St. Vincent and the Grenadines

Accommodation in St. Vincent and the Grenadines spans the full spectrum, from backpacker guesthouses on the mainland to some of the most exclusive private island resorts in the world. On St. Vincent, the newly opened Argyle area near the international airport has mid-range hotels from $80 to $150, while the Beachcombers Hotel in Villa Beach offers reliable rooms with ocean views for $100 to $180.

Bequia is the sweet spot for value and atmosphere: the Bequia Beach Hotel on Friendship Bay has rooms from $150 to $300 and a lively beach bar, while the Frangipani Hotel on Admiralty Bay is a family-run institution with waterfront rooms from $90 to $160 and Thursday evening barbecue nights with steel band music. Budget travelers can find guesthouses on Bequia from $40 to $70.

In the luxury category, the Grenadines are legendary: Petit St. Vincent is an all-inclusive private island resort where you communicate with staff by raising a flag outside your stone cottage, with rates from $1,200 to $2,500 per couple per night. The Cotton House on Mustique runs $600 to $1,500 and attracts a discreet A-list clientele. Canouan has the Mandarin Oriental with a championship golf course and rates from $800 to $2,000.

For sailing charters, which are the most popular way to experience the Grenadines, a crewed catamaran for two to four people costs $3,000 to $6,000 per week all-inclusive, and a bareboat charter runs $2,500 to $4,500 per week. Liveaboard life means you carry your hotel with you and wake up in a different paradise each morning.

The food across St. Vincent and the Grenadines is fresh, unpretentious, and deeply tied to the sea. On St. Vincent, the Kingstown Market is the place to experience local food culture: vendors sell roasted breadfruit, fried jackfish, and callaloo soup from steaming pots. Flowt Beach Bar and Restaurant at Villa Beach serves grilled lobster and lionfish tacos in a barefoot setting right on the sand for $12 to $25 a plate.

In Bequia, Mac's Pizzeria and Bakery on Admiralty Bay has been a sailor's institution for decades, serving wood-fired pizza and fresh pastries alongside harbor views. The Fig Tree on Belmont Walkway does excellent creole-style grilled fish with provisions for about $15. For a splurge, Jack's Beach Bar at Princess Margaret Beach serves fresh seafood platters and cold Hairoun beers right at the water's edge. On Mustique, Basil's Bar is the only real dining option for day visitors, and the grilled lobster lunch is worth the trip.

In the Tobago Cays, local boat vendors paddle up to yachts selling grilled lobster, lambi (conch), and fresh baguettes - a lobster lunch cooked on a tiny grill in a fishing boat might be the most memorable meal of your trip, usually costing $15 to $20. Hairoun is the local beer, light and crisp, and Sunset is the local rum brand.

Throughout the islands, look for rotis filled with curried goat or chicken - the East Indian influence on Vincentian cuisine is strong and delicious. Fresh tropical juices are everywhere: soursop, guava, golden apple, and sea moss punch, a thick, sweetened seaweed drink that locals consider an aphrodisiac.

The dry season from December through April brings the best sailing conditions, lowest rainfall, and most comfortable temperatures in the mid-70s to mid-80s Fahrenheit. January through March is peak season with the highest prices and busiest anchorages in the Grenadines - book charter boats and popular hotels well in advance.

The trade winds blow steadiest from December through June, making this the prime sailing and kitesurfing window. The Vincy Mas Carnival in late June and early July is the island's biggest cultural event, with calypso competitions, steel band music, and costumed street parades.

Hurricane season runs June through November, with September and October carrying the most risk. La Soufrière volcano last erupted in April 2021 - check current advisories before planning hikes to the summit. For budget travelers, May and November offer shoulder-season pricing with generally good weather.

Minibuses run along the main road on St. Vincent. Inter-island ferries connect Bequia, Canouan, Mayreau, and Union Island.

Water taxis serve the smaller cays. Rental cars available on St. Vincent and Bequia. Flights connect Argyle International Airport to Canouan and Union Island.