Language: English is the official language.
Currency: The official currency is the East
Caribbean Dollar (XCD), which is divided into 100 cents. It is tied to the US dollar at a rate of US$1=EC$2.70. Most businesses accept US Dollar notes as payment, but change is given in EC$. Travelers cheques and major credit cards are widely accepted, and major currencies can be exchanged at banks, with US Dollars the cheapest to exchange. Most banks are closed on weekends, but provide 24-hour ATM services.
Time: Local time is GMT -4.
Electricity: Electrical current
is 230 volts, 60 Hz, but a 117-volt supply is available in most hotels. Round three-pin plugs and three-pin rectangular blade plugs (as in the
UK) are in use.
Communications: The international dialing code for
St Kitts and Nevis is +1 869. The outgoing code is 1 for the Caribbean,
USA and
Canada, and 011 for all other international destinations followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 01127 for
South Africa). City/area codes are not in use. Internet services are widely available at hotels and Internet cafes.
Cable and Wireless Caribbean Cellular (St Kitts) Ltd (GSM 850/1900) and
Wireless Ventures Ltd (GSM 900/1800) provide cellular phone service.
Duty Free: Travelers over the age of 18 may import 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 225g tobacco, and 1.136 liters of wine or spirits without paying customs duty.
Getting Around: Basseterre and
Charlestown are small and easy enough to explore by foot. Ferries are the most convenient way to travel between the islands, taking about 45 minutes, but flights are also available (10 minutes). Colorful minivan buses traverse the islands daily except Sundays and can be flagged down anywhere as they go past. Cars and taxis are available for hire in the main towns.
Tourist OfficeDepartment of Tourism, Basseterre, St. Kitts: +1 869 465 2620/4040 or www.stkittstourism.kn
EmergencyEmergencies: 911.
Embassies
St Kitts and Nevis Embassy,
Washington DC, United States: +1 202 686 2636.
St Kitts and Nevis High Commission,
London, United Kingdom: +44 (0)20 7937 9718.
High
Commission for the Eastern Caribbean States,
Ottawa,
Ontario: +1 613 236 8952.
United States Embassy,
Bridgetown, Barbados (also responsible for
St Kitts-Nevis): +1 246 436 4950.
British
High Commission, St John's,
Antigua: +1 268 462 0008/9.
Canadian High Commission, Bridgetown, Barbados (also responsible for St Kitts-Nevis): +1 246 429 3550.
Australian High Commission,
Port of Spain,
Trinidad and Tobago (also responsible for St Kitts-Nevis): +1 868 628 0695.
South African High Commission,
Kingston, Jamaica (also responsible for St Kitts-Nevis): +1 876 978 3160/4457.
