We went to the town of St. John for a morning of shopping. There were many duty-free shops throughout the town, and we were able to compare prices and get some great bargains on watches, and jewelry. I didn't think that the prices…Read More

We went to the town of St. John for a morning of shopping. There were many duty-free shops throughout the town, and we were able to compare prices and get some great bargains on watches, and jewelry. I didn't think that the prices were any better than any other place you can go to duty-free shops, however they had a great selection.

If you are staying on Antigua and plan to go shopping, I would recommend researching the days where there is a lot of cruise activity in port and avoid those days when possible. The town was very busy with people and you may find it less hectic when the cruise ship passengers aren't also there competing for a good price.

You can find some great discounts on local postcards, and walk a few blocks to the post office to mail them out.

There is a casino in town, that we didn't go to, it looked small and run down from the outside and we thought our time would be better spent roaming the streets, and then heading back to the beach. We never had any concerns about safety while exploring the downtown shopping area of St. John, Antigua. The sales people were friendly but not as pushy as some of the duty free shops I have been to on other islands, so the overall experience was better than in other places.

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So after a lazy afternoon and feeding our faces with yet more fish and lobster, we headed into town for the Queen contest. From what we saw, the contest is not unlike Miss America, on a much smaller scale. The portions we saw were the swimsuit…Read More

So after a lazy afternoon and feeding our faces with yet more fish and lobster, we headed into town for the Queen contest. From what we saw, the contest is not unlike Miss America, on a much smaller scale. The portions we saw were the swimsuit competition knit bikinis are apparently the height of Barbudan fashion, the talent competition, and the eveningwear/interview competition. Perhaps the most interesting part was the talent competition. Each of the five contestants spoke about an issue they were passionate about, which led into a song. Issues such as teenage pregnancy, STDs, listening to your parents, and embracing the visitors to the island, were common. The last one particularly tickled our small group, as it was obvious we were the only non-natives at the event. What was even more comical was that the tourists she was referring to were people from Nevis, Antigua, and other Caribbean islands. We were all a bit overtired from the sun and fun, plus my stomach was rather upset, so unfortunately we didnt stay for the crowning. The next morning we heard that the after-party went until 6am! Close

The dawned overcast and the sunrise was a bust. But I was up and since I only had a few short days in paradise, I wasn't wasting any time. With miles of sandy shore right in front of the beach house, I set off on…Read More

The dawned overcast and the sunrise was a bust. But I was up and since I only had a few short days in paradise, I wasn't wasting any time. With miles of sandy shore right in front of the beach house, I set off on an early morning walk. I was thorougly enjoying myself until a bird decided to deposit the remains of his breakfast on my shoulder. Sigh. No matter, it was almost time to meet my traveling companions for breakfast. After a quick stop in my room to change, I headed to the clubhouse and enjoyed the most amazing fruit crepes drizzled with chocolate sauce. Yum! Our plan for the morning was snorkeling at Spanish Point. A taxi took us over to the dock and we loaded onto the Suzie Q2 with Wendell as our driver. After a leisurly tour of the coastline, we arrived at Spanish Point. In the distance you can see the point where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Caribbean Sea. There's a clear deliniation, almost as if there's on invisible wall between the two. One one side, it's royal blue (the Atlantic) and the other, amazing turquoise (the Caribbean Sea). After a quick lesson for the first time snorkelers (cough, me, cough) we were off. The water was shallow, never going above my head, and clear. We swam out and let the current bring us back to the boat. We drifted over reefs teeming with fish and lobsters. Wendell even caught a lobster using a pole with an adjustable loop at the end. Several hours and much sunburn later, we were back at The Beach House for a lazy afternoon by the pool. The plan for the evening was dinner and then a ride in to town. The weekend of our visit was the Caribana Festival and that night was the crowning of the Queen.Close

I love visiting new places. It's the actual getting there part I hate. When I arrive at Orlando airport two hours early for the first of my three flights, I find that it's already delayed an hour. Sigh. After winding my way through the international…Read More

I love visiting new places. It's the actual getting there part I hate. When I arrive at Orlando airport two hours early for the first of my three flights, I find that it's already delayed an hour. Sigh. After winding my way through the international check-in line, I find out that my connection has to be re-booked because, "there's no way you're going to make it." Fine, whatever, do what you must.

