Nevis / Island Essentials

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

Currency/Credit Cards

The currency of (St Kitts and) Nevis is the Eastern Caribbean Dollar, which is fixed to the US Dollar at a rate of US$1 = EC$2.70.

Practically speaking it is possible to pay in US dollars in any business that has regular dealings with tourists (hotels actually state their rates in US Dollars), though the exchange will probably be made at around EC$2.60 to the US dollar. You may find if you pay in US Dollars that your change sometimes comes back in EC dollars. 

Credit Cards

Credit cards will also be accepted by any business that has regular dealings with visitors to the island, including hotels, restaurants and large shops and businesses. Don’t expect small shops to accept them though.

Check-In/Check-Out

As a general rule check-out is at around 12 noon and check-in is rarely before 2 or 3pm, 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 will be arriving earlier than that, for instance from another Caribbean island, then let your hotel know in advance they may be able to help out. Some properties may provide day rooms/shower facilities subject to availability, or they may be flexible on check-in or check-out times by prior arrangement. 

Getting to Nevis always involves a transfer and connection times may be tight. Be prepared to leave your luggage behind at the point where you entered the Caribbean by taking a change of clothes and a swimming costume in your hand luggage. Don’t worry it usually turns up on the next flight. One of the nice effects of this however, is that you may well arrive at your hotel in the dark, when the place will have a magical air, with trees lit from beneath, the peeping of tree frogs filling the air, and an extraordinary blackness of the backdrop because there is little ambient light to disturb it.

Departure Tax/Taxes

A departure tax must be paid when you leave Nevis. The departure tax for non-nationals is US$22 or EC$58 and includes a security charge of US$2 and an environmental levy of US$1.50. 

A Government Tax of 9% is added to all hotel and restaurant bills. Please note that most hotel bills are also supplemented by 11% Service Charge. The total of 20% can make quite a difference to your eventual bill. In restaurants the tax is included and tipping is left to your discretion but 10% is the norm. 

STOP PRESS 01 November 2010 - The Government of St Kitts & Nevis introduced a 17% VAT on services and goods effective 01 November 2010. The VAT has been reduced to 10% for tourism related services such as accommodation, restaurants and tours, in addition to a 1% Island Enhancement Fund levy, making the total 11%, an increase of 2% to the previous level. The new VAT replaces various taxes previously in place, including a Consumption Tax, a Hotel Accommodation and Restaurant Tax and a Vehicle Rental Levy.

Electricity

Electric current is at 220 volts, 60 cycles, but many of the hotels have current at 110 volts. 

Plans are underway to make Nevis the first carbon neutral island in the Caribbean. First on the agenda is the geothermal project at Sugar Hill, which John Handley talks about with Tim Ecott at WTM 2010 below. 

Embassies/Consulates.

There are no foreign embassies or high commissions in St Kitts & Nevis, however there is either an honorary consul or full representation in Barbados 

Canada 
Canadians can obtain consular assistance and further information from theCanadian High Commission in Barbados which has responsibility for St Kitts & Nevis. The commission is located at Bishop's Court Hill, St Michael, Bridgetown, t 1 246 429 3550 bdgtn@international.gc.ca 

United Kingdom 
British citizens can obtain consular assistance and information from theHonorary British Consul based in St Kitts, Peter Allcorn, t 762 8888,peter.allcorn-honcon@fconet.fco.gov.uk and if he is not available please contact the British High Commission in Barbados, located at Lower Collymore Rock, Bridgetown, t 1 246 430 7800, britishhcb@sunbeach.nethttp://ukinbarbados.fco.gov.uk/en/ 

United States 
The US Embassy in Barbados has jurisdiction over St Kitts & Nevis and is located in Wildey Business Park, St Michael. The Consular Section is open for American Citizens Services during regular office hours call t 1 246 227 4193 or BridgetownACS@state.gov The emergency contact out of hours is t 1 246 227 4000 – please ask for the duty officer. 
http://barbados.usembassy.gov/

Emergencies

Police – 911 
Police HQ - 469 5391 
Fire – 469 3444 
Alexandra Hospital - 469 5473

Medical

Nevis’s hospital is the Alexandria Hospital, t 469 5473, on the outskirts of Charlestown. 

No vaccinations are necessary for visiting Nevis.

Nudity

The Nevisians are modest about the display of bodies and so (besides being illegal), topless and nude bathing are not appreciated. You are asked not to do it, but it has been known on Lovers Beach. If you visit town, please go appropriately dressed – not in a swimming costume.

Places of Worship

There are over 70 churches on the island, in many different denominations, including Anglican, Catholic, Methodist, Baptist and Pentecostal, to name just a few. Many are also attractive stone buildings. In Charlestown you will find St Paul’s (Anglican), St Theresa’s (Catholic), the Taylor Memorial Weslyan Holiness Church and a Methodist Church. Sunday services tend to be at 9am or 11am, depending on the church.

Service Charge/Tipping

A Service Charge of 10% will generally be added to your restaurant and 12% to hotel bills on Nevis. Tipping for good service in bars is always appreciated and the norm for this is 10% as well. In villas, no service charge has been included in the cost so it is certainly expected that you tip your staff

Time Zone

Nevis is in the Atlantic Standard Time Zone and so is 4 hours behind GMT (Britain) during the winter and five behind the rest of Europe, and an hour ahead of Eastern Standard Time in the States. 

Nevis has no daylight saving time in the summer so the island is then five hours behind British Summer Time (six behind the rest of Europe) and on the same time as the eastern seaboard of the United States.

Water

The water piped into your room on Nevis is drinkable. You may however prefer to drink bottled water, in which case local brands include Nelson Springs and Nevis Spring Water.