Antigua and Barbuda


Summary: Officially discovered by Columbus in 1493, these islands had been inhabited as early as 2400 BC. Mostly coral and limestone, making for a low-lying terrain, there are some higher volcanic areas that help to give the islands a varied coastline with many harbors and beaches. The economy relies on tourism, and roughly a third of all visitors are from the US.
City: 84,522
Capital: Saint John's
Time Zone: UTC-4
Population: 68,320
Languages: English
Power: 230 V, 60 Hz, with 110 V near the airport.
Currency: East Caribbean dollar - Currently 1 XCD = 0.3704 USD $
Climate: Antigua and Barbuda have a pleasant tropical climate with little seasonal temperature variation. - Currently 81º, Mostly Cloudy 


Destinations

Saint John's: Saint John's has sights to see just below the surface, and nice hotels in town ranging down to less expensive inns a little further on the outskirts. Among the places to visit are the Anglican Cathedral of St. John the Divine at Redcliffe Quay, and the Museum of Antigua and Barbuda, which was previously a courthouse built in 1750. Enjoy a walk through St. John's Market on a Saturday morning, get ready for the beach at the Trading Post, and note that cruise ship tourists pack into the Heritage Quay shopping complex.

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Barbuda: Located about 40 kilometers north of Antigua, many tourists leave Barbuda unexplored, that only means that the sights are less crowded. There are caves to explore, along with the great view from Martello Tower, but ecotourists will love to snorkel and admire the coral reefs or walk through the wildlife preserves.

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Beaches: There are over 300 small beaches and coves that make up the coast of Antigua, enough to give you sunburn if you see them all. Among the best are Half Moon Bay, Runaway Bay and Dickenson Bay, all in the same general area of the island. Keep your camera, snorkeling gear, and wallet handy. The views are great, the water is turquoise, and the vendors along Dickenson Bay offer t-shirts, snacks and other items of interest. Tips

Dress Codes: While there typically aren't codes per se, beachwear should be kept to the beach. Some of the nicer restaurants may require pants, jackets, or other smart casual attire.
When To Visit: Most tourists come from mid-December to mid-April, so costs are obviously lower at other times. Summer can get a few degrees warmer than the winter months, so most off-season visitors come during late April to June, and November to mid-December to miss out on any potential tropical storms.
Phrases: English is spoken everywhere, although a few local patois words and phrases slip in. Among them, fig means banana.
Tipping: Check your bill carefully, as a service charge of 10% may already have been added to your bill. If not, and check twice to be sure, standard tipping rules apply for 10% - 15% percent on top of the bill or taxi fare. The taxis have no meters as Antigua has fixed the rates.
Banks: Banks are open for the weekday mornings, but only open Friday afternoons, so keep that in mind if you run short of funds.