Air
Bus
Public buses, hotline T9455100, run on 8 colour-coded routes from the terminal next to the Public Library on Edward St, George Town. All routes run Sun-Thu 0600-2300, Fri-Sat 0600-0100. Route 1 (yellow) and 2 (lime green) to West Bay every 15 mins 0600-1800, then every 30 mins, CI$1.50. Route 3 (blue) to Bodden Town runs hourly, same price. Route 4 (purple) to East End and Route 5 (red) to East End and North Side, every hr, CI$2. Route 6 (dark green) North Side to West Bay. Route 7 (green, white numbers) around George Town. Route 8 (orange) to North Side.
Car
The minimum hiring age is 21 at some places, 25 at others; ask around. Avis, National and Hertz are represented and there are a number of good local companies as well, many of which are at the airport. Rental firms issue visitors with driving permits on production of a valid driving licence from the visitor’s country of residence. Most car hire firms have boxes in the airport departure lounge where you can drop off your car keys prior to departure, having left the car in the company’s car park.
Ace Hertz, T9492280, F9490572. Compact car US$25-52.
Andy’s Rent A Car Ltd, West Bay Road, opposite Marriott, T9498111, F9498385. Cheapest automatic car US$35 in winter, US$25 in summer, weekly rates US$210 or US$150.
Cico Avis, T9492468, F9497127. Smallest standard car US$46/37 winter/summer, jeeps and automatics available.
Coconut Car Rentals Ltd, T9494037, F9497786. From US$50/35 a day winter/summer or US$295/195 a week, jeeps US$50/55, US$320/250. Collision damage waiver US$14 a day.
Taxi
Taxis are readily obtainable at hotels and restaurants. In George Town there are always lots of taxis at the dock when the cruise ships come in, otherwise hailing a taxi is most easily done in the vicinity of the post office. Fares are based on a fixed place-to-place tariff rather than a meter charge and vary according to how many people there are and how much luggage there is. For going a long distance (ie across the island) they are expensive. From the airport to George Town is US$12, based on up to 4 passengers with 2 pieces of luggage each; to West Bay US$23-29; to East End, US$49; to Rum Point US$60. Burton’s Taxi Service, T9472274, and AA Chauffeur and Transportation Services, T9497222, F9455823, offer standard taxi service plus island tours.
