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St Vincent and the Grenadines map
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Check In/Check Out
As a general rule check out times are at 12 noon and check-in is some time after 2pm. This may not be inconvenient because the majority of international arrivals into St Vincent arrive in the late afternoon or early evening. If you know you will be arriving earlier than that, then let your hotel know. They may be flexible on check in by prior arrangement or they may be happy to provide a day room/shower facilities subject to availability. |
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Cruises
The Cruise Ship Complex in St Vincent has docking facilities for yachts as well as large passenger ships. Alongside the large liners there are some smaller more stylish ships that call into St Vincent and the Grenadines which include Star Clippers, Silversea Cruises, Seabourne Cruise Line, Sea Cloud Cruises, Sea Dream Yacht Club and Windstar Cruises. |
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Currency/Credit Cards
The currency of St Vincent and the Grenadines is the Eastern Caribbean Dollar (EC$) which is fixed to the US dollar at a rate of US$1 = EC$2.65
The US dollar is accepted (notes, not coins) island wide. However in restaurants, supermarkets and large stores you will find that the rate of exchange will not be as favourable as against exchanging money at the bank.
Credit cards are accepted by anywhere that deals regularly with tourists, in restaurants, duty free shops, large stores and supermarkets. Do not expect local bars or small restaurants to accept them. |
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Day Sails/Boat Trips
One of the pleasures of the Grenadines is the day sails and there are a number of options. The most popular are the trips to the Tobago Cays, which are a classic Caribbean spot, four tiny strips of land with lovely beaches, incredibly clear water and excellent reefs to snorkel. People come by plane from as far afield as Barbados, St Lucia and Tobago to visit them for the day. There are other tours however, including day sails on traditional sloops (Friendship Rose, out of Bequia) and trips up the leeward coast of St Vincent itself.
Trips are generally a whole day or a half, depending on your itinerary. Food is often provided, as well as drinks at a bar, and many companies include these in the prices. Other equipment such as snorkelling gear may also be provided but do check.
St Vincent
Fantasea Tours, Villa Beach, t 456 4477, www.fantaseatours.com, fantaseatours@vincysurf.com
Husband and wife team, Kim and Earl Halbich have been offering a variety of tours and services since 1993, including sunset cruises, dolphin watching, boat trips to the Falls of Baleine and day sails in the Grenadines.
HazEco Tours, Kingstown, t 457 8634, www.hazecotours.com, hazeco@vincysurf.com
Offers a number of boat trips, including the Falls of Baleine along the leeward coastline of St Vincent to the 60ft waterfall with an enclosed rock pool where you can swim. Power boat trips to the Tobago Cays, and a day trip to the Grenadines, flying to Union Island and joining a catamaran or schooner.
Sea Breeze Nature Tours, Arnos Vale, 458 4969, www.seabreezenaturetours.com, seabreezetours@vincysurf.com
Run by Captain Hal and his father, Jim Daize, who specialize in whale and dolphin watching boat tours off the west coast of St Vincent. Excursion includes a snorkelling stop and can be combined with a trip to the 60ft Falls of Baleine in the north of the island. Complimentary drinks on board.
Bequia
Friendship Rose, Caribbean Schooner Cruises, Friendship Bay, t 495 0886
Daily cruises to the Tobago Cays, Mustique and St Vincent with breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea served aboard the well loved Friendship Rose, an 80ft wooden schooner hand built in Friendship Bay by Captain Calvin Lewis MBE. US$125 per person for an all inclusive day trip.
Pelangi Yacht Charters, Frangipani Hotel, t 458 3255, frangi@vincysurf.com
Private yacht available for day sails and overnight charters, with the amiable and well seasoned skipper (and cook) ‘Bamo’ at the helm. SY Pelangi is a 44ft cutter with two double guest cabins, two heads and a shaded cockpit. Day charter from US$240 for up to four people, extra passengers at US$60 each, including drinks. Lunch on shore (extra) or a picnic lunch (extra) can be arranged. Pelangi is suitable for sleeping four but will accept six guests by special request. Three day, two night charter from US$900 for two people and US$1300 for four, includes soft drinks and food. Contact Sabrina Mitchell.
Quest, Grenadines Adventure Sailing Co, Port Elizabeth, t 458 3817, quest@bequiasvg.com
A classic 44ft CSY sloop available for day sails and overnight charters within the Grenadines in the company of local owner and skipper Captain Johnny Ollivierre. Cook available and soft drinks, rum punch and snorkelling gear included. Suitable for sleeping two couples or a family of six, plus crew.
Balliceaux
Balliceux Charter, t 455 7959, www.balliceauxcharter.com
Customised boating trips for all of the Grenadine Islands, based on the tiny island of Balliceaux. 31ft Contender skippered by experienced captain Dwight Taylor who offers fishing, sightseeing or island-hopping.
Mayreau
If you would like to take a trip to the Tobago Cays you can ask a local fisherman to drop you there, or for a more organised tour contact one of the operators that work out of Union Island who will pick you up on the way. Captain Yannis Catamarans, t 458 8513 often include a stop on Mayreau on their itineraries anyway.
Dennis’ Hideaway Yacht Charter, Saline Bay, Mayreau, t 458 8594, denhide@vincysurf.com
Day sails to the Tobago Cays including drinks and a beach barbecue lunch in the Cays, returning by sunset. Pick-up from Southern Grenadines only, overnight charters with skipper available.
