Point Salines International Airport, airline airport code GND, is at the south-western tip of the island. The runway is impressively long, and was one of the causes of the dispute between the Grenadian Government and the USA in the invasion in 1983. The Arrivals Hall has recently been upgraded and there is a new lounge being built for VIP travellers.

The new Arrivals Hall is modern and sleek, with marble floors and splashes of colour in the posters of island images and mannequins in carnival costumes. On the left hand side as you go in there is a tourist information kiosk and Grenada Board of Tourism booth. On the right hand side of the Arrivals Hall you will find an exchange bureau, a nurse’s office, washrooms with handicap facilities and the In Transit lounge. Beyond the passport control desks you will be greeted by porters at Baggage Reclaim (porters, with red caps, expect EC$1 per bag). There is a final customs check before leaving the airport.

Outside there are telephones, ATMs, a giftshop, newsagent, a bar/rum shop, Fast Food Shop: Rituals Coffee House, Mario's Pizza the Convenience Corner Internet Café and ‘Bits & Bites’, which offers hot and cold snacks. To the left there are a number of offices for car hire companies, including Y&R Car Rentals. British Airways, BWIA, Virgin Atlantic, U.S. Airways and SVG Airways also have offices at the airport. To the right, on the upper level you can see the planes land and take off from Liftoff Restaurant, which is reasonably priced. Washrooms are located on this level. You will also find an executive lounge for First and Club Class passengers, a VIP room and a reception room for special tour groups.

Further right is the Departures Hall with airline ticketing and check-in desks. These include Virgin Atlantic, Air Jamaica, Excel, American Eagle, LIAT and SVG Air. On leaving the island you need to pay Departure Tax (EC$50). In the Departure Lounge there are washrooms including facilities for disabled passengers and a simple café. The few duty free shops include Colombian Emeralds, a souvenir shop selling local spice packs, a perfume and cosmetic store and two liquor shops.

Aircraft as large as Virgin Atlantic’s 747 arrive there. Everything inside is by the book and simple. There are plenty of taxis available upon exit of the arrivals hall. You’ll have a landing card to fill out as well as a customs declaration form.

It’s worth remembering that there is a beach bar, the Aquarium, within walking distance of the airport, so you can can even go and catch a last minute drink on the beach after check-in.

The taxi service, run by the Airport Taxi Union, t 444 4296, is on a stand in line basis. Rates from the airport are published on a board outside the Arrivals Hall. They are shown in Eastern Caribbean Dollars (EC$) and are approximately as follows (subject to change without notice).

AIRPORT to -
Hotels EC$25-35
St George’s EC$30
Woburn Cliff EC$30
Short Drop EC$20

Beyond this the rate is EC$4 per mile for the first ten miles and EC$3.50 per mile thereafter. After 6pm add EC$10. Waiting is charged at EC$15 per hour and if you want to go sightseeing then the rate is EC$40 per hour.

CARRIACOU
Lauriston Airport, airline airport code CRU, is a tiny airport with a 1560ft runway just southwest of the island’s town Hillsborough. There is a washroom and waiting room, but no other facilities. No flights take off or land after dark. Until recently you had to look left and right to see whether any planes were about to land, because the main road used to run diagonally across the runway. Buses do not pass the airport any more, so you will probably have to take a cab.

Taxi rates from Lauriston to -

Hillsborough – EC$15
Tyrell Bay – EC$25
Windward - EC$35.