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Grenada is the most southern of the Barlovento islands, at the end of the arc formed by the Little Antilles archipelago. Is a volcanic island, with mountainous orography, and its highest point is Mount Catherine. Carriacou and Petit Martinique are two smaller islands, depending of Grenada’s politics and administration. (map)
Official Holidays
January 1st New Year
February 7th Independence Day
March/April Good Friday
Holly Week Easter Monday
May 1st Labor Day Feast
June Corpus Christi
August (1st Monday/ Tuesday) Emancipation Day
August Carnival
October 25th Thanksgiving Day
December 25th Christmas Day
December 26th Christmas Box Day
Events Calendar
January: Spice Island Fishing Tournament
June: Fisherman’s Birthday. Celebrated at Gouyave.
August: Carriacou Regatta (during the first weekend of the month); the next weekend the Grenada carnival takes place.
PLANNING THE TRIP
Banks and Exchange
The official currency is the Eastern Caribbean dollar (EC$), though generally American dollars are accepted. Banks open from 8:00 to 14:00 from Monday to Thursday, and from 8:00 to 17:00 hours on Fridays. Banks close at noon between 13:00 and 14:30 hours. Most of them are around St. George, though branches are available at Grenville, Gouyave, Sauteurs and Carriacou.
Departure tax: 35 EC$. For children between 5 and 12 years old, the tax is 17 EC$. Children under 5 are exempt.
Tourist Information Abroad
Grenada Tourism Office
1 Collingham Gardens
Earls Court, London SW5 OHW
Phone no. 0171 370 5164 in the United Kingdom
Grenada Tourism Office
820 Second Avenue, Suite 900 D
New York, NY 10017
Phone no. 212 687 9554 in USA
Websites
www.interknowlege.com/
PRACTICAL TIPS
News
Among the weekly newspapers, outstand the Grenadian Voice, the Informer, and the Grenada Guardian, with information about local politics and the last scandals. Shops at hotels and the Sea Change bookstore receive most of the US important newspapers. There are four radio stations, and two local TV channels. Satellite TV is very popular, and lately, cable TV has arrived.
Post Services
The main post office of St. George is in Lagoon Road (south of Carenage). Opens from 8:00 to 15:30 from Monday to Thursday, and from 8:00 to 16:30 hours on Fridays. Some towns have small offices.
Phone and Fax
Grenada’s area code is 473. You can make international calls, send faxes and telex, at the Cable and Wireless offices, you’ll find in Carenage. Opens from 7:00 to 19:00 from Monday to Saturday, and from 16:00 to 18:00 hours on Sundays, Grenada has direct call service, and you can also call Europe, the US, with credit cards through AT&T.
Tourist Information Local Office
Grenada Board of Tourism
The Carenage, St. George
Phone no. 440 2279
Medical assistance
There is a general hospital in St. George (phone 440 2051). There are also smaller hospitals in Mirabeau (eastern coast) as in Carriacou. Our hotel can help you to find a doctor or a dentist.
Emergency Numbers
Police, firemen and ambulances: 911
Shopping
Yellow Poul Art Gallery
(Cross Street) is one of the best shops dedicated to local handicraft and souvenirs, in St. George. The batik textiles, the painted silks, jewels and baskets made with palm trees leafs, are some of the traditional articles. A good place to buy oil and the famous island’s species is Arawak Island factory (Upper Belmont Road), phone 440 4577)
Voltage: 220/240 volts AC 50 cycles
Best Beaches
Some of the best beaches of the island are near St. George: Grand Anse, Morne Rouge and Lance aux Espines. The Levera and La Sagesse beaches are the less noisy ones, but the wildest, due to marine currents, swimming here is not recommended.
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