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all about Saint Vincent

Reasons to visit Saint Vincent

Escape a hectic lifestyle, fly to St. Vincent & the Grenadines – get the true ‘Vincy’ experience. From lush tropical rain forests full of eco adventures, to the idyllic black and white sandy beaches, coral reefs and turquoise lagoons of the Grenadines. Like many of the other islands, St. Vincent & The Grenadines is ideal for yachting and scuba diving enthusiasts. Book your flights now – live your dreams in SVG!

We love St Vincent for

  • Deep sea fishing
  • Diving
  • Gardens
  • Hiking
  • Sailing
  • Sandy Beaches
  • Surfing
  • Watersports
  • Windsurfing

When to go to St Vincent

The high season runs from mid December to mid April when hotel prices will rise and you will need to book up to a year in advance to get the best deals.

We recommend that you try travelling to St Vincent at other times if you are not bound by school holidays, where you will find some great hotel and airfare deals. Check out our latest deals to St Vincent with Virgin Atlantic and British Airways.

Weather in St Vincent

The rainy season runs from July to November although you can still find rain at other times. The mountains have about four times the amount of rain as the coast.

Planning your holiday

Family reunions and holidays to St Vincent

When considering a trip to St Vincent, many travellers choose the island for its spectacular scenery, luxuriant rainforest and for diving, sailing and snorkelling.

We recommend that you find the time to hire a car in advance as it takes a lot of time to negotiate the local transport and the south is not as well served as the north with buses.

Places to stay in St Vincent

Many of the hotels in St Vincent are small friendly guesthouses, affordable apartments and hotels. We recommend that anyone renting a private villa should ensure there is adequate 24 hour security on the site. We have a range of specially selected hotels in St Vincent for our customers so do let us know how we can help.

St Vincent for weddings, anniversaries and special occasions

If you are looking for help organising a trip to St Vincent for a group, whether that’s for a special family occasion such as an anniversary or wedding just get in touch. We have organised many types of trips, including music tours for some of the most well known bands in the Caribbean.

St Vincent for family holidays

St Vincent has a lot to offer kids with some very safe beaches at Sunsail Lagoon, Canash and Brighton Salt Pond.

St Vincent for couples

The island is often seen as a romantic getaway for couples that enjoy nature, who are celebrating their honeymoon or an anniversary.

Beach Holidays in St Vincent

There is plenty of choice when it comes to sandy beaches and good places for snorkelling or water sports in St Vincent.

Cultural and Adventure Holidays in St Vincent

There is a wealth of French and English history on the island and lots of plantation houses to visit.

Getting to Saint Vincent

There are no direct flights to St Vincent but same day connecting flights are available via Antigua, Barbados, Puerto Rico or Trinidad from Gatwick, Heathrow and Manchester with Virgin Atlantic and British Airways. You need to book at least a year in advance to travel during the Christmas period.

Getting around

We recommend hiring a car in St Vincent but allow plenty of time to get around the island, as the roads are narrow, twisting and slow. Car rental makes it easier to see the main sights and we offer some great rates here.

Things to do and see in Saint Vincent

Volcano Climbing

You can climb La Soufrière volcano (4,000ft) but you need to allow a full day and it is a strenuous walk. Mount St Andrew is an easier climb near Kingstown.

Botanical Gardens

Stroll around the Botanical Gardens near the Government House in the capital Kingstown and enjoy the lush vegetation.

Diving

There are several types of diving on the island including reef diving and walls and wrecks to explore. Famous dive sights include Bottle Reef, New Guinea Reef and the Forest and black coral can be seen. The reefs are quite deep so are better for diving than snorkelling.

Boat Charter

You can charter a boat from the harbour but make sure the boat has all the necessary safety equipment.

Surfing

The best beaches for the surfing enthusiasts are Lagoon Bay, Shipping Bay and Argyll.

Baleine Falls

Take a boat trip out to Baleine Falls on the north east coast.

Tropical Gardens of Montreal

Visit the tropical gardens of Montreal in the hills south of Kingstown which has a pool for swimming. Art & Craft Centre

Visit the Artisans Art and Craft Centre on Bay Street in Kingstown to see the considerable artistic talent of the local people from across the island.

Black Point Tunnel

Visit the Black Point tunnel built by Carib and African slaves and used to transport sugar onto the boats in Byera Bay.

Beaches

Most of the safe beaches are on the leeward side and have volcanic black sand. The lightest beaches are in the south in the Villa area. Canash is a good beach for children.

 

Events & Holidays

February - St Vincent Blues Festival and St Vincent Yacht Club Regatta
March - National Heroes and Heritage Month
June/July - Carnival with dancing and Calypso music.
October - Independence Celebrations
16-24 December - Carolling Competition and Nine Mornings Festival parades and dancing after midnight.

Useful St Vincent travel information

The island is approximately 26 miles long and 14 miles wide.

Language - Whilst English is the official language a patois called Creole French is widely spoken across the island and a dialect called “Vincy English”.

Currency - The East Caribbean dollar is the official currency.

Emergencies - Dial 999 or 911 for emergencies

Local Customs - It is customary to dress smart casual when dining out at restaurants and to only wear swimwear and beachwear on the beach.

Tipping - Restaurant and hotel staff expect 10-15% of the bill and a small amount if the service is already included.

Voltage - This is 220/240 volts.

Time Difference - GMT -4 hours (Atlantic Standard Time)

Country dialing code is +784

Departure tax - See our flight pages for details of the departure tax payable.

Security in St Vincent - Many visitors travel to the island each year and do not have any incidents however we recommend that you take care at night and exercise caution at all times. Do not stray from the town centre of Castries. 

Take advice from the locals as to any city areas you should avoid at all times and do not leave your belongings unattended on the beach. Use your hotel safe or security boxes to store your valuables. Avoid driving at night outside the main town centres.

When taking a boat trip check that the boat operator has sails or oars in the event of an engine breakdown, a radio and lifejackets and equipment in the event of a fire. Accidents do happen and boats can break down.

Useful Links

High Commission for St Vincent and the Grenadines in the UK
10 Kensington Court, London W8 5DL, UK
Tel: (020) 7565 2874.
www.svghighcom.co.uk
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0930-1700.

St Vincent and the Grenadines Tourist Office in the UK
Address as above
Tel: (020) 7937 6570.
www.discoversvg.com

Handpicked hotels

 

Palm Island Resort & Spa
Palm Island, Saint Vincent

Insider tips

Diving in St Vincent

St Vincent

There are several types of diving on the island including reef diving and walls and wrecks to explore.

Famous dive sights include Bottle Reef, New Guinea Reef and the Forest and black coral can be seen.

The reefs are quite deep so are better for diving than snorkelling.

Destination Guides

“I highly recommend The Travel Shop to one and all, the staff are very friendly, helpful and patient, they are very good at coming up with solutions to travel queries, I am very happy to put my travel affairs in their hands.”

June Archer, N London - Read more