Miraculously we take off only one hour late and land in San Juan in plenty of time for me to make my original connection. Only, I've already been re-booked, so I'm stuck. I check in for my new flight to Antigua, only to find out that I'm looking at a 40-minute delay. Well heck, that doesn't bode well for my flight to Barbuda. At this point I'm figuring on spending the night in Antigua.

What I didn't realize was that my flight to Barbuda was a charter. I was traveling with a group and the organizer had booked us on a charter. Lucky for me, as they were able to hold the plane for little ol' me. The general manager of The Beach House shepereded me quickly through customs and immigration and we were off to the plane.

And what a plane it was! A grand total of eight seats and not much bigger than an SUV, but it got us there. I was sitting in the second row and I swear I was closer to the pilot that I would have been to the driver had I been sitting in the back seat of a car!

Flying that low in the Caribbean is amazing. You can make out tons of reefs and watch boats as they whiz along. After about 20 minutes of fly time, we arrived in Barbuda.

Barbuda is flat. Very flat. The airport consists of one runway, sans landing lights, and one building which houses the check-in and immigration/customs desks. Literally two desks and half a dozen folding chairs. Besides flying from Antigua, the only other way to get there is by ferry from Antigua, which takes 2 to 3 hours.

We loaded into our taxi, really an old passenger van, and we were on our way. Paved roads? Not so much. The center of town? A bank, an ice cream parlor, a church, a restaurant, and a day care center, along with a few miscellaneous buildings. Outside of town, the land is flat and filled with scrubby vegetation. Wild burros, horses, cows, and goats roam freely. Definite culture shock for a girl who grew up just outside New York City.

After a bouncy half hour, we arrived at The Beach House on Palmetto Point. With only 21 rooms, it's an intimate luxury property geared towards honeymooners and couples seeking solitute and romance. Every room has an ocean view and comes with a service ambassador to help with your every need.

After settling into my room and a quick shower, it was off to dinner. Fish, shellfish, fish, fish, fish, shelfish, and, oh yeah, fish and shellfish are on the menu. There are, of course, plenty of other options, however the menu is largely dependant on what The Beach House is able to source from Antigua.

With my stomach full from the four course meal, it was off to bed early. The plan was to wake early and catch the sunrise from my private deck. The marshmallow-y softness of the bed cuddled me as I drifted off to sleep.

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There were on-site activities for guests to participate in, whether it be limbo dancing, watching a fashion show, or getting a group together for beach volleyball. One night was karaoke night, which was a big hit with our family. All three children felt…Read More

There were on-site activities for guests to participate in, whether it be limbo dancing, watching a fashion show, or getting a group together for beach volleyball.

One night was karaoke night, which was a big hit with our family. All three children felt comfortable getting up on stage and singing their favorite songs. This was an accomplishment, considering one of our children is quite shy on stage. Our 15-year-old won for best song. They gave her a bottle of rum...which remains unopened. It is going to age for a few more years.

We had fun at the limbo night and listening to the "Superstar" steel drum band. The limbo dancer was a hoot. He really played up to the audience. And was he ever flexible. He started with the limbo bar about 2 feet off the ground. He would strategically place burning torches at places where most people would hate to get burned, if they moved the wrong way. He also balanced a torch on his head and he went under the bar. He went down to 8 inches off the ground! Wow!

During the day, the children could play table tennis or beach volleyball. There was even an aerobics class in the pool.

One evening the resort held a manager's party. They served drinks and snacks. It was a very nice selection of fruit, vegetables, and hors d'oeuvres. We were able to talk right to the resort manager, extend our compliments or address any concerns and he was very attentive and interested in what we had to say. We appreciate that in management.

