North and Central America and Caribbean

Insurance

 

We recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance, which includes medical evacuation by air ambulance, before travelling.  You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake.  For more general information see Travel Insurance.

If things do go wrong when you are overseas then this is How We Can Help.

Registration

Register with our LOCATE service to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so our consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you in an emergency.  More information about registering with LOCATE can be found here.

   

ID

 

Keep a copy of the photo page of your passport and relevant entry stamp in case your documents are stolen.

 

Package holidays

 

If you are on a package holiday, you must travel on the specified return date.  If you fail to do so you will have to pay the additional costs of accommodation and a replacement air ticket.

 

Departure tax

 

Departure tax is included within the price of the airline ticket.

 

Luggage allowances

 

Most airlines will allow passengers to check two pieces of luggage on transatlantic flights.  However, local inter-island flights will generally only allow one piece at 20kg.  You may therefore wish to confirm baggage entitlements with your airline if you are travelling between islands.

 

Passport

 

In the event of loss of your passport, you will need to apply to the Passport Office at the British High Commission, Barbados for a replacement.  The British High Commission in St Lucia can advise you how to do this, and supply you with application forms.  Urgent applications can be speeded up if you pay for courier costs, but even so, the issue of a replacement passport could still take several days.

 

In cases of genuine emergency, the British High Commission in St Lucia may be able to issue an Emergency Passport valid for a single journey back to the UK.

 

Money

 

Although the official currency is the East Caribbean Dollar (EC$), most tourist establishments will also accept US dollars and will quote prices in either, or both, currency. Make sure you know which currency you are being quoted.  ATM machines are readily available in main towns and accept UK credit/debit cards.