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

My favorite restaurant in Antigua, next to Sandals of course,  is Hemingways in downtown Heritage Quay area. It looks above the downtown streets and directly across the street from Kings Casino. It is not open on Sundays. I got Lobster with lime sauce and a…Read More

My favorite restaurant in Antigua, next to Sandals of course,  is Hemingways in downtown Heritage Quay area. It looks above the downtown streets and directly across the street from Kings Casino. It is not open on Sundays. I got Lobster with lime sauce and a huge side dish of my choice was crab meat and sauces. Hemingways is on St. Mary's Street. It's in downtown St. Johns and is a charming green and white restaurant. It is upstairs in a wooden West Indian house, built about 1829. It opens from 8:30am until pretty late. They offer dinner, lunch, and snacks or tropical drinks... served on the veranda where I always eat. This is my third time. The place overlooks St. Mary's busy street and the duty-free Heritage Quay. The salads are fantastic, and sandwiches, burgers, seafood (my personal favorite), luscious desserts, and everything has this amazing Caribbean flavor. You can just watch the world go by as, I do every time that I go.    Close

There is a dock in Barbados where the cruise ship was stationed, and every morning, if you woke up early enough, you could see the fishermen sail into the horizon for their daily catch.…Read More

There is a dock in Barbados where the cruise ship was stationed, and every morning, if you woke up early enough, you could see the fishermen sail into the horizon for their daily catch.   Close

The horseback riding at the resort was nice. The horses fairly decent. They'll move if you prod enough. Helmets are available but not mandatory. English or Western saddles are available. It's okay to run the horses. Reasonably priced, at $40 for…Read More

The horseback riding at the resort was nice. The horses fairly decent. They'll move if you prod enough. Helmets are available but not mandatory. English or Western saddles are available. It's okay to run the horses. Reasonably priced, at $40 for 2 hours. A guided tour takes you along beach, by some restaurants and clubs, to the St. James. Stop for drinks and look at the fort and old cannons. Great view!! The guide's horse was nice-- a little Arab mix that loved to run.   Close

1. The Coast: Popular nightclub located in the heard of the capital. This venue consists of a restaurant and two dance floors, and draws a large crowd once the door opens. The restaurant serves good food, ranging from burgers USD $8 to grilled lobster…Read More

1. The Coast: Popular nightclub located in the heard of the capital. This venue consists of a restaurant and two dance floors, and draws a large crowd once the door opens. The restaurant serves good food, ranging from burgers USD $8 to grilled lobster $34. A wide variety of beverages are always available. Website: www.coast.ag

2. C&C Wine Bar: Not just for lovers of wine, but anyone who cares to have a good drink. The motto of this establishment is as follows 'I distrust camels and anyone else who can go a week without drink'. This venue is more of a chill out spot, with mellow music and tasty finger foods. Small groups looking for a peaceful night on the town would feel very welcome here.

3. Bayhouse Restaurant: Intimate setting and really good food makes this a popular dining destination for couples in Antigua. Located on a hill in Dickenson Bay, fresh island breeze caresses you while you indulge yourself in culinary masterpieces. Dress code is semi formal and dining costs won't break your bank account.

4. King's Casino: Located in St. Johns, this is Antigua's largest casino. There are over a dozen table games including BlackJack and Roulette. There are countless modern slot machines available as well, so come and try your luck. There is a taxi stand immediately outside and ATM machines are inside for your convenience.

5. Mad Mongoose: The party central of English Harbour. Nonstop fun and music is the way of life at this bar/club located right in the heart of the village. Many patrons are visitors to the island looking for action...and they find it here.

6. Shirley Heights Lookout: If you are lucky enough to be on island on a Sunday night, make your way to this national site, where there is a huge BBQ and party with big crowds and good music. This option is frequented by both visitors and locals alike.

All in all, there are many options to choose from, and the greatest tip of all is to drink responsibly!   Close

Antigua is the larger of the twin island state of Antigua and Barbuda. It's 106 square miles is filled with powdery sand beaches, friendly locals and a colorful culture. There are many attractions here than I viewed or took part in. The rainforest canopy tour…Read More

Antigua is the larger of the twin island state of Antigua and Barbuda. It's 106 square miles is filled with powdery sand beaches, friendly locals and a colorful culture. There are many attractions here than I viewed or took part in. The rainforest canopy tour was by far the bravest venture I dared here, and it was loads of fun. Other points of interest include the rocky cliffside tourist site of Devil's Bridge, the beautiful port of English Harbor and my favorite beach, Long Bay. Antiguans are very helpful to visitors and I had many questions for them. Needless to say, my stay there was a breeze thanks to the countless suggestions that the locals gave to me. I snorkeled, rode in a dune buggy, and strolled along the streets of St. John's, Antigua's capital. I always felt safe, and even went out at night a few times with friends. The nightlife was very lively, with upbeat music and good strong drinks. The alcohol is very affordable there. There are many tours which may interest future visitors. I for one, did the Antigua Helicopter tour and went out on a speed boat to one of the offshore islands, Bird Island. Antigua is a gem in the Caribbean, and I would recommend a visit to all.   Close

It's definitely worth renting a car if you like to explore. We had one for the entire trip, but just a few days would probably suffice. The roads are narrow and inundated with potholes, but almost all are paved. The island is…Read More

It's definitely worth renting a car if you like to explore. We had one for the entire trip, but just a few days would probably suffice. The roads are narrow and inundated with potholes, but almost all are paved. The island is a former British isle, so you do have to drive on the left, but it's not a problem. We rented through Expedia, but the resort will set it up for you with similar prices. For the week, we paid $440, insurance and temporary license included. Navigating is frustrating, but you just have to roll with it. We explored the entire island. English Harbour and Half Moon Bay are definitely worth the visit. We traveled Valley Road, Old Road and All Saints Road. The travel along Valley Road/Old Road is through "the rainforest". It's interesting. This is their "countryside". I'd say, "do it".