There is a different themed buffet dinner every evening, and there are some evening events where you can win a prize if you dress up...take a pirate costume with you!

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From the Rex, we took a taxi. It was on the opposite end of the island, so you do have to travel quite a distance, hence a $17US charge per person. Our driver mentioned the names of towns as we went through them and we…Read More

From the Rex, we took a taxi. It was on the opposite end of the island, so you do have to travel quite a distance, hence a $17US charge per person. Our driver mentioned the names of towns as we went through them and we stopped once to get a few pictures of Nelson's Dockyard off in the distance. We found out later that we should have received a much more informative tour for that amount of money. If you're staying at the Rex, ask for a taxi driver named "Business." He was very informative when we used him on other trips. Book your taxi trips right at the taxi desk. They have set rates.

Upon arriving at the top of Shirley Heights (Admiral Shirley, by the way) you must pay an entrance fee of $10 EC per person. These can be turned in for your first drink.

Bypass the vendors for now, you can get better deals as the evening progresses. We got Marakas for $3US each. He wanted $5 at the beginning.

When arriving at the restaurant area, grab a seat. They are always overbooked on a Sunday night and the meal you are about to eat requires both hands! When you're ready, turn your tickets in for a drink. You can purchase drinks after that. Prices were around $5-6EC for juice, $4-5 for pop, and $5-6 for beer. They had mixed drinks too. We also took a water bottle. Water is not as plentiful as many of us are used to.

The barbecue is going when you get there. The chicken is great, as were the burgers. Example of prices: chicken or cheeseburgers (in EC) were $21.50, hot dog $16, burger $18, ribs $42, and lobster $72. These all came with a potato and green salad. Note that the barbecue sauce that they will dip your food into, if asked, is a bit spicy for a child, mild to medium for adults.

The view is fantastic! It was a bit cloudy on the evening we were there, but if you get a sunny evening, be sure to take pictures. You overlook English Harbor. You can see all the tall masts of the ships moored there. After dark, all of the ships have lights on them (one of the pictures below will show this). Be sure to walk around the area before it gets too dark. There are many trails and points of interest and views.

There were three different steel drum bands playing through the evening. You can dance, relax, and meet new people. Even all three children enjoyed themselves.

Remember that there are only two toilets for women (same for men, but there's never a line). Make sure you locate them early - you will have to stand in line.

Overall, we would definitely do this again.

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Spanish Point is another peaceful anchorage spot if you are sailing, as we were. If you arrived by air, you can reach Spanish Point by taxi. Sailors must be vigilant when approaching Spanish Point since it is surrounded by reefs, but these same reefs…Read More

Spanish Point is another peaceful anchorage spot if you are sailing, as we were. If you arrived by air, you can reach Spanish Point by taxi. Sailors must be vigilant when approaching Spanish Point since it is surrounded by reefs, but these same reefs provide all visitors with excellent snorkeling.

If you are water-logged by this point in your trip, there are several nice excursions you can embark on by foot from Spanish Point. A northeastly route takes you to one beautiful beach after another. You may begin to feel like you are a star in one of those fresher, footloose, and/or fancy-free commercials. Nevertheless, should you encounter any wild donkeys along this route, take care; we were told that the males are extremely protective.

If you enjoy ruins, you will want to take the northwest route. This will take you past an old fort ruin. If you continue walking west, you will find the remains of an old supply dock. There are a couple of little beaches here, as well, should you choose to rest or take a dip before starting your trip back to Spanish Point.

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Codrington Village is the main town on the island, which has a total population of only 1600. If you plan to sail from Barbuda to an island other than Antigua and Barbuda, you will have to go into the village to clear out since…Read More

Codrington Village is the main town on the island, which has a total population of only 1600. If you plan to sail from Barbuda to an island other than Antigua and Barbuda, you will have to go into the village to clear out since Antigua and Barbuda form an independent nation. But even if you've flown to the island or plan to sail only back to Antigua, I recommend you make the trip to the village. It's a soothing experience.

