Our new Destination of the Month feature offers a more in-depth exploration of the Caribbean’s top destinations, with a look at where to stay, play and eat — and how to get there. This month, our destination of the month is the beach-filled island of Antigua. Here’s a quick Antigua guide for what you should do when you get there.
Where to Stay
Antigua is blessed with a diverse collection of great hotels and resorts, with a particularly high number of high-end all-inclusive resorts. These aren’t the all-inclusives you’re used to — they’re sophisticated, elegant and luxurious. The best is Galley Bay (above), home to 98 guest rooms on a lush 40-acre beachfront setting. For a small, intimate experience try Hermitage Bay, with 27 hillside and beachfront bungalows on a spectacular stretch of sand. For a classic stay, head to the tony Curtain Bluff, a great family all-inclusive resort that feels like a private club.
Where to Eat
If Antigua has one can’t miss restaurant, it’s Sheer Rocks (above), perched on the hills below the Cocobay resort. It’s a Mediterranean-focused eatery with world-class seafood, under the direction of Chef Alex Grimley. For a romantic, old-school French-style meal oozing with elegance, head for Le Bistro, while the Sugar Club at Antigua’s Sugar Ridge Hotel also has great fish and steak.
What to Do
What’s the coolest place to visit in Antigua? For us, it’s the rum shack called Papa Zouk on the outskirts of the capital, St John’s, a marvelous throwback to a different time with hundreds of rums on offer. It’s a bucket-list Caribbean bar. By day, make sure you stop at Nelson’s Dockyard, the historic site where the famous Admiral Nelson once lived — it’s one of the Caribbean’s most beautiful sites.
Beach By Beach
Antigua claims to have 365 beaches, or one for every day of the year. While confirming that count would certainly be a worthy expedition, there are some particularly beautiful beaches worth visiting. Our favorite is Valley Church beach (above) on the southwestern coast of the island, home to impossibly blue water. Another great bet is Darkwood Beach, with stunning views of nearby Montserrat.
How to Get There
JetBlue recently launched a daily flight to the island from New York City, while American Airlines flies daily out of Miami. Delta operates flights out of Atlanta on Wednesdays and Saturdays, while Air Canada offers a weekly Saturday flight. From the UK, British Airways operates daily flights while Virgin Atlantic flies twice weekly.