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Caribbean
Map
General Information
 Antigua
is located in the middle of the Leeward Islands in
the Eastern Caribbean, roughly 17 degrees north of
the equator. To the south are the islands of Montserrat
and Guadaloupe, and to the north and west are Nevis,
St. Kitts, St. Barts, and St. Martin.
Antigua is the largest of the British Leeward Islands,
and is about 14 miles long and 11 miles wide, encompassing
108 square miles. Its highest point is Boggy Peak
(1319 ft.), located in the southwestern corner of
the island.
Antigua is almost completely surrounded by well-preserved
coral reefs, walls, and shipwrecks. The southern and
eastern coasts of Antigua is surrounded by shelfs,
providing excellent conditions for spectacular shallow
diving and snorkeling. There is little or no current
in most places, the water is warm and clear, and tropical
marine plants and animals are diverse and plentiful.
Snorkeling is possible at some of the islands' most
beautiful beaches; one of Antigua's best-known offshore
sites, Cades Reef, is now partly contained in a designated
underwater park. Another popular destination is the
wreck of the Andes, a three-masted merchant ship that
sank in 1905 and now rests in less than thirty feet
of water in (ironically enough) Deep Bay. Antigua's
dive facilities are excellent. The southern and eastern
coasts are considered to offer the most consistent
diving; for more advanced divers, the ledge of Sunken
Rock on the south coast is a popular site. Dive depths
generally range from 25 to 80 feet and can reach 130+
feet; distances from shore to site are in some cases
no more than five minutes and at most 40 minutes away.
Climate 75 - 85F 24 - 29C
Water Temp Average 80 F (25 C)
U/W Visibility 50 to 140 ft 15 - 42 m
Dive
Centers & Accommodations
New
Travel Regulations
Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI)
The proposed implementation timeline has two phases:
Beginning January 23, 2007, ALL persons, including
U.S. citizens, traveling by air between the United
States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America,
the Caribbean, and Bermuda will be required to
present a valid passport, Air NEXUS card, or U.S.
Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Document, or an Alien
Registration Card, Form I-551, if applicable.
As early as January 1, 2008, ALL persons, including
U.S. citizens, traveling between the U.S. and
Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the
Caribbean, and Bermuda by land or sea (including
ferries), may be required to present a valid passport
or other documents as determined by the Department
of Homeland Security. While recent legislative
changes permit a later deadline, the Departments
of State and Homeland Security are working to
meet all requirements as soon as possible. Ample
advance notice will be provided to enable the
public to obtain passports or passport cards for
land/sea entries.
The passport requirement does NOT apply to U.S.
citizens traveling to or returning directly from
a U.S. territory. U.S. citizens returning directly
from a U.S. territory are not considered to have
left the United States and do not need to present
a passport. U.S. territories include the following:
Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American
Samoa, Swains Island, and the Commonwealth of
the Northern Mariana Islands. More
Details... |
Getting
There
Air
Travel
V.C. Bird International Airport, located on the northeast
corner of Antigua, is the point of entry for visitors
arriving by air to Antigua & Barbuda. There are
both direct flights and connections from North America
via San Juan and St. Martin and several weekly flights
from Europe. Scheduled and charter service is available
to many of the neighboring islands. Flying times:
New York--4 hrs.; Miami--3 hrs.; Baltimore--4 hrs.;
Toronto--4 hrs.; Puerto Rico--1 hr.; London--8 hrs.;
Frankfurt--9 1/4 hrs.; Paris--8 hrs.
Airlines
Serving North America
Air
Canada
(800) 422-6232
(268) 462-1147
American
Airlines
(800) 433-7300
(268) 462-0950
Continental
Airlines
(800) 231-0856
(268) 462-5355
US
Air
(268) 480-5601 Extension 5704
Air Travel
V.C. Bird International Airport, located on the northeast
corner of Antigua, is the point of entry for visitors
arriving by air to Antigua & Barbuda. There are
both direct flights and connections from North America
via San Juan and St. Martin and several weekly flights
from Europe. Scheduled and charter service is available
to many of the neighboring islands. Flying times:
New York--4 hrs.; Miami--3 hrs.; Baltimore--4 hrs.;
Toronto--4 hrs.; Puerto Rico--1 hr.; London--8 hrs.;
Frankfurt--9 1/4 hrs.; Paris--8 hrs.
