• Cities
• Other destina...
• Understand
• Talk
• Eat
• Drink
• Stay safe
• Get out

Beautiful beaches in Antigua

Antigua is the larger of the two main islands that make up Antigua and Barbuda. It is a beautiful getaway and many tourists enjoy the really energetic island culture but also the peace and tranquility that the surrounding seas bring.

[edit] Cities

• Saint John's is the capital of Antigua and Barbuda, and the only city on the island of Antigua.

[edit] Other destinations

• English Harbour
• Falmouth was the original British settlement on the island.
• West Coast

[edit] Understand

Granted independence from the UK in 1981, Antigua has since built itself up as a tourist hotspot and rivals St Barts, Barbados and Jamaica in the Caribbean.

[edit] Talk

English is spoken everywhere on the island, along with local dialects.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By air

VC Bird International is situated on the outskirts of St John's and to the north of the island. It has regular flights from UK and America, along with smaller planes from elsewhere in the region. It is a fully functioning airport with Wi-fi capabilities and is currently under construction.

LIAT, which merged with Caribbean Star recently, has a hub in Antigua, operating flights to various destinations in the Eastern Caribbean.

The following international airlines serve the airport:

Caribbean Airlines (Kingston, Barbados, Trinidad)

To the US: American Airlines/American Eagle (San Juan, Puerto Rico), Continental Airlines (Newark, NJ), Delta Airlines (Atlanta, GA), US Airways (Charlotte, NC)

To Canada: Air Canada (Toronto, ON)

To Europe: British Airways (London Gatwick), BMI (Manchester), Condor (Frankfurt, Germany), Virgin Atlantic (London Gatwick), XL (London Gatwick)

You can also connect to Paris (Air France) and Amsterdam (KLM) via St Maarten

[edit] By cruise ship

Many tourist come to Antigua and Barbuda via cruise ships. Passengers enjoy a short walk into the heart of St. John's.

[edit] Get around

[edit] By car

Cars may be hired from numerous places around the island. Contact your hotel for more information. However, there is a 30 mph speed limit on the island, so driving can be a tad tedious.

[edit] By taxi

Taxis are fairly cheap in Antigua, and as the road surfaces can be a bit patchy in places, they will take you along the best routes.

[edit] See

• Cricket is the Antiguan sport. Games are played at the Recreation Ground in St John's or at any of the 365 beaches on the island. Or on any spare bit of ground.

• Carnival - from late July to early August the Recreation Ground in St John's is liberated from the cricket fans and is home to the islands main festival.

• Nelson's Dockyard - Historic English dockyard in English Harbour.

[edit] Itineraries

[edit] Do

• Scuba diving - there are many reefs off the eastern coastline and as a result, there is some pretty awesome fish to see. Snorkeling is also pretty good here, as the water is very clear, and it's a lot cheaper!

• Sailing - dinghies, cats, cruisers can all be hired from many places around the island, and there are plenty of coves and natural harbours to explore. Why not lay claim to the uninhabited island of Redonda? The current king lives in England somewhere and he won't mind...

• Party at Shirley Heights Lookout(an old British fort and signal station near Falmouth) on Sunday evenings to Antiguan music and see the spectacular sunset over English Harbour. Arrive at 4 p.m. to catch the sunset, and by 7 p.m. you'll be eating barbecue and dancing to music by local bands. Entry is US$6, which no longer includes a free drink. Even if you can't attend the barbeque, Shirley Heights Lookout boasts one of Antigua's best views and lures tourists and locals alike.

[edit] Buy

St Johns offers a variety of merchants offering most everything needed to visit the island or live there.

Heritage Quay, next to the cruise ship piers, offers a wide variety of duty-free shopping for international visitors. To qualify, merchants often ask to see airline tickets or ship ID cards. Itens offered range from jewelry to liquor and tobacco, with one especially nice store for linens.

[edit] Eat

Sea food is understandably very popular here. There is also a nice variety of tropical fruits that grow on the island. The national dish is called Fungi (pronounced Foun-gee) and Saltfish. Besides the local dishes almost every major type of cuisine can be found on the island. e.g. Italian, Mexican, American, British, Jamaican etc. Just ask locals for directions.

[edit] Drink

A host of local drinks exist in the Antigua. From Pineapple, Guava, Mauby, Seamoss, Passion Fruit and Hibiscus to imported drinks Coco Cola, Pepsi, etc. exist. All varities of water exist even local brands. Many beers can be found in Antigua from Local (Wadadli, English Harbour rum), to regional (Carib Beer) to international, (Smirnoff and Heineken) can be purchased at any local bar. Rum is by far the most popular spirit, best served as a "Rum Punch".

[edit] Stay safe

Antigua is a relatively safe place but like all places in the world standard rules exist. Do not travel alone at night. Stay in well lit places. Do not carry around more money than is absolutely necessary. Do not accept anything from strangers, not even car rides. It may be best to avoid street urchins who beg for money or politely refuse them and in the unlikely event of anything contact the police force.

[edit] Get out

• Barbuda is the obvious next place to go
• Montserrat
• St Barts is a must, French chic in the Caribbean