Antigua and Barbuda
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Antigua and Barbuda Information

Travel Tips and Advice for Travelling to Antigua and Barbuda

Getting Around

There are several different methods to get around Antigua and Barbuda. Besides renting a vehicle, you may also consider the following:

  • Air – Light aircraft are handled with a small Barbuda airstrip located in Codrington. If you choose to fly between Antigua and Barbuda, the most suitable carrier is Antigua Barbuda Montserrat Air, which also connects the island of Montserrat with Antigua and Barbuda. Besides aircraft, though, you may also opt for the available helicopter ride via companies and tour operators like Simply Antigua Barbuda (you can check out their website here: Caribbean Helicopters – Simply Antigua Barbuda) from Antigua to Barbuda and/or Montserrat. There is also an operator, Calvin Air Helicopters (Tours - CalvinAir Helicopters) that also offers helicopter rides to Antigua and Montserrat, but not to Barbuda. That being said, your hotel might be able to arrange private helicopter transfers for you. Kindly note, though, that if you want to fly from Barbuda to other Caribbean islands, you will have to head to Antigua and take a flight from VC Bird International Airport to whichever destination you have selected.
  • Buses – There is convenient public transport to use, although most buses serve local routes and start from St. John’s and operate between the capital and the villages on a daily basis. For tourist routes, you might need to take a taxi instead. That being said, the bus services also tend to be undependable and somewhat erratic. Plus, the road infrastructure is quite poor, with lots of bumps and potholes. In addition, there is a rather limited number of runs after the late evening hours between St. John’s and more remote areas. However, it is an extremely cheap means of transport, with fares around $1 at the time of this writing. Unfortunately, you cannot get more information about the offered schedules via a central information bureau at this given time.
  • Taxis – You will find taxi stations outside major hotels and the airport offering their services at standardised rates (the taxis here are meterless). What is great about taking a taxi is that your taxi driver can become an excellent guide if you want to (most taxi drivers are qualified as tour guides). So, although taking a taxi will cost you quite a lot, compared to using the bus or renting a car, you get an entirely different experience than if exploring the islands on your own. To cut down on the cost of a taxi tour, you could consider splitting the cost with another couple. You can identify a taxi by the letters “TX” on its licence plates. You can pay for a taxi in USD but always ask for the rate you will be charged for the selected route before you get inside the taxi.
  • Rental Car – You can hire a vehicle for your island ventures even before you travel to Antigua or Barbuda. Organising such things ahead of time enables you to enjoy more stress-free and comfortable experiences when you get to Antigua or Barbuda. You will need a valid driver’s licence issued in your home country and a local permit before you can be allowed to drive a car in Antigua. You can ask the selected car hire agency for their assistance to get the temporary local permit issued. At the time of this time, there is no mileage, and hire rates to apply on a daily basis. You can identify a rental car by the letter “R” on its licence plates. The fact that they are so easily distinguishable makes them easy targets for car thefts, so kindly ensure you take all precautionary measures to prevent being robbed (i.e. not leave valuables inside the car when you are away). It is also advised to use a booster seat or child seat if visiting Antigua or Barbuda with a child due to the poor road conditions. However, these are not provided by local car hire companies.
  • Bicycle or Moped – Many top-tier rental car companies also hire bikes and mopeds. Some elite hotels also enable their guests to rent one. Now, if you would rather ride a motorcycle, Jolly Harbour is where you will find some reputed rental motorcycle agencies.


Driving in Antigua & Barbuda

Driving is on the left-hand side of the road and you will need to be over 21 years of age to drive a car in Antigua or Barbuda. You will also have to get a local driving permit that is valid for 90 days and can be usually acquired from the rental car agency of your choice (kindly check with them). At the moment of this writing, the permit costs $20. As for the speed limit, it is around 30 kph (about 20 mph) in residential areas and around 60 kph (nearly 40 mph) on other roads. To detect how fast you drive, local police may use roadside speed guns (no speed cameras have been installed so far).

Considering the driving experience per se, both Antigua and Barbuda are small islands, so everything can be easily reached by car in under an hour. The road infrastructure, on the other hand, is fairly good with the main roads being in generally reasonable condition. This is not always the case with smaller roads, though, which usually have potholes and slower-moving cars. That being said, the locals appear to be relaxed drivers that do not rush or exhibit the rather aggressive driving behaviours we often see in other Caribbean destinations. On the contrary, they will often stop alongside you at junctions to give you help or instructions if you need either one.

When headed toward the beaches, expect them to be adequately signposted. Finally, at this given time, Barbuda is on the road to recovery after the 2017 Hurricane Irma disaster, with most of its roads in still quite poor condition. However, it is expected to bounce fully back in a short time!


