How to Find Cheap Hotels in Kingstown, St. Vincent

Kingstown serves as the main port for the Caribbean island of St. Vincent, part of the nation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and is famous for serving as the backdrop for the Pirates of the Caribbean films. La Soufriere, a very active volcano, is the focal point of the island, having erupted three times in the last two centuries, killing almost 2,000 people in 1902.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• A passport
• A computer with Internet access

Choose Your Accommodations

1. To book accommodations, contact St. Vincent and the Grenadines Hotel and Tourism Association at [phone] or visit their Web site (see Resources below).
2. Choose one of the local hotels further inland as a cheap alternative. Accommodations usually range from $40 to $80 per night.
3. Rent an apartment in downtown Kingstown for as cheap as $80 to $120 per day.
4. Stay at one of the local guesthouses for a bit more of the St. Vincent island flavor. Accommodations can be as cheap as $30 per day.
5. Consider a room at one of Kingstown's beachfront hotels, which can be as cheap as $100 per night.

Get to Kingstown, St. Vincent

6. Fly to St. Vincent via Joshua Airport.
7. Use one of the island's minivan shuttle services to get to your hotel.
8. Consider renting a taxi by the hour, which can be one of the cheapest ways to get around.
9. Rent a boat to hop from island to island. Boat rentals are reasonable, usually costing about $100 for a few hours.

Relax in Kingstown

10. Visit the Parliament Building, which follows the British model closely.
11. Indulge in some of the wolrd-class scuba diving and snorkeling off the coast of St. Vincent.
12. Swim at the salt ponds in Owia among the strange volcanic rock formations.
13. Take a boat to the waterfall at Baleine for a peaceful or even romantic afternoon interlude.

Tips & Warnings

• Hurricane season lasts from August to November, so make your plans accordingly.
• Renting a car requires the purchase of a St. Vincent driver's license, which can cost about $40.
• Be prepared for a departure tax at the airport.
• Roads are undeveloped through most of St. Vincent, with no speed limits or stop signs. Drive with extreme caution.
• Avoid the machineel tree, which is poisonous and can burn your eyes and skin. Don't stand underneath one when it is raining. The trees are usually clearly marked throughout the island.
• Be aware of a pervasive drug culture in Kingstown, centered around marijuana, especially if you plan to bring children to the island.