St. Kitts & Nevis

St. Kitts & Nevis are two islands that make up one nation in the Caribbean. These islands were the earliest inhibited in the Caribbean. It really says something about the islands that new structures in the two capitol cities, Basseterre and Charlestown, can be built no taller than the palm trees. For those of you who want high rise hotels and cheap, chain restaurants, I suggest you visit Cancun. But if you want to spend your days on sugar white beaches, hiking the cloud forests to spot monkeys and wildflowers, then St. Kitts & Nevis may be your place.

Language

English is the official language of St. Kitts & Nevis.

Money

The official currency on St. Kitts & Nevis is the Eastern Caribbean Dollar. U.S. Dollars, traveler’s checks and major credit cards are accepted pretty much anywhere. To find out about the conversion rates, visit our currency converter.

Accommodations

All accomodations are smallish hotels and guest houses. Rates as low as $75 can be found for the tourist season, but most start much higher (in the $200 per night range).

Food and Drinks

Restaurants on St. Kitts and Nevis aren’t super cheap, but you can be sure you’ll be fed. Spring water is available from springs located throughout the islands.

Holidays/Events

These islands offer tourists with a plethora of festivals throughout the year. Look out for some great food and music, along with loads of dancing.

Inner City Fest: February
St. Kitts Music Festival: end of June (St. Kitts)
Fest-Tab: July to August (St. Kitts)
Culturama: end of July to early August (Nevis)
La Festival del Capisterre: September (St. Kitts)
Carnival: December 17 to January 3 (St. Kitts)

Getting There & Around

From the U.S., American Airlines, American Eagle and US Airways offer flights. Around the Caribbean, you can take Caribbean Star,
Caribbean Sun Airlines, Excel Airways, LIAT and Winair. There is a ferry available for travel between the two islands.

Rental cars are widely available on both islands.

The departure tax is $17 US.

Electronics

The electricity on the islands is generally 230 volts, 60 cycles, but most hotels have 110 volt outlets for your U.S. appliances. It would be a good idea to contact your particular hotel to find out in advance.

Things to Do

Water sports are available on the island, including diving & snorkeling, swimming, sailing and fishing. Hiking, biking and golf are popular activities away from the beach. Football, and by that I mean soccer, is the big sport on the island. History buffs will appreciate the restored forests, historic plantations and petroglyphs found around the islands. Horseback riding is available, as are professional horse races in season. If you’d like to try your hand at wind surfing or water skiing, those are available too. Lots of guided hikes are available for the eco-tourism lovers out there.