St Kitts Nevis Travel Tips:
Your Guide To The Facts About
St Kitts and Nevis?

Need some quick facts about St Kitts and Nevis?... Then this collection of St Kitts Nevis travel tips is exactly what you need. I'm sure you would agree that knowing the facts about your travel destination, (in this case the facts about St Kitts and Nevis) in advance saves time and minimizes the chances of you not knowing what to expect. It is for this reason that I have put together this page about St Kitts Nevis travel tips. I hope that you will find these travel tips useful in planning your trip to St Kitts and Nevis. You may also want to check out these insider St. Kitts tips sent to me by a traveler.

Location | Land Area | Capital City | Topography | Climate | Population | Language
Time | Taxes, Tips and Gratuities | Telephone | Electricity | Water | Cable TV
Internet Access | Radio Stations | Currency | Banks | ATMs | Credit Cards
Pharmacies | Entry and Exit Requirements | Driving | Taxis and Buses
Business Hours | Ferry Service | Customs and Etiquette | Emergency Numbers

St Kitts Nevis Travel Tips:
Useful Facts about St Kitts and Nevis

Location
The islands of St Kitts and Nevis are located in the northern part of the Lesser Antilles chain of islands in the Eastern Caribbean. St Kitts is located at 17°15' North latitude and 62°45' West longitude while Nevis is located at 17° North latitude and 61°30' West longitude. The islands are approximately 1,300 miles from Miami (3 hours flight time), 2,000 miles from New York (4 hours flight time), and 4,000 miles from London (8 hours flight time). A channel of water, the Narrows, about two miles wide separates the two islands.

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Land Area
St Kitts has an area of about 69 square miles or 168 square kilometers while the area of Nevis is 36 square miles or 93 square kilometers.

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Capital City
The capital of St Kitts is Basseterre while Charlestown is the capital of Nevis.

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Topography
The islands of St Kitts and Nevis are volcanic in origin. In St Kitts the highest peak is Mount Liamigua (3,792 ft) and in Nevis it is Nevis Peak (3,232 ft).

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Climate
The islands of St Kitts and Nevis have a tropical climate with temperatures ranging from 17° - 33°C. The temperature averages about 79°F (26°C) and average humidity is 71.5%. Cooling breezes from the north-east trade winds blow throughout most of the year. The average sea water temperature is 80°F (27°C). Average annual rainfall is 55 inches in St Kitts and 48 inches in Nevis.

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Population
The population of St Kitts and Nevis is estimated to be around 46,111.

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Language
English is the official language. Broken English is a dialect that is spoken by the locals.

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Time
St Kitts and Nevis follow Atlantic Standard time which is four hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT - 4). Daylight Saving Time is not observed.

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Taxes, Tips and Gratuities
Hotels and restaurants collect a Government tax of 9% in St Kitts and 8% in Nevis. Additionally, service charge of 10% may also be added to your bill. Although additional tipping is not necessary, it is greatly appreciated by the service staff, especially when service is good. If you do decide to tip, an amount equal to 10% to 15% of the bill is recommended.

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Telephone
The Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis boasts a modern telecommunications infrastructure. The main provider of telecommunications services in St Kitts and Nevis is Cable and Wireless St Kitts and Nevis Limited. Services offered by Cable and Wireless include fixed lines, direct dialing, leased circuits, mobile phone service, both prepaid and post paid (including GSM), paging services, internet service (dial-up and ADSL), facsimile and telex services and public pay phones. The area code for St Kitts and Nevis is 869. St Kitts numbers start with either 465 or 466 while those for Nevis start with 469. Mobile phone numbers start with either 662, 663, 664, 665 or 667.

Cingular Wireless launched its mobile service in St Kitts and Nevis on April 22, 2005.

It is very easy to make calls to the United States, Canada United Kingdom, Europe and other countries in the world. To call the United States and Canada, dial 1 + Area Code + Subscriber Number. To call the United Kingdom, dial 011 + 44 + Area Code + Subscriber Number. To call other countries, dial 011 + Area Code + Subscriber Number. Automated Collect Calling can be accessed by dialing 1-800-744-5555 (you will not be charged for this call). You may also make calls back to the United States using the AT&T USA Direct Service. To access this service dial 1-800-872-2881.

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Electricity
The electricity supply is 220 volts, 60 cycles. Most hotels have 110 volts.

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Water
The tap water in St Kitts and Nevis is of good quality and safe to drink. Bottled water is available in supermarkets, shops, restaurants, bars and hotels.

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Cable Television
The Cable is the company that provides cable television services in St Kitts. A total of about 53 channels are offered. On Nevis, cable television service is provided by Cable TV of Nevis, which offers a line up of 55 channels.

