Grenada Travel Tips & Advice
Read our Grenada travel tips and advice brought together by our specialists who have expert knowledge to help you plan your trip
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Audley Travel
Language

English is the official language of Grenada, though most people also speak one of two creole languages, one based on English and the other on French.

Both creoles also draw on African and Indian influences, reflecting Grenada's rich cultural heritage.

Food

Avid foodies will find plenty of choice in Grenada, from gourmet dining to rustic local fare. The island is famous for its spices, and you'll find nutmeg used to flavor just about everything, including deliciously fragrant nutmeg ice cream.

The national dish, oil down, is a stew consisting of salted meat, breadfruit, vegetables and dumplings steamed in coconut milk, while roti, a type of wrap filled with curried meat or vegetables, is a popular snack.

The island has also become known in recent years for its production of organic cocoa, led by the pioneering Grenada Chocolate Company.

There are several rum distilleries on the island, and some of the rums produced on the island are so potent that it's illegal to transport them on a plane.

Tipping

Tipping in Grenada is discretionary and should reflect the service you have received, however a service charge of 18% is typically added to your bill in hotels and restaurants. If no service charge is added, a 10% tip is generally expected.

Money

The currency of Grenada is the Eastern Caribbean dollar (EC$ or XCD), which is pegged to the US dollar. Notes are in denominations of EC$100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of EC$2 and EC$1, and 25, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cents.

US dollars are widely accepted on the island, though you will usually be given change in EC dollars, and at a less favorable exchange rate.

Credit cards are widely accepted, and if taking travelers' checks we recommend taking them in US dollars.

Communications

Grenada has a good telecommunications infrastructure, with excellent mobile coverage in St George's and the main tourist areas where high speed internet is also widely available and Wi-Fi hotspots common.

The phone code for Grenada is 473.

Suggested clothing and other items

Grenada is in the tropics, so cool casual cotton clothing is recommended, and if you're planning on dining in some of the more formal restaurants, men should pack a shirt, tie and jacket, and women a smart dress.

It does tend to get cooler at night, so it's also worth popping a jumper or wrap into your suitcase.

Please note that it is against the law to wear camouflage clothing in Grenada (including children) and to carry items made out of camouflage material. These will be confiscated and not returned.

Public holidays

Grenada's colorful Carnival takes place in July and August, and the final two days of the festivities, which fall on the second Monday and Tuesday of August, are both public holidays.

January 1st - New Year's Day

February 7th - Independence Day

Good Friday

Easter Monday

Whit Monday (50 days after Easter)

Corpus Christi (Thursday of the week following Whit Monday)

May 1st - Labour Day

Final 2 Days of Carnival - July/August

August 3rd - Emancipation Day

October 25th - Thanksgiving Day *

December 25th - Christmas Day

December 26th - Boxing Day

* Thanksgiving Day in Grenada commemorates the US invasion of 1983 and the removal of the military government.