How to Get to Montserrat
Located close to the heart of the Caribbean island chain, Montserrat is around 80.5 kilometres (50 miles) southeast of Nevis, 80.5 kilometres (50 miles) northwest of the Guadeloupe Islands, and 64.5 kilometres (40 miles) southwest of Antigua.
By Air
To reach the exotic island, the primary option is by air. There are no direct flights to Montserrat, so you will probably need to reach Antigua and then hop on a small, usually 9-seater, plane to get to Montserrat.
Several daily flights connect Antigua’s V. C. Bird International Airport (ANU) with Montserrat’s John A. Osborne Airport (MNI), with the most popular ones being Fly Montserrat (you can check out the schedules here: http://www.flymontserrat.com/schedule.php) and SVG Air (for flight schedules, you may check their website here: https://booknow.antigua-flights.com/). The overall flight time is nearly 20 minutes and provides jaw-dropping views in between the two Caribbean destinations.
By Sea
Until a short while ago, Montserrat was served by Jaden Sun Ferry Service which ran ferries between Montserrat and Antigua on a regular basis. However, this is no longer the case, at least, at the moment of this writing. This means that the only available option to travel to the island is solely by plane unless you charter a boat or yacht from a nearby destination and sail here privately.
Important Note About Travelling to Montserrat:
All the above can only happen if the weather conditions are good enough to make the flight (or ferry ride if a ferry service becomes available again). Everything depends exclusively on the weather due to the infrastructure (airport and port) of Montserrat. For example, Little Bay port is quite exposed to the elements as it is not particularly sheltered. In other words, when the sea is rough, it is extremely difficult for a ferry to dock without risking its passengers’ safety.
The same applies to the local airport, John A. Osborne Airport (MNI), which is significantly shorter than the Antigua airport. To give you the exact numbers, Montserrat’s airport runway is 609.6 metres long (2,000 feet), while the runway at Antigua airport is 3.200 metres long (2 miles)! The shorter landing strip at Montserrat can definitely affect the quality (and even safety) of travel in adverse weather.
Fast Pre-travel Montserrat Tips
- Tipping – Tipping is not expected from you (unless, of course, you want to because a 10% service charge is usually added to the overwhelming majority of restaurant bills in Montserrat.
- Dress Etiquette – The island follows a laid-back lifestyle overall, which is why there is no special dress code in dining venues. Just wear what makes you feel comfortable!
- The Beaches – Montserrat’s coastline is nothing like the sugary, white-sand beaches you would probably expect from a Caribbean island. The volcanic activity in Montserrat has reshaped most parts of the island, its shores included. That being said, though, Montserrat will impress you with black sand beaches and a high level of exoticism attached to each and every one of them.
- Opening Hours – The majority of dining venues are open during the day and close in the evening. This is, more or less, the case with banks, which close around 2:00 pm or 3:00 pm.
The Local Food Scene
The island’s national dish is Goat Water and is nothing close to water and goat! It is a hearty stew that is often served with rice or crusty bread rolls. However, there are various other dining options and more standard appetisers served at most local restaurants.
In general, the Montserratians prefer to eat white meat, such as chicken or fish, rather than red meat, which is depicted in their cuisine. The most commonly served drinks are rum, sorrel, ginger beer (most often homemade), and a variety of fruit juices made from local tropical fruits.
Nightlife
The night scene in Montserrat is quite the opposite of its dining experiences, not in the provided quality but rather in the length of time offered to enjoy each one. So, although the local restaurants close in the late afternoon hours, the local bars have no official closing time!
When it comes to your entertainment, you can play dominoes and darts with the regulars, taste delicious local food, and join an outdoor party (usually on a Friday night). As for the best way to savour the Montserrat nightlife, we suggest opting for a rum shop tour of the many available on the island. During the tour, you will be driven to the best bars and pubs in Montserrat, from the small snack bars to the liveliest and larger venues.
One of the most popular seaside bars at the moment of this writing is the colourful Soca Cabana Bar at Little Bay which displays the legendary Air Studios’ Bar of the Stars. Expect live Caribbean band performances, party Sundays, and Karaoke Saturdays, among others. Another night venue nearby is Good Life Restaurants and Nightclub, which is much-favoured for its delicious cocktails.
When it comes to dance clubs, names like Club Paradise and Royal Palm Club will be often heard when searching for an after-evening-fun venture.
Dining in Montserrat
Whether looking for more conventional Caribbean fare or international cuisine, Montserrat will not disappoint you. You can pamper your palate with seafood and great drinks at JJ’s Cuisine at St. John’s Main Road or Tina’s Restaurants in Brades, or try some tasty Chinese at ANFA Restaurant and Bar in the St. John’s region. In the latter case, although most orders are takeout orders, you can still sit inside the restaurant and indulge in your yummy meal. For exquisite views, however, Oriole Cafe in Brades will gratify the nature lover inside you as its pristine location offers sweeping vistas of Little Bay.
Lastly, Olveston is a great place for more private and secluded dining endeavours, especially when choosing venues like Gourmet Gardens, which features not only particularly scrumptious Sunday brunches but also stunning panoramas of the island’s first airport or the well-manicured garden from the charming patio. As for the nearby Olveston House, it will cause a welcoming pop inside your mouth with the mix of Caribbean barbecue flavours with traditional British roasts!
