There’s a New Way to Fly to a Caribbean Island Famous for Its Beaches, Yachting and History

The cobbled streets of Nelson’s Dockyard, one of the Caribbean’s best-preserved historical sites. The seemingly innumerable beaches, pristine white-sand stretches of coastline with stunning turquoise water. The world-famous sailing races and megayachts moored in its harbor. Antigua is a vibe all its own, a Caribbean island that’s been one of the most sought-after destinations in the region in recent years. 

Now, a new route from Frontier Airlines is opening up Antigua to cities all over the United States. So how does it work? 

Frontier has kicked off a new route between San Juan, Puerto Rico and Antigua. It’s operating once every week, with service Saturdays. But what’s important to note is that Frontier flies from more than 10 different cities in the US to San Juan — markets like Atlanta, Boston, Cleveland, Miami and Newark among others. 

That means you can now fly from any of those cities to San Juan, take a layover then head to Antigua, a huge boost for the island and for the travelers who are itching to go there. Just make sure you time the flights correctly; with service once on Saturdays you’ll need to line up the initial flights — so sometimes an overnight in San Juan might be necessary. 

That’s a good thing because an evening in San Juan can be one of the region’s most entertaining experiences, from its vibrant nightlife to its food scene. 

It’s an “affordable and convenient” option for travelers heading to Antigua, Tourism Minister Charles Fernandez said in a statement provided to Caribbean Journal. 

So what about prices? 

A sample itinerary between Fort Lauderdale and Antigua (with a stop in San Juan in between) will run you about $314.09, according to Frontier’s website. 

San Juan-Antigua is actually the newest in a growing number of flights Frontier is operating within the Caribbean region out of San Juan. 

Are you thinking about traveling to Antigua? The island is famous for its luxury and boutique all-inclusive resorts, with what is, in our opinion, an unrivaled collection of them. 

That ranges from resorts like the new adults-only The Verandah (which we loved for its laid-back charm and ocean-view cottages), with rooms at about $633 per night right now; to the boutique Keyonna Beach, where you can find a plunge pool cottage for about $1,140 per night, all-inclusive. 

There are also great historic options like the Copper and Lumber Store Hotel, which is in a centuries-old building in the heart of Nelson’s Dockyard with rooms for about $429 per night, a rate we found on Google Hotels.