Antigua and Barbuda

Getting Around By Air

A small airstrip at Codrington on Barbuda is equipped to handle light aircraft. Carib Aviation operates scheduled flights between Antigua and Barbuda (20 minutes’ duration, twice daily).

Getting Around by Water

Local boats are available for excursions. It usually takes 3 hours to travel from Antigua to Barbuda. However, the Barbuda Express (tel: 560 7989; website: www.antiguaferries.com) takes 90 minutes and journeys five days per week from St John’s.

Getting Around by Road

Driving is on the left. Most roads are all-weather and in reasonable condition, although they lack road markings. Few streets are lit at night.

Bus: The bus network is small, and buses are infrequent.

Taxi: Available everywhere with standardised rates. US Dollars are more readily accepted by taxi drivers. Taxi drivers are also qualified as tour guides for sightseeing trips.

Car hire: This can be organised from your home country but is easy to do on arrival. There are several reputable car hire companies on Antigua (some of which also hire out mopeds and bicycles). Hire rates are for the day and there is no mileage.

Regulations: The national speed limit is 65kph (40mph) and there is a limit of 32kph (20mph) in built-up areas.

Documentation: In order to drive a vehicle on the island it is necessary to buy a temporary local driver’s licence from a police station or car hire agency. Valid for six months.

Journey Times

The following chart gives approximate journey times (in hours and minutes) from St John’s to other major towns, resorts or centres in Antigua.

Main Airports

VC Bird International (ANU), formerly Coolidge International, located on the northeast corner of Antigua, is 8km (5 miles) northeast of St John’s. The airport provides access to major international centres, such as Frankfurt/M, London, Miami, Montréal, New York and Toronto, with feeder services to all the Eastern Caribbean islands, the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.To/from the airport: Taxi services run to the town and hotels on a fixed-fare basis (journey time - 10 to 15 minutes). Taxi drivers expect 10% of the fare, and dockside and airport porters expect US$0.50-1 per bag. Airport shuttles may be booked in advance. There is no public transport to or from the airport. Facilities: Full outgoing duty-free shopping, restaurant, bar, 24-hour ATM, post office, car hire and currency exchange.

Getting There by Water

Main ports: St John’s has a deep-sea harbour served by cruise liners from the USA, Puerto Rico, the UK, Europe and South America. Many smaller ships sail to other Caribbean islands.

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The islands enjoy a very pleasant tropical climate which remains warm and relatively dry throughout the year. Tropical storms and hurricanes may occur between June and November.

Required Clothing

Lightweight cottons or linen, with rainwear needed from September to December.

Hotels

Hotel rates are considerably cheaper in the summer months (May to November) due to the frequent tropical storms. A government tax of 8.5% is added to hotel bills, plus a service charge of 10%. There is no official grading system but there is a wide choice of hotels available. A full list of hotels and guest houses, with rates, is available from the Information Office and at VC Bird International Airport in Antigua. There are three major resort hotels on Barbuda, but the accommodation range is more limited.

Note: Accommodation must be booked well in advance during Tennis Week, Antigua Sailing Week and Carnival (contact the tourist office for further information). No special accommodation facilities exist for students and young travellers and camping is not allowed. Sleeping and living on the beaches is also not permitted.

Guest Houses

Guest houses and bed & breakfasts are much cheaper than the hotels and provide basic but clean accommodation, sometimes with meals. There are a number of guest houses and B&Bs on both Antigua and Barbuda.

Self Catering

Self-catering accommodation is available for the budget-minded.

Accommodation Information

Antigua Hotels and Tourist Association

PO Box 454, Island House, Newgate Street, St John's, Antigua

Tel: 462 0374 or 3703.

Website: www.antiguahotels.org

Passports

Passport valid for at least six months beyond period of stay required by all nationals referred to in chart above.

Visas

Required by all for stays of up to six months except the following :

(a) Nationals referred to in the chart above.

(b) Transit passengers continuing their journey within 24 hours by the same or next connecting aircraft providing they hold a valid onward or return documentation and are not leaving the airport.

Visa Note

(a) Cruise ship passengers do not require a visa provided that they arrive in Antigua and Barbuda in the morning and depart the same evening.