How to Get to Montserrat
Located close to the heart of the Caribbean island chain, Montserrat is around 80.5 kilometres (50 miles) southeast of Nevis, 80.5 kilometres (50 miles) northwest of the Guadeloupe Islands, and 64.5 kilometres (40 miles) southwest of Antigua.
By Air
To reach the exotic island, the primary option is by air. There are no direct flights to Montserrat, so you will probably need to reach Antigua and then hop on a small, usually 9-seater, plane to get to Montserrat.
Several daily flights connect Antigua’s V. C. Bird International Airport (ANU) with Montserrat’s John A. Osborne Airport (MNI), with the most popular ones being Fly Montserrat (you can check out the schedules here: http://www.flymontserrat.com/schedule.php) and SVG Air (for flight schedules, you may check their website here: https://booknow.antigua-flights.com/). The overall flight time is nearly 20 minutes and provides jaw-dropping views in between the two Caribbean destinations.
By Sea
Until a short while ago, Montserrat was served by Jaden Sun Ferry Service which ran ferries between Montserrat and Antigua on a regular basis. However, this is no longer the case, at least, at the moment of this writing. This means that the only available option to travel to the island is solely by plane unless you charter a boat or yacht from a nearby destination and sail here privately.
Important Note About Travelling to Montserrat:
All the above can only happen if the weather conditions are good enough to make the flight (or ferry ride if a ferry service becomes available again). Everything depends exclusively on the weather due to the infrastructure (airport and port) of Montserrat. For example, Little Bay port is quite exposed to the elements as it is not particularly sheltered. In other words, when the sea is rough, it is extremely difficult for a ferry to dock without risking its passengers’ safety.
The same applies to the local airport, John A. Osborne Airport (MNI), which is significantly shorter than the Antigua airport. To give you the exact numbers, Montserrat’s airport runway is 609.6 metres long (2,000 feet), while the runway at Antigua airport is 3.200 metres long (2 miles)! The shorter landing strip at Montserrat can definitely affect the quality (and even safety) of travel in adverse weather.
Fast Pre-travel Montserrat Tips
- Tipping – Tipping is not expected from you (unless, of course, you want to because a 10% service charge is usually added to the overwhelming majority of restaurant bills in Montserrat.
- Dress Etiquette – The island follows a laid-back lifestyle overall, which is why there is no special dress code in dining venues. Just wear what makes you feel comfortable!
- The Beaches – Montserrat’s coastline is nothing like the sugary, white-sand beaches you would probably expect from a Caribbean island. The volcanic activity in Montserrat has reshaped most parts of the island, its shores included. That being said, though, Montserrat will impress you with black sand beaches and a high level of exoticism attached to each and every one of them.
- Opening Hours – The majority of dining venues are open during the day and close in the evening. This is, more or less, the case with banks, which close around 2:00 pm or 3:00 pm.
The Local Food Scene
The island’s national dish is Goat Water and is nothing close to water and goat! It is a hearty stew that is often served with rice or crusty bread rolls. However, there are various other dining options and more standard appetisers served at most local restaurants.
In general, the Montserratians prefer to eat white meat, such as chicken or fish, rather than red meat, which is depicted in their cuisine. The most commonly served drinks are rum, sorrel, ginger beer (most often homemade), and a variety of fruit juices made from local tropical fruits.
Nightlife
The night scene in Montserrat is quite the opposite of its dining experiences, not in the provided quality but rather in the length of time offered to enjoy each one. So, although the local restaurants close in the late afternoon hours, the local bars have no official closing time!
When it comes to your entertainment, you can play dominoes and darts with the regulars, taste delicious local food, and join an outdoor party (usually on a Friday night). As for the best way to savour the Montserrat nightlife, we suggest opting for a rum shop tour of the many available on the island. During the tour, you will be driven to the best bars and pubs in Montserrat, from the small snack bars to the liveliest and larger venues.
One of the most popular seaside bars at the moment of this writing is the colourful Soca Cabana Bar at Little Bay which displays the legendary Air Studios’ Bar of the Stars. Expect live Caribbean band performances, party Sundays, and Karaoke Saturdays, among others. Another night venue nearby is Good Life Restaurants and Nightclub, which is much-favoured for its delicious cocktails.
When it comes to dance clubs, names like Club Paradise and Royal Palm Club will be often heard when searching for an after-evening-fun venture.
Dining in Montserrat
Whether looking for more conventional Caribbean fare or international cuisine, Montserrat will not disappoint you. You can pamper your palate with seafood and great drinks at JJ’s Cuisine at St. John’s Main Road or Tina’s Restaurants in Brades, or try some tasty Chinese at ANFA Restaurant and Bar in the St. John’s region. In the latter case, although most orders are takeout orders, you can still sit inside the restaurant and indulge in your yummy meal. For exquisite views, however, Oriole Cafe in Brades will gratify the nature lover inside you as its pristine location offers sweeping vistas of Little Bay.
Lastly, Olveston is a great place for more private and secluded dining endeavours, especially when choosing venues like Gourmet Gardens, which features not only particularly scrumptious Sunday brunches but also stunning panoramas of the island’s first airport or the well-manicured garden from the charming patio. As for the nearby Olveston House, it will cause a welcoming pop inside your mouth with the mix of Caribbean barbecue flavours with traditional British roasts!