Several old sugar plantations have been turned into hotels or inns.

Area: 23 miles long, 5 miles across at its widest.

Language: English

Population: 35,000, living mostly around Basseterre.

Time Zone: Atlantic Standard Time, 1 hour ahead of Eastern Standard Time.

Rainy Season: June through October, but some locals say the weather pattern seems to be changing and recommend May through early August as the best although this is part of the normal rainy period.

Documents: A birth certificate with a raised seal and government-issued photo ID suffice for U.S. and Canadian citizens. All others need passports.

Currency: The Eastern Caribbean dollar is the standard. US$1 equals about EC$2.70. Most prices are quoted in EC$, but always check first. Banks are open 8-noon Monday through Friday and from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday. Shopping hours are 8 a.m. to noon, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Taxes & Tipping: There is a government room tax of 7% and most hotels add a service charge of 10%. Tipping is about 10%. The departure tax is US$10.

Electrical Current: A former British colony, the current typically is 230 volts, 60 cycles though some hotels have 110v.

Getting There: St. Kitts is served from the US by US Airways (www.usair.com) non-stop from Philadelphia and Charlotte and by American Airlines/American Eagle (www.aa.com) via San Juan. From Canada , St. Kitts is accessible from Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa on US Airways with connections through Philadelphia and Charlotte and on Air Canada (www.aircanada.ca ) or BWIA from Toronto through Antigua. The island is also accessible by Windward Island Airways (WinAir), LIAT, (www.liatairline.com) Caribbean Star and Caribbean Sun via connections from St. Maarten, Antigua and San Juan. British Airways (www.british-airways.com) flies to Antigua from London. All flights arrive at the Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport, situated 2 miles from the capital city of Basseterre.

Getting Around: For a rental car, you must purchase a local driver's license. There's also a 5% tax. Driving is on the left.

Where to Stay: If you're looking for a large resort with all the amenities, the 284-room, 187-suite St. Kitts Marriott Resort & Royal Beach Casino on Frigate Bay will be perfect: www.marriott.com

Most St. Kitts properties are far, far smaller. Here's a description of the most popular hotels.

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