Transportation in Montserrat
Getting to Montserrat is reasonably straight-forward. You can travel by air to Montserrat from basically anywhere in the world, whether it be North America, Europe or the Asia-Pacific region, although there are no direct flights. The main gateways or stopovers to Nevis include St Maarten, and Antigua. From these islands, there are daily charters which will take you on to Montserrat.
Travelling around Montserrat is generally as easy and laid-back as the island itself!
This Montserrat Transportation Guide gives some details of both how to get to the island, as well as information about the various different options of getting around once you are there. It also lists the various car, motorbike or bicycle rental agencies, as well as taxi and tour companies. Use this guide in conjunction with our Montserrat Tours page and Montserrat Country Guide to help you plan the perfect holiday.
Montserrat Transportation Guide
Getting There & Away
Windward Islands Airways International (WinAir) N.V is the sole airline that flies to and from Montserrat Island. It operates daily flights to Montserrat, from Antigua and St.Maarten, with two pilots flying a nineteen-seater DHC-6 prop-jet aircraft. WinAir has been a scheduled Caribbean Airline for the last 44 years and has a sound track record. It operates four flights from Antigua and two flights from St. Maarten every day. The distance is covered in about an hour.
All flights operate from Montserrat's Gerald's Airport. In response to an increase in passenger traffic, the airport proposes to open up for services from adjoining islands as well.
Airline Partners
Most major American and European airlines are partners of WinAir. They include Air Canada, Air France, BWIA Caribbean Star, Caribbean Sun, KLM, Lufthansa, Continental Airlines and US Airways. WinAir and US Airways have a code agreement for flights from North America through Antigua and St. Maarten. You can make reservations on www.usairways.com
International Connections
You can fly Air Canada, BWIA, Continental Airlines, US Airways and American Airlines (via San Juan) on their direct flights to Antigua and St. Maarten. This would ensure a convenient connecting flight operated by WinAir.
BWIA, Air France, Condor, Virgin Atlantic and British Airways fly daily from Europe to Antigua and St. Maarten. You could book yourself on any of these and catch the connecting WinAir flight. Additionally, American Eagle, Caribbean Star, Caribbean Sun, LIAT, and BWIA fly daily, between the various Caribbean Islands.
Departure Tax
When you leave Montserrat, you have to pay a Departure tax, levied as follows:
CARICOM National: EC$ 25 US $9 (US $9).
Non CARICOM National: EC$ 45 (US $16).
Getting Around
Public Transportation
The public transport in Montserrat consists of taxis and minibuses with green license plates beginning with "H." The buses do not adhere to any fixed schedule, there are no designated stops and they ply only on the main road. All you have to do to get into a bus (or a taxi), is wave your hand, wait for them to stop and hop in! The minibuses and taxis ply mainly during the day and are very infrequent in the evenings.
In Montserrat horning is actually an expression of warmth and greeting and not one of aggression!
Vehicle Rentals
If you prefer to go around the island at your own pace and leisure, you can rent a car. There are many agencies from whom you can rent cars, jeeps or SUVs at a very reasonable price.
Taxi Fares
Before you start moving around in Montserrat, remember to take a copy of the list of taxi operators and the fares applicable to each destination, from the Montserrat Tourist Board. It is essential that you negotiate the fare with the taxi driver, as well as the currency (EC$ or US$) in which the payment will be made.
Driving
If you are the type to enjoy driving yourself around, you could rent a car without the driver. But there are a few things that you should keep in mind. Montserrat is a very small island and has just one main road. This road runs from the north of the island along the east and the west coast and all places of interest are accessed from this road. You simply cannot get lost.
Still it would be prudent to carry a map with you. There are many hairpin bends, twisting around the steep hills, all of which make the road a little confusing. The sign posts are far and few. Addresses in Montserrat are difficult to locate, since they do not have street names or house numbers. But since the island is so small, all you have to do is ask someone and they will direct you to it. Also, do remember to adhere to the signs and gates that mark the Exclusion Zone.
