Getting here!! AIR SERVICE

Okay – it can be a bit of a challenge – but it is worth it!! Best to fly to Antigua, which is 27 miles from Montserrat. There are a number of direct flights to Antigua or you can be routed through San Juan to Antigua. Flights to Montserrat are on a 19 seater twin otter running 4 round trip flights per day, on Winair (www.fly-winair.com) There are also travel agents who can help you with this such as Pam Arthurton at pam@carib-world.com. If you have to overnight in Antigua there are several (typical airport style) hotels like the Amaryllis right near the airport, or you may rather try the Heritage (it’s gotten a bit pricey, though!) in the centre of St. Johns. Siboney or Buccaneer Beach Club (both nice!) on the beach at Dickenson Bay(check www.antiguanice.com for Antigua info). If you are just overnighting there is  Carters Guesthouse near the airport (www.cartersguesthouses.com) – very convenient, new, clean, and has a kitchen and the price of US$ 70/night for a single includes transportation to and from airport (check the Carters Car rental person at the airport in the Car rental building if you want info or to go there). If you are in Antigua fewer than 24 hours you do not have to pay a departure tax. When you leave Montserrat after your holiday you will be required to pay US$ 20 departure tax. If you are just in Antigua for the day going either way, and want to “beach it”, not shop, try Millers By the Sea, a great restaurant/bar/beach place where you can even get a shower before getting on your next flight (just take a plastic bag to put your wet swimsuit in afterwards, and a T- shirt makes an adequate “towel”!). Luggage requirements for Winair are one 50 pound bag per person, and a small carry-on. If you bring more they may charge you for extra luggage (US$ 60/bag). Our new home based airline, FLY MONTSERRAT, in operation as of June 1st, is a very exciting development! www.flymontserrat.com, telephone # 491-3434. They are available for charters and also have weekly specials and day trips to other islands.

When you arrive

When you arrive on Montserrat here there will be a taxi driver waiting to take you to your villa. You will most likely want to rent a vehicle which will be waiting at the villa – the most popular is a Toyota Rav 4 at about US$ 30- 45/day. Unlimited mileage!! A local driving license is US$ 20 and you need to show your home license to get one. Driving is on the left, and the cars/Ravs are right hand drive which makes it easy! (If you have been here before and know your way around the vehicle can be picked up right at the airport).

Your first-Evening-Meal

For your first evening meal you can request a catered meal to be delivered at about 7 pm, (a very popular item!), cook yourself in the full kitchen of your villa, or make your way to one of the restaurants (we put a map in the house for you to use to get around). We can also order a lovely quiche or chicken & mushroom pie made fresh that day by Olveston House, ready to heat up. The taxi driver can stop you at the grocery store on the way home (the store is on the way – (this is the best option), or we can arrange to have breakfast items and beverages there in the fridge for your first morning.

grocery stores

We have a number of grocery stores but we do not have Supermarkets, nor pharmacies like you have at home. If you need something special, bring it with you. You cannot buy suntan lotion here – I don’t know why!! So bring it if you want it!

The currency

The currency is EC dollars (Eastern Caribbean) used in a number of islands, but USD or US travelers cheques are widely accepted. Many businesses do not take credit cards; others take Visa and MasterCard (no Amex). The Royal Bank does have an ATM machine so you can get cash 24 hours a day. The EC dollar is standardized to the US$ at approximately 2.7. So one US dollar is about $2.70 EC$. A humorous phrase here is “EC come and EC go”. Many businesses including Tradewinds take Visa, Discover or Mastercard, but not Amex.

