Grenada is one of the nations in the Caribbean. It is also considered to be one of the safer nations in the Caribbean.
Saint George's, the capital of Grenada, has a lovely harbor and the Grenada National Museum. The Pink Gin Beach is a popular beach for those on a honeymoon. The Concord Falls is a remarkable waterfall, which you have to see. Finally, the Belmont Estate offers tours throughout the plantation. You will have a good time in Grenada.
What will ruin your good time is when you receive an expensive roaming bill from your provider because you decided to roam in Grenada. Roaming can be expensive in many cases, which is why I recommend buying a Grenadian SIM card to save on data costs.
In this article, I will go over everything you need to know about buying a Grenadian SIM card. Let's do this.
Telecom Providers in Grenada
Grenada has 2 telecom providers: Digicel Grenada and Flow Grenada. Both operators have 2G, 3G, and 3G/LTE networks.
What SIM card should you buy when visiting Grenada? If you want to buy a SIM card in Grenada, I would recommend going with Digicel for low prices, high speeds, and more choice in packages.
Do note that although I recommend Digicel for the reasons mentioned above, Flow has better 3G coverage than Digicel. Digicel’s coverage is still good throughout Grenada. However, the main reason why Flow has better coverage is that Flow uses lower frequencies (850 MHz and 1900 MHz), which can reach further and can go through buildings easier than higher frequencies (2100 MHz with Digicel).
Either way, this is just a small technical thing you should not worry about too much.
Like most countries in the Caribbean, you have to show your passport when buying a SIM card in Grenada.
The East Caribbean Dollar, XCD, is pegged 2.70:1 to the US Dollar, meaning that 2:70 XCD is 1 USD (or 1 XCD is $0.37).
With that being said, let’s see what Grenada has to offer to us.
Digicel Grenada
Digicel Grenada, just Digicel, ended Flow’s monopoly back in 2003. In fact, Digicel has entered all Caribbean markets where Flow used to have a monopoly between 2000 and 2008.
In some Caribbean nations, the market share of both Digicel and Flow is the same, while in others, like Grenada, one is the clear winner. In the case of Grenada, Digicel is the favorite because of creative marketing.
Digicel SIM cards are sold for 15 XCD in Digicel stores and come with 10 XCD in credit. Top-up vouchers are sold in many shops around the country, but you can also top-up online with a credit card. You have to dial *120# to check your credit balance or you can use the My Digicel App.
Digicel has Prepaid Freedom Bundles, which are combo packs:
- 6 XCD: 1 GB and 30 minutes for 1 day
- 15 XCD: 1 GB and 200 minutes for 3 days
- 28 XCD: 3 GB and 350 minutes for 7 days
- 95 XCD: 8 GB and 1000 minutes for 30 days
You can activate a Digicel Prepaid Freedom Bundle online or on the My Digicel App. All Prepaid Freedom Bundles auto-renew if there is enough credit.
You can also upgrade your existing plans with the Digicel Prepaid Freedom Plus Bundles:
- Extra 1 XCD: 1 GB and 60 on-net minutes for 1 day
- Extra 5 XCD: 2 GB and 350 on-net minutes for 3 days
- Extra 5 XCD: 10 GB and 1000 on-net minutes for 30 days
- Extra 7 XCD: 4 GB and 450 on-net minutes for 7 days
These add-ons can be activated online or on the My Digicel App as well.
Finally, you have the Digicel Data Only LTE Plans, which only come with data:
- 4 XCD: 350 MB for 1 day
- 9 XCD: 750 MB for 3 days
- 19 XCD: 1 GB for 7 days
Flow Grenada
Flow Grenada, just Flow, used to have a monopoly in Grenada and various other Caribbean countries until Digicel decided to mess things up for them. Either way, Flow’s 3G coverage is still better than Digicel’s. However, since Grenada is a small nation, that does not say much.
Flow SIM cards are sold for 15 XCD and come with a Flow Prepaid 3 Days plan (1 GB, unlimited social messaging, 200 minutes, and 200 SMS) worth 12 XCD. If you are staying in Grenada for a short period, you may not even need to buy another data package.
