Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport sits two miles northeast of Basseterre on Saint Kitts. The runway measures 8,002 feet. American Airlines operates daily service from Miami. Delta connects through Atlanta. JetBlue flies from New York JFK and Boston. British Airways serves the route from London Gatwick with one stop in Antigua. Caribbean Airlines links through Trinidad. InterCaribbean and LIAT 2020 provide regional connections from Antigua, Barbados, and other Caribbean islands. The airport operates one terminal building with immigration, customs, and baggage claim on the ground level.
Vance W. Amory International Airport on Nevis has a 4,000-foot runway accommodating smaller aircraft. No commercial jets serve this airport. Travelers reach Nevis through Saint Kitts and transfer by sea. The drive from Robert L. Bradshaw International to Basseterre port takes 10 minutes.
Ferry service between the two islands runs daily. The government-operated ferry departs from Port Zante in Basseterre and arrives at Charlestown on Nevis. The crossing takes 45 minutes across The Narrows channel. Private water taxis complete the journey in 30 minutes. The government ferry schedule typically includes morning and afternoon departures in both directions, though service reduces on Sundays and public holidays.
Cruise ships dock at Port Zante in Basseterre. The port accommodates vessels up to 1,200 feet in length. Two berths allow simultaneous docking. Port Zante sits within immediate walking distance of central Basseterre, placing passengers on Bay Road within minutes of disembarkation.
Immigration requires a valid passport for all visitors. Citizens of the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, and European Union member states do not need visas for stays up to 90 days. Citizens of CARICOM member states may enter with national identification cards. Official visa requirements appear at www.immigration.gov.kn.
The Eastern Caribbean dollar is the official currency of Saint Kitts and Nevis. The currency code is XCD. The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank issues banknotes in denominations of 10, 20, 50, and 100 dollars. Coins circulate in values of 1, 2, 5, 10, and 25 cents, and 1 dollar. Eight member territories use this currency: Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Anguilla.
The Eastern Caribbean dollar maintains a fixed exchange rate to the United States dollar. The rate has remained constant since July 1976 at 2.70 Eastern Caribbean dollars to 1 United States dollar. This peg does not fluctuate. Banks and official exchange offices honor this rate precisely. Hotels and some merchants accept United States dollars directly, though change typically returns in Eastern Caribbean dollars, often at less favorable informal rates of 2.60 or 2.65 to 1.
ATMs dispense Eastern Caribbean dollars. First Caribbean International Bank, Bank of Nevis, Royal Bank of Canada, and St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla National Bank operate ATMs in Basseterre and Charlestown. Daily withdrawal limits range from 500 to 2,000 Eastern Caribbean dollars depending on the bank and card type. ATMs also exist at Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport and in Frigate Bay. Machines accept Visa, Mastercard, Cirrus, and Plus network cards. Transaction fees typically range from 5 to 10 Eastern Caribbean dollars per withdrawal plus any fees imposed by the card issuer.
Credit cards see acceptance at hotels, established restaurants, car rental agencies, and larger shops. Visa and Mastercard work most reliably. American Express and Discover have limited acceptance. Small vendors, market stalls, local buses, and many food establishments operate on cash only. The Basseterre public market accepts only cash.
Banks open Monday through Thursday from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM or 3:00 PM, and Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM or 5:00 PM. Banks close on Saturdays and Sundays. First Caribbean International Bank maintains branches in Basseterre and Charlestown. Royal Bank of Canada operates locations on Bay Road in Basseterre. The Bank of Nevis has its headquarters in Charlestown with additional branches in Gingerland and on Saint Kitts.
Value Added Tax applies at 17 percent to most goods and services. This tax typically appears included in posted prices at shops and restaurants, though verification is advisable. Hotels add a 10 percent service charge and often an additional tourism levy. Car rental companies include VAT in their rates.