Guides tell you where to go. They rarely tell you how paying works, whether the tap water is fine, or why your charger might not fit.
These four things affect your day more than any single attraction, and all of them can be sorted in the first hour.
| Currency | the East Caribbean dollar |
|---|---|
| Also widely accepted | US dollars, with change in local currency |
| Cards | fine in hotels and larger places |
| Cash | needed for buses, stalls and small spots |
Money
The local currency is the East Caribbean dollar, shared across several islands in the region. US dollars are widely accepted too, though you will usually get change in local currency, so it is worth having some regardless.
Practical notes:
- Carry small notes. Paying a bus fare or a stallholder with a large note is awkward for everyone
- Cards work in hotels, supermarkets and larger restaurants; assume cash elsewhere
- Bank machines are available in the main towns, less so once you go further out
- Tell your bank you are travelling, so the card is not blocked on day one
- Tipping — check whether service is already added, which it often is
One habit worth adopting: take out cash in the main town before heading anywhere remote, rather than assuming you will find a machine. On a small island the gaps between them are larger than the distances suggest.
Phones and internet
Get a local SIM or an eSIM. It is cheap, quick and transforms the trip — maps, calling ahead, arranging a taxi, messaging a boat captain.
- Coverage is good in populated areas and patchy in the interior
- Wifi is normal in accommodation and cafes, and speeds vary
- Download offline maps before setting off inland — this is genuinely useful here
- Messaging apps are how most local businesses prefer to be contacted, more than email
That last point is worth knowing. A small tour operator or guesthouse will often answer a message within minutes and an email within days, so use the channel they actually use.
Water
Tap water is generally treated and considered safe in the main areas, and plenty of visitors drink it without difficulty.
That said, sensible practice:
- Ask where you are staying — they will tell you straight
- Bottled or filtered is easy to find if you prefer it
- Refill rather than rebuy where you can; a bottle a day per person adds up fast on a small island
- Drink far more than at home. Most visitors are mildly dehydrated for the first two days and blame the heat
The last is the real point of this section. Tiredness, headaches and a flat feeling on day two are almost always dehydration rather than illness or jet lag, and the fix is straightforward.
Power
Check two things before you travel: the plug shape and the voltage.
- Bring an adapter, and confirm your devices handle the local voltage — most chargers are dual voltage, most hairdryers are not
- Short power cuts happen, particularly in heavy weather, and are usually brief
- A power bank covers both the cuts and a long day out
- A small torch, or your phone, is worth having for exactly the same reason
A few other useful facts
- Driving is on the left, and a local permit is usually required for visitors who want to drive
- Shops close earlier than you may expect, and Sunday is quiet
- Sunday is genuinely a day of rest here — plan food shopping around it
- Emergency numbers are worth saving on arrival, alongside your insurer's
The Sunday point catches out self-catering visitors every week. Arriving on a Saturday evening and planning to shop on Sunday morning does not work — buy enough on the way in.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need local currency if you have US dollars?
Yes, some — US dollars are widely accepted but change usually comes back in East Caribbean dollars.
How should you contact small local businesses?
By messaging app. A guesthouse or tour operator often replies within minutes there and within days by email.
Why do visitors feel flat on day two?
Almost always dehydration rather than illness — you need considerably more water here than at home.
What do self-catering visitors forget?
That Sunday is genuinely quiet. Arriving Saturday evening and planning to shop Sunday morning does not work.
