Grenada & Carriacou / Island Essentials

All travellers to Grenada will need to know the essential island facts.  The information on Grenada shown below is current (2011).

Currency/Credit Cards

The currency of Grenada is the Eastern Caribbean Dollar (EC$), which is fixed to the US Dollar at US$1.00 = EC$2.67. All prices on island are quoted in EC dollars, with the exception of hotel rates which are in US only, and duty free items where both the local price in EC dollars is shown alongside the duty free price in US dollars. The US dollar is accepted (apart from coins) throughout the island. However you will find that the rate of exchange in hotels, supermarkets and large stores will not be as favourable (usually US$1 = EC$2.50) as exchanging funds at the bank. 

Credit cards are widely accepted anywhere that deals regularly with tourists. Do not expect all local bars or small local restaurants to accept them. Most of the major credit cards are accepted in restaurants, duty free shops, large stores and supermarkets, however it might be best to double check which cards are accepted when making reservations at restaurants, as some credit cards are not so readily accepted.

Check-In/Check-Out

As a general rule check-out is at twelve noon and check-in is rarely before two or three in the afternoon, while the rooms are made ready for new arrivals. This is not usually an issue as most people arriving from both Europe and the States do not get there until the mid to late afternoon anyway. If you are arriving earlier than that, for instance from another Caribbean island, then let your hotel know in advance they may be able to help out. If you are leaving late some properties may provide hospitality day rooms/shower facilities subject to availability, or they may be flexible on check-in or check-out times by prior arrangement. 

Checking in early at a villa may be more problematic. If nobody has been staying in your villa in the previous week then the villa agent may be happy to let you in before the official check-in time, but if someone is leaving on the same day as your arrival then there will be no chance for you to get in early. Similarly, if another group is arriving on the day you depart you must leave by the appointed time.

Departure Tax/Taxes

An EC$50 departure tax is payable when you leave Grenada. If you are leaving via Maurice Bishop, you pay it at the booth just before Passport Control and Security on Departure. Children between five and twelve pay EC$25. Less than five and they are exempt.

If you are leaving Carriacou by air there is a departure tax of EC$10.

Hotel and villa accommodation incurs an 10% government room tax (and then there is usually a 10% service charge on top). These are normally added to your bill (unless you have paid in advance) and they can make quite a difference to the eventual price of your holiday, so if you are booking direct make sure you calculate it in when pricing up your trip. A standard rate of 15% VAT applies to all other services including car hire and tours.

Electricity

Domestic current will operate appliances designated for 220 volts AC, 50 Cycles (3-pin sockets US style). Some places offer dual voltage or transformers, but it is advisable to bring adapters.

Embassies/Consulates

The following countries are represented in Grenada:

Embassy of the Federative Republic of Brazil, P.O. Box 1226, Grand Anse, St. George, Grenada, t 439 7160/2/3, f 439 7165,brasembsaintgeorges@mre.gov.br

Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, True Blue, St. George, Grenada, t 439 6230, f 439 6231

Embassy of the Republic of Cuba, Lance Aux Epines, St. George, Grenada, t 444 1884, f 444 1877, embacubagranada@caribsurf.com

Embassy of the United States of America, Lance Aux Epines, St. George, Grenada, t 444 1173/6, f 444 4820, usembgd@caribsurf.com

Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, P.O. Box 201, Belmont, St. George, Grenada, t 440 1721/2, f 440 6657, vennes@caribsurf.com 

For more specific help please see this list of Honorary Consular Representatives on Grenada.

Emergencies

POLICE/FIRE – EMERGENCY ONLY - 911 
FIRE – 440 2112 
COASTGUARD – EMERGENCY ONLY - 399, 444 1931 
AMBULANCE -434 
GENERAL HOSPITAL – 434 
PRINCESS ALICE HOSPITAL – 724 
PRINCESS ROYAL HOSPITAL - 774

Medical

Generally Grenada is pretty benign and there are only a couple of issues that you can encounter here that are not in Europe or the States. Check that your coverage for polio and tetanus is in date but no vaccinations are necessary for entry to the island. There is no malaria in Grenada, but there are very occasional outbreaks of dengue fever – another mosquito-borne disease – and so if there is an alert then you need to make sure that you don’t get bitten.

