Getting Around

Air

Airlines: LIAT, TDC Airline Services, PO Box 142, Basseterre, T465-2511/2286, and Evelyn’s Travel, on Main Street, Charlestown, general sales agent for BWIA, LIAT, American Airlines and British Airways, PO Box 211, Charlestown, T469-5302/5238; BWIA, T4652286 on St Kitts, 4695238 on Nevis.

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American Eagle, T4658490 (St Kitts); Winair, Sprott Street, Basseterre, T4652186 on St Kitts, 4695583 on Nevis; Carib Aviation, T4653055 (the Circus, Basseterre and R L Bradshaw airport, St Kitts), F4653168, T4699295 (Newcastle Airport, Nevis). Nevis Express, T4699755/6, F4699751, www.nevisexpress.com Air St Kitts Nevis, PO Box 529, Basseterre, T4658571, F4699018, a charter company specializing in day excursions and other services to neighbouring islands for example Saba, St Maarten, Antigua, Guadeloupe, Barbados, USVI. Also air ambulance with medical staff.

There are direct charter flights from London and connections can be organized from North America, Europe and other Caribbean Islands.

Land

Car Hire: If you rent for three day minimum you can arrange for a car on the sister island if you do a day trip to St Kitts or Nevis. Hire companies include: TDC Rentals, West Independence Square, Basseterre, T4652991, F4651099, or Bay Road, Charlestown, T4695960, F4691329, also at Four Seasons, T4691111; Caines Rent-A-Car, Princes Street, Basseterre, T4652366, F4656172; Sunshine Car Rental, Cayon Street, Basseterre, T4652193, Hondas and Korando jeeps. Others include A & T Car, T4654030; Delisle Walwyn, T4658449; Huggins, T4658080; Courtesy Car Rentals, T4657804; G & L, T4668040/1.

If you are arriving in St Kitts from Nevis, there are several car hire companies on Independence Square, some 3 mins’ walk from the ferry pier. One of the most convenient is Avis Car Rental, South Independence Square Street, T4656507, F4666846 (Suzuki jeeps, Nissan automatics, efficient). Nisbett Rentals Ltd, 100yds from Newcastle airport, Minimoke US$40 per day, collision damage waiver US$8 per day, recommended, particularly if you are flying in/out of Nevis, T4699211, open 0700-1900. Avis, T4691240, and Discount, T4690343. If visiting at carnival time you should book car hire a long time in advance. Also on Nevis through Striker’s (Hermitage), T4692654, Carlton Meade; bicycle rental on Craddock Road, T4695235. Companies insist on you having collision damage waiver, which adds another US$5-10 to quoted rates. There is a 5% tax on car rentals.

Cars, jeeps, mini mokes can be hired from US$30-35 per day from a variety of agencies on both islands. The main road on St Kitts is, for the most part, very good and motorists, especially bus drivers, can be very fast. Watch out for corners and be alert at all times. The main road is not as good on Nevis, where storm ditches frequently cross the paved road; drive slowly and carefully. Traffic has increased and parking in Charlestown is difficult. Fuel is US$2 per gallon. Most rental companies will help you obtain the obligatory temporary driving licence, EC$100, valid for a year, from the Fire Station, Ponds Road, Police Station, Cayon Street, or Inland Revenue Dept, Bay Road, above Post Office.

Taxi: Taxis have a yellow T registration plate. Maximum taxi fares are set, for example: On St Kitts, from Airport to Basseterre EC$18, to Frigate Bay, EC$29, to Sandy Point EC$40. From Basseterre to Old Road, EC$27, to Frigate Bay, EC$20, to Middle Island, EC$27 to Sandy Point, EC$32, to Romney Manor (return) EC$68, to Brimstone Hill (return) EC$86.40. Taxis within Basseterre cost EC$10, with additional charges for waiting or for more than two pieces of luggage. Between 2300-0600 prices rise by 25%. A southeast peninsula tour is EC$106, an island tour EC$159. On Nevis a taxi from the airport to Charlestown costs EC$37, to Oualie Beach, EC$24, to the Montpelier Inn, EC$55, to Hermitage Inn, EC$45 and to Nisbet Plantation Inn, EC$21. Fares from Charlestown to Pinneys Beach Hotel, EC$13, to Four Seasons EC$18, to Cliffdwellers EC$26.50, to Oualie Beach EC$29, to Mount Nevis Hotel EC$42. A 50% extra charge is made on Nevis between 2200 and 0600. An island tour of Nevis costs US$50 for about 3 hrs, but you can bargain it down if no cruise ship is in port. The number of taxis on Nevis quadrupled to some 130 in the five years to 1999 to meet the greater demand from tourists. The Visitor magazine has a list of recommended fares. There is also a list at the airports. There is no need to tip.

Bus: Buses on both islands are cheap and speedy. Drivers are generally very obliging and, if asked, may even divert their route to accommodate you. They run from very early in the morning until 2300 on St Kitts, but on Nevis there is a reduced service after 1600 and very few after 1800. Buses are identified by their green H registration plate, flag them down with a wave.

Bus to Airport: It is possible to get a bus from Basseterre to the airport and walk the last 5 mins from the main road; some buses might go up to the terminal. If you have not much luggage, it is easy to walk from Basseterre to the airport. There is no currency exchange at the airport. There are duty free and gift shops and a café. On Nevis the airport is a bus ride from Charlestown, EC$3.50. A runway extension is being built to enable jets to land. There is a small snack shop at the airport. Minibuses do not run on a scheduled basis but follow a set route (more or less), EC$1-3 on most routes, EC$3 from Basseterre to the north of the island, frequent service from the bus terminal close to the market area on the Bay Road from where buses go west to Sandy Point. To catch a bus east, wait off Bakers Corner at the east end of Cayon Street, not obvious, ask someone. There are no minibuses to Frigate Bay and the southeast peninsula. On Nevis buses start outside Foodworld Cash & Carry supermarket and go to all points, but not on a regular basis, EC$1-3, an island tour is possible, if time consuming.

Sea

Ferry: A passenger ferry including the Caribe Queen, Carib Breeze and MV Sea Hustler operate on a regular schedule between St Kitts (departing from the Bayfront jetty close to the bus terminal down town) and Nevis.

Boat: The crossing between St Kitts and Nevis takes about 45 mins and costs EC$20 round trip. Departs Basseterre, Mon 0800, 1600; Tue 1300; Wed 0700, 1600, 1900 (good day for day trip); Fri 0830, 1600; Sat 0830, 1600. Departs Charlestown, Mon 0700, 1500; Tue 0730, 1800; Wed 0800, 1800; Fri 0730, 1500; Sat 0730, 1500. Confirm sailing times with Ministry of Communications, T4652521, Mon-Fri 0800-1600. Tickets can only be purchased from the quay just prior to departure, so turn up about 1 hr in advance to avoid disappointment. Island tours operate from St Kitts and there is also a water taxi service between the 2 islands: US$25 return, minimum 4 passengers, 20 mins, operated by Kenneth’s Dive Centre, T4652670 in advance, or ProDivers, US$20, 10 mins, T4653223, 4699086. The Four Seasons Hotel has ferry boats running exclusively for guests’ flights. Nevis Express runs a shuttle air service between St Kitts and Nevis, US$20, 6 mins, also charter service.

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