Antigua and Barbuda

Understand

Antigua, pronounced "an-tee'-gah", is perhaps the island which most typifies the modern day view of a small Caribbean destination. With few other natural resources, tourism dominates the local economy of both islands. Stunning white sand beaches abound, and on Antigua there is no shortage of attendant high-end resorts. Barbuda still has the beaches but little tourism-based infrastructure.

Investment banking and financial services also make up an important part of the economy with many major foreign banks taking advantage of the nation's liberal banking laws.

Cricket is a huge sport here and this tiny nation has produced several genuine all-time world greats of the game. Cricket fans will certainly not be short of locals to chat with.

Antigua and Barbuda are nicknamed "Land of 365 beaches" due to the beaches that surround the two islands.

Get in

All EU citizens can enter without a visa.

Citizens of the following countries may also enter without a visa: Albania, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Cuba, Dominica, Eswatini, Fiji, Georgia, Grenada, Guyana, Hong Kong, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kyrgyzstan, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Macau, Malaysia, Malawi, Maldives, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Namibia, New Zealand, Nauru, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Seychelles, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, South Korea, Suriname, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United States, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Zimbabwe, and citizens of British Overseas Territories.

If you do need a visa, you must have a passport valid at least 6 months after time of visit, a completed application form, and 1 passport size photo. A single entry visa costs 30GBP and multiple entry costs 40GBP.

If you are of a nationality that normally requires a visa and you are entering Antigua and Barbuda as a port for a cruise ship, you do not need a visa provided the ship will be leaving the day it arrives. 700px|thumbnail|center|Visa policy of Antigua and Barbuda

thumb|V.C. Bird International Airport

Get around

thumb|Harbour of St. John's Tourists mainly get around by car rental or tour operators.

There is however a fleet of local buses, usually minibuses with about 12-14 seats, which run set routes (you can tell from the number on a circular badge on the upper right corner of the windscreen as the bus approaches you) and you can wait at a stop or walk along the road and hail a passing one. They're very cost-effective (much cheaper than a private taxi), and will stop wherever you want to on the route, although the network only really covers the main roads. There is also no set timetable but one usually passes every 10-15 minutes. The drivers are speedy and it can be an adventure!

If you stay a week or more, rates for rental cars can become quite reasonable (see below).

See

thumb|Nelson's dockyard Nelson's Dockyard in English Harbour, Antigua's only World Heritage Site since 2016 The British forts and the views from Monk's Hill in Falmouth Frigate birds on Barbuda Boggy Peak, the nation's highest point and a national park, which was temporarily named Mount Obama, for U.S. President Barack Obama on his 48th birthday in 2009 until 2016. Shirley Heights lookout Devil's Bridge National Park Pillars of Hercules

Do

The highlight of Antigua are its beaches. Locals will tell you that there are 365 beaches on Antigua alone; enough for every day of the year. While this may be apocryphal, it is true that they are all beautiful. Some are secluded and quiet, while others have beach bars and water sports. Choose your fancy.

Eat

thumb|Street in St.John's The national dish is fungie (pronounced foon-gee) and pepper pot. Fungie is a dish very similar to the Italian Polenta being made mainly of cornmeal. Other local dishes include ducana, seasoned rice, saltfish and lobster (from Barbuda). Local confectionaries include sugarcake, fudge, raspberry and tamarind stew, and peanut brittle. The various restaurants around the island sell both local and international food.

Lunch might be anything that can be easily bought from a nearby shop, especially a bakery. Dinner will typically be rice, macaroni or pasta, vegetables/salad, a main course (fish, chicken, pork, beef, etc.) and a side dish like macaroni pie, scalloped potatoes or plantains.

On Saturdays you will find many drive-by barbecues at important road crossings all over the island. They serve rice and chicken, dumplings, soup, etc. Sometimes they even have a sound system for entertainment.

Sunday is the day when the culture is most reflected in the food. For breakfast one might have saltfish, eggplant, eggs, bacon, sausages, or lettuce. Dinner may include pork, baked chicken, stewed lamb, or turkey, alongside rice (prepared in a variety of ways) and salads.

Harmony Hall, near Freetown. It closes for the summer on May 6. The best restaurant on the island. Mama Lolly, Redcliffe Quay, St. John's. Vegetarian and vegan-friendly home cooking. Calabash, Redcliffe Quay's "Vendors Mall", St. John's. Vegan cuisine. Owned by a raw chef who used to work in New…

Drink

thumb|Drink with a view Local drinks are Mauby Seamoss Tamarind juice Mango juice Coconut water Cavalier Rum, local rum Wadadli, local beer Oasis, Desalinated water

Bars Papa Zouk, Bar and fish and chips restaurant 2 min outside of St. John's.

Sleep

There are many hotels resorts and other kinds in Antigua, however most are over US$200 per night.

Stay safe

Though Antigua is generally a safe place, secure your purses and wallets. Walk only with the necessary money, and decline services offered to you by people on the street. If you rent a car, park in a well-lit area.

Stay healthy

thumb|View of AntiguaTap water can be discoloured, and cause upset stomachs even after boiling. Bottled water is more reliable.