Documents-- British, Canadian, and U.S. citizens should have a passport and a return or ongoing airplane ticket. A birth certificate with a raised seal is often accepted with a photo ID, but we always recommend traveling with your passport overseas. The customs offices for air arrivals in Bequia airport will check for your passports and tickets home and they usually have a look through your luggage to check you are not bringing in any new electrical goods (hindering profits of local business.) Sea port customs offices are in Port Elizabeth in an air conditioned yellow building directly opposite the ferry port.
Electricity-- Electricity is 220-volt AC (50 cycles), so if you're traveling with U.S. appliances, you'll need an adapter and a transformer. Some hotels have transformers, but it's best to bring your own.
Emergencies-- In an emergency, dial tel. 999 or 911.
Hospitals-- There is one small hospital on Bequia and one on St. Vincent in Kingstown: Milton Cato Memorial General Hospital (tel. 784/456-1185)
Language-- English is the official language.
Liquor Laws-- Liquor can be sold on any day of the week. It's legal to have an open container on the beach as long as you don't get rowdy or litter.
Pharmacies-- On St. Vincent, try The People's Pharmacy, Greenville Street, Kingstown (tel. 784/456-1170), open Monday to Saturday from 8am to 8pm. There are a few other drugstores in Kingstown as well.
Post Office-- The General Post Office, on Halifax Street in Kingstown (tel. 784/456-1111), is open Monday to Friday from 8am to 4:15pm and Saturday from 8 to 11:30am. There are smaller post offices in 56 districts throughout the country, including offices on the Grenadine islands of Bequia, Mustique, Canouan, Mayreau, and Union Island.
Safety-- St. Vincent and its neighboring islands of The Grenadines are quite safe. Even in Kingstown, the capital of St. Vincent, chances are you'll encounter little serious crime. However, take the usual precautions and never leave valuables unguarded.
Taxes & Service Charges-- The government imposes an airport departure tax of EC$41 (US$15) per person. A 10% government occupancy tax is charged for all hotel accommodations. Hotels and restaurants almost always add a 10% to 15% service charge. Ask whether or not it's included in the initial hotel rates you're quoted. If it's not already added at a restaurant, tip at that rate.
Telephone-- To call Bequia from the United States, dial 1, then 784 (the area code for St. Vincent) and the local seven-digit number. Once on St. Vincent, you can access AT&T Direct at tel. 800/225-5288. To reach MCI, dial tel. 800/888-8000. Tri-ban mobile phones work on Bequia so you can easily keep contact by cell phone.
Internet-- There are several internet cafes on the island. Almost all are in the harbour, Port Elizabeth. Wireless internet connection is available at the Surf and Send internet office next to the Gingerbread Hotel offices. They have’Junior’ onsite for technical problems, 7 connected computers, printer, fax and a desk for those with airport capabilities on their laptops. Cake and tea next door at the favourite Gingerbread bakery!
Time-- Bequia operates on Atlantic Standard Time year-round: When it's 6am on St. Vincent, it's 5am in New York. During daylight saving time in the United States, St. Vincent keeps the same time as the U.S. East Coast.
Water-- In Bequia stick to bottled water. There is no government water supply on Bequia. Rainwater is collected from the roof and stored in tanks on which the house is built. During the dry season (January to June), there is little rain, and water must be used carefully and sparingly.
Weather-- The climate of St. Vincent and The Grenadines is pleasantly cooled by the trade winds year-round. The tropical temperature is in the 78°F to 82°F (26°C-28°C) range. The rainy season is July to October.
