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Grenada

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Planning a trip to Grenada?  Here you will find a lot of good information to help you with your planning.  Whether it is your first time, or you are a seasoned traveler, check out Getting Away first! General Information On Grenada Getting To Grenada Getting Around In Grenada Suggestions For Accommodations In Grenada Suggestions For Things To See And Do In Grenada Suggestions For Dining in Grenada Favorite Places And Things To Do In Grenada Books, Magazines and Other Information Grenada Links World Wide Travel Related Links! Getting Away Travel Store - Travel Items and Accessories Discounts and Deals - Save Money, Buy on Line

Grenada Photographic Print Buy at AllPosters.com Posters and Framed Art for Grenada

General Information On Grenada

Grenada is an island of about 120 square miles that is located in the southernmost area of the Windward group of the West Indies. It became independent is 1974 and has a population of a little over 100,000. Almost a third of the world’s supply of nutmeg comes from these tiny Windward islands. The island lies near Trinidad and Tobago, east of the Caribbean and just 100 miles from the Venezuelan coast. Visitors will want to visit the spice plantations and rum distilleries that are still using traditional methods of production. Because of it's volcanic past, the beaches of Grenada are covered in both black and sugary white sand. Carriacou is hilly, but has no mountains, and Petit Martinique is the tip of a volcanic mountain. For more information on Grenada, visit the CIA World Factbook for Grenada or the Official Website for Grenada. Additional sources of information would be:
USA -- Grenada Board of Tourism, 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400-K, New York, NY 10017.  Tel: 212-687-9554 / 800-927-9554, Fax: 212-573-9731.
Canada -- Consulate General of Grenada in Toronto, Phoenix House, 439 University Ave., Suite 930, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5G 1Y8.  Tel: (416) 595-1343, Fax: (416) 595-8278.
Europe -- Grenada Board of Tourism, 1 Collingham Gardens, Earl's Court, London SW5 0HW. Tel: (0171) 370-5164/5, Fax: (0171) 244-0177.  email:grenada@panther.netmania.co.uk
Grenada -- Grenada Board of Tourism, Burns Point, P.O. Box 293, St. Georges's, Grenada, West Indies.  Tel: (473) 440-2279 / 2001 / 1346, Fax: (473) 440-6637.  email: gbt@caribsurf.com

Passports, Visas and Entry Requirements
Health and Safety
Currency
Climate
Geography
Electricity
Books to help you plan your visit to the Caribbean

Grenada is in the Atlantic Standard Time Zone, one hour ahead of Eastern Standard Time and four hours behind GMT.

Entry Requirements

Entry requirements include a valid passport and return or onward ticket is required for all visitors. However, proof of citizenship bearing a photograph is acceptable from British, Canadian, and US citizens*. A visa is not required from citizens of the US, Canada, UK, British Commonwealth, Caribbean countries (except Cuba), most European countries, South Korea, and Japan.
 

*The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 requires that by January 1, 2008, travelers to and from the Caribbean, Bermuda, Panama, Mexico and Canada have a passport or other secure, accepted document to enter or re-enter the United States. This includes United States citizens! In order to facilitate the implementation of this requirement, the Administration is proposing to complete it in phases following a proposed timeline, which will be published in the Federal Register in the near future. For additional information, go to http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html.

Health and Safety
It is recommended that you drink bottled water while in Grenada, even in restaurants and at your hotel. There is some street crime and tourists in isolated areas have been subject to armed robberies. To avoid any trouble, stay away from deserted areas and travel in groups. Purse-snatchings are common after dark, especially if a woman is alone. Don't carry large amounts of cash, and don't leave valuables unattended.

Currency
The official currency of Grenada is the Eastern Caribbean Dollar (EC$). The U.S. dollar is widely accepted, but you may still receive change in EC$. The exchange rate is permanently fixed at about EC$2.70 to each US$1 (EC$1 = US$.37).

