Is Antigua Worth the Hype?
We have a lot of clients who intend to visit Antigua for the first time and have been asking us what are some things to do and see on their visit and where to stay. If you are someone who has done citizenship by investment you are required to spend 5 days within the country during the first 5 years of getting citizenship and do an oath to the country. This video discusses visiting Antigua for the first first time.
I believe Antigua is a country that is worth visiting, especially if you became a citizen. I spend a lot of time there. There are often direct flights to the country from many countries around the world. Often you can get a flight to Antigua from Canada for around US$400 which is very affordable compared to traveling to other destinations.
If you have done Antigua & Barbuda citizenship by investment it is best to get in touch with us in advance of your arrival so that we can help plan time accordingly. You may want to open a local bank account during your visit and look at different property options as well. By preparing in advance, you can bring documents with you on your trip to conduct business locally.
I think my recommendations would vary if you are looking for more of a tourist visit or if you are looking for a more local experience. I typically stay at a house when I am in Antigua, so I don’t have much experience spending several days at a hotel. I have stayed at the Antigua Yacht Club Marina & Resort in English Harbour when I attended the annual Antigua Yacht regatta to be close to all the action. While it is not directly on a beach, you do have a lovely view of the harbour and are in close proximity to other beaches, Shirley Heights, and Nelson Dock Yard.
The North of the Island has more schools and where many local population live. It is close to the airport. There is Jolly harbour, which is often where I stay, that is an upcoming predominately expat area that is halfway between both sides of the island. I would personally avoid staying in the capital of St.Johns as it can be noisy and there is traffic. English Harbour is another lovely area where you may want to stay. There are plenty of different options from homes, hotels and villas. You could look at trip advisor and airbnb for different options. If you are a citizen of Antigua, you can check with your hotel about getting a discount for being a citizen and requesting the local rate.
If you want to see a really nice harbour with large boats there is English Harbour. The Club House has all you can eat Sushi on a Saturday night. A lot of people will go there to meet up and it can be a fun time. There is Nelson’s Dockyard, a cultural heritage site that was built in the 18th century. Depending what time of year you go, you can see a lot of boats. It’s a very Georgian era style dockyard and nice to visit. You don’t want to miss Shirley Heights lookout that offers a spectacular view of the Harbour. On Thursday night they have steel drums, reggae and food. On Sunday nights a lot of local people and expats will go there to enjoy the evening sunset. What I love to do is to hike up and down Shirley Heights and stop by Galleon bay beach for drinks or lunch. From Galleon Bay beach you can rent standup paddle boards and paddle around the bay. If you are into rum there is a rum distellery where you can make your own rum. In the English Harbour area, there is also Catherine’s cafe where there is live music on Sunday mornings and comfy beds to lie on.
Some other nice restaurants I enjoy include Sheer rocks for the beautiful views and the pools. If you want to swim in the small whirlpools they have it is best to check what days and times in advance in case they have reservations. One of my favourite restaurants in the North is Le Bistro which is a bit French style. Many people go there to celebrate their birthday. If you really want to do more local Papa Zouk.
If you are looking for adventure there is a boat tour where you circumnavigate the island of Antigua to give you more of an idea of the island where you can stop by Stingray city and stop at different beaches. You can also explore Barbuda for the day which is much quieter and visit pink sand beach, frigate bay birds and do a small hike. Barbuda is known for some of the most delicious lobsters.