Electricity

The standard voltage in Antigua and Barbuda is 230 V (standard frequency of 60 Hz). This means that travellers from the USA, Australia, Canada, and several more countries, European and not, will need to bring an adapter or voltage converter. As for the plug types in Antigua and Barbuda, they are either Type A or Type B. The first is a 2-pin plug while the second is a 2-pin plug with an extra grounding pin.


Tap Water

The CDC (the US Center for Disease Control) has advised against drinking Antigua’s tap water, while also deeming Barbuda’s tap water as unsafe to drink. However, many travellers and locals drink it without facing any health issues. Nevertheless, it is best to stay on the safest side and opt for bottled water, which is widely available and cost-effective.


Health Considerations – Bug Bites

Mosquitoes, fleas, and ticks cause the biggest concern in Antigua and Barbuda and are able to spread several diseases through their bites. Sadly, there are no vaccines or medicines to help prevent these diseases, which is why the only way to avoid bug bites and their potentially adverse effects is by acting precautionary.

So, try to wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants, especially after sunset or when around lush greenery. It is also wise to sleep in screened or A/C rooms and apply an appropriate insect repellent, such as a product that contains at least 20% DEET for protection against mosquitoes and ticks for several hours.

For protection against mosquito bites exclusively, you may use a product that contains any of the following substances as their main ingredient: DEET, IR3535, Oil of lemon eucalyptus, picaridin (aka picaridin or bayrepel), PMD (para-menthane-diol), or 2-undecanone. Of course, the higher the percentage of the active compound, the longer the provided protection.

Finally, if you are beaten by a bug, you could apply calamine lotion or hydrocortisone cream to reduce itching.


Tipping in Antigua and Barbuda

Just like the majority of the Caribbean islands, tipping is quite customary and common in Antigua and Barbuda. However, different things apply to different situations when it comes to tipping on the two islands. For example, a 10% tip if expected from you when taking a taxi in Antigua and Barbuda. For hotels, resorts, and villas, tipping is also anticipated, unlike other Caribbean destinations where it is not mandatory. So, the maid will expect around $2-3 EC$ from you per night, while you should tip the bellboy around that much (at least EC$2) per bag they carry.

Restaurants are a different story as they often add 10% to their bills. In this case, a 5% tip is quite common. If the restaurant bill does not include the 10% mentioned above, you should leave 15% of the bill as a tip. Finally, bartenders are usually tipped 10% of the bill, while all-inclusive resorts and hotels usually include a gratuity in their bills, so no need to leave a tip unless, of course, you want to, for receiving exceptional services. Nevertheless, kindly check the fine print to find out what is expected from you in regard to tipping.

Travel Tips and Advice for Travelling to Antigua and Barbuda

Getting Around

There are several different methods to get around Antigua and Barbuda. Besides renting a vehicle, you may also consider the following:

  • Air – Light aircraft are handled with a small Barbuda airstrip located in Codrington. If you choose to fly between Antigua and Barbuda, the most suitable carrier is Antigua Barbuda Montserrat Air, which also connects the island of Montserrat with Antigua and Barbuda. Besides aircraft, though, you may also opt for the available helicopter ride via companies and tour operators like Simply Antigua Barbuda (you can check out their website here: Caribbean Helicopters – Simply Antigua Barbuda) from Antigua to Barbuda and/or Montserrat. There is also an operator, Calvin Air Helicopters (Tours - CalvinAir Helicopters) that also offers helicopter rides to Antigua and Montserrat, but not to Barbuda. That being said, your hotel might be able to arrange private helicopter transfers for you. Kindly note, though, that if you want to fly from Barbuda to other Caribbean islands, you will have to head to Antigua and take a flight from VC Bird International Airport to whichever destination you have selected.
  • Buses – There is convenient public transport to use, although most buses serve local routes and start from St. John’s and operate between the capital and the villages on a daily basis. For tourist routes, you might need to take a taxi instead. That being said, the bus services also tend to be undependable and somewhat erratic. Plus, the road infrastructure is quite poor, with lots of bumps and potholes. In addition, there is a rather limited number of runs after the late evening hours between St. John’s and more remote areas. However, it is an extremely cheap means of transport, with fares around $1 at the time of this writing. Unfortunately, you cannot get more information about the offered schedules via a central information bureau at this given time.
  • Taxis – You will find taxi stations outside major hotels and the airport offering their services at standardised rates (the taxis here are meterless). What is great about taking a taxi is that your taxi driver can become an excellent guide if you want to (most taxi drivers are qualified as tour guides). So, although taking a taxi will cost you quite a lot, compared to using the bus or renting a car, you get an entirely different experience than if exploring the islands on your own. To cut down on the cost of a taxi tour, you could consider splitting the cost with another couple. You can identify a taxi by the letters “TX” on its licence plates. You can pay for a taxi in USD but always ask for the rate you will be charged for the selected route before you get inside the taxi.
  • Rental Car – You can hire a vehicle for your island ventures even before you travel to Antigua or Barbuda. Organising such things ahead of time enables you to enjoy more stress-free and comfortable experiences when you get to Antigua or Barbuda. You will need a valid driver’s licence issued in your home country and a local permit before you can be allowed to drive a car in Antigua. You can ask the selected car hire agency for their assistance to get the temporary local permit issued. At the time of this time, there is no mileage, and hire rates to apply on a daily basis. You can identify a rental car by the letter “R” on its licence plates. The fact that they are so easily distinguishable makes them easy targets for car thefts, so kindly ensure you take all precautionary measures to prevent being robbed (i.e. not leave valuables inside the car when you are away). It is also advised to use a booster seat or child seat if visiting Antigua or Barbuda with a child due to the poor road conditions. However, these are not provided by local car hire companies.
  • Bicycle or Moped – Many top-tier rental car companies also hire bikes and mopeds. Some elite hotels also enable their guests to rent one. Now, if you would rather ride a motorcycle, Jolly Harbour is where you will find some reputed rental motorcycle agencies.