(b) Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy/high commission to check visa requirements (see Contact Addresses).

Types of Visa and Cost

Single-entry: £30. Multiple-entry: £40.

Validity

Single-entry: Three months from date of issue. Multiple-entry: Six months from date of issue. Business visitors can stay as long as their business takes, provided it does not exceed six months.

Applications to:

Consulate (or consular section at embassy or high commission); see Contact Addresses.

Working Days Required

Three to five.

Health Care

Health insurance is strongly recommended as medical treatment is expensive. There are several GPs on the island as well as one hospital and one private clinic. Recompression chambers are on nearby Saba and St Thomas (travel by air ambulance). Please note that the private health clinic, Adelin, will not accept medical travel insurance in payment for treatment. A deposit must be paid of US$4,000 by credit card.

Note

* A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers aged over one year travelling from an infected area.

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Food and Drink

Antigua’s gastronomic speciality is lobster, with red snapper and occasionally other fish running a close second when available.

Things to know: Larger hotels offer a wide selection of imported meats, vegetables, fruits and cheeses. Casual wear is accepted in all bars and restaurants. There is an 8.5% government tax on most restaurant bills.

National specialities:

•Pepperpot (hearty vegetable stew with salted meat) served with Fungee (cornmeal and okra dumplings).

•Roti (patties filled with curried potatoes, chicken or beef).

•Ducana (grated sweet potato mixed with coconut, sugar and spices and steamed in a banana leaf). Often served with chop up (mashed aubergine, okra and saltfish).

•Tamarind balls (local sweets).

•Black pineapples from Antigua & Barbuda are famous throughout the East Caribbean for their unique, extra-sweet flavour.

National drinks:

•Ting (homegrown, sparkling grapefruit drink).

•Wadadli (locally-brewed, light and refreshing beer).

• Popular ingredients include pineapple, coconut, guavas and mangoes.

• For an alcoholic kick, rum is plentiful; try both dark and light rum and punches.

Legal drinking age: 18. There are no licensing restrictions, but excessive consumption of alcohol is frowned upon and further service will be refused.

Tipping: 10 to 15% is included on hotel bills for staff gratuities, plus an 8.5% government tax.

Nightlife

Most of the nightlife is centred in St John’s, although hotels and casinos around the islands usually provide in-house entertainment for both hotel guests and non-residents. Casinos generally offer more than just gambling; live music, restaurants and bars are standard in most, and there are even gyms and Internet access in some. A wide choice of restaurants and bars around the main tourist areas offer international and authentic Caribbean food.

Some of the best steel bands in the Caribbean can be found travelling around the hotels along with limbo dancers and calypso singers. They perform nightly during the high season (November to April). For those who like to dance the night away, there are also a few nightclubs/discos. One of the best parties on the island for locals and tourists alike is at Shirley Heights Lookout. Crowds gather on the patio every Sunday afternoon to enjoy unparalleled views over English Harbour with a BBQ, live music, drinks and incredible sunsets.

Shopping

Uniquely Antiguan purchases include straw goods, pottery, batik and silk-screen printed fabrics, and jewellery incorporating semi-precious Antiguan stones. English bone china, crystal, French perfumes, watches and table linens are all available at very attractive prices.

Heritage Quay Complex is a shopping and entertainment area with over 50 duty-free shops, restaurants and a casino with a supper club. It forms part of the newest development in central St John’s. Brightly stocked stalls of fruit and vegetables are sold at the Public Market, along with a few locally-made crafts. In late 2001 efforts were made to unclog the public roads of street-vendors so pedestrians and vehicles could move more freely. They were moved into the multi-storey Vendors Mall where they now ply their trade of handicrafts, clothing and souvenirs from 150 stalls.

Shopping hours: Mon-Fri 0830-1600 (some close 1200-1300); Sat 0800-1200. Most shops in St John's close at noon on Thursday.

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• Enjoy the extensive yachting and sailing facilities: Antigua hosts many international yachting events and regattas throughout the year. Those preferring to seek out a secluded cove or sheltered beach and anchor for a day of peace and quiet can do so by hiring a dinghy.

