| Things You Need to Know When Traveling to The Grenadines |
A valid passport is required for travel to Palm Island. We strongly recommend that all members of your party travel with a passport with a validity date of at least six months past the date of your departure from the island. A valid passport is required for all US and Canadian citizens to travel to the Caribbean. For information on obtaining or renewing a passport please go to For information on obtaining or renewing a US passport, as well as a downloadable passport application, you can visit the US Department of State. For information or forms for UK passports, visit the Identity and Passport Service of the Home Office. In our current times, passports are the most expeditious and reliable form of identification when traveling domestically or internationally.
The primary carriers into The Grenadines pass through Barbados. British Air and Virgin Atlantic operate service from Gatwick outside of London, American Airlines operates service from Miami International in Florida.
More regional services and connecting flights are from a variety of departure points and include:
- American Eagle operates a scheduled service between San Juan, Puerto Rico and Canouan.
- Air Caraibes, Caribbean Star and LIAT provide scheduled services from other Caribbean islands to St Vincent & the Grenadines.
- Mustique Airways, SVG Grenada Air and TIA are available for charter.
- Caribbean Airlines also provide service.
There is a departure tax of EC$50-US$19. Departure Tax is payable at the Union Island airport prior to departure.
All visitors must have valid passports. All visitors must also have a return or ongoing ticket. Visas are not required.
The following banks operate in St. Vincent & The Grenadines:
- Bank of Nova Scotia
- Barclays Bank PLC
- First Caribbean International Bank Ltd.
- Caribbean Banking Corporation Ltd
- Bank of St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Other Financial Institutions:
- First St. Vincent Bank
- St. Vincent Co-operative Bank
Kingstown, located on the southwest coast of St. Vincent, is the seat of government and main commercial centre.
Light informal clothing is appropriate. Visitors should not wear swimsuits or mini shorts in the streets or stores. Bring long pants and hiking shoes if you intend to hike.
Major credit cards are generally accepted by resorts and car rental companies.
Please be advised that AMEX Not Accepted for Local Payments at Palm Island Resort. Due to ongoing issues with American Express credit card processing, please advised that, until further notice, American Express credit cards cannot be used to pay local charges and incidentals at the hotel. Visa, MasterCard, and Discover are welcomed.
The Eastern Caribbean Dollar (EC$) is linked to the US Dollar. One US Dollar is worth about EC$2.70.
Small quantities of alcohol and tobacco are duty free, as are personal effects and tools of profession, trade or employment. Other items are dutiable or restricted.
Visitors need a local driver's permit, (available for a fee of EC$75 - about US$28) at the Police Station on Bay Street or the Licensing Authority on Halifax Street on St. Vincent? Or Police station on Union Island?. You must have your own driver's permit. Please remember to drive on the left side of the road.
Voltage is 110 volts, 50 Cycles. Most hotels have dual voltage shaver outlets.
| Government (Democratically Elected) |
On October 27, 1979 St. Vincent & The Grenadines gained independence from Britain. The government is democratically elected. The Crown is represented by an appointed Governor General.
English is the official language.
Non-nationals wishing to be married here must be resident for at least 3 days before a marriage ceremony can take place. A special license is required from the Ministry of Justice or from the Registrar's Office, both located on St. Vincent.
St. Vincent and The Grenadines has a population of approximately 112,000 (January 1998). African, East Indian, Portuguese, Carib and European heritages are present.
The Grenadines have a modern, fully digital telephone system. The international area code is 784.
The Grenadines are in the Atlantic Standard Time zone - the same as Eastern Daylight Savings Time, 1 hour ahead of Eastern Standard Time and 4 hours behind GMT.
The tap water is safe to drink and frequently monitored to surpass International conforming standards for consumption. Bottled water is available at an additional cost. We encourage our guests to take advantage of our good tasting water and ask them to remember that everything on an island requires the shipping and transport onto the island, and off of the island. Only the sun, sand and seas are natural to the island, and Palm Island is conscience of its environmental responsibility.
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