Airlines Serving North America
Air
Canada
(800) 422-6232
(268) 462-1147
American
Airlines
(800) 433-7300
(268) 462-0950
Continental
Airlines
(800) 231-0856
(268) 462-5355
US
Air
(268) 480-5601 Extension 5704
Traveling By Air From The UK
British Airways
(Five times a week)
Reservations: 0845 77 333 77 (24hrs)
www.britishairways.com
Virgin Atlantic
(Twice Weekly)
Reservations: 01293 747 747
www.virgin-atlantic.com
Airlines Serving Europe
British
Airways
(800) 247-9297
(268) 462-3219
Virgin
Atlantic
Sunsail Airways
An exclusive year round service to The Virgin Islands
and Antigua with Air 2000
E-mail: sales@sunsailflights.co.uk
Tel: (800) 6526520, +44 (0) 23 9222 2226
Fax: +44 (0) 23 9221 5125
Inter-Island Airlines
LIAT
Scheduled service from the Caribbean and South America.
(268) 462-0700
http://www.liat.com
Air St. Kitts/Nevis
Charter service to most neighboring islands.
(268) 465-8571 (Call collect)
Carib Aviation
Charter service to most neighboring islands.
V.C. Bird International Airport
(or PO Box 318, St. Johns)
Antigua, West Indies
Tel: (268) 462-3147 or 462-3452
Fax: (268) 462-3125
After-hours calls: (268) 461-1650
http://www.candoo.com/carib/
Email caribav@candoo.com
Caribbean Star Airlines Ltd
Scheduled service to most neighboring islands.
(268) 480 2561~5/67
Web site: www.flycaribbeanstar.com
Departure
Tax
Antigua & Barbuda has a US$20.00 airport departure
tax
Entry Requirements
All visitors to Antigua and Barbuda must have an onward
or return ticket. Citizens of United States, United
Kingdom and Canada citizens do not require a visa
to enter Antigua and Barbuda and may travel on one
of the following:
Valid Passport
Original Naturalization Certificate
Persons visiting are permitted to stay as long as
their business takes, provided that:
a) this is no longer than six months
b) they have an onward or return ticket
c) they have confirmation of accommodation
d) they can produce evidence of their ability to maintain
themselves in Antigua and Barbuda
Travel Tips
Taxis
Taxis are readily available throughout Antigua. They
are also available for island tours. Rates are preset,
there are no meters.
Buses
There is some local bus service; schedules and routes
can be obtained through the hotels
Rental Cars
Renting a car is an ideal way to discover more of
Antigua while on your vacation. There are numerous
international and local rental agencies available.
Driving is on the left side of the road.The cost is
about US$40-50 per day. In addition to a valid driver's
license from your country of residence, or an international
driver's license, a permit to drive in Antigua is
required. The rental agency can assist you in getting
this temporary license, which costs approximately
US$20 and is valid for three months.
Helpful Tips
Taxes
There is a room tax of 8.5% and service charge of
10% (in lieu of tipping).
Tipping
10-15% depending on the service. Some restaurants
& hotels will automatically add a 10% gratuity.
Money Matters
Official currency is the Eastern Caribbean dollar
which is fixed to the US dollar. U.S. currency, travelers
checks and major credit cards are welcome everywhere.
Medical
There are several general practitioners and specialists
on the island, a hospital and a private clinic. No
vaccinations are required unless the visitor is arriving
from an endemic area. Recompression chambers are available
by air ambulance at nearby Saba and in St. Thomas.
Pharmaceutical services are widely available.
Dress
Informal, but conservative. Beach attire is appropriate
for the beach but not town, shops or restaurants.
Some hotels and restaurants stipulate jacket and tie
for men and dresses for women in the evening.
Electricity
Part of the island is 110 volts, the remainder is
220 volts. Most hotels have both voltages available.
Shopping Hours
Monday thru Saturday 8:00am to noon and 1:00pm-5:00pm.
Personal Safety
Antigua & Barbuda are relatively crime free, but
as with any place you may visit, exercise normal precautions;
i.e. don't leave valuables unattended in rental cars
or on the beach.
Water
All tap water is potable and is safe to drink. The
only treatment is sterilization by chlorine.
Time Zone
Atlantic Standard Time ( one hour ahead of EST)
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