Holidays in St. Kitts - travel information

Business hours

Banks: Monday-Thursday 8am-2pm; Friday 8am-4pm;
Saturday 8:30am -11am.
Shops: Monday-Friday 8am-4pm; Saturday 8am-1pm.

Clothing

Light summer clothing may be worn all year. Dress is informal, even at elegant hotels and plantation inns. Nudity is not permitted at any beach. Swim wear or scant clothing should never be worn in towns or villages. Long pants and hiking shoes are recommended for hiking.

Credit cards and currency

The East Caribbean (EC) dollar is used on St. Kitts and can be obtained at any bank. Most stores and businesses accept US dollars or travellers cheques, but change will be given in EC. Neither banks nor stores accept US coins. Most hotels, restaurants, and larger stores accept credit cards, but local stores seldom do. Visa and Mastercard are the most widely accepted cards. Bank ATM machines will give EC dollars through Visa and Mastercard. There are 24-hour ATM machines at all of the banks.

We suggest you take US$ and exchange them for EC$ in St. Kitts. Travellers cheques are safer than cash.

Driving

We can arrange car or jeep hire for you when you book your holiday or our agents will be pleased to arrange car or jeep hire for you locally. They will arrange all necessary permits as well as insurance, and your vehicle will normally be delivered to and collected from your accommodation. There is a good network of paved roads and whilst most of the main roads are in good condition, there are many more potholes in country areas. Please note that driving is on the LEFT. You will need to take your current UK driving licence with you.

Electricity

Please consult your accommodation fact for details about plugs and sockets etc at your particular hotel or villa.

Medical facilities

All hotels will offer necessary assistance. Pharmacies are very well stocked with all usual medications. There is a general hospital in Basseterre.

Mosquitoes and other pests

While St. Kitts has very few creepy crawlies and the like, mosquitoes can be a nuisance and precautions are recommended. Repellent creams and sprays are effective and should be used from dusk to dawn.

Water

The water is of good quality and suitable for drinking. It is collected from direct precipitation, mountain springs and wells, and is chemically treated for purification. Locally bottled water is also available.

Postal information

The General Post Office, located in Basseterre, is open Monday-Tuesday 8am to 4pm, Wednesday-Friday 8am-3.30pm. All hotels will arrange posting of cards and personal mail.

Telephones

Local calls are inexpensive and telephones are readily available. Phone cards for use locally or overseas are available through the Cable and Wireless telephone company.

Internet access

Internet services are available at all of the hotels, as well as from an internet cafe in Basseterre. Broadband connections (DSL & Cable) are also available.

Tax and tipping

A 10% service charge is normally included in hotel bills in addition to a 9% government tax. In restaurants, leave 10%-15%. Tipping taxi drivers is not customary.

Churches

There are a number of different churches on St. Kitts. The predominant religion is the Christian faith. However, there are small Rastafarian, Orthodox and other communities.

Valuables

Lock up as you would at home. Most hotels have safety deposit boxes and we would advise against taking valuables to the beach or leaving possessions on view in your hire car. The police telephone number is 911.

Safety and security

St. Kitts is regarded as a safe and friendly island but in this day and age it makes sense to take reasonable precautions against street crime wherever you travel. As with nearly all tourist destinations, ladies handbags seem to be a magnet for unwelcome attention. We strongly advise ladies NOT to carry handbags when walking after dark, and indeed carrying any item is always best avoided. Crime of any sort against tourists is very rare in Nevis but we still advise visitors to use taxis after dark whenever possible. Restaurants will offer help with taxis to and from their premises.