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Money and costs
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The
Eastern Caribbean dollar(EC$)
is the official currency on both islands. Notes are in denominations of EC$100, 50, 25, 10 and 5; the EC$1 coin equals 100 cents. Hotels tend to post their rates in US dollars, which are also widely accepted. Unless noted otherwise, prices are quoted in US dollars. Most
banks
have
ATMs
that dispense the local currency; the Royal Bank's ATM in Basseterre dispenses US dollars as well. Tellers here will also
change money
(Mon-Thurs 8am-3pm, Fri 8am-5pm); the exchange rate is fixed at EC$2.70/US$1. When paying for goods using US cash, the rate is usually lower, at US$1/EC$2.60.
While Nevis is significantly more expensive than St Kitts, with two people sharing a room you can get by on under US$50/day in either place, though you'll be relegated to their scarce and hardly spectacular budget hotels.
Note that most hotels and restaurants automatically charge 7 per cent
tax
plus 10 per cent service charge; in Nevis, the hotel tax is 8 per cent. Other useful information
for tourists (each section contains more specific sub-sections): |
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Saint Kitts And Nevis |