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Antigua Hotels European Plan
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Introduction to Antigua
Antiguans boast that they have a
different beach for every day of the year. That may be an
exaggeration, but the beaches here are certainly spectacular: Most
are protected by coral reefs, and the sand is often sugar white.
Antigua, Barbuda, and Redonda form the
independent nation of Antigua and Barbuda, within the Commonwealth
of Nations. Redonda is an uninhabited rocky islet of less than a
square mile, located 32km (20 miles) southwest of Antigua. Barbuda,
which lies 42km (26 miles) to the north of Antigua, is covered at
the end of this chapter.
Antigua (An-tee-gah) may be an
independent nation, but it is still British in many of its
traditions. Economically, it has transformed itself from a
poverty-stricken island of sugar plantations to a modern-day
vacation haven. The landscape of rolling, rustic Antigua is dotted
with stone towers that were once sugar mills.
The inland scenery isn't as dramatic as
what you'll find on St. Kitts, but, oh, those beaches! If you want
high rises and glittering gambling and nightlife, head elsewhere,
perhaps to Puerto Rico. Antigua does have some casinos, but they're
hardly a reason to visit, and most of its hotels are intimate one-
or two-story inns rather than glitzy, sprawling resorts. In general,
the dining and shopping of Antigua are comparable to those of St.
Kitts but don't hold up to those of St. Maarten or the U.S. Virgin
Islands.
Most locals will treat you with respect
if you show them respect, but Antigua is hardly the friendliest of
islands in the Caribbean -- too much unemployment, too great a gap
between rich and poor.
Most hotels, restaurants, beach bars, and
watersports facilities lie north of the capital of St. John's, in
the northwest. St. John's is a large, neatly laid-out town 10km (6
1/4 miles) from the airport and less than a mile from Deep Water
Harbour Terminal. This port city is the focal point of commerce and
industry and the seat of government and shopping. Protected within a
narrow bay, St. John's is charming, with cobblestone sidewalks and
weather-beaten wooden houses with corrugated iron roofs and louvered
Caribbean verandas. Trade winds keep the wide streets cool. Since
all the major resorts are on good beaches, most visitors tend to
stay put, going into St. John's for a day's shopping jaunt or to
English Harbour for some history.
Before volcanic ash covered much of
Antigua's neighbor, Montserrat, that little island was a destination
in its own right. It was once a haven for many American expatriates,
mostly retired couples, and at one time was the Caribbean island of
choice for music stars like Paul McCartney, who came here to write
and record songs.
Montserrat is slowly bouncing back,
hoping to recapture the tourism it used to enjoy. Until the volcanic
dust settles, however, it is most often visited as a day trip from
Antigua, mainly by curiosity or adventure seeker.
Additional Information about travel to Antigua
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Brimming
with beaches, it is said that 
