Planning a Trip

Getting There

There are no nonstop flights to Nevis from North America. To get here, you'll have to stop or change planes in Antigua, St. Maarten, or Puerto Rico. American Airlines (tel. 800/433-7300 in the U.S.; www.aa.com) has dozens of daily flights to San Juan. From here, you can catch a propeller plane to Nevis, arriving on Nevis at the Vance W. Armory International Airport, which has a single runway. You can also fly into Nevis from San Juan on two daily flights operated by American Eagle (tel. 800/433-7300 or 869/465-2273). The airport is located on the north side of the island -- just 15 minutes outside the capital of Charlestown and less than 30 minutes from all the major resorts, hotels, and plantation inns on the island.

Getting Around

Taxi drivers double as guides, and you'll find them waiting at the airport or the ferry dock. The fare between Newcastle Airport and Charlestown is US$15 (£7.80); between Charlestown and Old Manor Estate, US$13 (£6.75); and from Charlestown to Pinney's Beach, US$5 (£2.60). Between 10pm and 6am, 50% is added to the prices. Call tel. 869/469-1042 for more information.

You can arrange for a rental car from a local firm through your hotel. Or you can check with Nevis Car Rental, Newcastle, near the airport (tel. 869/469-9837). Another reliable firm is Noel's Courtesy Garage, Farms Estate (tel. 869/469-5199), which is convenient to guests in hotels east of Charlestown, including Hermitage, Montpelier, Old Manor, and Golden Rock. To drive on Nevis, you must obtain a permit from the traffic department, which costs US$24 (£13) and is valid for 3 months. Car-rental companies will handle this for you. Remember: Drive on the left side of the road. About 2/3 of the road that encircles Nevis has been improved and resurfaced post-millennium; the remaining stretch of road continues to be bumpy and pot-holed but passable for either 2- or 4-wheel-drive vehicles.

Fast Facts

Banks are usually open Monday to Thursday from 8am to 3pm, Friday 8am to 5pm, and some on Saturday 8 to 11am. Normal store hours are Monday to Saturday from 8am to noon and 1 to 4pm. Some places close Thursday afternoon; most are closed Sunday. Many bank branches in Charletown have ATMs dispensing Eastern Caribbean dollars.

The post office is on Main Street in Charlestown. It's open Monday to Friday from 8am to 3pm. You can make international phone calls, including collect calls, from the Cable & Wireless office, Main Street, Charlestown (tel. 869/469-5000). Open Monday to Wednesday 8am to 5pm, Thursday and Friday 8am to 4pm.

If you need a pharmacy, try Evelyn's Drugstore, Charlestown (tel. 869/469-5278), open Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm, Saturday from 8am to 7pm, and Sunday for only 1 hour, from 7 to 8pm, to serve emergency needs.

There's a 24-hour emergency room at Alexandra Hospital, Government Road, in Charlestown (tel. 869/469-5473).

The Nevis Tourist Authority is on Main Street in Charlestown (tel. 866/556-3847 in the U.S., or 869/469-7550).

For more information search www.nevisisland.com.