In part I of Off-Season Travel: Antigua, West Indies, You bought the plane ticket to the island, have the paperwork to make going through customs a breeze. Now it is time to have some fun and take in the island life. Time to explore!

Caribbean Sea Side or Atlantic Ocean Side?

The beaches are pristine. If you are trying to decide which hotel and part of the island to stay at, let me provide some information.

On the east side (Atlantic Ocean), it’s quieter with the buses running less frequently as most locals have a car. Currently, there is a seaweed problem with the beaches being covered by it. 

One beach I recommend is going to is Half Moon Bay. You may not be able to lay on the beach, but the water is warm and inviting.

Walk around the beach and watch the ocean waves crash into the rock formations.

Perfect for taking photos. On the west side (Caribbean Sea), no seaweed, clear and calm turquoise color beaches. If you ask a local, they will say to stick with the Caribbean side.

Public Transportation

Most buses are driven by drivers who purchase their own bus with it coming down to making money versus convenience. At bus stations, drivers don’t depart until the bus is completely full.

I sat on a bus in which we waited 30 minutes to depart. I had time on my hands and didn’t mind. Some of the locals expressed their dissatisfaction with waiting.

I got a kick out of folks looking at me weird. Most westerners ride in taxis with air conditioning. Let me remind you, think 1USD each way compared to 30USD. As long as you have tunes, headphones and a book, it’s worth the wait.

Day 1

Sugar Ridge Resort is located in Jolly Harbor. There is a grocery store called Epicurean Fine Foods within a 6-minute walk of the hotel. The resort is beautiful, with many menu options and activities. Anytime I travel, I always try to eat local food versus what I have at home.

If you want to mix up fine dining and local food, I recommend eating at Carmichael’s at the resort. Along the roads, locals serve local food on the cheap. Fruits and vegetables are more expensive at the grocery store. 

The grocery store contains what you will find back at home. Some of the things you enjoy back at home, you will pay a lot more for them from being imported. There is a deli in which you can purchase hot food like chicken and hamburgers.

Something I found interesting is the use of Thousand Island dressing on burgers and shawarma. It reminded me of the McDonald’s Big Mac a little. Did McDonald’s get their secret sauce from Antigua?

Once settled, time for some sightseeing. The first tour I recommend is the island tour. The cost is 120USD, well worth it. This can be scheduled through the hotel or through the taxi driver you rode with.

This will help you to determine what other tours or places you would like to visit in more detail. 

The island tour I did took me to St. John’s, Freetown, English Harbor, Nelson’s Dockyard, Shirley Heights, Jolly Harbor, and Sir Viv Richards Stadium built-in 2007 for the Cricket World Cup.

In speaking with a local, I expressed noticing what looked like abandoned houses around the island.  He said that locals own their homes. Only-apartments you see are ones that are rented out for tourists. 

You will see houses that look abandoned. Some residents choose to save up for a house. Residents begin construction, stop when funds run out, and start again when more funds are available.

Others may take out a loan from the bank. Don’t forget to schedule that 60 min massage. J Spa along with shops are closed on Sundays, but the taxis and buses are available. 

Day 2

The resort offers a complimentary shuttle to nearby beaches and to St. John’s from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. I went to Turner’s Beach.

There is a local restaurant that serves burgers and seafood. I recommend ordering the catch of the day.

I ordered the snapper and it was delicious costing me $24.

There is no skimming as you get a whole snapper, rice, vegetables, and salad.

Be adventurous and ask about their popular rum drinks. Try a different drink other than a rum and coke. At the beach, you can rent a jet ski, snorkeling equipment, kayaks, and beach chairs.

Be sure to bring your camera to capture the turquoise colors of the Caribbean Sea. If it’s a clear day, in the distance you can see the island Montserrat. 

Day 3

Since Tuesday was my check out day, I made Monday my spa day to use that $300 gift certificate. The spa has a great listing of services making it difficult to decide on.

I started with a 60-minute beautifying body wrap followed by a 90-minute massage.

The resort has AVEDA products available for purchase with a 40% discount and you earn Pure Privilege points. After my spa day, it was time to take a dip in the pool, relax, and read a book.

Day 4

One good thing about the resort is checking out isn’t until noon. Again you can take a taxi to your next destination or there is a bus stop outside of the hotel.

I decided to continue my journey onto the Five Islands. I found a budget hotel for less than $80 per night called Inn La Galleria.

Breakfast was included and filling. The hotel is within a 5-minute walk to the beach. The place was clean and the breakfast was good.

There is a bus stop a couple of blocks away that takes you back into St. John’s. I decided to check out the capital city.

First, stop Heritage Quay for some duty-free shopping and people watching.

This is where cruise ships dock for the day and its tourist central running around.

If you are just in the mood for some food and drinks I recommend chilling at the Beehive or Cheers. Just a couple blocks away are the Antigua and Barbuda Museum. 

Day 5

Walk another 5 minutes and you will be at East Station. Take the 35 bus to the Ferry town and visit Half Moon Beach where it’s known for its pink sand.

Just be forewarned that the 35 bus doesn’t go all the way to the beach and you will have to walk about a mile.

To take the bus back to St. John’s you will need to walk back into the village to a bus stop or call for a taxi.  The water is warm and clear, but you will see piles of seaweed.

If you are into photography, you can walk around the beach to the rocks and take photos of nearby rock formations and watch the waves slam into the rocks. There are a restaurant and a stand that sells beverages.

In my case, I did take a bus and the driver got me as close to the beach as possible.

Buses run until 6 p.m., sometimes earlier on the east side of the island. Remember to have a transportation plan or else you may find yourself sleeping on the beach.

Once the sun goes down, St. John’s is night and day. Food places not open during the day open up. The city is bursting with activity. Check out an evening game of cricket and converse with the locals.

Roti is a must-try. Roti King opens at 5 p.m. and is located on St. Mary’s Street. If you are missing something American, there is a Burger King and a Subway.

I was feeling a craving for fries. My fast food of choice was chicken shawarma with fries.  There is a cinema where you can catch a movie. 

Day 6

As I continue around the island, today’s adventure consisted of visiting English Harbor. If you are into some history of Antigua, you should visit Nelson’s Dockyard.

Nelson’s Dockyard is named after Admiral Nelson. Here you can see ships, learn some early history, visit the museum, get some delicious baked goods and do some snorkeling.

Day 7

Skip the taxi to the airport and take the bus. 42 Coolidge will get you close to the airport. The walk to the airport is less than one mile. Cross the street and follow the sidewalk all the way to the airport terminal. 

Not ready to go home? Here is a wild idea. Extend your vacation and flyover to South America.

Snorkel with sea turtles and sea lions on San Cristobal, Galapagos Island, Ecuador.

Check out my blog post, Visit San Cristobal Island on the Cheap.