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Internet Access
Internet Service in St Kitts and Nevis is provided by Cable and Wireless and The Cable, St Kitts. Cable TV of Nevis offers high speed internet service in Nevis. Cable and Wireless provides both dialup and broadband ADSL internet service. The Cable is a provider of broadband cable internet service. Access to internet service is available at all of the hotels in St Kitts and Nevis. Public internet kiosks are available at the offices of Cable and Wireless in St Kitts and Nevis and the Pelican Mall in Basseterre. Internet cafés and other businesses offering public internet access include Sunsurf Internet Café in the Cellar at the TDC Mall, Leyton's Internet Café on Princes Street, and the Nevis Public Library, Prince William Street.

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Radio Stations
The islands of St Kitts and Nevis are served by 10 local radio stations. ZIZ Radio is the Government owned and operated radio station. It broadcasts on 555AM, 95.9FM, 96.1FM and 96.9FM. Big Wave Radio 96.7FM is also owned and operated by the Government owned ZIZ Broadcasting Corporation. Other radio stations operating out of St Kitts are WinnFM broadcasting on 98.9FM; Sugar City Roc FM broadcasting on 90.3FM; Goodwill Radio St Kitts broadcasting on 104.5FM; Radio One broadcasting on 94.1FM and Choice FM broadcasting on 105.3FM. Radio Stations broadcasting out of Nevis include VON Radio (Voice of Nevis) 895AM; Radio Paradise 820AM and Goodwill Radio Nevis 103.3FM.

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Currency
The local currency is the Eastern Caribbean Dollar (EC$). The EC dollar is pegged to the US dollar at an official exchange rate of EC$2.70 to US$1. The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank with its headquarters in St Kitts, issues and manages the EC dollar for the member states of the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU) (Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines). The EC dollar is very stable, having been pegged to the US dollar since 1976. Prior to that the EC dollar was pegged to the pound sterling. The fixed exchange rate peg has served the ECCU very well, helping to maintain low inflation, a strong currency and a stable environment for growth and investment.

Although most businesses accept US currency, your change is usually paid in EC dollars. Generally, US coins are not accepted. Prices in shops and stores are sometimes quoted in both US and EC. If you are uncertain which currency is quoted please ask the store attendant.

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Banks
Commercial banks operating in St Kitts and Nevis include Bank of Nevis, Bank of Nova Scotia, First Caribbean International Bank (formerly Barclays Bank), RBTT Bank (SKN), Royal Bank of Canada and St Kitts Nevis Anguilla National Bank.

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Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs)
Most banks in St Kitts and Nevis have ATMs which accept CIRRUS and PLUS cards. Funds from ATM machines are given in EC dollars.

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Credit Cards
Credits cards are relatively widely accepted in St Kitts and Nevis. Most hotels, restaurants, large stores and supermarkets accept credit cards. Some small establishments do not accept them. Visa and Master Card are the most widely accepted.

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Pharmacies
There are several pharmacies operating in St Kitts and Nevis. These include City Drug Store (869)465-2156 or (869)465-4585, Skerritt's Drug Store (869)465-7363 or (869)465-2008, Super Drugs (869)465-8569 or (869)466-8625, and Horsfords Valu Mart Pharmacy (869)465-1600 in St Kitts and Evelyn's Drug Store (869)469-5278 or (869)469-0335 in Nevis.

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Entry and Exit Requirements
Citizens of the United States and Canada are required to present either a valid passport or birth certificate with a photo ID for entry into St Kitts and Nevis. All other visitors must present a valid passport. (Note - William Manor of U.S. Passport Service Guide has written a helpful article about preventing passport problems). To assist you in your travel planning, I am reprinting it here. All visitors are required to have a return or continuing ticket. Entry visas are required for citizens of some countries. Interested persons may apply for a visa here

Initially upon entry, visitors are granted stay for up to one month. Persons who wish to remain longer than the period granted by the immigration authorities must apply for an extension from the Ministry of National Security in Basseterre, St Kitts or the Immigration office in Charlestown, Nevis. The applicant is required to submit an airline ticket, valid passport, ED (immigration) card and the required fee. The applicable fee is EC$50 per month for the first three months, and EC$75 per month for each month thereafter. Visitors from the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom may be granted stay for up to a maximum of six months. Visitors from other countries may stay for up to a maximum of 3 months. Thereafter, visitors will be required to leave the Federation before they can reapply for another period of stay. Upon return the visitor will need to present the documents mentioned in the paragraph above including a return ticket.

