Planning a trip to St. Vincent and the Grenadines

Getting There

In the eastern Caribbean, St. Vincent -- the "gateway to the Grenadines" (the individual islands are discussed later in this chapter) -- lies about 160km (99 miles) west of Barbados. There are no direct flights. The best connections are through Barbados and Antigua. From Barbados you can take LIAT (tel. 888/844-LIAT [5428] in most of the Caribbean, or 784/458-4841; www.liatairline.com), which connects the islands of Grenada and St. Lucia with St. Vincent, Bequia, Union Island, and Antigua.

American Eagle (tel. 800/433-7300 in the U.S. and Canada, or 784/456-5555; www.aa.com) flies nonstop from San Juan, Puerto Rico, to Canouan, one of the most visited of the Grenadines.

Dependable SVG Airways (tel. 800/624-1843 or 784/457-5124; www.svgair.com) makes daily shuttle runs from St. Vincent to the satellite islands of Mustique, Union, and Canouan, with per-person fares ranging from $46 to $85 round-trip, plus a fuel surcharge. To connect with those Grenadine islands with airports, separate charter arrangements can be made from Union Island. The price of these chartered flights is less than you might expect and often matches the fares on conventional Caribbean airlines.

Getting Around

By Taxi -- Because of the bad roads, most visitors use taxis to get around. The government sets the rates, but taxis are unmetered, so be sure to agree on the fare before getting in. Figure on spending $5.60 to $20 or more to go from the airport to your hotel. You should tip about 12% of the fare.

You can also hire taxis to take you to the island's major attractions. Most drivers seem to be well-informed guides. (It won't take you long to learn everything you need to know about St. Vincent.) You'll spend from $20 per hour for a car holding two to four passengers.

By Rental Car -- Driving on St. Vincent is a bit of an adventure because of the narrow, twisting roads (sound your horn as you make the sharp hairpin turns). Most important: Drive on the left. If you present your valid driver's license from home at the police department, on Bay Street in Kingstown, and pay a $19 fee, you'll get a temporary permit to drive.

Avis (tel. 800/331-1084 in the U.S. and Canada; www.avis.com) has a branch at the airport. One local rental firm is Star Garage, on Grenville Street in Kingstown (tel. 784/456-1743). Make sure your car has a spare tire, because the roads are full of potholes.

Fast Facts

Banks -- Most banks are open Monday to Thursday from 8am to either 1 or 3pm; and Friday from either 8am to 5pm, or 8am to 1pm and then 3 to 5pm. There are a few banks with ATMs on Halifax Street in Kingstown on St. Vincent (plus one at the airport), and there are also a few on Bequia and Union Island.

Currency -- The official currency of St. Vincent is the Eastern Caribbean dollar (EC$), pegged at EC$2.67 per U.S. dollar (EC$1 = 37¢). Most restaurants, shops, and hotels will accept payment in U.S. dollars or traveler's checks. Prices in this chapter are quoted in U.S. dollars.

Documents -- British, Canadian, and U.S. citizens should have a passport and a return or ongoing airplane ticket.

Electricity -- Electricity is 220-volt AC (50 cycles), so if you're traveling with U.S. appliances, you'll need an adapter and a transformer. Some hotels have transformers, but it's best to bring your own.

Emergencies -- In an emergency, dial tel. 999 or 911.

Hospitals -- There is one hospital on St. Vincent in Kingstown: Milton Cato Memorial General Hospital (tel. 784/456-1185), Hospital Road.

Language -- English is the official language.

Liquor Laws -- Liquor can be sold on any day of the week. It's legal to have an open container on the beach as long as you don't get rowdy or litter.

Pharmacies -- On St. Vincent, try the People's Pharmacy, Greenville Street, Kingstown (tel. 784/456-1170), open Monday to Saturday from 8am to 8pm. There are a few other drugstores in Kingstown as well.

Post Office -- The General Post Office, on Halifax Street in Kingstown (tel. 784/457-1744), is open Monday to Friday from 8am to 3pm and Saturday from 8 to 11:30am. There are smaller post offices in 56 districts throughout the country, including offices on the Grenadine islands of Bequia, Mustique, Canouan, Mayreau, and Union Island.

Safety -- St. Vincent and its neighboring islands of the Grenadines are quite safe. Even in Kingstown, the capital of St. Vincent, chances are slim you'll encounter serious crime. However, take the usual precautions and never leave valuables unguarded.

Taxes & Service Charges -- The government imposes an airport departure tax of $16 per person. A 10% government occupancy tax is charged for all hotel accommodations. Hotels and restaurants almost always add a 10% to 15% service charge; ask whether it's included in the initial hotel rates you're quoted. If it's not already added at a restaurant, tip at that rate.

Telephone -- To call St. Vincent or the Grenadines from the United States, dial 1, then 784 (the area code for St. Vincent), and then the local seven-digit number. Once on St. Vincent, you can access AT&T Direct at tel. 800/225-5288. To reach MCI, dial tel. 800/888-8000.

Time -- Both St. Vincent and the Grenadines operate on Atlantic Standard Time year-round: When it's 6am on St. Vincent, it's 5am in New York. During daylight saving time in the United States, St. Vincent keeps the same time as the U.S. East Coast.

Water -- In St. Vincent and the Grenadines, stick to bottled water.

Weather -- The climate of St. Vincent and the Grenadines is pleasantly cooled by the trade winds year-round. The tropical temperature is in the 78°F-to-82°F (26°C-28°C) range. The rainy season is July to October.