Planning a Trip

Visitor Information

You can contact the Antigua and Barbuda Department of Tourism at 305 E. 47th St., 6A, New York, NY 10017 (tel. 212/541-4117; fax 212/541-4789; www.antigua-barbuda.org); or 25 SE Second Ave., Suite 300, Miami, FL 33131 (tel. 305/381-6762; fax 305/381-7908). A toll-free number also gives information: tel. 888/268-4227. Operators are available Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm Eastern Time.

In Canada, contact the Antigua and Barbuda Department of Tourism and Trade, 60 St. Claire Ave. E., Suite 304, Toronto, ON M4T 1N5 (tel. 416/961-3085; fax 416/961-7218). In England the tourist office is at 45 Crawford Pl., London W1H 4LP (tel. 020/7258-0700).

On the island, the Antigua and Barbuda Department of Tourism, at the corner of Nevis Street and Friendly Alley (tel. 268/462-0480; fax 268/462-2483), is open Monday to Thursday 8am to 4:30pm and Friday 8am to 3pm.

Special Events -- The week before the first Tuesday in August, summer Carnival brings exotic costumes that recall Antiguans' African heritage. Festivities include a beauty competition, and calypso- and steel-band competitions. The big event in spring is Sailing Week in late April or early May.

Getting There

Before you book your flight, read the section on "Package Tours" in the Caribbean -- it could save you a bundle. Even if you don't book a package, there are lots of tips on finding the best airfare.

The major airline that flies to Antigua's V. C. Bird Airport is American Airlines (tel. 800/433-7300 in the U.S. and Canada; www.aa.com), which offers four daily nonstop flights to Antigua from its hub in San Juan, Puerto Rico. A flight takes about 1 1/2 hours, and each departs late enough in the day to allow easy transfers.

Continental (tel. 800/231-0856 in the U.S. and Canada; www.continental.com) has flights 3 days a week out of Newark, New Jersey.

British Airways (tel. 800/247-9297 in the U.S. and Canada; www.britishairways.com) flies daily from London's Gatwick Airport. Virgin Atlantic Airways (tel. 077/0574-7747 in the U.K., 800/821-5438 in the U.S. or Canada; www.virgin-atlantic.com) also offers nonstop flights from London.

Air Canada (tel. 888/247-2262 in the U.S. and Canada, or 268/462-1147; www.aircanada.ca) has regularly scheduled flights from Toronto to Antigua on Saturdays.

BWIA (tel. 800/538-2942 in the U.S. and Canada; www.bwee.com) is increasingly popular. Each week, flights depart for Antigua -- one from Toronto; five from Kingston, Jamaica; two from New York; and two from London.

US Airways (tel. 800/428-4322 in the U.S. and Canada, or 268/480-5700; www.usairways.com) offers nonstop flights from Philadelphia and Baltimore.

The Caribbean Star (tel. 866/864-6272 in the U.S. and Canada, or 268/480-2591; www.flycaribbeanstar.com), based in Antigua, flies from Miami and San Juan, as well as from some other islands.

Getting Around

By Taxi -- Taxis meet every airplane, and drivers wait outside the major hotels. If you're going to spend a few days here, a particular driver may try to "adopt" you. The typical one-way fare from the airport to St. John's is US$11 (£5.70), but to English Harbour it's US$31 (£16) and up. The government of Antigua fixes rates, and taxis are meterless.

Taxis aren't cheap, but they're the best way to see Antigua, as the drivers also act as guides. Most taxi tours go from the St. John's area to English Harbour. Drivers generally charge a flat rate of US$24 for three or four passengers and often wait 30 minutes or more while you sightsee around English Harbour. If you split the cost with another couple, these tours become more affordable.

To call a taxi in St. John's, dial tel. 268/460-8300.

By Rental Car -- To drive on island, you must obtain an Antiguan license, which costs US$12 (£6.25) and requires a valid driver's license from home. Most car-rental firms can issue you an Antiguan license, which they usually do without a surcharge. Remember: Drive on the left.

It's best to stick with the major U.S. rental companies rather than using a local agency. Try Avis (tel. 800/331-1212 in the U.S. and Canada, or 268/462-2847; www.avis.com) or Hertz (tel. 800/654-3131 in the U.S. and Canada, or 268/462-4114; www.hertz.com) for service at the airport. Another agency to try is Dollar on Factory Road, St. John's (tel. 800/800-4000 in the U.S. and Canada, or 268/462-0362; www.dollarcar.com).

By Bus -- Although buses are a cheap option, we don't recommend them for the average visitor. Service is erratic and undependable, and roads are impossibly bumpy. In theory buses operate between St. John's and the villages daily from 5:30am to 6pm, but don't count on it. In St. John's, buses leave from two different "stations" -- on Market Street near the Central Market, and on Independence Avenue adjacent to the Botanical Gardens. Most fares are US$1 (50p). There is no central information bureau to call for schedules.