Useful Information
For Planning Your Visit To St Helena
Great Stone Top and Little Stone Top, looking down into Sharks Valley
St Helena island, poking up in the middle of the South Atlantic, is one of the most secluded and peaceful places on earth that you could ever hope to visit.
We’re the perfect destination to unplug and unwind, rediscover nature and feel instantly refreshed.
Visitors get to explore rugged landscapes, dive pristine coastal waters and enjoy gorgeous kaleidoscope sunsets.
St Helena Hotels & Other Places To Stay
St Helena hotels, guest houses B&Bs and self-catering homes are listed here, on Travel St Helena, each one run by owners who are looking forward to making your stay positively memorable.
Catering for couples, solo adventurers, families and business travellers, we have something for anyone planning to visit St Helena.
Travel St Helena - Local Expertise
Travel St Helena Ltd was founded and is operated by St Helenians with the connections and intimate knowledge of local services that you would expect.
The website is designed to assist visitors in finding out what holiday accommodation options are available on the island, including costs and availability, and to make the booking process as straight-forward as possible.
Originally incorporated in St Helena, the company also operates from a UK registered branch.
Travel St Helena acts as an agent for the accommodation providers on St Helena, facilitating a booking and payment service on their behalf. Once bookings are confirmed, the contract of service is between the visitor and the accommodation provider.
Useful Information About Making Bookings
To secure a booking, enter your dates into the search boxes, review the results listing what’s available at that time, make a selection and complete the booking form, which will include a 20% non-refundable deposit payment (or full payment if less than 21 days before start of visit). Once submitted, you will receive an acknowledgment email.
We will then do a final check with the Supplier on St Helena to verify availability.
Final confirmation of booking will then be emailed, and then it’s time to start planning what to do on your trip!
Why A Non-Refundable Deposit?
St Helena’s remote location coupled with the challenging logistics of visiting, (there is only one flight per week) means most travel arrangements to the island are usually made many months in advance. Fewer holiday bookings are made at shorter notice. The non-refundable deposit therefore protects local accommodation businesses from losses incurred through cancellations, and the subsequent difficulties of finding a replacement booking.
Final Payment Due at 21 Days
The remaining balance for your booking is due 21 days before your first night’s stay. An email reminder will be sent. Full payment is to be received within 48 hours of your balance due notification.
Amending Your Accommodation Booking
Any amendment request must be sent to us in writing by the person who placed the booking, giving reasons for the request.
We will do our best to facilitate the request, by liaising with the accommodation provider as necessary and trying to find a solution that suits both parties.
Ultimately, amendments are likely to depend on the existing commitments of the Supplier of your accommodation service. If the amendment requested incurs an expense for the Supplier, you will be expected to pay for this cost. If the requested amendment turns out not to be possible, we will be happy to assist you in organising an alternative booking to enable your holiday to proceed.
If an amendment unfortunately turns out not to be possible, the process of cancelling the booking will begin.
Cancelling Your Accommodation Booking
Any cancellation request must be sent to us in writing by the person who placed the booking, giving reasons for the request.
Cancellation requests received before the 21-day point ahead of the first night’s stay, with only the deposit having been paid, will mean a terminated booking. The deposit payment remains with the accommodation Supplier. No refund will be issued.
Cancellation requests received after 21 days, or after the full balance has already been paid, and at least seven days before the start of the first night’s stay, will be eligible for a 50% refund of the total cost.
Refunds will normally be issued within 21 days and normally via the original payment method.
First Floor Distinction
This website uses the British distinction of ‘ground floor’ and ‘first floor.’ The floor immediately above the ground floor is called the first floor. The one above that is second floor and so on.
Weekly Airlink flight arriving from Johannesburg
Flights to St Helena
A weekly air service to St Helena is operated by Airlink from OR Tambo airport in Johannesburg, South Africa. Flights arrive on Saturdays, returning the same day, except once every four weeks when a shuttle flight to Ascension takes place. On these occasions, the aircraft stays overnight on Ascension on the Saturday night, returning to St Helena on the Sunday for a brief stop before continuing on to South Africa.
Flying Times from Johannesburg to St Helena
The Airlink flight from Johannesburg to St Helena takes approximately six hours. Typically the flight departs OR Tambo Airport, in Johannesburg, at approximately 9am, local time.
Approximately two hours later the aircraft lands at Walvis Bay International Airport (IATA code: WVB), Namibia, for a refuelling stop that takes approximately 1 hour.
From Walvis Bay to St Helena is then typically about three hours flying time landing on the island at approximately 1pm, local time.
Note: St Helena time zone aligns with GMT. Johannesburg is on South Africa Standard Time, which is two hours ahead of St Helena, ie GMT +2. Above flight times logged in January, 2023.