Codrington Village is named for the Codrington family who leased the island from England in 1685 for the price of one sheep. The Codrington estates were on the island of Antigua, but the family grew livestock and crops on Barbuda. We were told that the ancestors of the current natives of Barbuda were originally imported as slaves by the Codrington family. Slaves were cross-bred in an attempt to produce bigger, stronger workers, and we certainly saw evidence of this in some of the natives we encountered. The NFL scouts need to recruit here!

We dragged our dinghy across the beach and motored across Codrington Lagoon to reach Codrington Village. There is a small boat dock there, and the natives, who were there relaxing and watching their children as they played in the water, were very friendly and helpful. One motioned for me to throw him our painter (dingy rope, for the non-boaters) and secured it to one of the dock posts. All there were more than helpful in giving us directions to the customs office, which we were seeking.

Those who are new to the Caribbean or who have traveled only the main roads of the major islands may be shocked by Codrington Village. The houses are so tiny I find it hard to believe that they could accommodate more than a single bed with a sink and toilet. Nevertheless, we were told that these small abodes house microwave ovens, large TVs, and VCRs in addition to beds and bathroom facilities.

Codrington Village offers none of tourist attractions that you can find elsewhere in the Caribbean, and there are only a couple of restaurants. (There are also a couple of shops where you can pick up some postcards or a memento of the trip.) Its charm is the aura of total relaxation that surrounds you as you stroll down the streets and exchange greetings with the unhurried, happy natives who reside in the tiny, but tidy, houses.

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How many beaches can a person see on one island? The answer is 365. Antigua alone has 365 beautiful beaches: That is one beach per day in a year. ONE BEACH PER DAY. Each one completely different from the other.My wife and I decided to…Read More

How many beaches can a person see on one island? The answer is 365. Antigua alone has 365 beautiful beaches: That is one beach per day in a year. ONE BEACH PER DAY. Each one completely different from the other.
My wife and I decided to do a shore excursion to visit one these sublime beaches. We had the very pleasure to visit the beach of Sandheaven.
The sun was crisp and soothing. The crystal-clear water was cool and refreshing. Waves crashing towards the beaches like a hard-hit tackle in a football game.
I had a welcoming French-speaking tour guide. This lady excited me because of the fact she spoke French: I wanted to see how skilled my French was. I thought of all the many hours of French classes I took since I was in middle school just to lead me to THIS moment. However, I was too nervous to eek a lick of French until I said "merci" to her after she told me where the bathroom was.
In order to recover from my failed attempt to talk French, I decided to get a delicious, fruity rum punch. This drink was a bit strong in the alcohol department, yet I managed to drink it all down. Très bien.
With my alcoholic drink in my system, I went walking on the beach with the cool, white sands caressing my feet until I noticed the atmosphere. The atmosphere fun and relaxing, with everyone laughing and enjoying themselves, but this was not to last. It started to rain; however, it was funny because everyone was packing up like the rain was the plage.
Now that I have knocked out one beach on this island, I have 364 more beaches to go. As the title say, "One beach down, 364 more to go."Close

I went after finding out that Paradise Fitness Center, downtown near the Largest Catholic church and the Museum, is open 7 Days a week. I had to pay only a mere 20.00 E.C., with their money being 2 and a half times less, it was…Read More

I went after finding out that Paradise Fitness Center, downtown near the Largest Catholic church and the Museum, is open 7 Days a week. I had to pay only a mere 20.00 E.C., with their money being 2 and a half times less, it was not even $10.00. They have two floors, a spacious upstairs with state of the art treadmills, bikes, and various size weights. Downstairs is a nice mini bar, with vitamin and fruit juices, very reasonable—$2 at the most.They didn't have cards to put their telephone number on, but I have it jotted down and will add it to my journal soon! I got in a wonderful 1 hour workout. The fitness center included nautilus weight machines and dumbbells downstairs, and upstairs there were fitness balls for the ladies and the men, and whomever want to use them. They also had weighted waist sticks and machines, they have it all! Close