Currency Exchange - Get your currency needs managed in advance! Many airports, railroad stations, bus depots, and other points of entry have no currency exchange. When currency exchange is available in airports, lines can be long and rates can be "sky high". These long waits and usurious fees can be a nightmare.  Order in advance from All Foreign Currency right online. It's fast, easy, and you save time and money! The can also provide you with Travelers' checks, bank drafts, and transfers. U.S. dollars are not accepted everywhere and rates can be atrocious! 

Climate
Although rainfall is frequent (the islands experiences 74 inches of rain annually), showers are usually quick afternoon occurrences. The dry season runs from January to April, and the rainy season runs from May to December. Temperatures range from 74 to 80 in January, and 77 to 83 in July and, unlike many Caribbean islands, humidity is very low on Grenada.

Geography
Three islands comprise Grenada: Grenada (the largest), Carriacou, and Petit Martinique. The entire interior of Grenada Island makes up Grand Etang National Park, known for its lush vegetation and prolific wildlife.

Electricity
U.S. visitors need both adapters and transformers, as the electrical current is 220/240 volts AC, 50 cycles. Visitors from other countries should check to see if they will need adapters and converters.

Here several good books to help you plan your visit to the Caribbean.
Click here for Fodor's Caribbean
Click here for 100 Best Resorts of the Caribbean
Click here for Frommer's Caribbean Hideaways
Click here for Fodor's Caribbean Ports of Call
Click here for Best Places to Stay in the Caribbean: Family Resorts, Beachside Inns & Other Getaways

Click here for language helps, dictionaries, electronic translators, language software and other helps for learning a foreign language. Being able to speak at least some of the language in the country you are visiting will help you have a better time and enjoy your trip more. Jim. 

Getting To Grenada
Most visitors to Grenada arrive by air through the Point Salines International Airport which is located on the southwestern tip of the island. Connections can be made on other carriers via Trinidad and Barbados. Visitors will  typically arrive in Grenada via air at Point Salines International Airport. Direct flights from the U.S. and Canada are available, but flights usually stop at Montego Bay (Jamaica) and several other Caribbean airports. You can take a taxi to your hotel. Taxi rates are fixed by the government and are higher between 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. A ride from the airport to St. George's should cost approximately $15(USD). It is always best to clarify the price before getting in the car.

For Flights, Hotels, Cars, Cruises, Vacations, Tours and Travel Deals, Click on Global Travel International. If the link does not work properly, type www.gettingaway.globaltravel.com in the address line of your browser.

Following is a list or air carriers in Grenada
International Carriers
Aereotuy
Air Europe
American Airlines
British Airways
BWIA International
Caledonian Airways
Martin Air

Regional Carriers
Airlines of Carriacou
HelenAir
LIAT
Region Air
 

At Travelocity, not only can you find the lowest fare or best schedule on over 400 airlines, but you can also find Great Car Rental Deals, Low hotel rates when you click on Hotel Deals, hundreds of Cruise Deals, some of the Top Vacation Deals on the Internet and much more. You can click on the Weather Center to see what the weather will be like at your destination, and even use their Currency Converter So you will be ready to go as soon as your arrive. At Travelocity, you can find it all.

Suggestions For Accommodations In Grenada

To find hotels listed by city in Grenada, click on Hotels and other accommodations in Grenada.

Visit Getting Away Accommodations, world-wide reservations available on line.  And, if you are looking for a nice resort, check the Getting Away Resort Accommodations page or ResortDiscounts.com where you can find discounts at some of the world's most desirable resort locations.

Suggestions For Things To See And Do In Grenada
There is much for the vacationer to do while in Grenada.  Here is just some of the interesting things to see and do in Grenada.

Beaches
Grenada possesses an irregular coastline which is marked by many small bays and inlets. This is due, in part, to its mountainous interior.  Therefore, it offers several secluded and private beaches. Most of the better-known beaches are in the southwestern part of Grenada, including the beaches at Calabash, Lance aux Epines, and Horseshoe. You will want to visit Grenada's most famous stretch of sand, the two-mile long Grand Anse. It is located just south of St. George's.  This soft white sand beach is the location of many of the island's hotels and resorts.

