subject: Practical Travel Information For Antigua [print this page] Introduction
Antigua is an island in the West Indies and was named by Christopher Columbus in 1493 after an icon in Seville Cathedral, the Santa Maria de la Antigua.
The capitol of Antigua is St John's and it is located on the north-west of the island, with a deep natural harbour it is able to accommodate large cruise ships which now frequent the town.
Part of the British Empire for many years in 1967 Antigua becomes part of the Commonwealth, and in 1981 disassociated from Britain. The British roots can be seen in many ways but especially when the West Indies are playing Cricket and the whole islands seems to be watching.
Practical Information
V.C. Bird International Airport, located on the northeast corner of Antigua, is the point of entry for visitors arriving by air to Antigua & Barbuda. There are both direct flights and connections from North America via San Juan and St. Martin, and several weekly flights from Europe. Scheduled and charter services are also available to many of the neighbouring islands.
Flying times:
New York - 4 hrs. Miami - 3 hrs. Baltimore - 4 hrs. Toronto - 4 hrs. Puerto Rico - 1 hr. London - 8 hrs. Frankfurt - 9 1/4 hrs. Paris - 10 hrs.(via Guadeloupe or St Martin)
Please note that there is a departure tax for all tourists, payable when leaving the island of US$28 or EC$70
The currency of Antigua and Barbuda is the Eastern Caribbean Dollar, although US dollars are widely accepted. However, unless the price is shown in US dollars, it is usually works out better to use the EC dollars.
Visa Requirements
National of Commonwealth countries (with exception of Nigeria), EC countries and some other stipulated countries do not need a visa to travel to Antigua and Barbuda.
Passports must have a minimum of 6 months validity from the date of return and visitors can stay for 3-6 months without special permission, provided you have a valid onward ticket and enough funds to support yourself without working.
When to visit
Although the island is relatively dry throughout the year, the peak season in Antigua is from the middle of December to the middle of April, when the island has the least rain, humidity and heat.
Travellers wishing to avoid the large crowds and enjoying a cheaper holiday should consider traveling during the low season which runs from mid-April to late November. During this time there is more rainfall but it is usually in short bursts but can be very heavy and the temperature does increase during this time as well.
by: Matt Coe
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