Driver's Licence
If you plan to drive in Montserrat, you need to apply for a local driver's licence at a cost of EC$ 50 (US$19). You can do this at:
- The port of entry
- The Police Headquarters at Brades
- The Police Headquarters at Salem
Bicycle Rentals
Montserrat is a quaint, romantic little island. And what better way to explore it than on a cycle! Hop on to a bicycle and saunter along at a lazy pace, drinking in the scenic beauty of the land and savouring the peace of the endless ocean.
Transportation Companies
Be-Beeps Car Rental
car
Olveston
(664) 491 3787/(664) 492 1083
Danny Lyons Rental
car
Woodlands Beach Road
(664) 491 6216 or (664) 492 1455
Equipment & Supplies Ltd.
car
Olveston
(664) 491 2402
farara@hotmail.com
Ethelyne's Car Rental
car
Olveston
(664) 491 2855
Jefferson's Car Rental
car
Palm Loop
(664) 491 2126
jeffersonrental@candw.ms
Grant Enterprises & Trading
car
Brades
(664) 491 9654
granten@candw.ms
Joel Osborne & Associates Ltd.
car
Montserrat
(664) 491 6300 or (664) 492 1555
joelo@candw.ms
KC's Car Rental
car
Olveston
(664) 491 5756
kccarrental@hotmail.com
Lea Car Rentals
car
Salem
(664) 491 8533
Montserrat Enterprises Ltd.
car
Old Towne
(664) 491 2431/2
melenter@candw.ms
Neville Bradshaw Agencies
car
Olveston
(664) 491 5270/2070
nbvillas@candw.ms
M.S. Osborne Ltd.
car
Brades
(664) 491 2494/5/3288
msosborne@candw.ms
Pickett Van Rentals
car
Salem
(664) 491 5513
johnsonwp@candw.ms
Zeekie's Rentals
car
Judy Piece
(664) 491 4515/(664) 493 5281
J&H Rentals
car
Barzey's
Montserrat
(664) 491-4276/8842/(664) 492-1203
(664) 491 2833
Winair/Montserrat Aviation Service
airway
Montserrat
(664) 491 2362/2533
(664) 491 7186
monair@candw.ms
Caribbean Helicopters
airway
P.O. Box 170
Jolly Harbour, Antigua, West Indies
(268) 460-5900
(268) 460-5901
helicopters@candw.ag
Taxi Operators
Davy Hill
Tel: (664) 491 5145
Arthur Meade
Happy Hill
Tel: (664) 491 5693 Cell: (664) 492 1614
Avalon's Tour & Taxi
Tel: (664) 491 3432 Cell: (664) 492 1565
E-mail: citrusseeker@gmail.com
B&D Taxi Service
St. Johns
Tel: (664) 491 8797 Cell: (664) 496 5927
Charles Daley
Davy Hill
Tel: (664) 491 7172
Christopher Irish
Banks
Tel: (664) 491 2949
Clifford Ryan
Baker Hill
Tour Operator: Tel: (664) 492 1849
Daniel Morton
Woodlands
Tel: (664) 491 7819
Elvis Daley
Woodlands
Tel: (664) 491 4051 Cell: (664) 496 0166
Eustace Dyer
Palm Loop
Tour Operator - Tel: (664) 491 2721 Cell: (664) 492 1101
George Christian
Salem
Tel: (664) 491 5593 Cell: (664) 492 1992
George White
Olveston
Tel: (664) 491 3678 Cell: (664) 492 1342
Grant Tours
Brades
Tel: (664) 491 9654 Fax: (664) 491 4854
E-mail: granten@candw.ms, or casselj@candw.ms
Jadine Glitzenhirn
Davy Hill
Tel: (664) 491 2752 Cell: (664) 492 2752
Taxi
Montserrat
Gingerbread Hill
Bicycle Rental
P.O. Box 246, St. Peter's
(664) 491 5812
lead@candw.ms
Imagine Peace Bicycle Shop
Bicycle Rental
Brades
(664) 491-8809
ghbikes@hotmail.com
Scooter Rentals
Bicycle Rental
Tropical mansion Suites P.O. Box 404 Sweeneys
(664) 491 8767
(664) 491 8275
hotel@candw.ag
