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Both islands that form the St. Kitts & Nevis (map) State are located at the northern part of the Sotavento islands, near St. Martin, Antigua and Montserrat.
Its volcanic origin is very much present in the mountainous landscape.
Official Holidays
January 1st New Year
January 2nd Carnival Last Festival
March/April
Good Friday Easter Monday
May 4th
Labor Day Holy Pentecost Thursday
June (2nd Saturday) Queens Birthday
August 3rd Emancipation Day
August 4th Last Holiday of Culturama
September 19th Independence Day
December 25th Christmas Day
December 26th Christmas Box Day
Events Calendar
Holy Easter Monday: Horse races.
Middle /Ends of June St Kitts Music Festival
July- 1st Monday of August Culturama, carnival and Art Festival in Nevis
September: Independence Day celebrations.
Middle December/Beginning January: Carnival
PLANNING THE TRIP
Banks and exchange
The Eastern Caribbean dollar (EC$) is the official currency, though everywhere American dollars are accepted. Generally, banks open at 8:00 to 15:00 hours from Monday to Thursday; and from 8:30 to 17:00 hours on Fridays. Some banks open Saturdays from 8:30 to 11:00 hours. Many of them have ATMs, like the Royal Bank of Canada.
Departure tax: You have to pay 27 East Caribbean dollars (10 US dollars).
Tourist Information Abroad
Contact to:
St. Kitts & Nevis Tourist Office
10 Kensington Court, London
W8 5DL, Phone no. 0171 376 0881
Websites
www.St.Kitts-Nevis.com
PRACTICAL TIPS
News
The St. Kitts & Nevis Visitor is a free tourist newspaper you’ll find at hotels and shops.
You can also listen to local radio stations like ZIZ Radio, Choice FM or Von Radio. ZIZ is also one of two local TV channels.
Post Service
There’s a post office in Bay road, Basseterre, and another in Main Street, Charlestown. They open from 8:00 to 15:30 from Monday to Wednesday, and Friday; and from 8:00 to 12:00 hours, on Thursdays and Saturdays.
Phone, Fax And Internet
The area code is 869. The phone company in these islands is Skantel. The phone network is completely digitalized and offers many modern services. To make international calls just dial 0. At the Skantel offices you can also use credit cards, send or receive faxes and messages by internet. Offices are at:
St Kitts: Cayon Basseterre
Phone 465 2219 (open from 7:30 to 18:00 hours from Monday to Friday; from 7:30 to 13:00 hours on Saturdays; and from 18:00 to 20:00 on Sundays and holidays).
Nevis; Main Street, Charlestown
Phone no. 469 5294
Tourist Information Local Offices
St Kitts: Pelican Mall, Basseterre
Phone no.465 2620
Nevis: Main Street, Charlestown
Phone no.469 1042
Medical Assistance
St Kitts has two hospitals: the Joseph N. France General Hospital in Basseterre (phone no. 465 2551), and a small hospital in Sandy Point. The Alexandra Hospital in Government Road, Charlestown, is the only one in Nevis (phone no. 469 5473). There’s a pharmacy at Basseterre: City Drug Store (phone no.465 2156).
SHOPPING
The Basseterre market is a place full of typical Caribbean animation and color, . If you are looking for colorful clothing, textiles or the famous batik fabrics, go to:
Caribelle Batik: shop and workshop at Romney Manor, St Kitts
Kate Design: paintings, ceramics and printed silk. You’ll find shops at Rawlins Plantation, Basseterre and Charlestown.
Port Xante and Pelican Mall at Basseterre, commercial centers with endless shops.
Voltage: 230 volts 60 cycles
Religious Services
At Nevis is Fig Tree Church, where Admiral Nelson and Fanny got married. The oldest Anglican church of the island is St. Thomas. Contact The Christian Council, phone 465 2504 (St Kitts) and 469 5286 (Nevis).
Nightlife
There‘s a casino at the Royal St. Kitts Hotel, Frigate Bay. The lively local bars and resorts are the places where social life is.
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