A nice discovery is a coffee shop as you travel from St. John's to Falmouth Harbour/ English Harbour called Carib Bean. We went there 3 times. It's quaint and they have a nice porch with a picnic table to enjoy your iced latte. If you enjoy good coffee, you won't be disappointed. We bought several bags and are still enjoying it today! Their phone number is 268-462-JAVA if you want to call ahead, but you don't need to. You have to pay attention, because their sign is a bit inconspicuous.

We only had one sketchy moment driving around. A local group (gang) tried to stop us as we drove through this confusing village trying to find Half Moon Bay. Maybe it was innocent, but I swerved and stepped on the gas. The rest of the week's driving was completely uneventful.

Half Moon Bay, if you can find it, is worth visiting. There's a beautiful beach with nothing on it. There were only two other groups of tourists there. It had beautiful white sand and was a nice spot to stretch our legs and cool our feet after the drive there. There are no resorts or anything on this beach. The other tourists had taken a taxi there, so that is an option, too.   Close

Many of the reviews had good things to say about St. John's. The only redeeming thing we found was a little homemade ice cream shop. We went into town twice. The first day, most things were closed and it was only locals…Read More

Many of the reviews had good things to say about St. John's. The only redeeming thing we found was a little homemade ice cream shop. We went into town twice. The first day, most things were closed and it was only locals hanging around. It was mostly, disappointing. It's pretty dirty, but we sort of expected that. The maps and roads are discouragingly confusing. So, we found ourselves in some pretty sketchy areas [lock doors] at times. This is from the perspective of someone that has traveled internationally alot and driven in many countries, including third-world. The second trip into St. John's was equally disappointing. We went on a day when one of the cruise ships had docked. All the shops were open, but none were really worth a visit. We grabbed our homemade ice cream fix and got out. Overall, unless you are craving the ice cream, stay away.   Close

St. John's is the main port and capital city of Antigua. There is a lot of shopping, dining, and historical attractions to see, and it is certainly worth spending a day walking around. The cathedral is beautiful and dominates the landscape. The Museum of Antigua…Read More

St. John's is the main port and capital city of Antigua. There is a lot of shopping, dining, and historical attractions to see, and it is certainly worth spending a day walking around. The cathedral is beautiful and dominates the landscape. The Museum of Antigua and Barbuda has good exhibitions on the early history of the island.

For those looking for a little local flavor, check out the farmer's market on Friday and Saturday morning, with lots of fresh fruits and even some crafts. This is my favorite thing to go see in St. John's.   Close

The Catamaran Marina is located in the village of Falmouth, on the South Eastern side of Antigua. The boats which normally dock there are small but modern fishing boats, along with modest private yachts. Some of these vessels hail from all over the world, while…Read More

The Catamaran Marina is located in the village of Falmouth, on the South Eastern side of Antigua. The boats which normally dock there are small but modern fishing boats, along with modest private yachts. Some of these vessels hail from all over the world, while a few are locally registered.

The marina has a decent sized jetty which leads out quite a distance into the Falmouth Harbour. Many boats line the jetty, and it's common to see folks hauling in their daily catch, while skippers and other sailors carry out general maintenance on their vessels such as washing the decks and folding nets.

My friend Aliz and I visited the marina to have a cup of coffee from the onsite cafe, Cambusa. After we were served, we took our drinks and went over to the beginning of the pier, sat down and swung our legs over the side. I had ordered a vanilla latte and it was nicely made with lots of froth at the top. However, I wasn't there just for the drink. I was there for the view.

The seascape from the jetty was absolutely brillant. The water could not have been a more inviting shade of blue, and the waves were oh so gentle, with only the barely noticeable bobbing of the smaller boats hinting that there were slight undercurrents. The water appeared to be as smooth as glass, allowing us to see beneath the surface up to a few feet below. Small schools of fish darted about, and I even made out a starfish on the sand bed.

In the distance, we could see rolling green hills with picturesque homes scattered on their slopes. Larger boats were docked out in the harbour, and smaller dinghies caused white sea spray as they transported crew members to and from the mainland.

Near to the jetty, a tiny bit of indented coastline, and a small stretch of sand resulted in a narrow beach. I'm talking about the kind of beach which would be crowded if forty people decided to visit at the same time. Those forty people would be battling for space along with the handful of palm trees which grew about five feet from the water's edge. Several beach chairs were propped up on the sand and a lonely speed boat near the shore added the finishing touches to the seemingly pocket-sized paradise.

The entire scenery was really nice to soak in, and the fact that our surroundings were so quiet only enhanced the moment. The Catamaran Marina is undoubtedly the place to enjoy a bit of solitude, enjoy a cup of joe with a good friend, or to share the wonderful views with a loved one.    Close