St Kitts and Nevis - Traveller information

Local laws and conventions: It is an offence for anyone, including children, to dress in camouflage clothing. Visitors should always seek permission before photographing local people or their property. There are severe penalties for all drugs offences.

Dress is generally informal but conservative in the towns. Beachwear should be for beach only. Conference facilities are available in some hotels. Office hours are Mon–Fri 0800–1200 and 1300–1600.

Immigration and customs: Passports must be valid for at least six months beyond the intended length of stay. Visas are necessary for some nationals and all visa requirements should be checked well in advance of travel.

A yellow fever vaccination certificate will be requested from all those arriving from infected areas.

Travel within the country: Traffic drives on the left and a local driving licence must be purchased before visitors can drive on the islands. A local driving licence is available on production of a national driving licence at all car hire companies or police stations. Car hire is usually arranged before arriving on the islands.

There are regular passenger ferries between St Kitts and Nevis, and journey time is around 40 minutes. The bus network is privately run and provides a regular but unscheduled service. Taxis have set rates.

Travel health: Visitors should ensure they have comprehensive health insurance.

Vaccinations against tuberculosis and Hepatitis B are sometimes recommended, but all current inoculation requirements should be checked well in advance of travel. Dengue fever is found throughout St Kitts and Nevis, and visitors should ensure they take insect repellent and suitable clothing to protect themselves against mosquito bites.

Most of the drinking water comes from volcanic springs and is safe to drink; if there is any doubt, however, sterilisation is advisable. Bottled water is widely available. Milk is pasteurised.

Money: All major credit cards are accepted in most places and ATMs are widely available. The Eastern Caribbean dollar is closely linked to the US dollar, and it is advisable to take travellers cheques in US dollars to avoid additional exchange rate charges. Banking hours are Mon–Thur 0800–1400 and Fri 0800–1600.
There were 118,000 tourist arrivals in 2004.