Business opening hours

As a general guide you can expect the following:

Banks: 8am – 2pm, Monday to Thursday, and 8am – 4pm on Friday.
Shops: 8.00/8.30am – 4/5pm, Monday to Friday, and 8.00/8.30am – 1pm on Saturday. Craft and souvenir shops also open on Sundays and public holidays when cruise ships are docked.
Supermarkets: 8.00/9.00am – 7pm Monday – Saturday and a select few open on Sunday.
Pharmacy: 8am – 7pm Mon – Thurs; Friday 8am – sundown; Sat 6pm – 8pm approx; Sun 9am – 12pm.
It is advised that you check business operating hours of local retailers as some may differ.

Climate

Historically the Caribbean has two seasons, wet & dry, with the wet season running from July to December and the dry season from January to June. However, tropical showers can happen at any time of the year, of course, but rarely last for more than a few minutes. Temperatures are fairly constant throughout the year, ranging from 24 -32 degrees Celsius (75-90 degrees Fahrenheit) but reaching their peak during the summer months. The Hurricane season is, in theory, from June to November, with Grenada often been considered to be outside of the hurricane belt. The best thing to do is to discuss the situation in detail with our expert staff if travelling in this period.

Clothing

Casual, light comfortable clothing is appropriate during the day as well as in the evening and the emphasis is on very casual clothing at all times.

Beachwear should not be worn in the streets or stores. You should also be aware that it is an offence for anyone, including children, to dress in camouflage clothing. Nude bathing is illegal.

Credit cards and currency

Major credit cards are accepted by most hotels, car rental companies, and shops. The Eastern Caribbean Dollar (EC$) is the local currency. It may be possible to order EC$ from your local bank or foreign exchange bureau before leaving the UK, but US dollars (US$) are widely accepted and can be used in many establishments, usually with change being given in EC$, however please note that smaller establishments, especially in country areas, may only accept EC$.

Should you wish to exchange currency it is advisable to do this at a bank, as the most favourable exchange rates may not be obtained elsewhere. You will normally need to provide your passport when doing this. Most banks have 24-hour ATM machines.

We suggest you take US$ and exchange them for local currency. Travelling with a credit card is also recommended.

Driving

If you would like to hire a car as part of your holiday we can book this in advance with one of our local suppliers. Your vehicle will be delivered to and collected from your accommodation, however you may be required to visit a local police station to obtain a local driving permit. Age restrictions may also apply. Please ask us for further details. Remember to take your driving licence with you!

Driving is on the left-hand side, the same as the UK. While most of the main roads are in good condition, the quality can vary in more isolated locations, with steep hills and potholes quite commonplace. Observe the speed limits and take extra care on minor roads especially at night as some roads are unlit. Pedestrians often walk on the roads and indicators are not always used.

In the event of an accident, call the police (911) and don’t move the vehicle.

Taxis aren’t metered. Standard taxi fares exist for most destinations. Agree the fare in local currency with the driver before you set off. You can often pay in US dollars as well as EC dollars.

Public transport is available and a cheap way to travel but Minibuses can often be crowded and drivers might drive above the speed limit!

Electricity

Grenada runs on 220 volts. Most plugs and sockets at hotels are UK 3-pin style.

How to Get to Grenada

We can offer flights to Grenada as part of a package holiday with the following airlines:

British Airways from London Gatwick (Scheduled flight)
Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday
Via St Lucia* (year round)

*flying with British Airways means we can easily combine Grenada with St Lucia as a twin-centre holiday!

Virgin Atlantic from London Heathrow (Scheduled flight)
Tuesday and Saturday
via Barbados* (year round)
Plus Friday between 8th December 2023 – 29th March 2024
Via Barbados*

*flying with Virgin means we can easily combine Grenada and Barbados as a twin-centre holiday!

Medical facilities

The main government hospital can cope with many types of treatment but serious cases may mean emergency evacuation. Medical treatment in Grenada can be expensive. Make sure you have adequate travel health insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment and repatriation.

If you need emergency medical assistance during your trip, the ambulance phone numbers are 434 for general hospital in St George’s, 724 for Princess Alice hospital in Grenville, or 774 for Princess Royal hospital in Carriacou.

You should contact your insurance/medical assistance company promptly if you are referred to a medical facility for treatment. Before choosing to be treated at a private facility, you should check their policies on pre-payment. Private clinics may not accept medical travel insurance as payment for treatment.

Mosquitoes and other pests

While Grenada has very few creepy crawlies and the like, tropical places do produce tropical insects, and mosquitoes can be a nuisance. We suggest you take precautions by using repellent creams and sprays both day and night and also use nets at night if provided.

Safety and security

Virtually all the thousands of visitors to Grenada each year have happy and trouble-free holidays. This is a friendly island and visitors are very much welcomed. However, even in these idyllic surroundings you should not become complacent about safety and security. Isolated incidents, although very rare, can occur here as they can in any part of the world and visitors should exercise common sense wherever they travel. If you are staying in a villa, the owners or housekeeper may give you specific security instructions for that property when you arrive. We would advise visitors to use taxis at night whenever possible if you do not have a rental car. Restaurants will always offer help with calling taxis to and from their premises.

We also advise all our clients travelling anywhere in the world to consult the Foreign Office website for detailed up-to-date travel advice. Visit https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice for information and feel free to talk to our staff for clarification of any information the web page contains.

Telephones

Most UK mobile phones will work in Grenada however it is advisable to check with your service provider before travelling to confirm roaming facilities and texting options. Some villas provide cell phones for your use while you are on the island and the bigger hotels have in-room phones. The best option however is to switch off data roaming on your mobile phone prior to landing in Grenada and connect to wi-fi services wherever possible. Calls and messages to the UK can then be made using apps such as WhatsApp or Messenger.

Tax and tipping

There is an 8% Government tax applied at hotels and restaurants and most also add a 10% service charge. Additional gratuities are at your discretion. Value Added Tax (VAT) is also applied on eligible goods and services.

Valuables

Lock up as you would at home. Most hotels have safety deposit boxes and we advise you to use them. It is sensible to only carry a minimum amount of cash with you when you are out and we would suggest that you do not take valuables to the beach or leave possessions on view in your hire car. The police emergency number is 911 in Grenada.