English speakers, rejoice! You can go on vacation and actually be understood in your native language! Now, we normally advocate learning a little bit of the host country’s language to grease the wheels of acceptance when you land in a foreign country, but the country that we have to cover today makes that a bit redundant. After all, you already know English, so there’s no reason to learn it again.
The country we’re talking about is Antigua, and trust us — it’s definitely worth the write up. There are just so many neat and interesting things about Antigua that it’s hard to figure out where to begin.
So we might as well start from the top. Antigua is a Caribbean nation that used to be owned by the British. They actually received their independence in 1981, which means that the nation of Antigua has actually not been a nation for very long! It’s actually made of two islands that come together to form one nation. The island of Antigua and the island of Barbuda are referred to simply as Antigua by most tourists and most travel outlets. Speaking of travel, over the years Antigua has emerged as a serious tourism magnet. Lots of different tourists from all over the world flock to Antigua, but you might wonder why.

The answer is partially contained in the beauty of the island. The warm pink sand invites even the most hardcore urban warrior to relax and put their feet up. Of course, there are classic sugar-white sandy beaches waiting for tourists as well. Everything in Antigua is kept as clean as possible to encourage more travelers to really fly out and see what the country is all about.
When it comes to accommodations on Antigua, you actually have a lot to choose form. Like most travel destinations, it depends on the budget that setting aside for this vacation. If you really want to go for the cheapest vacation possible, then you’ll want to try to find more of a community dorm type situation on the island. There are a few small guesthouses that specialize in this type of accommodation, so don’t be afraid to hit them up first. Of course, if you’re on the other end of the spectrum where you want a more luxurious stay, then it’s really all about the resorts. They provide amazing accommodations that include a lot of amenities and activities. This is definitely a great option for the guest that really wants to be spoiled and taken care of from start to finish.
If you really want to go all out, there is an option that exists even above the resorts — private villas. Yes, it’s something that would be better for a long term stay in Antigua, like several weeks to a month. Still, it’s something wonderful to give you and your travel guests. It’s a one of a kind experience that would be hard to duplicate elsewhere. The beauty of the eastern Caribbean comes alive when it’s on your terms. You aren’t going to have to worry about sharing your villa with people that you haven’t met. It will basically be just you and your travel group. Of course, this is also a perfect option for newlyweds. You can plan your honeymoon in Antigua if you really wanted to, and that’s perfectly fine. It just depends on what goals you’re trying to accomplish by being in Antigua.
No matter what type of accommodation that you choose, you should always make sure that you book in advance. Spaces are limited and the competition to get great accommodation is quite fierce. This is not really the time to start thinking about a last minute trip to Antigua. While you could pull it off, you might not get your first choice of location in this fashion.

Now then, we’ve covered accommodation pretty well — it’s time to talk about food. If there’s one thing that travelers like to do while they’re on vacation, it’s definitely eat. Thankfully Antigua definitely doesn’t disappoint in this regard. If you really want to think about it from another perspective, you’ll find chances to savor the local cuisine as well as cuisine from around the world. Most tourist destinations have learned that catering to other cuisines is a great way to get more travelers to come in. That’s because when a specialty comes from outside of a country’s borders, there’s always a bit of a variation that’s added. So the Mexican dishes that you might be used to get their very own twist when they’re brought to Antigua. This can be the case for other cuisines around the world as well; it just depends on what type of restaurant that you go to.
Things are a bit more expensive on the island because things have to be imported, but there are still chances to eat well on a budget. If you have a room with a community kitchen or even a private kitchen, then you can save money by preparing your own meals. There are grocery stores on the island — after all, the residents of the island have to eat too!
If you want alcoholic beverages, this Caribbean nation definitely doesn’t disappoint. There are fantastic beers and different rum drinks to try, but it’s not necessary if you really don’t want to drink. There are pineapple drinks, guava drinks, and even passionfruit drinks. The usual imported sodas also exist as well if you really want to go back to those, but you might as well try to experience something new — you’re on vacation!
Safety is going to be an issue, but that could be said of any travel destination you come across. The nation of Antigua is relatively safe but crime exists everywhere. You don’t want to leave common sense behind in your luggage. You need to make sure that you dress appropriately for your visit. If you are seen with a large amount of priceless jewelry, then you’re clearly going to be a target for theft.
If you are only in Antigua because your cruise ship has docked here, it’s even more important to stay safe. Criminals prey on people that are only in the country for a short visit, and cruise ship passengers definitely fit that bill. If you get lost and disconnected from your cruise ship, there might be a world of problems there as well. So you will need to make sure that you keep an eye on your surroundings and avoid wandering off if you have to be elsewhere.
Where can you go from Antigua? Well, that’s the nice thing about Caribbean island hopping — everything is fairly close by! You can go to Barbuda and explore the island while staying within the country’s borders, but there’s much more than that. You can also go to Montserrat or St. Bart’s.
Yet with so many things to do on the island, you might not want to rush off just yet! Why not go explore the beaches — like Half Moon Bay, which has to be seen in person in order to fully appreciate the beauty of your surroundings? There’s also snorkeling and renting boats to laze about on the water. There are a few touches of nightlife, but really Antigua is more laid back than a serious destination for hardcore partying. A few local bands and other nightlife attractions keep life interesting when the sun goes down.
Shopping is something that also attracts quite a bit of attention. Some things are going to be overpriced, but there are ways to get nice mementos of the time you enjoyed. Don’t forget that you can bring back a few shells from the beach, or take plenty of pictures to reflect your trip. There are duty-free shops, but you will need to make sure that you show a plane ticket or your cruise ship pass in order to qualify for the duty-free designation. It’s just a way to make sure that locals aren’t getting those goods without paying the duty on them.
It’s a great time to visit Antigua, and there are so many different things that you can do on the island — including just relax! We’re not saying that you have to rush around the island just for the sake of staying busy. However, we do think that you should try to check out one or two activities that really move you — you never know what you’re missing until you check it out for yourself!