Grenada (pronounced Gre-Nay-Dah), Carriacou, Petite Martinique, and their dependencies are situated in the eastern Caribbean, south of the Windward Islands and 100 miles north of Venezuela. The neighboring islands of St. Vincent and the Grenadines are to the north, and Trinidad and Tobago to the south.
Here is some general information on vacationing in Grenada that we hope you may find useful. If you have any specific questions, please phone us at +1-473-410-6232 and ask away. If we don’t know the answer right away, we’ll do some research and call you back as soon as we do.
Mosquitoes and other pests
While Grenada has few creepy crawlies and the like, tropical areas do produce tropical insects, and mosquitoes can be bothersome. We recommend that you take precautions by using repellent lotions and sprays during the day and night, as well as employing netting at night if available.
Safety and Security
Every year, thousands of visitors to Grenada enjoy enjoyable and trouble-free holidays. This is a nice island, and guests are quite welcome. Even in these gorgeous surroundings, you should not be complacent regarding safety and security. Isolated occurrences, albeit rare, can occur anywhere in the world, and travelers should use common sense wherever they travel. If you are staying in a villa, the owners or housekeeping may provide you with particular security instructions upon your arrival. If you don’t have a rental car, we recommend using a taxi at night whenever possible. Restaurants will always assist customers in arranging taxi rides to and from their establishments.
Cell Phones
Most mobile phones will function in Grenada, but it is recommended that you check with your service provider before traveling to confirm roaming and messaging capabilities. It is recommended that you turn off data roaming on your mobile phone before arriving in Grenada and connect to Wi-Fi services whenever available. Calls and messages to the US/UK can then be done via apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, or Messenger.
Electricity in Grenada
You must examine what to take to guarantee that your electrical appliances may be used safely while traveling abroad. This typically includes the use of a travel adaptor, which is a gadget that allows you to plug any UK electrical appliance into a foreign electrical outlet. It’s vital to remember that it doesn’t change the voltage or frequency. Rest assured all Beachside Way vacation rentals are equipped with both 110v and 220v outlets
Grenada’s plug is type G, with three rectangular pins arranged in a triangular arrangement. Grenada uses a 220V supply voltage at 50Hz.
Electricity supply globally ranges from 100V to 240V. It is exceedingly risky to use an electrical appliance rated for a voltage other than the supply.
Driving In Grenada
If you want to rent a car as part of your vacation, Beachside Way can book it in advance with one of our local suppliers. Your vehicle will be delivered to your accommodation, but you may be required to visit a local police station to obtain a local driving permit. Age limitations may also apply. Please contact us for further information. Remember to bring your driver’s license with you!
Driving is on the left side, unlike in the United States. While most of the main roads are in fair shape, the quality varies in more remote areas, with steep hills and potholes being prevalent. Observe speed limits and exercise caution on minor roads, particularly at night when some routes are unlit. Pedestrians frequently walk on roads, yet indications are not always employed.
In the event of an accident, call 911 and do not move the vehicle.
Taxis are not metered. Taxi prices are standard for the majority of destinations. Before you leave, agree on a local currency fare with the driver. You can typically pay in both US and EC currency.
Public transportation is available and inexpensive, however, buses can be overcrowded, and drivers may exceed the speed limit.
Currency and Credit Cards
Car rental businesses and stores accept major credit cards. The Eastern Caribbean Dollar (EC$) is the native currency. It may be possible to purchase EC$ from your local bank or foreign exchange bureau before leaving the US/UK, but US dollars (US$) are widely accepted and can be used in many establishments, with change usually given in EC$; however, please keep in mind that smaller establishments, particularly in rural areas, may accept only EC$.
Banks will exchange EC$2.67 for US$1.00 cash and EC$2.68 for US$1.00 traveler’s cheques. We recommend you convert currencies at banks, as lower exchange rates may not be available elsewhere.
Unclean or damaged bills will not be accepted by local banks since they cannot be recirculated and must be returned to the country of origin’s treasury at their expense. If you do not want to buy EC dollars for your trip, US dollars are the most widely accepted because Grenada currency is pegged at a set rate to the US dollar. You’ll be alright if you carry clean US dollar bills in modest denominations.
If you want to exchange currency, it is best to do so in a bank because the best exchange rates may not be available elsewhere. Typically, you will be required to provide your passport. Most banks have ATMs that are open 24 hours a day.
We recommend that you take US dollars and exchange them for local currencies. Traveling with a credit card is also suggested.
Clothing
Casual, light, and comfortable attire is suited for both the day and the evening, with an emphasis on casual clothing at all times.
Beachwear should not be worn on the street or in stores. You should also be informed that anyone, including children, is prohibited from wearing camouflage apparel. Nude bathing is prohibited.
Weather in Grenada
Historically, the Caribbean has had two seasons: wet and dry. The rainy season lasts from July to December, and the dry season from January to June. Tropical showers can occur any time of year, but they rarely stay longer than a few minutes. Temperatures are very consistent throughout the year, ranging from 75 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit, peaking during the summer months.
The hurricane season runs from June to November, with Grenada frequently believed to be outside the hurricane belt.
Business opening hours in Grenada
Bank hours are 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Shop hours are 8.00 to 4/5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 8.00/8.30 a.m. – 1 p.m. Saturday.
Souvenir shops are also open on Sundays and public holidays when cruise ships arrive.
Supermarkets: 8/9.00 a.m. – 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, with a few locations open on Sunday.
Pharmacy hours: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday; Saturday 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
It is recommended that you check the business hours of local retailers, as they may vary.
Music
Calypso is the native music of our islands. During festival seasons, you can hear a fusion of parang, reggae, dancehall, and pop from automobiles and buses, storefronts, and even people’s windows all around the island. Ex tempore is another popular art genre in which musicians sing a regular song while improvising lyrics.
Grenada Ports of Entry
You can arrive in Grenada via air or boat. Many cruise lines dock at St. George, and the Maurice Bishop International Airport serves both international and regional flights.
If you want to visit our neighboring islands of Carriacou and Petite Martinique, you can take a short inter-island charter to Carriacou’s Lauriston Airport or take a ferry with Osprey Lines Ltd., which departs from the Carenage in St. George’s.
If you’re sailing into Grenada, there are several marinas where you may clear immigration and customs, dock, and buy supplies. Anchorage services are offered in most inlets and bays. Please contact immigration for an updated list.
Grenada Postal Service
Our post offices are open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Fridays. Our General Post Office is located at Burns Point in Saint George, near the Grenada Port Authority on the Carenage. Sub-post offices might be found in nearby cities and villages.
FedEx, DHL, and UPS offer supplementary postal services for local, regional, and worldwide mail.
Permit to Work in Grenada
If you do not hold a Grenadian passport, you must obtain a work permit. The Ministry of Labour, headquartered in our capital city, St. George’s, at the Ministerial Complex in Botanical Gardens, provides more information and issues work permits. Visit the Government of Grenada’s website, www.gov.gd, for detailed instructions on how to complete the work permit applications.
For more information on launching a business in Grenada, see the Grenada Investment Development Corporation (GIDC).
