Grenada sits in an awkward middle ground for payments. Hotels, larger restaurants, supermarkets, dive shops and car hire firms take cards routinely, often contactless. Yet many of the most enjoyable moments of a trip, from the route bus into St George's to a roti at lunch, a coconut on the roadside or a plate at Fish Friday in Gouyave, run on cash, and specifically on Eastern Caribbean dollars.
Bring too little cash and you end up hunting for an ATM in the middle of a north-coast day; bring too much and you carry the risk and come home with notes you cannot easily change. This guide sets out where cash is unavoidable, how much a typical visitor actually needs, and how to get it without losing a few per cent on every transaction. The EC dollar is pegged at EC$2.70 to US$1, and all amounts here are indicative.
Which currency: EC dollars, US dollars or both
The official currency is the Eastern Caribbean dollar, shared by Grenada and its neighbours in the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union and issued by the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank. Because it has been pegged to the US dollar at the same rate since 1976, prices are stable and easy to convert: divide an EC price by 2.7, or, as a quick mental shortcut, by three and add a little.
US dollars are widely accepted in visitor areas, by taxis, tour operators, hotels and many shops. That acceptance comes at a cost: change is usually given in EC dollars, and many businesses use a rounded rate such as 2.6 or 2.65 rather than the full 2.70. On a single purchase the difference is small; across a week it becomes a meaningful amount. Some vendors also refuse torn, marked or very old US notes. The best approach for most visitors is to use EC dollars for everyday spending and keep US cash as a backup, for tips, or for tours and taxis already quoted in US dollars. Pounds, euros and Canadian dollars are not generally accepted in shops and need to be changed at a bank.
Where you will need cash
In practice, these are the situations where a card is unlikely to work or where cash is simply easier:
- Route buses. Fares are paid to the conductor in cash, ideally with small EC notes and coins.
- Cook shops, roti stands and roadside food, including most stalls at Fish Friday in Gouyave and at village events.
- The Market Square in St George's and roadside fruit, vegetable and spice sellers.
- Rum shops and many small bars outside the main visitor areas.
- Beach vendors at Grand Anse selling spices, jewellery, drinks and snacks.
- Entrance fees at some waterfalls, nature sites and smaller attractions, where card machines may not be available or may not work on the day.
- Water taxis, including boats along the south-west coast and from Carriacou to Sandy Island.
- Tips for guides, drivers, boat crews and housekeeping staff.
- Many taxis. Some drivers accept cards or mobile payments, but most expect cash; confirm when you agree the fare.
How much cash a typical visitor needs
Most visitors who stay in a hotel or apartment, pay for accommodation and big-ticket activities by card, and use cash for daily small spending need less than they expect. A useful rule of thumb is roughly EC$100 to EC$200 per person per day in cash for buses, local meals, snacks, drinks and small fees, rising on days with taxis, entrance charges and tips. A couple taking a self-guided island day with several paid stops might go through EC$300 to EC$400 in cash, while a quiet beach day might use almost nothing.
Rather than bringing a large sum, withdraw cash in stages. Take out enough at the airport or on your first day for two or three days, then top up at an ATM in Grand Anse or St George's. Keep a reserve of small notes, because EC$100 notes can be awkward to break for a bus fare or a coconut. Carry around US$50 to US$100 in small US notes as an emergency backup in case your card is blocked or an ATM is out of service. If you plan to visit Carriacou, take more, because there are fewer machines there.
What a cash day looks like in practice
Morning. A route bus from Grand Anse into St George's for two, paid to the conductor in small EC notes, followed by fruit and a bag of spices from the Market Square. Card machines play no part in any of this.
Midday. Lunch from a cook shop near the market or a roti stand: cash. A cold drink from a small shop: usually cash, sometimes card in larger stores.
Afternoon. Entrance to the national museum or a fort, if fees apply, is often collected in cash; carry small notes. A taxi back to the hotel with shopping is cash unless the driver confirms otherwise.