Flow top-up cards are sold from 5 XCD to 200 XCD in various stores throughout Grenada, but you can also top-up online with a credit card. To check your Flow credit balance, dial *120# or use the Flow app.
Flow combo packs, called Always On Prepaid, come with unlimited social messaging, which include Facebook, WhatsApp, Snapchat, Twitter, and Instagram. The following plans Always On Prepaid are available:
- 5 XCD: 1 GB, 25 minutes, and 25 SMS. Activation: dial *244*0#
- 12 XCD: 1 GB, 200 minutes, and 200 SMS. Activation: dial *244*1#
- 25 XCD: 4 GB, 350 minutes, and 350 SMS. Activation: dial *244*2#
- 100 XCD: 10 GB, 1000 minutes, and 1000 SMS. Activation: dial *244*3#
To check your Flow data balance, dial *146*0# or use the Flow app.
Other Ways to Stay Connected When Traveling in Grenada
So far, you have been informed about the SIM card options in Grenada. However, that is not the only way to be online in Grenada. I have already briefly mentioned that you can roam with your provider, although it can be expensive in most cases. Besides that, you can use free WIFI connections, mobile hotspots, or international SIM cards.
Roaming in Grenada with Your Provider
Roaming is a term used in wireless telecommunication that indicates a mobile device is outside the range of its home network and has connected to a different, available cell network. Let’s say your provider is Flow Antigua and Barbuda, then you would be roaming with Flow Antigua and Barbuda in Grenada.
You may have read horror stories of people coming back from a lovely holiday, only to be confronted with a roaming bill in the thousands. This can still be the case if you do not review your roaming options before going on a holiday. Luckily for you, I have written about the roaming options you have with various providers around the world, which you can read here.
Some operators offer roaming plans. Others allow you to roam for free in Grenada, while several operators let you use your plan’s allowance for a daily fee. As you can see, roaming does not have to be a horrific experience. If your provider is generous and lets you roam for free in Grenada, then you do not even need a local SIM card (although I would still recommend doing so, as your connection speed will be much slower as a roamer than someone who is a customer of the network).
No idea how roaming works? I made this comprehensive guide about what roaming is and how it works. It is worth the read – promised!
Pay As You Go roaming should be avoided, as that is how travelers get high roaming bills. One provider charges you about 1000 USD per GB in certain destinations, which is insane. If you really want to roam, check whether your provider has attractive roaming plans. Else, you will be better off with buying a local SIM card.
Using Free WIFI connections in Grenada
This does not require a lot of explanation, but using free WIFI connections is the cheapest way to connect to the internet because you do not have to pay anything. Nothing beats free stuff, right? Well, not so fast.
First, you need to find hotspots in Grenada. In some countries of cities, you will find so many hotspots that you can try them out one by one and find the one with the fastest speeds. In other places, however, WIFI connections do not seem to exist.
In the case of Grenada, you can mainly find hotspots in the tourist areas, but many of them are slow.
Additionally, public WIFI hotspots are unsecure. They are a prime target for hackers to steal your data and use it for illicit purposes. That is I use, and would recommend you to start using, a Virtual Private Network (VPN) if you connect to a public hotspot. What a VPN does is creating an encrypted tunnel between your device and the hotspot so that your data will stay private. I use NordVPN, and you can get up to 70% off when you get a NordVPN subscription. Get your subscription now or learn more about NordVPN.
Using a Pocket WIFI (Mobile Hotspot) in Grenada
Pocket WIFI is a portable, battery-powered wireless router that allows you to connect your phone, laptop, or tablet without needing multiple SIM cards for those devices to be connected to the internet. They are compact and lightweight so that you take them along with you whenever you need internet access on the go.
Many companies have created mobile hotspots (just have a quick search on Amazon, for example, you will find many). Skyroam, Vision Global Wireless, and Travelwifi are reputable pocket WIFI providers I know. You can get a discount if you rent a router through Skyroam by using coupon code PHONETRAVELWIZ. Cellular access with Skyroam starts at $8 a day while using a Vision Global device starts at $2 a day. Travelwifi offers Teppy, the name of the pocket WIFI, starting from $7 per day. All these services cover more than 130 destinations around the world.
