St Kitts / Island Essentials

All travellers to St Kitts will need to know the essential island facts. The information on St Kitts shown below is current.

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 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 as 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.

Departure Tax/Taxes

A departure tax must be paid when you leave St Kitts. 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 10% service. The total of 19% can make quite a difference to your eventual bill. In restaurants the tax is included and tipping is left to your discretion but 10-15% 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 230 volts, 60 cycles, but many of the hotels have current at 110 volts.

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 Peter Allcorn, the Honorary British Consul based in St Kitts, 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.net http://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
Ambulance - 911
Fire - 333
Air Ambulance - 465 2801
Joseph N France General Hospital - 465 2551

Medical

St Kitts has a generally benign climate. There is no malaria in St Kitts, but there are very occasional outbreaks of dengue fever, another mosquito-borne disease which sometimes breaks out after considerable rain. You should take normal precautions against being bitten by a mosquito, including using insect repellent during daylight hours and after sunset.

Vaccinations are not required for entry into St Kitts, though you may wish to check with your GP prior to travelling. There is one exception, for travellers who have come from areas with yellow fever, where a vaccination certificate is required from travellers over one year of age. Check that your coverage for polio and tetanus is up to date.

Hospitals
The main hospital on St Kitts is the Joseph N France General Hospital, Basseterre, t 465 2551, other medical facilities on island include Mary Charles Hospital, Molineaux, t 465 7398 and Pogson Hospital, Sandy Point, t 465 6231.

Pharmacies
The City Drug Store, t 465 2156/4585 and S L Horsford & Co Ltd/Value Mart Pharmacy, t 465 2616, are both in Basseterre.

Nudity

Kittitians are modest about the display of bodies and so (besides being illegal), topless and nude bathing are not appreciated. If you visit town, please do not go in a swimming costume or scant clothing.

Places of Worship

The official denomination of St Kitts is Anglican and as you travel around the various parishes in the island you will see their parish churches. There are also many other denominations too, including Roman Catholic (there is a cathedral in Basseterre), Methodist, Moravian, Baptist, Pentecostal, Seventh-Day Adventist and Church of God.

For Anglican and Roman Catholic services, plus one or two others should you wish for a change, see below:

Anglican - There are eleven parish churches including:
St George’s Anglican Church, Basseterre, t 465 2167
Sunday for Mass 8am and Evensong 6pm, Tuesday and Friday for Holy Communion 6pm and Wednesday for Bible Study 7.15pm.
St Mary’s, Dieppe Bay, t 466 6398
Holy Eucharist at 7am on 1st Sundays and 9.15am on 3rd Sundays, and Mattins at 9.15am on 2nd, 4th and 5th Sundays.

Roman Catholic
Co-Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Basseterre, t 465 2464
Mass times Sunday 8.30am, Monday, Friday and Saturday 7pm, Tuesday to Thursday 6am.

In addition to the cathedral in Basseterre, there are also churches in Molyneaux, Sandy Point and Old Road.

Moravian
Zion Moravian Church, Basseterre, t 465 2402
Sunday services at 9.30am and 6.30pm. Sunday School at 8.30am.

Methodist
Wesley Methodist Church, Seaton Street, Basseterre, t 465 2346
Sunday service 9am.

Baptist
Calvary Baptist Church, St Paul’s Village
Weekly telecast and are frequently on the radio. Sunday service 10am.
Antioch Baptist Church, Johnsons Village

The timing of services is likely to change, therefore please check locally.

Service Charge/Tipping

A service charge of 10% will generally be added to your restaurant and hotel bill on St Kitts. Tipping for good service in bars is always appreciated and the norm for this is 10-15% as well. In villas, service charge is generally not included in the cost, so it is certainly expected that you tip your staff.

Time Zone

St Kitts is in the Atlantic Standard Time Zone, which is four hours behind GMT, i.e. in winter 4 hours behind Britain and five hours behind Europe. During the winter it is an hour ahead of the eastern seaboard of the USA.

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