St. Vincent and The Grenadines is a peaceful, less-travelled tropical paradise (compared to its more famous Caribbean siblings) with lots to please and pamper visitors. Although exploring it requires quite a lot of time, considering that there are no direct flights from major regions like the EU, it rewards with its impressive natural terrain and the many opportunities to claim the dreamy Caribbean vacations you always had in mind. To make this visit even more soul-gratifying, we give you some basic facts and details about the beautiful Caribbean nation that you might find quite compelling!
Culture & Customs
The more you blend in with the local lifestyle, the more you will probably realise that it barely fits the Caribbean stereotypes. So, although the country does have a laid-back and utterly hospitable attitude overall, chances are you won’t find many Vincentians lounging along the beach with visitors. Instead, they are most commonly seen promoting tourism through fishing and agricultural trade or getting into fiery political debates!
That aside, Sundays are primarily spent in church, while the restaurants and shops are usually open for a few hours. Speaking of restaurants, although the island’s dress code is casual, you may want to check with the restaurant or another venue you want to visit as some of them require semi-formal attire, and you might appear underdressed if you walk in with shorts and flip-flops.
Water
Although the water in St. Vincent is safe to drink, you may want to stick to bottled water when visiting The Grenadines. It should also be noted that the water in St. Vincent may have a chlorinated taste, making it uncomfortable to drink. This is probably because the water runs from the mountain reserves of the island and has to be purified and filtered before reaching the residential areas.
Safety
You will feel safe wandering around any of the islands of St. Vincent and The Grenadines. That being said, though, here are a few safety considerations to bear in mind:
- The Soufriere volcano last erupted in 2021 (April), almost 42 years after its last eruption in 1979.
- The overall crime rate in St. Vincent & The Grenadines is relatively low, though muggings are quite often, as is the case with most tourist destinations worldwide. Applying common sense and taking precautions will help avoid getting into such trouble.
- Sailing crime (robberies from yachts) could be an issue in St. Vincent & The Grenadines. Most incidents occur in Ratho Mill, Young Island, Mayreau, Salt Whistle Bay, Princess Margaret Beach, Union Island, Petit St. Vincent, Chateaubelair, and Wallilabou. Kindly take your valuables (i.e., cash, phone, computer) when leaving your vessel.
- Hiking is best experienced with a local guide or tour operator, especially if you are considering a trek in the more isolated northern areas of St. Vincent, where police presence is limited.
- Same-sex sexual activity is prohibited in St. Vincent and The Grenadines at the time of this writing and is punishable with up to 10 years imprisonment. So, kindly keep public displays of affection with your partner to a minimum.
Manchineel Trees – Beware of Them
Despite their rather charming looks, Manchineel trees are not to be touched. This is because the seemingly innocuous and unsuspecting trees produce a poisonous sap. If you touch it, chances are you will get excruciating blisters. So, kindly try to resist the urge to grab one of their fruits (they look pretty much like apples), no matter how inviting or tasty they may appear. Some Manchineel trees are already labelled with a warning sign. However, don’t rely on signage to refrain from touching one.
Electricity
The standard voltage in St. Vincent & The Grenadines can be 230V or 110V – this duality is commonly seen across several Caribbean islands. The type of socket the country uses would be a Type G plug, mainly used in countries like the UK, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Malta, Cyprus, and the Arabian Peninsula, among others. Type G sockets have a fuse (a 13A fuse for large appliances or a 3A fuse for computers and smaller devices) and three pins in a triangular pattern. You might need to bring a travel adapter or a step-up transformer to fit the proper plug type and match the electrical voltage.
Taxis
Taxis are available in most populated islands, such as Unions Island, Mustique, Bequia, and, of course, St. Vincent, along with a few smaller cays. That being said, ensure you negotiate the price before getting into a taxi because taxis are not met here. However, the typical fare for a drive from the main airport (Argyle International Airport) to downtown Kingstown is around US$30 or EC$90 at the moment of this writing.
Driving
Driving in St. Vincent & The Grenadines is challenging, given the many potholes, twisting roads, aggressive drivers, and steep turns. However, if you seek a roadside venture, remember that driving is on the left-hand side of the road and that you will need to show a valid driver’s licence to receive a temporary local licence, which costs around EC$100 (roughly US$40) right now. You can get it issued at either the Revenue Office in Port Elizabeth (Bequia) or the Kingstown Police Station.
Buses
The buses are an affordable and easy way of getting around the major islands. However, be prepared for crowded buses and particularly slow speeds when commuting between various areas. In St. Vincent, the buses start from the Fish Market in New Kingston and drive along the waterfront with a small fare of a few cents and up to a dollar (between EC$1.50 and EC$3, so around US$0.35 and US$1).
Popular Activities
While vacationing at St. Vincent and The Grenadines, you can experience a wealth of adventures, including, but not limited to, hiking, cycling, swimming, surfing, kitesurfing, snorkelling, scuba diving, deep sea diving, yachting, trekking, and many more.
