Time: | Local time is GMT -4. |
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Electricity: | Electrical current is 220/240 volts AC, 50Hz (except Petit St Vincent which has 110 volts AC, 60Hz). |
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Language: | The official language is English. |
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Health: | Vaccinations against tuberculosis and hepatitis B are recommended. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers over one year of age arriving from an infected area. |
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Tipping: | A service charge of 10% is often included in bills. |
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Safety: | The beaches do not have lifeguards and drowning is one of the leading causes of death for tourists. |
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Business: | Office hours are 8am to 4:15pm, Monday to Friday, with some business places opening for a few hours on Saturday mornings. |
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Communications: | A modern fibre optic digital telephone system is available. Internet, boat phone, cellular service, telex, telegraph and facsimile access are also accessible. The international access code is +784 followed by the local seven-digit number. International calls can be made using a credit card (Mastercard, Visa and Discover are accepted) by dialing the operator. |
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Customs: | Swimsuits are not appropriate away from beach and pool areas, except at some of the beachfront bars. A few beaches are designated for topless swimming which include Hope Beach on Bequia Island, Macoroni Beach and parts of some beaches on Mustique.td> |
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Duty Free: | Customs duty is not levied on 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 225 grams of tobacco and 1.136 litres of alcoholic beverages. |