Wondering how to pay for metro and bus rides in Saint Kitts and Nevis - cash only, or do cards work too?
There’s no metro system in Saint Kitts & Nevis, and buses are actually private minibuses. You’ll see them running from Basseterre out to Frigate Bay or Saddlers, marked with a green license plate starting with “H.” They don’t take cards - it’s all cash in Eastern Caribbean dollars (XCD). Fares are usually EC$2-3 depending on distance. ATMs from Republic Bank and CIBC FirstCaribbean are in Basseterre, so withdrawing small bills is easy. Tourists sometimes hop on the St. Kitts Scenic Railway, but that’s more of a sightseeing train than daily transport.
Tried to tap my Mastercard at the bus-driver gave me the “what planet are you from” look. Nope-you pay in cash. Buses are cheap, but don’t rely on tech. My tip: carry about XCD 50-60 in small bills and coins-it’s all you’ll need for a few days of island hopping.
Used local buses and minibuses across St. Kitts and Nevis, and they’re strictly cash. Drivers expect exact fare, and there’s no system for cards or passes. I kept XCD 50 in small bills each day for rides and it was enough even for extra transfers. You don’t need big bills-just carry change, and you’ll be fine.
There’s no metro-just minibuses and taxis around the island. Every single ride was cash-based. I paid around XCD 8-10 per trip, always handed bills to the driver. No app, no contactless, no QR code-just old-school cash. I carried change in small bills and it worked every time.