Water Sports
All of these beaches, and all of the water, make this a wonderful place for water sports and activities. An extensive range of water sports is available in Grenada, including parasailing, diving, and cruising. Most resorts offer the full array of beach water sports, and a number of companies specialize in charters and rentals.

Yachting
Grenada offers some of the best sailing in the Caribbean, and the island is as a result one of the yachting centers of the Caribbean. Not a sailor?  Not to worry.  You can rent something for a day on the water.  Or, take in the excitement of a regatta or the pleasures of a day or evening charter cruise.

Scuba-Diving & Snorkeling
Whether a novice or a long-time diver, Grenada offers a number of excellent snorkeling and dive locations. The west coast of the island practically one long offshore reef.  Here you can dive on the 600-foot wreck of the Bianca, a cruise liner that went down in 1961. The most convenient snorkeling is found in the area just south of Grand Anse beach. And, for the beginner, this might just be the perfect place to begin your underwater exploration.  The real center of dive activity, and the place where most of the experienced divers head, is around Grenada's sister island, Carriacou. Although largely undeveloped, Carriacou is accessible by boat and plane, offers a number of accommodations, and is encircled by marvelous reefs.

Deep-Sea Fishing
Sport fishermen will love the abundance of Grenada's surrounding waters.  Grenada is the home of the annual Spice Island Game Fishing Tournament, which attracts professionals from all over. And, for the rest of us, there are lots of charter companies that offer day trips to the same fishing grounds the pros use.

Golf
Although Grenada is not a big golf getaway, the Grenada Golf & Country Club has a nine-hole course located near Grand Anse. Facilities include club rental, instruction, a clubhouse offering snacks and a bar, and caddy service. For more information, call 473-444-4128.

Tennis
Many of the major hotels and resorts offer tennis facilities. If your hotel does not have facilities, the folks at reception can often find someplace for you to play. There are also public courts at Grand Anse.

Walking, Hiking, and Trekking
With the natural beauty and wide variety of ecosystems and terrain, Grenada is a great place for walking, hiking, and trekking opportunities in the Caribbean.

Shopping
The best buys in Grenada are batik and screen printed textiles, locally made handicraft, leather craft, and wood carvings. Attractive jewelry is sold by Spice Island Jewelry. Spices, locally-made jams, jellies, and syrups, especially nutmeg, local fresh fruits and vegetables are other good buys.

Grenada also offers fine duty-free bargains. Gittens Duty Free Shops have an excellent selection of duty free perfumes and cosmetics, both on the Carenage and at their newly expanded shop at the airport. Jewelry, crystal, and other gifts are available at Bon Voyage, on the Carenage and at the airport. Colombian Emeralds at the airport offers a fine selection of quality duty free jewelry. Duty free liquor is available at the airport.

Suggestions For Dining in Grenada
Check Restaurants and Nightlife for dining information and restaurant suggestions and recommendations in Grenada.

Favorite Places And Things To Do In Grenada
Check Exploring Grenada for some excellent suggestions for exploring the favorite places of this wonderful island.

Books, Magazines and Other Information
 

Grenada Links
Grenada -- Official Travel Guide  Just about everything you need to know to get your started.

Click here for language helps, dictionaries, electronic translators, language software and other helps for learning a foreign language. Being able to speak at least some of the language in the country you are visiting will help you have a better time and enjoy your trip more. Jim.

2007 Travel Alert - Passports Needed for Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and Caribbean. Beginning January 23, 2007, ALL persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling by air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda will be required to present a valid passport. As early as January 1, 2008, ALL persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda by land or sea (including ferries), may be required to present a valid passport or other documents as determined by the Department of Homeland Security. Click here for the State Department Summary.  And, if you need a passport in a hurry, because you forgot to apply months ago when you should have and your trip is almost upon you, click on Passports In A Hurry, or on Passport Visa Express!