Evening. Dinner at a visitor restaurant near Grand Anse goes on the card, and the service charge is already on the bill. A nightcap at a rum shop on the way home goes back to cash.
The lesson. A visitor might use a card only once in a day like this, yet spend EC$150 to EC$250 in cash for two people. Plan withdrawals around the days you expect to spend most time outside the hotel.
ATMs, banks and cards: how to use them well
Where the ATMs are. Bank ATMs are found at the airport, around Grand Anse and Spiceland Mall, in St George's and in larger towns such as Grenville and Gouyave. Major banks operating in Grenada include Republic Bank, CIBC Caribbean (formerly CIBC FirstCaribbean), ACB Grenada Bank and the Grenada Co-operative Bank. Machines dispense EC dollars.
Fees. Your home bank may charge a foreign withdrawal fee and a currency conversion percentage, and the local bank may add a fee per withdrawal. Fewer, larger withdrawals usually cost less than many small ones.
Decline dynamic currency conversion. If a card machine or ATM offers to charge you in your home currency, decline and choose EC dollars. The conversion rate offered is almost always worse than your card's.
Card acceptance. Visa and Mastercard are the most widely accepted. American Express is taken at some hotels and larger businesses but not everywhere. Contactless payments are increasingly common in supermarkets and visitor restaurants.
Tell your bank you are travelling. Many banks still block unfamiliar card activity. A blocked card on a Sunday, when banks are closed, is the most common money problem visitors face.
Bring two cards. Keep a second card from a different bank in a separate place, so a lost or retained card does not leave you without access to money.
Mistakes that cost visitors money
Changing money at home before travelling. EC dollars are rarely stocked by banks in the UK, US or Canada, and the rates offered are poor. ATMs in Grenada are usually the better option.
Paying everything in US cash. It works, but the change rate chips away at your budget. Withdraw EC dollars for local spending.
Running out on Sunday or a public holiday. Banks close, some ATMs run low, and many shops shut. Top up on Friday or Saturday if you have a big day planned.
Leaving the ATM queue too late. At busy times, such as around Carnival or before holidays, machines in popular areas can empty. Do not wait until you are down to your last note.
Taking home a pile of EC dollars. Banks outside the Eastern Caribbean rarely buy them back, and changing them in Grenada before leaving may require a receipt and involve a fee. Spend down your EC cash in the last couple of days.
Showing large amounts. Grenada is generally relaxed, but carrying only what you need for the day and keeping the rest secured in your accommodation is sensible anywhere.
Frequently asked questions
Can you use US dollars in Grenada?
Yes, US dollars are widely accepted in visitor areas, especially by hotels, taxis and tour operators. Change usually comes back in EC dollars, often at a rate slightly below the official 2.70. For everyday spending, EC dollars from an ATM generally give better value.
Are credit cards widely accepted in Grenada?
Visa and Mastercard are accepted at most hotels, larger restaurants, supermarkets, car hire firms and dive shops. Smaller businesses, market stalls, buses and rum shops usually want cash. American Express is less widely taken, so carry another card as well.
Is there an ATM at Grenada airport?
There has generally been an ATM at Maurice Bishop International Airport, which is convenient for getting EC dollars on arrival. Machines can occasionally be out of service, so carry a small amount of US cash for the first taxi just in case.
How much cash should you take to Carriacou?
More than on the main island. Carriacou has only a small number of ATMs, mostly in Hillsborough, and many guesthouses, taxis, water taxis and small restaurants prefer cash. Take enough EC dollars for your stay plus a reserve, and check accommodation payment options in advance.
Is it worth exchanging money before going to Grenada?
Usually not. EC dollars are hard to find outside the region and rates are poor. It is simpler to withdraw EC dollars from a bank ATM on arrival, keeping a little US cash as a backup for the first taxi or an emergency.
Do taxis in Grenada take cards?
Some drivers accept cards or mobile payments, but many still prefer cash, in either EC or US dollars. Agree the fare, the currency and the payment method before the journey starts, so there is no confusion at the end.