If you get ill your first port of call should be the hotel front desk, which will refer you on or call in a doctor to visit. For minor ailments you are probably best to go to a private clinic (to avoid the wait and queues in the general hospital), but in a bad case the general hospital may have equipment and expertise that the private hospitals do not have. Make sure that your insurance is up to date because medical evacuation is expensive. 

Hospitals
The General Hospital, St George’s, t 440 2051 
Princess Alice Hospital, Mirabeau, t 442 7251 
St Augustine’s Medical Clinic, St Paul's, t 440 6173/4/5, f 440 6176 
Eighteen bed private hospital. 
Old Trafford Medical Clinic, Tanteen, t 440 7780 
Private hospital. 
St Andrew's Medical Diagnostics Inc, Grenville, t 435 3695/3966, f 435 3906 
Private hospital. 

Carriacou 
The Princess Royal Hospital, t 443 7400, is on the hill above Hillsborough. There is a clinic in Hillsborough, Hillsborough Health Centre, t 443 7280, as well as the Carriacou Health Services, t 443 8247 and one in L'Esterre,L'Esterre Clinic, t 443 6414.

Non-profit organisations and Government links: 
Carriacou Health Services, Main Street, Hillsborough, t 443 8247, after hours emergencies t 417 6102 
cmcmd@aol.com http://www.chs-health.com/

Nudity

The Grenadians are very conservative and any form of nudity is unacceptable in public. It is, in any event, against the law to be topless or naked if you are in view.

Places of Worship

The Grenadians have a mix of denominations. The majority are Catholic (64%) and 22% are Anglican, but there are also Presbyterians, Methodists, Pentecostalists and Seventh Day Adventists among others. 

The Catholic Cathedral, the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, is on Church St in St George’s, as is St George’s Anglican Church, the main Anglican church. Just up the way is the St Andrews Presbytery, also know as the Scots Kirk. St George’s Methodist Church is on Green St. Almost all of the churches sustained considerable damage during Hurricane Ivan and many have still to be repaired. Ask around for where services are being held. 

Carriacou 
For such a small community Carriacou has an abundance of churches. Catholic churches are situated in Hillsborough on Main Street, L'Esterre, Harvey Vale, Top Hill, Bogles and Windward and Anglican churches in Hillsborough and Harvey Vale. Other churches include Seventh Day Adventist, Evangelical in Hillsborough, Jehovah's Witness in Beausejour and Spiritual Baptist in Dover.

Service Charge/Tipping

All hotel accommodation rates attract a service charge, usually 10%, which will be added to your bill. When combined with the hotel tax (10% VAT), this can make quite a difference to the eventual price of your holiday, so if you are booking direct, then you should factor it in to your calculations when pricing it.

Tipping for good service is always appreciated. In restaurants, check the bill, but a minimum of 10% should be added.

In private villas and apartments, service is not included so all members of staff including the ground staff should be tipped on your departure. Check with the local property manager for guidance.

Note - On 01 February 2010 the 8% GCT was replaced by a 10% VAT for all types of holiday accommodation and scuba diving - this 10% VAT is also payable on service charges. A standard rate of 15% VAT will apply to all other services including car hire and tours.

Time Zone

Grenada is in the Atlantic Standard Time Zone, which is four hours behind GMT, ie Britain in winter, and five hours behind Europe. During the winter it is an hour ahead of the eastern seaboard of the USA.

Grenada has no daylight saving time, so when the clocks change in summer in the northern hemisphere the island is five hours behind Britain, six behind Europe and on the same time as the eastern seaboard.

Water

The piped water on Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique is drinkable. However, in restaurants in the evenings you may prefer to drink bottled water. Grenadian bottled waters include Glenelg which is a multi award winning source, and of course many of the usual international brands are also available.