Montserrat Travel Tips

Social Conventions
Casual clothes are acceptable. Beachwear should be confined to the beach or poolside. The lifestyle is generally peaceful, combining many English influences with West Indian. The people are usually friendly and relaxed. All visitors are made welcome.

International Travel:

Getting There by Air
The nearest international gateway is Antigua. All information on transport and current timetables can be verified with Montserrat Aviation Services (MAS) (tel: 491 2362; fax: 491 7186). WinAir (website: www.fly-winair.com) operates several daily flights from Antigua and St Maarten. Carib Aviation runs charter flights. Caribbean Helicopters also flies from Antigua.

Departure Tax
US$6 or equivalent. Transit passengers continuing their journey within 24 hours, and children are exempt.

Main Airports
Geralds International Airport (MNI) opened in 2005. WH Bramble Airport has been closed since August 1997 owing to volcanic activity.

Getting There by Water
A high-speed ferry service operates regular services between Little Bay, Montserrat and Heritage Quay, Antigua (journey time – 1 hour).

Overview
The following goods may be imported into Montserrat without incurring customs duty:
200 cigarettes or 50 cigars*; wines and spirits not exceeding 1.14l*; 168g of perfume; gifts up to a value of EC$250 (only once per 12 months).

Tobacco products and alcoholic beverages are only available to passengers 17 years of age or over.

Internal Travel:

Getting Around by Water
Charter yachts are available. The main harbor is at Little Bay where a new jetty has been constructed.

Getting Around by Road
Traffic drives on the left. There are good road networks to all towns. Montserrat has 203km (126 miles) of well-paved roads, but driving can be difficult for those not used to winding mountain roads. Speed limits are restricted to 20mph (32 kph). Bus: Minibuses are available for sightseeing. A bus service between villages and the town is provided by privately owned minibuses. Taxi: There are fixed rates for standard journeys. Drivers can act as guides and a number of different tours can be arranged. Car hire: A number of car hire companies operate on the island. Documentation: A valid foreign license can be used to purchase a temporary license at either the heliport or any police station. This costs EC$50 and the license is valid for three months.


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