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Things You Need to Know When Traveling to The Grenadines
Travel Insurance
Passports & immigration We strongly recommend that all members of your party travel with a passport with a validity date of at least six months past the date of your departure from the island. A valid passport is currently required for travelers going to Palm Island via Barbados and as of December 31, 2005, a passport will be required for all US and Canadian citizens to travel to the Caribbean. For information on obtaining or renewing a passport please go to: http://travel.state.gov/passport/index.html. In our current times, passports are the most expeditious and reliable form of identification when traveling domestically or internationally. Airlines
Departure tax There is a departure tax of EC$40-US$16. Immigration All visitors must have valid passports. All visitors must also have a return or ongoing ticket. Visas are not required. Banking The following banks operate in St. Vincent & The Grenadines:
Other Financial Institutions:
Capital Kingstown, located on the southwest coast of St. Vincent, is the seat of government and main commercial centre. Clothing Light informal clothing is appropriate. Visitors should not wear swimsuits or mini shorts in the streets or stores. Bring long pants and hiking shoes if you intend to hike. Credit Cards Major credit cards are generally accepted by resorts and car rental companies. Currency The Eastern Caribbean Dollar (EC$) is linked to the US Dollar. One US Dollar is worth about EC$2.70. Customs regulations Small quantities of alcohol and tobacco are duty free, as are personal effects and tools of profession, trade or employment. Other items are dutiable or restricted. Driving Visitors need a local driver's permit, (available for a fee of EC$75 - about US$28) at the Police Station on Bay Street or the Licensing Authority on Halifax Street. You must have your own driver's permit. Please remember to drive on the left side of the road. Electricity Voltage is 110 volts, 50 Cycles. Most hotels have dual voltage shaver outlets. Government (Democratically Elected) On October 27, 1979 St. Vincent & The Grenadines gained independence from Britain. The government is democratically elected. The Crown is represented by an appointed Governor General. Language English is the official language. Marriage licenses Non-nationals wishing to be married here must be resident for at least 1 day before a marriage ceremony can take place. A special license is required from the Ministry of Justice or from the Registrar. Population St. Vincent and The Grenadines has a population of approximately 112,000 (January 1998). African, East Indian, Portuguese, Carib and European heritages are present. Telecommunications The Grenadines have a modern, fully digital telephone system. The international area code is 784. Time zone The Grenadines are in the Atlantic Standard Time zone - the same as Eastern Daylight Savings Time, 1 hour ahead of Eastern Standard Time and 4 hours behind GMT. Water The tap water is safe to drink. Bottled water is available at an additional cost |