I often recommend mobile hotspots to those who are traveling in groups or with families. They can save groups a lot of money if they are visiting destinations where buying multiple SIM cards would become an expensive endeavor.
I recently wrote an article analyzing the 7 Best Mobile Hotspots for Travelers like yourself, which should be an interesting read if pocket WIFI is something you are considering. I do reviews of individual devices every now and then, so check out my mobile hotspot category to stay up to date.
Getting an International SIM card for Traveling in Grenada
International SIM cards are, as the name implies, SIM cards for international use. Well, that does not explain anything. Although most providers allow you to use your card abroad, some actually restrict this possibility. An international SIM card lets you go abroad without having to change SIM cards when visiting multiple destinations. They have been made with the traveler in mind.
All of this sounds lovely, but international SIM cards are much more expensive than local SIM cards in Grenada. Not only that, some offer poor service as well for high rates. Some reputable companies I know are OneSimCard, SimOptions, Surfroam, BNESIM, and SimCorner.
International SIM cards are appealing to those who travel frequently or are visiting multiple destinations in one trip. Many countries in the Caribbean require you to register before you can use a SIM card, which can be a hassle for some. Additionally, the language barrier may be off-putting to some travelers, which is why an international SIM card can be handy. You order it before you depart and can use it in various destinations.
My recommendation, however, is to get a local SIM card if you are only visiting one destination. If you are visiting multiple ones, an international SIM card could be handy. If you want to learn more about international SIM cards, check out my international SIM card comparison article, where I analyze 10 international SIM card providers so that you do not have to.
The Best Way to Stay Connected When Traveling in Grenada
Getting a SIM card from Digicel would do you well when considering a Grenadian SIM card. Be sure to explore the roaming options your provider offers you, as they may offer free or cheap roaming bundles.
You could also consider getting an international SIM card or using a portable hotspot. International SIM cards like OneSimCard, SimOptions, Surfroam, BNESIM, and SimCorner are attractive for those visiting multiple destinations at once or within a year. Portable hotspots like Skyroam, Vision Global Wireless, and Travelwifi will be useful when traveling with multiple people so that not each individual has to get a SIM card but can use the hotspot.
Visiting other countries in the Caribbean? Check out my Caribbean SIM card buying guide covering the other Caribbean destinations, such as Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, the Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Bonaire, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Cuba, Curacao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, French West Indies, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, Puerto Rico, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin (French) & Sint Maarten (Dutch), Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago, and Turks and Caicos. Going to other places around the world? Then you should also check out my sim card buying guides for other destinations around the world.
What is next?
Looking for the best companies and gadgets to enhance your travel experience? Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel! Save money on plane tickets, bus rides, cruises, and accommodation. Besides that, I also list services and items I use to make my life easier – and I believe they will help you too!
Book Your Flight for Grenada
It is time to book your flight. Find cheap flights with AirWander so that you can add free or cheap stopovers in destinations you have not considered yet before going to Grenada. If you are not ready to take off yet, set up flight alerts with Airfarewatchdog, and they will notify you once ticket prices to Grenada drop.
Book Your Accommodation for Grenada
I am a huge fan of Airbnb because it allows me to live with a local or get a local place for myself. Staying in someone’s house or apartment feels much different than being in a ho(s)tel, especially in Grenada. At least, that is how I see it. Moreover, Airbnb can often be much cheaper than staying in a Grenadian hotel.
Get Your Travel Insurance for Grenada
You will regret not having travel insurance once you actually need it and “forgot” to get it. Nowadays, travel insurance is cheap and comprehensive unlike back in the days. World Nomads is by far the best travel insurance for adventurous travelers like yourself. You can even get insured WHILE already traveling in Grenada, which is not something many insurance companies allow you to do.
Get a Travel Debit Card
Travel Cheques are outdated. Paying with your credit card or debit card can be expensive because of all the exchange commissions banks charge you. TransferWise allows you to convert your main currency to the local currency for a small fee (up to 8 times less than with your bank!) Getting a Transferwise Borderless account is FREE, so you will get an instant return on your investment.
Enjoy your trip!
