Saint Vincent and the Grenadines: good to know
The general-information half of trip planning: how expensive Saint Vincent and the Grenadines feels, what is considered polite, what is not, and the everyday practicalities - alongside our 37 written places.
Quiet, genuine and unpolished in the best way; the Grenadines run on boat schedules and first names.
✓ Considered polite
- Exchange good morning or good afternoon before any business - it is expected everywhere
- Dress modestly in villages and towns - swimwear is for the beach only
- Ask before photographing people, boats or homes
- Leave slack in your plans - inter-island boats set the day's rhythm
✗ Better avoided
- Wear camouflage clothing - it is illegal for civilians here
- Expect Sunday commerce - churches are full and shops are shut
- Rush anyone - impatience gets you slower service, not faster
- Bargain aggressively - friendly negotiation is fine, pushiness is not
Worth knowing
- The EC dollar is the currency; US dollars are often accepted with change in EC
- Ferries from Kingstown to Bequia run several times daily; smaller Grenadines see far fewer sailings - check schedules
- Driving is on the left and minibuses are the cheap way around St Vincent
- A 10% service charge is common on restaurant and hotel bills - check before adding more
Plugs and voltage: Wikipedia, «Mains electricity by country» (after the IEC World Plugs list), read 15 October 2026.
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Keep planning
Customs are living things - regions differ, cities relax, generations shift. Take these notes as a friendly head start, watch what locals do, and when in doubt a smile and a greeting in the local language cover almost everything.