When leaving the islands, a departure tax of US$22.00 is payable in St Kitts while in Nevis it is US$20.50. These amounts include an environmental levy and airport security charge.

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Driving
Driving in St Kitts and Nevis is on the left side of the road and requires a visitor's drivers license. The cost of a visitors license is EC$62.50 for three months or EC$125.00 for one year (Official Exchange Rate is US$1=EC$2.70) and it is available from police stations and car rental agencies throughout St Kitts and Nevis. Traffic rules and speed limits should be observed to avoid traffic fines. The speed limit varies depending on the area you are driving in. The speed limit is 40 mph in non built up areas, 30 mph in town perimeters/where marked and 20 mph in residential areas, school zones and business districts. Rental cars are available from several car rental agencies located on both St Kitts and Nevis.

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Taxis and Buses
Taxis are widely available on both St Kitts and Nevis. Most of them are vans and they can be easily identified by their yellow license plates with a "T". In St Kitts, taxi stands are located at the Circus in Basseterre (869)465-3006 or (869)465-4253; the Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport (869)466-8438 or (869)465-8487 and at Frigate Bay (869)465-4317. In Nevis, taxi stands are located at the Vance W. Amory International Airport (869)469-9790 and Charlestown (869)469-1483 or (869)469-5621. It is also possible to make arrangements for a taxi at your hotel. Taxi fares vary depending on your destination and the time of day. There is usually a 50% surcharge between 10pm and 6am.

Buses carry a green license plate with an "H" and provide service around the islands. To catch a bus stand on the side of the road in the direction you are going and flag one down. In Basseterre, the bus terminal for the buses serving the southern and western side of the island is located on the Bay Road close to the Public Market, in the same complex as the ferry terminal. Buses serving the eastern and northern side of the island can be found at Baker's Corner. Bus fares vary depending on how far you are going and may range between EC$1.00 and EC$4.00.

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Business Hours
Banks
The opening hours for banks operating in St Kitts and Nevis are:
Monday to Thursday 8:00am - 2:00pm
Friday 8:00am - 4:00pm
Saturday 8:30am - 11:00am (Bank of Nevis only)

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Post Office
The opening hours for Post Offices are:
St Kitts
Monday - Tuesday 8:00am - 4:00pm
Wednesday - Friday 8:00am - 3:30pm
Nevis
Monday - Friday 8:00am - 3:30pm

Post Offices in St Kitts are located in:
Basseterre - Tel: (869)465-2521
Cayon - Tel: (869)465-7208
Dieppe Bay - Tel: (869)465-7367
Sandy Point - Tel:(869)465-6296
Old Road - Tel: (869)465-6206

In Nevis, Post Offices are located in:
Charlestown - Tel:(869)469-5521
Gingerland
Newcastle

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Shops
The opening hours for most shops operating in St Kitts and Nevis are:
Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:00pm
Saturday 8:00am - 1:00pm

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Ferry Service
Presently there are three ferry services operating between St Kitts and Nevis. They are the MV Carib Breeze, the MV Carib Surf and the MV Sea Hustler.

For information about the ferry schedules you may call (869)466-INFO i.e. (869)466-4636.

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Customs and Etiquette
Save your bikinis, bare feet, bare chests for the beach or pool. They are not considered appropriate in town, stores or restaurants. Topless and nude bathing are illegal. In general, dress is informal. Dinner dress is “casually elegant”. Jackets and ties are not required for men at any of the restaurants. Please ask permission before photographing people, their children and personal property including homes.

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Emergency Numbers
St Kitts
Hospitals
Joseph N France General Hospital, Buckley's Site (869)465-2551
Pogson Hospital, Sandy Point (869)465-6231
Mary Charles Hospital, Molineaux (869)465-7398

Police Stations
Police Headquarters, Basseterre (869)465-2241
Cayon Police Station (869)465-7258
Tabernacle Police Station (869)465-7227 St Pauls Police Station (869)465-6281
Sandy Point Police Station (869)465-6261
Old Road Police Station (869)465-6250
Stapleton Police Station (869)465-2418
Frigate Bay Outpost (869)465-6899

Fire and Rescue Services
Fire and Rescue Services Headquarters, Basseterre (869)465-2515
RLB Fire Service, RLB International Airport (869)465-8444
Sandy Point (869)465-6261
Tabernacle (869)465-7227

Nevis
Hospitals
Alexandra Hospital (869)469-5473

Police Stations
Charlestown Police Station (869)469-5391
Cotton Ground Police Station (869)469-5269
Gingerland Police Station (869)469-3448
Newcastle Police Station (869)469-9326

Fire and Rescue Services
Nevis Fire Service (869)469-3444

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