Driving in Antigua & Barbuda

Driving is on the left-hand side of the road and you will need to be over 21 years of age to drive a car in Antigua or Barbuda. You will also have to get a local driving permit that is valid for 90 days and can be usually acquired from the rental car agency of your choice (kindly check with them). At the moment of this writing, the permit costs $20. As for the speed limit, it is around 30 kph (about 20 mph) in residential areas and around 60 kph (nearly 40 mph) on other roads. To detect how fast you drive, local police may use roadside speed guns (no speed cameras have been installed so far).

Considering the driving experience per se, both Antigua and Barbuda are small islands, so everything can be easily reached by car in under an hour. The road infrastructure, on the other hand, is fairly good with the main roads being in generally reasonable condition. This is not always the case with smaller roads, though, which usually have potholes and slower-moving cars. That being said, the locals appear to be relaxed drivers that do not rush or exhibit the rather aggressive driving behaviours we often see in other Caribbean destinations. On the contrary, they will often stop alongside you at junctions to give you help or instructions if you need either one.

When headed toward the beaches, expect them to be adequately signposted. Finally, at this given time, Barbuda is on the road to recovery after the 2017 Hurricane Irma disaster, with most of its roads in still quite poor condition. However, it is expected to bounce fully back in a short time!


Electricity

The standard voltage in Antigua and Barbuda is 230 V (standard frequency of 60 Hz). This means that travellers from the USA, Australia, Canada, and several more countries, European and not, will need to bring an adapter or voltage converter. As for the plug types in Antigua and Barbuda, they are either Type A or Type B. The first is a 2-pin plug while the second is a 2-pin plug with an extra grounding pin.


Tap Water

The CDC (the US Center for Disease Control) has advised against drinking Antigua’s tap water, while also deeming Barbuda’s tap water as unsafe to drink. However, many travellers and locals drink it without facing any health issues. Nevertheless, it is best to stay on the safest side and opt for bottled water, which is widely available and cost-effective.


Health Considerations – Bug Bites

Mosquitoes, fleas, and ticks cause the biggest concern in Antigua and Barbuda and are able to spread several diseases through their bites. Sadly, there are no vaccines or medicines to help prevent these diseases, which is why the only way to avoid bug bites and their potentially adverse effects is by acting precautionary.

So, try to wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants, especially after sunset or when around lush greenery. It is also wise to sleep in screened or A/C rooms and apply an appropriate insect repellent, such as a product that contains at least 20% DEET for protection against mosquitoes and ticks for several hours.

For protection against mosquito bites exclusively, you may use a product that contains any of the following substances as their main ingredient: DEET, IR3535, Oil of lemon eucalyptus, picaridin (aka picaridin or bayrepel), PMD (para-menthane-diol), or 2-undecanone. Of course, the higher the percentage of the active compound, the longer the provided protection.

Finally, if you are beaten by a bug, you could apply calamine lotion or hydrocortisone cream to reduce itching.


Tipping in Antigua and Barbuda

Just like the majority of the Caribbean islands, tipping is quite customary and common in Antigua and Barbuda. However, different things apply to different situations when it comes to tipping on the two islands. For example, a 10% tip if expected from you when taking a taxi in Antigua and Barbuda. For hotels, resorts, and villas, tipping is also anticipated, unlike other Caribbean destinations where it is not mandatory. So, the maid will expect around $2-3 EC$ from you per night, while you should tip the bellboy around that much (at least EC$2) per bag they carry.

Restaurants are a different story as they often add 10% to their bills. In this case, a 5% tip is quite common. If the restaurant bill does not include the 10% mentioned above, you should leave 15% of the bill as a tip. Finally, bartenders are usually tipped 10% of the bill, while all-inclusive resorts and hotels usually include a gratuity in their bills, so no need to leave a tip unless, of course, you want to, for receiving exceptional services. Nevertheless, kindly check the fine print to find out what is expected from you in regard to tipping.