SHOPPING HOURS: Mon-Friday 8:00am-12:00pm and from 1:00pm-4:00pm (except on Thursdays when many shops close at noon). Saturdays open 8:00am-12 noon. Supermarkets generally stay open later. Post offices keep the same hours as the banks.

CURRENCY: St. Kitts & Nevis' official currency is the Eastern Caribbean Dollar (EC$). US Dollars are widely accepted as are credit cards. You can expect an exchange rate of US$ 1.00 = EC$ 2.70

DRESS CODE: Casual dress is normal although some hotels and restaurants require 'elegantly casual' in the evenings. Please ensure to cover up if you are venturing into the shops from the beach.

ELECTRICITY: Depending on where you are staying, you may find either 110 Volt or 220 Volts. Best to check before you travel so you know whether to bring travel adaptors and transformers.

LANGUAGE: The local language is English with a delightful local dialect.

LOCATION & CLIMATE: Nevis lies in the Leeward Islands, 17 degrees North and 61 degrees and 30 minutes West. It is 36 square miles in area. Cooling Trade Winds blow consistently along with a sunny climate all year round and an average temperature of 28°C - 84°F and the water temperature only a few degrees lower. Rainfall is modest when compared with the rest of the region with slightly wetter conditions in the hills.

TELEPHONES: Telephone and other telecommunication services are supplied by Cable and Wireless and are very reliable. Several companies offer mobile phone service - you can check on the networks and services that operate in this area . Direct dialing is available for both local and overseas calls. Phone cards are popular and widely available.

WATER: Generally safe to drink, but you can opt for bottled water if you prefer.

NEVIS CALANDAR OF EVENTS 2008:

5- Labour Day - Public Holiday - Annual 10k Road Run

25-August 5

Culturama -

Nevis’ premier festival is a unique celebration of the most significant milestone in our history - the Emancipation of slaves in the 1830s. It is a 12-day focus on all aspects of Nevisian Arts and Culture featuring:

• Drama Presentation
• Senior/Junior KAISO Contests
• Miss Culture Queen Pageant/Talented Youth Pageant/Mr. Kool Contest
• Cultural Street Fair, Emancipation Day Jump-up
• Grand Cultural Parade and Display on Culturama Tuesday.
• Lead-up activities span the entire month of July including dramatic presentations, Street Dancing, KAISO Tents, Miss Culture Presentation Dance etc.

The Cultural Village Featuring food and drink, music and dynamic performances attracts huge crowds nightly until the morning hours for a full 3-week period.
For exact dates call Culturama secretariat at 869-469-1992

26 - Boxing Day -Public Holiday

• Horseracing organized by Nevis Turf and Jockey Club at Indian Castle Race Track
• Jouvert Celebrations in St. Kitts