Antigua Travel Notes

When to go: Antigua is best visited in the cool, dry months of mid-December to mid-April, the peak tourist season.
GMT: -4 hours
Language: English
Currency: Eastern Caribbean Dollars. US Dollars are widely accepted, as are major credit and debit cards.
Tourist/Visa/health information: British Passport holders do not require a visa to enter Antigua and Barbuda for tourist stays up to 1 month only. Your passport should be valid for at least 6 months. Hepatitis A, Polio and Typhoid immunisation are recommended for protection against disease. Yellow fever immunisation is required if arriving from an infected country or area.
Please contact the Antigua and Barbuda Tourist Office on 020 7258 0070 for up to date country information.
Flight information: There are 3 airlines offering direct non-stop services to Antigua - Virgin Atlantic, British Airways and BMI. Virgin Atlantic offer a direct service 3 times per week, British Airways offer daily direct services in winter and 3 times per week in summer. BMI offer the only direct service from Manchester with 1 service per week. Average flying time is 8hrs 30mins and all 3 carriers offer 3 classes of travel including World Traveller Plus on British Airways and Premium Economy cabins with Virgin Atlantic or BMI.

Antigua Hotels

If there's one thing you'll find in abundance on your holiday in Antigua, it's beaches. Idyllic long sugar-white stretches of sand. Discover tranquil Long Bay and bustling Dickenson Bay or seek your own secret spot along the southwest coast. For those wanting to find the best nature trail, hike the well-tended footpath up the hill from English Harbour to Shirley Heights, where a dramatic panoramic view will reward you. Shirley Heights is the place to be on a Sunday afternoon for the ultimate live steel and reggae band experience amongst the locals and other visitors.

For those wanting to experience Antigua holiday fun at its best, travel during Carnival, the biggest annual festival on the island, between the first Monday and Tuesday of August. Antigua is also known as a sailing paradise and in April it's easy to spot the tall masts of some truly magnificent boats in harbour for the world-famous sailing week.

Antigua holiday resorts here are intimate low-rise buildings dotted along the coastline offering relaxation and all inclusive fun. Just like its reggae, Antigua's nightlife moves with a laid-back beat. While much of the entertainment is hotel based, in larger resorts you will find live calypso music and steel bands playing in colourful bars.