A-Z of St. Kitts

Airport	Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport, located approximately 2 miles from Basseterre, is capable of handling wide-bodied jets, and is a quick 10 minute drive from the Marriott
Attire	Beach attire is appropriate for the beach but not the town, shops or restaurants. Please refrain from short shorts, bikinis and bare chests in these places. Informal, but conservative clothing is the standard. Dress elegantly casual for dinner. Shorts and tops are good enough for daytime wear, but no bare, catch-every-last-ray-of-sunshine, chests in town please!
Banks	Bank of Nova Scotia, First Caribbean, Royal Bank of Canada, St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla National Bank Ltd., Bank of Nevis Ltd., Nevis Co-Operative Banking Co. Ltd. Banking hours are Monday through Thursday from 8.00am to 2.00pm and Friday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
Brimstone Hill Fortress	A magnificent structure situated almost 800 feet above sea level. This remarkable UNESCO World Heritage sight is a former fortress and is one of the most dramatic spots in the entire Caribbean, both historically and aesthetically and is not to be missed!
Camouflage	Please be aware, and notify your guests that it is against the law for anyone, including children, to dress in camouflage clothing or carry items made with camouflage material – this includes hats, bags, garments, etc. Camouflage items will be confiscated at Customs.
Capital	The capital city is Basseterre. Its French name simply means “lowland,” a description that must have been scratched onto a French sea chart sometime during the late 1620s. In the 375 ensuing years there have been many Basseterres, for earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, fires, and invasions have all swept through this modest community. Set before the dramatic backdrop of St. Kitts’ lush green hills, Basseterre today retains much of the elegant Georgian character of Nelson’s days.
Climate	Pleasant, breezy, tropical with average temperatures between 65 – 88°.
Currency	The East Caribbean dollar (EC$) normally valued at EC$2.67 to the US$. However, US dollars are widely accepted, as are credit cards in hotels, restaurants, duty free stores and rental car companies. You’ll need cash for gas stations, taxis etc.
Driving	British-style, on the left. At roundabouts, (rotaries or circles for you Bostonians!) give way to traffic in the roundabout approaching you from the right (the right has the right-of-way).
Electricity	110 volts, 60 cycles.
Entry Requirements	All persons entering St. Kitts & Nevis from the United States of America & Canada are required to have a valid passport. A Birth Certificate, along with a photo ID will no longer be accepted at our ports of entry.
Getting Here	Jet service is usually to San Juan Puerto Rico, St. Maarten, Guadeloupe, Virgin Islands or Antigua, with transfers to lighter aircraft for the final flight to St. Kitts. From the US: American Airlines daily via Miami American Airlines twice a week (Wed & Sun) via JFK Delta on Saturdays via Atlanta US Air on Saturdays via Charlotte From Europe: British Airways twice a week (Tues & Sat)Virgin Atlantic, Air France, Lufthansa, KLM – daily service with connections through Antigua & St. Maarten Approximate flight times: New York – 4 hours Miami – 3 hours London – 8 hours
Language	English, with the obligatory accent, just so you have to wonder.
Location	Eastern Caribbean, equidistant between Puerto Rico and Barbados, about 1,600 miles from New York, 1,200 miles from Miami, and 4,000 miles from London.
Money	Make provisions for taking enough money, since personal checks generally aren’t accepted. Travelers Checks are widely accepted, and are highly recommended. Visa and American Express charge cards are also accepted throughout the Island. There is also an ATM machine in the casino of the Marriott Resort, which issues US Dollars.
National Festivals	St. Kitts Music Festival – June Nevis Culturama – First Monday & Tuesday of August Ocean Fest – October St. Kitts Tourism Week – October National Carnival – 24 Dec – 02 Jan
National Public Holidays	New Year’s Day – January 1 Carnival Day – January 2 Good Friday – Seasonal Easter Monday – Seasonal Labour Day – First Monday in May Whit Monday – Subject to Easter weekend Emancipation Day – First Monday in August Culturama – (Nevis Only) – First Tuesday in August National Heroes Day – September 16 Independence Day – September 19 Christmas Day – December 25 Boxing Day – December 26
Port	Port Zante handling major cruise ships and The Deep Water Port for Cargo
Taxes / Tips	There is a 10% VAT (Value Added Tax) hotel and restaurant tax and service charge is generally 10 – 15% of the bill, unless you feel more is warranted.
Time	Atlantic Standard – (GMT-4). Between April and October, St. Kitts and Miami are on the same time. There is no daylight savings time.
Water	Safe spring water comes from numerous volcanic springs. Water is precious. Don’t waste it! Adequate supplies of bottled water are also available.

Please note that all prices quoted are in US Dollars and are subject to change without notice. Sunlinc reserves the right to adjust prices accordingly. By purchasing any tours on this site, you agree to sign any necessary waivers at The Tour Desk in St. Kitts. Tour days and times may be changed without any notice, are subject to availability and may require a minimum number of guests in order to operate.