Phones

Cell phones that have the frequency 850 MHZ work here, so do Blackberries and most other PDAs. If you brought your cell phone, you can get a sim card at Cable & Wireless if you wish a local number. If you want to rent a cell phone for your stay, then check Beni’s at the BBC building – he will rent one for EC $7 per day and then you “top up” the time for whatever amount you want.

internet

Many, in fact, most of our villas have a high speed modem for guests’ use. However for thos that don’t, guests of Tradewinds who bring their laptops can come into our office and use the wireless while sitting on our front veranda anytime. Guests who haven’t brought a computer can come into our office during office hours and check your email on one of our computers using high speed internet (no charge)

Shopping

There are a number of interesting souvenirs to buy here, although shopping is not one of Montserrat’s strong points: National Trust Gift Shop for a variety of local items and Philatelic is in same building (Salem); Arrows for T-shirts, and Luv's Cotton Shop in Salem has wonderful Sea Island cotton woven items. The Montserrat Arts & Crafts Association Gift Shop , In Brades near Agriculture Dept with a wide variety of locally made handi-crafts. Arrow’s Manshop for CDs and Montserrat T-shirts of many descriptions! You might even meet Arrow who is internationally famous for his song “Hot, Hot, Hot”.  For last minute items there are Jus’ Looking and Las’ Chance shops at the Airport.

Restaurants

Olveston House

*NEW* enjoy Margaret’s delicious cooking in a charming Inn setting with lush gardens. Donuts & coffee last morning of each month. Many other events – call 491-FOOD, or 491-5210 olvestonhouse@gmail.com  www.olvestonhouse.com   OPEN DAILY

Tina's

Located past Angelo's in Brades - 491-3538 breakfast, lunch and dinner (Closed Sundays) (great pizza) Air conditioned inside or sit on the breezy veranda. We like to get pizza to take away as well.

Gourmet Gardens

Open daily - Salem south of Police Station. Good selection of offerings on the menu, and open most days and evenings. Also lots of books to borrow. Bring the books you have already read to trade if you like!

Soft Freeze / Harbour court

Located at the BBC complex in Brades – ice cream, hot dogs, light lunch and snacks – a handy place to stop when you are in the north!

Royal Palm Club

Plantation style restaurant, bar, club – delicious food, elegant surroundings, friendly staff.  Call 491-2671 for opening hours and specials. Great BBQ on Friday evenings. Need reservation

Ziggies

Mahogany Drive in Woodlands .- Elegance, and great food -  need a reservation: 491-8282

Chinese Food

Anfa Restaurant in St. Johns – call 491-2200

La Collage

Delicious local food – near the airport. Open daily

People's Place

Located at Hilltop, great local food and goat water, fun Friday afternoon Brit hang-out

This is by no means a full list  - For more variety – see the Montserrat Guide. (Vue Pointe is closed)

Catering

–Simon Meade – 491-8625 or 496-8625 for good home cooked meals at a great price, delivered to your door piping hot whenever you want. Approx US$ 20 per meal includes dessert! Great for that first evening, or anytime you don’t want to cook! Margaret at Olveston House also makes wonderful pot pies, quiche, etc ready to take home for an easy meal. 491-5210 or 491-3663.

Montserrat National Trust

In the Oriole Complex in Salem - on the main road in Olveston Nice gift shop. Also lots of interesting info available. Tour the museum and botanical gardens. The Philatelic Bureau is also located in the Oriole Complex.

Diving and Snorkeling

From a boat or the shore - call THE GREEN MONKEY INN & DIVE SHOP (Troy) 491-2960 or 496-2960 (www.divemontserrat.com) or SEAWOLF DIVING (Andrew)  491-7807, cell 496-7807.  Never done it? Well, Troy or Andrew can give you lessons and PADI certification upon completing & passing the dive course. See the pristine marine environment with an expert, and have a great adventure! (see brochures )

Boat Tours, Sunset Cruises

Island tour by Boat, amazing trips by sea to Plymouth, the former Capital, and trips to secluded Rendezvous Beach – call Green Monkey 491-2960 or 496-2960. (Troy and Melody) They do boat trips once or twice a week so make sure you call and let them know you are interested so they can schedule you.

fishing

Call Hubert (492-1570) (hubert@candw.ms), Bruce in Bruce B II (farara@candw.ms) , or Troy at the Green Monkey and catch mahi mahi, tuna, mackerel, sail fish, snappers, wahoo!