St. Vincent and The Grenadines is a peaceful, less-travelled tropical paradise (compared to its more famous Caribbean siblings) with lots to please and pamper visitors. Although exploring it requires quite a lot of time, considering that there are no direct flights from major regions like the EU, it rewards with its impressive natural terrain and the many opportunities to claim the dreamy Caribbean vacations you always had in mind. To make this visit even more soul-gratifying, we give you some basic facts and details about the beautiful Caribbean nation that you might find quite compelling!
Culture & Customs
The more you blend in with the local lifestyle, the more you will probably realise that it barely fits the Caribbean stereotypes. So, although the country does have a laid-back and utterly hospitable attitude overall, chances are you won’t find many Vincentians lounging along the beach with visitors. Instead, they are most commonly seen promoting tourism through fishing and agricultural trade or getting into fiery political debates!
That aside, Sundays are primarily spent in church, while the restaurants and shops are usually open for a few hours. Speaking of restaurants, although the island’s dress code is casual, you may want to check with the restaurant or another venue you want to visit as some of them require semi-formal attire, and you might appear underdressed if you walk in with shorts and flip-flops.
Water
Although the water in St. Vincent is safe to drink, you may want to stick to bottled water when visiting The Grenadines. It should also be noted that the water in St. Vincent may have a chlorinated taste, making it uncomfortable to drink. This is probably because the water runs from the mountain reserves of the island and has to be purified and filtered before reaching the residential areas.
Safety
You will feel safe wandering around any of the islands of St. Vincent and The Grenadines. That being said, though, here are a few safety considerations to bear in mind:
- The Soufriere volcano last erupted in 2021 (April), almost 42 years after its last eruption in 1979.
- The overall crime rate in St. Vincent & The Grenadines is relatively low, though muggings are quite often, as is the case with most tourist destinations worldwide. Applying common sense and taking precautions will help avoid getting into such trouble.
- Sailing crime (robberies from yachts) could be an issue in St. Vincent & The Grenadines. Most incidents occur in Ratho Mill, Young Island, Mayreau, Salt Whistle Bay, Princess Margaret Beach, Union Island, Petit St. Vincent, Chateaubelair, and Wallilabou. Kindly take your valuables (i.e., cash, phone, computer) when leaving your vessel.
- Hiking is best experienced with a local guide or tour operator, especially if you are considering a trek in the more isolated northern areas of St. Vincent, where police presence is limited.
- Same-sex sexual activity is prohibited in St. Vincent and The Grenadines at the time of this writing and is punishable with up to 10 years imprisonment. So, kindly keep public displays of affection with your partner to a minimum.
Manchineel Trees – Beware of Them
Despite their rather charming looks, Manchineel trees are not to be touched. This is because the seemingly innocuous and unsuspecting trees produce a poisonous sap. If you touch it, chances are you will get excruciating blisters. So, kindly try to resist the urge to grab one of their fruits (they look pretty much like apples), no matter how inviting or tasty they may appear. Some Manchineel trees are already labelled with a warning sign. However, don’t rely on signage to refrain from touching one.
Electricity
The standard voltage in St. Vincent & The Grenadines can be 230V or 110V – this duality is commonly seen across several Caribbean islands. The type of socket the country uses would be a Type G plug, mainly used in countries like the UK, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Malta, Cyprus, and the Arabian Peninsula, among others. Type G sockets have a fuse (a 13A fuse for large appliances or a 3A fuse for computers and smaller devices) and three pins in a triangular pattern. You might need to bring a travel adapter or a step-up transformer to fit the proper plug type and match the electrical voltage.
Taxis
Taxis are available in most populated islands, such as Unions Island, Mustique, Bequia, and, of course, St. Vincent, along with a few smaller cays. That being said, ensure you negotiate the price before getting into a taxi because taxis are not met here. However, the typical fare for a drive from the main airport (Argyle International Airport) to downtown Kingstown is around US$30 or EC$90 at the moment of this writing.
Driving
Driving in St. Vincent & The Grenadines is challenging, given the many potholes, twisting roads, aggressive drivers, and steep turns. However, if you seek a roadside venture, remember that driving is on the left-hand side of the road and that you will need to show a valid driver’s licence to receive a temporary local licence, which costs around EC$100 (roughly US$40) right now. You can get it issued at either the Revenue Office in Port Elizabeth (Bequia) or the Kingstown Police Station.
Buses
The buses are an affordable and easy way of getting around the major islands. However, be prepared for crowded buses and particularly slow speeds when commuting between various areas. In St. Vincent, the buses start from the Fish Market in New Kingston and drive along the waterfront with a small fare of a few cents and up to a dollar (between EC$1.50 and EC$3, so around US$0.35 and US$1).
Popular Activities
While vacationing at St. Vincent and The Grenadines, you can experience a wealth of adventures, including, but not limited to, hiking, cycling, swimming, surfing, kitesurfing, snorkelling, scuba diving, deep sea diving, yachting, trekking, and many more.