• Enjoy the scenic route of Fig Tree Drive. The 32km (20miles) of winding roads take you through the lush tropical hills and picturesque fishing villages along the southwest coast. There is no point looking out for any figs though - it's the Antiguan name for banana.

• Get stuck into Antigua & Barbuda’s impressive range of watersports: windsurfing, waterskiing, beachcombing, surfing, snorkelling and scuba diving are on offer, and there are over 365 beaches to practise in.

•Crab-race: ideal for the very lazy, this eccentric sport is staged in certain bars once or twice a week. A punter may win enough to pay for the next round of drinks, but the moderate stakes are unlikely to make anyone a millionaire!

• Play Antigua & Barbuda’s national game of Warri - an ancient board (‘count and capture’) game that was traditionally played using shells placed in cups: a National Warri Festival is held every year.

• Dabble in the other (more modern) national game of cricket. The sport is played to the highest international standard as well as by enthusiastic amateurs in villages all over the islands. Antigua produced one of the finest cricketers the game has ever seen, Viv Richards.

• Salivate and haggle over the riot of colourful fruits, vegetables and spices available at one of the best local markets in the Caribbean, situated in the south end of town at the junction of Valley and All Saints Roads.

• Get a bird's eye view of Antigua's rainforest. Boldly stride or nervously creep along a high wire course made up of zip lines, swings, suspension bridges and a controlled parachute jump (website: www.antiguarainforest.com.)

• Explore huge caves at Two Foot Bay, Barbuda: get expert help and go underground and underwater; see ancient cave drawings, stalactites and stalagmites. Then climb 35m (125 ft) to the top of the Highland, the island’s highest point, and enjoy the view.

• Go for a bush safari in Barbuda. Stop for a picnic in the shade and watch for the wildlife amongst the sparkling salt ponds.

See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.

• Take an excursion to Great Bird Island from Dickenson Bay. Glass-bottomed boats afford leisurely views of the reef, and a restored pirate ship sails around the island and takes passengers for day or evening trips, with food, drink and entertainment included.

•St John’s Cathedral, originally built in 1683, has been destroyed and rebuilt a number of times. Today’s building dates from 1845. The figures of St John the Baptist and St John the Divine were supposedly taken from one of Napoleon’s ships.

• Discover Antigua & Barbuda beyond the beaches and resorts: the Museum of Antigua & Barbuda (website: www.antiguamuseums.org) is Antigua’s oldest building. It is housed in the old Court House, built in 1750. Exhibits explore Antigua's geological origins and political and cultural history.

• Take a walk through Indian Town national park, at the remote, wild, northeastern point of the island. Breakers roaring in with the full force of the Atlantic behind them have carved Devil’s Bridge and created blow-holes with foaming surf.

• Wallow in the shallows of Half Moon Bay, a popular national park, renowned as one of Antigua's most beautiful beaches. Nearby Long Bay is protected by a reef shallow enough to walk to, making it ideal for holidaying families.

• Go to Potworks Reservoir. The result of the Potworks Dam, completed in 1970, it is the largest expanse of freshwater in the Eastern Caribbean holding about one billion gallons. The western edge is great for birdwatching.

• Get to grips with the islands' colonial history: partially-restored Betty's Hope was Antigua's pioneer sugar plantation. It was home to many people from the Codringtons, to the French, from African slaves to, following emanciaption in 1834, labourers.

• Visit the less-developed Barbuda for its wild beauty, deserted beaches and heavily wooded interior abounding in wildlife. The main village, Codrington, sits on the edge of a lagoon and its inhabitants rely largely on the sea for their existence. The Frigate Bird Sanctuary, home to over 5,000 frigate birds, is also here.

• For even more desertion and greater eccentricity, stopover at Redonda, an uninhabited rocky islet, about 56km (35 miles) northeast of Antigua. The island is famous for its unusual monarchy and small population of burrowing owls, a bird now extinct on Antigua.

• Visit Shirley Heights and Fort James, examples of British efforts to fortify the colony during the 18th century. Close by is the cemetery, containing an obelisk commemorating the soldiers of the 54th Regiment.

See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.

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