other activities

Do you like to go on scenic walks? - let us know and we will tell you who to call - several groups go on weekly walks. Tennis courts at the secondary school are public – go on up there at about 4:30 pm any day and join in . Do you play Bridge? Ask us at Tradewinds and we will help point you in the direction of joining some of the bridge players who play several nights per week. Or go for a hike with Forest Ranger “Scriber” and you will see him call the Montserrat Oriole, our national bird, plus he will show you other flora and fauna. Tour guides Winston, Fombo, or Jadine  are great for a road trip all over the island with a running commentary. H’Ash House Harriers, (Drinkers with a Running Problem) hold monthly events.  Are you a Rotarian? – we meet on Tuesday evenings at 6:45, Olveston House, (you can ask Susan for info 491-2004). If you are here in Aug or Sept., make sure you view the beautiful hawksbill, green turtles and leatherbacks nesting at the beach, best in a full moon! A Discovery Channel type experience you will never forget. Three of the world’s seven species of sea turtles call the waters around Montserrat home. Love bird watching? – well we have over 100 species of birds, including the Montserrat Oriole, Brown trembler, bridled-quail dove, and several beautiful hummingbirds.

horseback riding

Located in Upper Frith's and currently operating with 5 horses, which means they can take out 2 to 3 people at a time. Currently there are 2 riding options, first is the Belham Valley ride which lasts about an hour or so and costs US$50.00. Secondly there is a beach ride to Old Road Beach and that ride lasts at least 2 hours, longer if the guests want to stop for a swim. Heather or Zekie also rent horses to individuals who have proven to them that they know how to ride. They have small, medium and large helmets and insist that everyone wear one. All tours are walking tours only, but an advanced ride can be arranged for proven experienced riders. Call 496-2765 for info, open everyday! Email - euphrates_5@hotmail.com

Montserrat volcano observatory

Telephone: 491-5457 for info. See the scientists and monitoring equipment at work! A view you won’t believe! The new Visitors Interpretation centre is open from 10 am to 3;15 Monday – Thurs, and a film about the volcano is shown every hour starting 10:15. Cost is EC$ 10 entrance fee to the Centre. Also check out the cool T-shirts and caps, as well as the posters for sale at the MVO shop. Or, just drive up to the MVO anytime to stand on the viewing platform and gawk at the incredible views of the volcano, Plymouth, and the Belham Valley – panoramic!!

communications

All the villas have Cable TV with about 50 stations including the major US networks, CNN, BBC, etc. We are on Eastern Standard Time (EST) April through October and Atlantic Standard time between Oct. and April (EST PLUS one hour) (we do not go on daylight savings). On the web you can access the TV Guide for local directory at  www.caribcable.ltbx.com

Local Radio

Local Radio station is ZJB on 88.3FM , 89.9 FM Family Radio. Local radio is also on Channel 5 during the day. Local news is on the radio at 7:15 am and 6:00 pm Local news is on PTV (televised) Channel 5 at 7:30 pm on weekdays. Radio station ZJB is also on the internet, www.zjb.gov.ms.

Montserrat is safe and friendly, and don’t forget – you can drink the delicious mountain spring water right from the tap!!  

Phone directory: if you would like to look up a number (white or yellow pages) in our Montserrat phone directory, it is online at www.montserratyp.com.

Tourist Board: www.visitmontserrat.com     Montserrat Animal Protection Society www.mapsmontserrat.com

Montserrat Development Corporation: www.mdc.ms

Local newspaper: www.themontserratreporter.com

Montserrat News Online – www.montserratnews.com (daily updates)

Development Unit – www.devunit.gov.ms

Governor’s Office in Montserrat - http://ukinmontserrat.fco.gov.uk:80/en/

MVO – www.montserratvolcanoobservatory.info

Tradewinds real estate

Our office is located on the main road north of Rams (just two houses south of the Montserrat National Trust in Olveston). Come on in and visit us! Office hours are 8-4 weekdays.

Have a great vacation!! The Montserrat Tourist Board’s slogan is “A Caribbean Treasure, Spectacular by Nature”, and we know you won’t be disappointed! 

 --Susan Edgecombe--