Zone

St. Vincent and the Grenadines are in the Atlantic Standard time zone. During the period from April to October, this is the same as Eastern Daylight time and 4 hours behind GMT. From November to March, the time is 1 hour ahead of EST and 5 hours behind GMT.

Electricity

220/240 volt, 50 cycle and is reliable. The standard electrical plug has 3 rectangular pins. Petit St. Vincent is the exception with 110 volt, 60 cycle power.

Communication

International dialing code: +1 (784)
Island wide, fully automatic telephone system through Cable and Wireless
VHF/UHF radiotelephone from Saint Vincent to the other islands of the Grenadines
There are 7 local radio stations
Internet access available.