Entry Fee Cash on Arrival
An entry fee of £20.00 cash (only) is payable for all visitors (12+) arriving at St Helena. British Sterling, St Helenian Pounds, US Dollars, Euros and South African Rand is accepted at the Immigration Desk.
Currency
The local currency is the St Helena pound which is equivalent to the British Pound Sterling (GBP) and accepted on the island.
There are no ATMs, however, cash advances from major debit and credit cards can be obtained at the Bank of St Helena for a 5% charge or min of £2.50.
The local Bank offers a Virtual Prepaid GBP Cash Card called the Tourist Card that will allow visitors to access a virtual bank card available on a mobile device to make payments on-island using the local card payment system called St Helena Pay. For more information and to apply for a Tourist Card, visit the Bank’s official website here.
Visa Requirements
Visas to enter St Helena are required by certain nationalities. Please check against the list of countries on the St Helena Government Evisa website if you qualify. A visa is NOT required for UK, most European countries, Canadian and USA passport holders. Visas can take up to 21 days to process and costs £50.
Travel Insurance
All visitors must have valid medical insurance for at least £175,000 (or equivalent) which includes aeromedical evacuation or other means to pay for treatment to cover themselves for the duration of their stay, proof of which must be produced on arrival in English. Please have a paper or electronic version downloaded. There is no public Wi-Fi service provided by St Helena Airport.
Missed Flights
St Helena Airport strongly recommends having travel insurance to cover missed departure and delayed departure in the event that the flight to and from the island is significantly delayed. This can happen occasionally due to adverse weather conditions.
High Hill in the Blue Hill district, western side of the island
Airport Transfers
Car rental or taxi services are not available at St Helena airport. Therefore, it is advisable to pre-arrange airport transfers through your accommodation provider or by using the Inside St Helena app.
Getting Around
The easiest way to get around St Helena is driving a rental car, as public transport is limited. Taxis are available.
Driving on St Helena is on the left-hand side of the road. Visitors with a valid overseas driver’s license can drive for three months. Drivers must be 18 years or over. Drivers 70 and over will need to pass a medical exam.
Car hire can be arranged through your accommodation provider.
Driving on St Helena
Check out this short video which gives helpful information for first-time visitors to St Helena who are planning to drive on the island.
Duty Free Allowance
Spirits, strong liquors: 2 litres at 22% or 1 litre exceeding 22%.
2 litres of wine OR 12 bottles/cans 340ml beer/lager.
Perfumed spirits or toilet water not exceeding in total 250ml.
Cigarettes not exceeding 200, or other tobacco goods not exceeding in total 250grams.
Alcohol, cigarette and tobacco allowances apply only to persons 18 years+.
Airlink Baggage Allowance
The checked or hold baggage allowance on Airlink flights is 20Kg in Economy Class and 30Kg in Business Class per adult passenger.
In addition to the checked or hold baggage, passengers may carry the following cabin or hand baggage. Each piece should not exceed 8kg.
Economy Class: 1 Piece plus 1 slimline laptop bag
Business Class: 2 Pieces plus 1 slimline laptop bag
Children (ages 2-11) are entitled to the same baggage allowance as adults.
Infants will be permitted 10kg of checked-in baggage in addition to one collapsible pram/buggy and one infant car seat.
Travelling To South Africa With Children
There are special requirements for travelling to South Africa with children under the age of 18. There are different requirements for unaccompanied children entering South Africa.
Check the advisory from the South African Department of Home Affairs for more details, and consult your nearest South African high commission or embassy if you have any questions about these requirements.
Electricity
St Helena power sockets deliver 240V, frequency 50 Hz. Appliances are fitted with British three-pin plugs. If your country does not use the UK type socket it’s advisable to bring a travel adapter.
Sunsets always beautiful from the district of Dead Wood
Time Zone
St Helena is on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) all year round. Same as United Kingdom, except during British Summer Time (BST), when the UK clocks go forward by an hour.
Wi-Fi Hotspots
There are a few Wi-Fi hotspots around the island. Internet time can be bought from these locations, available in £3, £6 or £12 (excluding SHG service tax) segments. Usage is charged at 10p per minute.
Roaming
Roaming is available to UK Vodaphone and O2 customers with unlocked phones. They will be billed by Vodafone/O2 for all calls made while roaming in St Helena on their regular monthly bill. Roaming also possible with MTN South Africa, Softbank Japan, and Sure Falklands and Ascension. Click Here
Mobile Phones
Locked handsets cannot be used on the Sure network. SIM cards cost £16.50 which includes £10 credit. Pay-As-You-Go data bundles cost £10 for 150MB package and £20 for 350MB. Click Here
Weather & Climate
Situated in the tropics St Helena’s climate is kept cool by the south-easterly trade winds. Temperatures are generally comfortable year-round, and can reach highs of 30C in the summer and lows of 13C during winter. February is normally the hottest month and August the coolest.