Departure days in Grenada tend to go wrong in small, avoidable ways: a hire car returned with no fuel, an overproof rum that should not be in a suitcase, a pocket full of Eastern Caribbean dollars nobody back home will exchange, or a taxi booked too late from the far north of the island. None of it is dramatic, but it can sour the last hours of a good trip.
Maurice Bishop International Airport is small and generally efficient. Long-haul flights to North America and Europe tend to depart from late morning to mid-afternoon, so the day is short, and the routine is the same as at any international airport. This checklist covers the parts that are specific to Grenada.
The day before you fly
Most of the stress of departure day can be removed with an hour of preparation the evening before.
- Check in online if your airline allows it and confirm the departure time; schedules change, particularly around the late October and late March switchovers.
- Book your taxi or confirm your transfer. From Grand Anse or Lance aux Epines the drive is short, but from Grenville, Sauteurs or the west coast you need to allow an hour or more, plus time for roadworks or a slow truck on a hill.
- Arrange late check-out or luggage storage with your accommodation if the flight is in the afternoon.
- Weigh your bags, especially if any leg is on a regional carrier with lower allowances.
- Pack liquids over the cabin limit, including rum, hot sauce and nutmeg syrup, in checked luggage.
- If you have a hire car, find the nearest fuel station on your route to the airport and check the return instructions.
- Pack a light bag for the airport with a change of clothes, medicines and chargers, in case the flight is delayed and you end up spending a night near the airport.
Check-in times, taxes and the airport itself
Airlines generally ask passengers on flights to the United States, Canada and the UK to arrive about three hours before departure, and around two hours for regional flights. Queues at check-in can build when two or three wide-body flights leave within a short window. If you arrive early, there is little to do landside, but the queue moves faster.
Airport and departure charges are normally included in the price of your ticket, so there is usually nothing to pay at the airport. If you are leaving on a privately arranged ticket or a charter, check whether any charge is payable locally.
After check-in, you pass through security and emigration into the departure lounge, where there are duty-free shops, a few food outlets and seating. Facilities are modest, so if you want a proper meal, eat before you arrive. Grand Anse has plenty of options for a late lunch on the way to the airport. There is no US preclearance in Grenada, so travellers to the United States clear US immigration and customs on arrival in the US.
Packing nutmeg, chocolate and rum
Spices. Whole nutmeg, mace, cinnamon, cloves and spice blends are the classic Grenadian souvenir. Dried, packaged spices are generally accepted by customs in the US, Canada, the UK and the EU, but declare them, and avoid fresh fruit, plants or seeds.
Chocolate and cocoa. Grenada has several bean-to-bar chocolate makers, and cocoa tea balls are sold in markets. Both travel well in hand luggage if you keep them out of the sun on the way to the airport.
Rum. Bottles over 100 millilitres must go in checked luggage unless bought after security. Some Grenadian overproof rums are very strong, and airlines do not accept alcohol over 70 per cent alcohol by volume in either checked or cabin bags. Check the label before packing.
Hot sauce and sauces. Pepper sauces, jams and nutmeg syrup count as liquids. Wrap them well and pack them in checked bags.
Duty-free purchases. If you buy duty-free liquids at the airport and have a connection in another country, they must stay sealed in the bag with the receipt, and some connecting airports may still require them to go in checked luggage.
Money, cars and loose ends
Eastern Caribbean dollars are easy to exchange within the region but difficult or impossible at a sensible rate in North America or Europe. Spend them down before you leave or exchange them at a bank in Grenada while you still have time. Coins in particular are almost impossible to exchange abroad. Keeping a few notes is reasonable if you plan to return or travel elsewhere in the OECS, where the same currency is used.
Hire cars are usually returned at the airport. Return the car with the fuel level you received, take photographs of its condition, and allow time for the check. If you received a Grenadian temporary driving permit, keep it as a souvenir; it is linked to your stay and does not need to be returned.
If you have mobile data, check whether your local SIM plan will expire before departure; having a working connection while waiting for the flight is helpful if the schedule changes. Settle any outstanding bills with your villa manager or guesthouse, and leave keys exactly as agreed.
If the flight is delayed or cancelled
Delays on Grenada departures most often come from the inbound aircraft running late elsewhere, since many routes are flown by a single aircraft that has to arrive before it can leave. Airlines usually inform passengers by email or text message, so make sure the airline has your current contact details and an address you check while away.
If the flight is cancelled, the airline is responsible for rebooking you, and on once-daily routes the next available seat may be the following day. Hotels close to the airport in Grand Anse, Lance aux Epines and True Blue are convenient for an unplanned night. Ask the airline whether accommodation is provided; obligations differ according to the airline and your destination, and UK or EU passenger rules may apply to flights operated by British or European airlines.
Check connections onward from your hub. A late departure from Grenada can cause a missed connection in Miami, New York or London; on a single ticket the airline will rebook you, but on separate tickets you will need to sort it out yourself, which is one more reason to avoid tight self-made connections on the way home.
Mistakes people make on the last day
Leaving the north too late. The drive from Sauteurs or the north-east to the airport can easily take an hour and a half. Leave earlier than you think, especially if the route passes through St George's at lunchtime.
Spending the morning in the sea without a shower plan. If your hotel check-out is at noon, arrange use of a shower or a day room if you want a final swim before an afternoon flight.
Forgetting customs at home. Your home country has its own allowances for alcohol, tobacco and food. Exceeding them, or failing to declare spices, can lead to fines on arrival.
Ignoring weather warnings. During hurricane season, a tropical storm watch can lead to flight cancellations or rescheduling. Monitor forecasts and your airline's notices in the last few days.
Returning the hire car without time to spare. Car-hire returns at the airport usually involve a brief inspection and paperwork. If the agent is dealing with several returns at once, it can take longer than expected, so allow at least twenty to thirty minutes before you join the check-in queue.
Frequently asked questions
How early should you arrive at Grenada airport?
For flights to the United States, Canada and the UK, plan to arrive about three hours before departure. For regional flights, around two hours is usually enough. Check your airline's guidance, and allow more time in peak weeks or when several large flights leave together.
Is there a departure tax in Grenada?
Airport and departure charges are normally included in your airline ticket, so most passengers pay nothing at the airport. If you have a non-standard ticket or charter, confirm with the airline or tour operator whether any charge is payable locally.
Can you take nutmeg home from Grenada?
Yes, dried and packaged nutmeg and other spices are generally permitted by customs in the US, Canada, the UK and the EU. Declare them on arrival, and avoid bringing fresh produce, plants or seeds, which are usually restricted.
Can overproof Grenadian rum go in luggage?
Only if it is below 70 per cent alcohol by volume, which is the airline limit for checked luggage. Some local overproof rums are close to or above that strength. Check the label, and pack permitted bottles in checked bags if they exceed the liquid limit.
Where can leftover EC dollars be exchanged?
Banks in Grenada will exchange Eastern Caribbean dollars back to US dollars or other currencies. Outside the Eastern Caribbean, exchange is difficult and rates are poor, so it is best to spend or exchange your EC cash before you leave.
