Grenada is a three-island state in the south-east Caribbean: the main island, with the harbour capital of St George's, and the smaller sister islands of Carriacou and Petite Martinique to the north. International flights land at Maurice Bishop International Airport, on a peninsula at the south-western tip, other visitors arrive by yacht, and August brings Spicemas, the island's carnival. Grenada is not covered by Roam Like at Home, so a European SIM roams there at whatever its own operator charges.
Key facts for Grenada
- EU roaming: not covered by Roam Like at Home
- Local networks: Flow (depending on the plan)
- Emergency numbers: police and fire 911; for an ambulance, ring the hospital: 434 (St George's), 724 (Grenville) or 774 (Carriacou)
- Embassies: the US has an embassy in St George's; the UK and Canada provide consular help from Barbados
Check the stamp in your passport
Your passport needs at least six months of validity left on the day you arrive. British visitors need no visa and are allowed a stay of up to three months; other nationalities should check their own rules. The detail that trips people up is the entry stamp: make sure the border officer actually stamps your passport, because without it you are treated as an illegal visitor. Overstaying or working without a permit is an offence, and a yellow fever certificate is required if you come from a country listed as a transmission risk.
Three hospitals, three ambulance numbers
The police and the fire service answer on 911, but there is no single ambulance line: you call the hospital nearest to you and ask for one. That means 434 for the General Hospital in St George's, 724 for Princess Alice Hospital in Grenville, on the east coast, and 774 for Princess Royal Hospital on Carriacou. Save all three before you arrive. The main government hospital can deal with many kinds of treatment, but serious cases may need evacuation, and medical bills can be high, so travel with insurance that covers both treatment and evacuation.
Villas, yachts and Spicemas
Most crime is non-violent and opportunistic, such as thefts of unattended belongings and break-ins at villas or cars, but armed robbery and sexual assault occasionally happen. Lock your villa or yacht, keep passports and valuables in a safe, avoid isolated places, including beaches, after dark, and take care walking alone away from the main roads.
Spicemas reaches its climax on the second Monday and Tuesday of August, opening with J'ouvert, a street parade that starts at daybreak. Crowds at street and beach parties call for extra care, especially after dark and throughout the festival season.
Driving, taxis and minibuses
To drive you need a temporary Grenadian licence, which your car hire company will help you get when you show your licence from home (a UK one for British drivers). Many hire firms also ask for a year of driving experience, a higher minimum age or an international driving permit. Expect potholes and speed bumps, narrow rural roads with blind corners, unlit stretches at night, drivers who skip their indicators and pedestrians walking in the road. Keep the doors locked, do not stop for people on foot who flag you down, and after an accident call the police without moving the car.
Taxis are unmetered, but standard fares exist for most destinations: agree the amount in local currency before you set off, and note that US dollars are often taken as well as Eastern Caribbean dollars. In a private taxi you can ask the driver to keep to the legal speed, whereas minibus drivers often go faster than allowed.
Carriacou, storms and the undersea volcano
Hurricane Beryl made landfall on Carriacou and Petite Martinique in July 2024, and with rebuilding still going on, tourist services there remain reduced, so confirm your arrangements with your accommodation or travel agent before heading over. Ferries link the main island with both. The hurricane season normally runs from June to November, and earthquake tremors are occasionally felt.
Kick 'em Jenny, an underwater volcano 5 miles off Grenada's coast, is the other natural hazard to keep in mind. Check its alert level before heading out by boat, respect any maritime exclusion zones, and follow the local authorities' instructions if activity increases or it erupts. Closer to shore, currents can be deceptively strong and not every beach has lifeguards or warning flags, so ask locally before you swim.
Laws to know
Wearing camouflage clothing is illegal for everyone, children included. Drug offences of any kind are punished severely, so pack your own luggage and never carry anything through customs for someone else. Certain same-sex sexual acts are illegal, and public displays of affection by any couple are uncommon and can attract negative attention.
Getting connected
A travel eSIM installed before departure is online by the time you leave Maurice Bishop International. If Grenada is one stop on a longer route, a Caribbean plan also covers Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados, and a World plan suits trips further afield. Your own SIM can stay switched on for texts from your bank, provided its data roaming is disabled.
Consular protection: who to call in Grenada
- Call 911 for the police or the fire service. For an ambulance, phone the hospital: 434 in St George's, 724 in Grenville or 774 on Carriacou.
- The British High Commission in St George's does not provide consular services, so British nationals should contact the British High Commission in Barbados. The US Embassy is in St George's, and Canadians are covered by the High Commission of Canada in Bridgetown, Barbados. France covers Grenada from its embassy in Castries, Saint Lucia.
- Most of these missions sit on other islands, so note your own country's embassy or consulate from the Telcomia app, with its address and phone number, before you go.
- EU citizens whose own country has no embassy or consulate for Grenada can ask any other EU country's mission for help, such as France's embassy in Castries, which must treat them as it treats its own nationals (Article 23 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU).
- English is the official language.
Questions travellers ask about Grenada
Will my EU plan work in Grenada?
Only as roaming billed by your operator, because Grenada is not covered by Roam Like at Home.
Is there one number for an ambulance?
No. Ring the nearest hospital: 434 in St George's, 724 in Grenville or 774 on Carriacou. The police and fire service are on 911.
Which network does a Telcomia eSIM use in Grenada?
Flow, with 4G where there is coverage.
Can I still visit Carriacou?
Yes, ferries run from the main island, but Hurricane Beryl hit Carriacou and Petite Martinique in July 2024 and tourist services are still reduced, so check before you book.
The short version
Make sure your passport is stamped on arrival, install the eSIM before you fly, lock your villa or yacht, agree taxi fares first, leave camouflage clothing at home, check Kick 'em Jenny's alert level before sailing, and save 911 plus the hospital lines 434, 724 and 774.
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