Your vacations in Antigua & Barbuda

Antigua and Barbuda – Spanish for "Ancient" and "Bearded" – is an island nation located on the eastern boundary of the Caribbean Sea with the Atlantic Ocean. As its name suggests, it consists of two major islands – Antigua (pronounced /AN-TEA-GA/) and Barbuda (/BAR-BU_DA/) – as well as a number of smaller islets. All are close neighbours within the middle of the Leeward Islands and roughly 17 degrees north of the equator.

Antigua has a population of 82,000, comprised chiefly of a mixture of peoples of West African, British and Portuguese descent.

Official language

English; and various local African dialects as well as Portuguese.

Currency

The currency is the Eastern Caribbean dollar. whose value is quoted in the business section of major newspapers. US currency is widely accepted. Traveler’s cheques are accepted by most hotels and stores. Canadian currency is accepted by banks.

Electricity

Some hotels operate on 110 volts, 60 cycles, however, some hotels use 220 volts. Converters could be needed.

Shopping

The best buys include rum, perfume, gold and silver jewelry, Antiguan pottery, Sea Island cotton, crystal vases, glasses and platters, batik fabrics and straw goods.

Useful information

Please note if placing a call from your hotel room, to ask the hotel operator about connection service charges. Using a pay phone will avoid these service charges from the hotel.

The climate in Antigua & Barbuda

Antigua and Barbuda have a pleasant climate year-round. The average daily temperature drops a few degrees in winter (December to March) from the usual high of around 27°C. Antigua and Barbuda are fairly dry throughout most of the year except during the rainy season (mid-September to November), when daily showers can be expected. Hurricane season runs from June to November and visitors are advised to keep an eye on the weather forecast during this period.

Official language

English; and various local African dialects as well as Portuguese.

Currency

The currency is the Eastern Caribbean dollar. whose value is quoted in the business section of major newspapers. US currency is widely accepted. Traveler’s cheques are accepted by most hotels and stores. Canadian currency is accepted by banks.

Electricity

Some hotels operate on 110 volts, 60 cycles, however, some hotels use 220 volts. Converters could be needed.

Shopping

The best buys include rum, perfume, gold and silver jewelry, Antiguan pottery, Sea Island cotton, crystal vases, glasses and platters, batik fabrics and straw goods.

Useful information

Please note if placing a call from your hotel room, to ask the hotel operator about connection service charges. Using a pay phone will avoid these service charges from the hotel.