The Archetypal Caribbean Island

The islanders are laid-back and the pace is easy going – until after dusk when the tempo picks up, or it is Carnival time…or the cricket starts. It is very easy to pass every day of the year on one of the 365 beaches available, but there is also a wealth of adventures to be had beneath the ocean or in the rainforest. With daytime temperatures averaging, consistently throughout the year, between 27C and 31C visitors can be pretty certain the weather will be good and the refreshing trade-winds ensure things don’t get too hot and sticky.

A Diverse Colourful Cocktail – Antigua is a melting pot of different cultures – the African heritage combined with European influences and West Indian traditions infuse creating an Antiguan cocktail of colour, joy and creativeness. Celebrations like Carnival are a distinctive aspect of Antiguan society and take place in July and August for ten days in honor of the 1834 emancipation from slavery. Visitors will be treated to parades from costumed participants and a variety of music including calypso. Semana Santa (Easter) is a unique and vibrant traditional festival that will almost certainly be quite unlike any other. The city is transformed by laying intricately woven alfombras (carpets) through the streets, while hundreds of people form a procession over them that lead a route to the churches. It is truly a memorable experience. There is obviously a strong British connection with Antigua that dates back to colonialism and the arrival of coffee and sugar plantations.

Antigua achieved full independence in 1981 and plantations still form part of their agriculture on a much smaller scale with coffee being a highly prized and well regarded commodity; however tourism is the driving force of the country’s economy. Horatio Nelson gave Antigua its name and in 1784 he landed on the island in order to develop the naval facilities at English Harbour. Today it is the only Georgian facility still in use and attracts a world-wide interest from yacht owners and tourists alike and the striking buildings have been transformed an art centre and a nautical museum as well as elegant bars, shops and restaurants. Antigua also has a liberal smattering of celebrity holiday home-owners including musician Eric Clapton, designer Giorgio Armani, author Ken Follett and everyone’s favourite Oprah Winfrey to name a few. Mere mortals also find a happy existence on this idyllic island and singles, newly-weds and families of every budget will find a beach that they could almost have to themselves.

An Accessible Idyll By Air Or Sea – The island is an easy destination to access with direct flights from around the world. It is also a popular port of call on the Caribbean circuit for the cruise ships, which arrive in the harbour capital of St Johns. As mentioned before the temperature is usually consistent though the most popular time to cruise around the Caribbean is over the winter season and it really is the perfect destination when the weather in Europe is cold and wet. The bitesize introductions to a variety of prestige destinations that cruising can offer, combined with 5* facilities, a unique dining experience as well as family centred entertainment on-board provide the perfect chance to sample new experiences, so that when visitors return to the island for an extended stay it comes with a wonderful feeling of familiarity.