Business opening hours

As a general guide you can expect the following:

• Banks: 8am – 2pm, Monday to Thursday, and 8am – 5pm on Friday.
• Shops: 8.00/8.30am – 5pm, Monday to Friday, and 8.30am – 1pm on Saturday. Some will also be open on Sunday in high season.
• Supermarkets: 8am – 6pm Monday – Saturday and Sunday mornings in high season.
• Pharmacy: 8am – 7pm Mon – Thurs; Friday 8am – sundown; Sat 6pm – 8pm approx; Sun 9am – 12pm.

Clothing

Casual, light comfortable clothing is appropriate during the day as well as in the evening and the emphasis is on very casual clothing at all times.

Beachwear should not be worn in the streets or stores. You should also be aware that it is an offence for anyone, including children, to dress in camouflage clothing. Nude bathing is illegal.

Credit cards and currency

Major credit cards are accepted by most hotels, car rental companies, and shops. The Eastern Caribbean Dollar (EC$) is the local currency in Bequia and is tied in value to the US dollar. It is advisable to exchange currency at the bank, as the most favourable exchange rates may not be obtained elsewhere. Many establishments will accept payments in US Dollars with change being given in local currency. However please note that smaller establishments, or beach/street vendors, may only accept EC Dollars.

We suggest you take US$ exchange them for local currency if required.

There are two 24-hour ATM machines in Port Elizabeth at the bank.

Driving

You can hire a vehicle from Gideon Rentals directly or please ask the reception team at your accommodation. Gideon Rentals will arrange all the necessary permits and licences as well as third party insurance but there is no CDW insurance in Bequia. Your vehicle will be delivered to and collected from your accommodation.

While most of the main roads are in good condition, the quality can vary in more isolated locations, with steep hills and potholes quite commonplace. Please note that driving is on the left.

And remember to take your driving licence with you!

Electricity

Bequia runs on 220 volts UK 3-pin plug.

How to Get to Bequia

We can offer flights to Bequia via Barbados or St Vincent, as part of a package holiday with the following airlines:

British Airways from London Heathrow to Barbados (Scheduled flight)
Daily direct flights (year round)

Virgin Atlantic from London Heathrow to Barbados (Scheduled flight)
Daily direct flights (year round)

Same day connections to Bequia can be arranged with either Grenadine Air Alliance or Bequia Air, but we will advise the most suitable option for your preferred dates*
*Sometimes it may be necessary to overnight in Barbados, so we can easily combine a Barbados and Bequia twin-centre holiday!

Virgin Atlantic from London Heathrow to St.Vincent (Scheduled flight)
Wednesday, Sunday
Via Barbados (year round)
Plus Monday between November and March
We would book you one night (or more if preferred) in St.Vincent and then you would take the ferry over to Bequia the following day.

Medical facilities

There is no hospital on Bequia, but there is a small basic clinic with a trained doctor in attendance. Your hotel/accommodation will offer any necessary assistance in the case of illness or injury, but be aware that Bequia is a small and quite un-developed island without any sophisticated health care facilities. The nearest hospital is in St Vincent, which is a boat ride away. We advise you to take sufficient supplies of any medication that you normally take and as always, make sure you have adequate medical insurance before you travel.

Mosquitoes and other pests

While Bequia has very few creepy crawlies and the like, tropical places do produce tropical insects, and mosquitoes can be a nuisance. We suggest you take precautions by using repellent creams and sprays both day and night and also use nets at night if provided.

Safety and security

Virtually all the thousands of visitors to Bequia each year have happy and trouble-free holidays. This is a friendly island and visitors are very much welcomed. However, even in these idyllic surroundings you should not become complacent about safety and security. Isolated incidents, although very rare, can occur here as they can in any part of the world and visitors should exercise common sense wherever they travel. If you are staying in a villa, the owners or housekeeper may give you specific security instructions for that property when you arrive. We would advise visitors to use taxis at night whenever possible if you do not have a rental car. Restaurants will always offer help with calling taxis to and from their premises.

We also advise all our clients travelling anywhere in the world to consult the Foreign Office website for detailed up-to-date travel advice. Visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice for information and feel free to talk to our staff for clarification of any information the web page contains

Telephones

Most UK mobile phones will work in Bequia however it is advisable to check with your service provider before travelling to confirm roaming facilities and texting options. The larger hotels have in-room phones for local calls but smaller apartments and guest houses may not. The best option however is to switch off data roaming on your mobile phone prior to landing in Bequia and connect to wi-fi services wherever possible. Calls and messages to the UK can then be made using apps such as WhatsApp or Messenger.

Tax and tipping

There is 15% VAT on meals at hotels and restaurants. Most also add a 10% service charge, but some do not, so check your bill before you settle. Additional gratuities are at your own discretion.

Valuables

Lock up as you would at home. Most hotels have safety deposit boxes and we advise you to use them. It is sensible to only carry a minimum amount of cash with you when you are out and we would suggest that you do not take valuables to the beach or leave possessions on view in your hire car. The police emergency number is 911 in Bequia.