Union Is
Union Island is a starting point for many day sails, principally to the Tobago Cays nearby. Although Carriacou, which is visible to the south, is an excellent island with some lovely beaches, visiting it from Union Island involves clearing in and out through Customs and Immigration (and then back into St Vincent) and so it is not a very popular destination.
Captain Yannis Catamarans, t 458 8513, yannis@vincysurf.com
A fleet of three catamarans specifically built for day sails and which can pull right up onto the beach. The trip from Union Island takes in Palm Island, Mayreau and the Tobago Cays. From US$70 per person, drinks, a buffet lunch and snorkelling gear included.
Scaramouche, t 458 8418, scaramouche@vincysurf.com
A traditional, wooden island schooner, which has been sailing out of Union Island to Mayreau and the Tobago Cays for decades. Recently featured in the Disney film Pirates of the Caribbean.
Seckie’s Water Taxi, t 530 5913/492 0787, seckietours@hotmail.com
Apart from his water taxi service, Seckie offers ‘sun, beach & eat’ snorkelling tours at US$50-70 per person including barbecue beach picnic and drinks. Southern Grenadines only.
Wind and Sea, Bougainvilla, Clifton, t 458 8878/8678, windandsea@vincysurf.com
Helpful booking agent offering a variety of boat trips and private charters aboard a choice of vessels. Includes a half day sail on their catamaran to the Tobago Cays, a half day motor catamaran trip to Mayreau, a full day sail with lunch on the traditional schooner Scaramouche to the Tobago Cays and Palm Island. Also 1¼ hour glass bottom boat trips to Mayreau in season.
Tobago Cays
All visits to the Tobago Cays are by boat and most originate in Union Island. They are so popular that people fly in from as far away as Barbados and St Lucia to join them (from where there will be organised day trips). Trips are generally a half day or a whole day cruise. |
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Departure Tax & Taxes
A departure tax of EC$40 per person is payable at the check-in desk at the airport.
On May 1st 2007 VAT was introduced to St Vincent and Grenadines, replacing consumption tax and other taxes. VAT stands at 15% and applies to most services and goods. It will be included in the published price. Hotels usually add a 10% service charge too. |
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Electricity
St Vincent and the Grenadines has a reliable supply of electricity. The current is 220 volts AC, 50 cycles, except for the island Petit St Vincent which uses 110 volt, 60 cycles.
The standard electrical plug has three rectangular pins in UK style, so you may well need an adapter. Some hotels offer dual voltage or transformers, so you are advised to check in advance. Most hotels have 110 volt shaver outlets. |
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Embassies & Consulates
US
There is no resident US government office in St Vincent and the Grenadines. You can obtain consular assistance and information at the US Embassy in Barbados. For Embassies and High Commissions, please see the Definitive Guide to Barbados.
Canada
There is no resident Canadian government office in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. You can obtain consular assistance and information at the High Commission in Barbados. For Embassies and High Commissions, please see the Definitive Guide to Barbados.
UK
British High Commission, Box 132, Granby St, Kingstown, t 457 1701, bhcsvg@vincysurf.com |
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Emergencies
Police - 999
Fire - 999
Coast guard - 999 |
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Ferries
St Vincent is a great starting point for an island-hopping adventure by boat and the Grenadines are well connected by ferry. These boats are the lifeline of the Grenadine islanders and they have great character. You will travel with every crate of fizzy drinks, box of plantains, breezeblock, car and goat that needs to make the journey up and down the small islands in the chain. Trips can take a while, with all the activity around the loading and unloading, but it is always an entertaining journey.
The Grenadine ferries start their journeys at the Grenadines Dock on the waterfront in Kingstown, from where it is possible to make the journey down through the islands by boat all the way to Grenada. There are many ferries each day for Bequia but no ferries put in at Mustique. Ferries are reasonably priced and fairly regular. Do make sure you check the exact times of departure as they can change without warning.
Ferry service to Canouan, Mayreau and Union Island from Kingstown
Two St Vincent based boats, MV Barracuda and MV Gem Star, have a regular service between Kingstown on St Vincent and the southern Grenadines. The trip to Union Island takes around 5 hours and costs EC$40. The ferries stop in Canouan (3 hours, EC$30) and Mayreau (4 hours, EC$35) on the way. Timings sometimes vary according to how long it takes to unload at each stop.
MV Barracuda, t 456 5073, sails south from St Vincent on Mondays and Thursdays, and to the north, from Union Island to St Vincent, on Tuesdays and Fridays. On Saturdays it does a round trip from St Vincent.
MV Gemstar, t 457 1531, makes the journey from St Vincent to Canouan and Union Island on Tuesdays and Fridays and the return from Union Island on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Ferry service to Bequia from Kingstown
There are regular daily ferry services between Bequia and St Vincent on the MV Bequia Express, t 458 3472, and MV Admiral fleet, t 458 3348. The journey takes an hour and costs around EC$20. The MV Barracuda also puts in at Bequia on its journey south to Mayreau and Union Island.
Ferry Service to Carriacou (part of Grenada)
It is possible to catch a ferry from Union Island to Carriacou. The MV Jasper leaves Union Island on a Monday and Thursday morning for the 45 minute journey. From Carriacou there are several daily sailing down to St Georges in Grenada. |
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