Although St. Vincent and Grenadines have brilliant beaches, turquoise waters and beautiful landscapes it is rather unpopular among other Caribbean islands. This is mostly due to the lack of a mainland airport. Those who do choose to travel to the SVG can enjoy beautiful uncrowded beaches, hike on some amazing routes and see the oldest botanical garden in the northern hemisphere. Besides all the wonders that may be experienced, there are also some dangers that visitors should beware of.

Traveling info

There is only a handful of nationals that require to obtain a visa prior to entering the island. These must also pay a fee of 200 (XCD). All other nationalities require a valid passport in order to visit. In order to drive in SVG a valid driving permit from the visitors country of origin is required and a local driving permit which can be purchased through a car rental on the islands or the central police headquarters. Unlike in most Commonwealth nations, SVG drivers use the right-hand side of the road.

Traveling hazards

Roads are generally in poor condition. They are poorly paved and poorly signed. Potholes are common and the roads tend to be narrow and very steep at times with most of the rural roads being difficult for ordinary cars to travel on. If choosing to travel around the island in a car it is best to rent a 4×4 to avoid any difficulties.

Environmental hazards

The islands lack any sort of dangerous land wildlife with the exception of the giant centipede. This creature is quite common to the Caribbean and is quite aggressive. Although a bite for an adult usually results in a lot of pain but not death, for the elderly and small children it can be fatal. The waters of the islands are safe, although it is not advised to swim after dusk as sharks are most active at that time however attacks by these fish are virtually unheard of in SVG. Sea urchins and lionfish are the only two other dangerous marine creatures to watch out for however none of these will directly attack you.
Like all of the Caribbean, the SVG experiences a hurricane season that lasts from early June until late November. During that time hurricanes can devastate the islands.

Health hazards

All visitors entering the island from the countries with a risk of yellow fever must provide proof of yellow fever vaccination. There are other vaccinations that are recommended but not required. These are the routine vaccines aka MMR vaccines, typhoid rabies, and hepatitis A and B vaccines. There have been reports of Zika virus on the islands carried by the mosquitoes infecting people. Pregnant women are advised to reconsider travel or take extreme caution while protecting themselves from bug bites. The healthcare level is at a mediocre level, there are 6 public hospitals and many private clinics operating on the islands which are able to take care of most accidents and minor emergencies however not all specialists are available on the island with some serious emergencies likely being evacuated to San Juan or Miami. It is important to make sure that health insurance covers both services on the islands as well as medical evacuation and treatment in the US and Puerto Rico most likely being the closest evacuation destinations.
In case of an emergency dial 911.

Crime

The islands are generally safe however serious crime does rarely occur. Petty crime is very much alive although easy preventable. Staying vigilant can prevent petty crime from happening. Wearing money belts helps to avoid being pickpocketed, it is advised not to wear flashy jewelry and wander around secluded places at night. If deciding to tour at night time it is advised to stick to popular and crowded tourist spots. The SVG laws state that possession of narcotics is punishable by either fines or jail depending on kind and amount.

Summary

Although not as popular the country still boasts great tourist spots along with wonderful landscapes and beaches. It is a place worth visiting just as much as any other Caribbean island. Remember that planning your trip with Travset.com will give you the quickest information about nearest emergency services and will also help you purchase indispensable travel insurance for the trip of your lifetime. Please feel free to comment and share the experiences of your travels with Travset.com.

Sources

(Visa)
http://www.gov.vc/index.php/visitors/visa
(Vaccines)
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/saint-vincent-and-the-grenadines
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2018/infectious-diseases-related-to-travel/yellow-fever#5291