The Beach-Filled Caribbean Islands of Antigua and Barbuda Are More Popular Than Ever

Postcard-perfect beaches (365 of them, to be exact). Secluded coves. Unforgettable restaurants. World-famous historical sites. Out-of-this-world resorts. 

In the last decade, it’s been arguably the fastest-growing destination in the Caribbean: the islands of Antigua and Barbuda, which continues to see travelers flocking for its unique blend of luxury, authenticity, serenity and history. 

But they’re not just flocking — they’re heading to Antigua and Barbuda in record-breaking numbers, including more than 330,000 visitors last year, the most ever for Antigua and Barbuda in a single year — including more than in 2019, before the pandemic. 

So what’s driving all of this visitation? It’s a combination of things, from a surge in new airlift to new hotel development to investment in human capital, says Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Minister Charles Fernandez. 

That included more flights from airlines like American, Delta and JetBlue last year, along with new routes from Europe’s Condor and the intra-Caribbean upstart airline Sunrise. The island of Barbuda also just inaugurated its brand-new international airport; in Barbuda, the buzz is also about Robert De Niro’s in-development Nobu hotel which is adding even more allure to the island. 

So what’s ahead? More growth, according to Colin C. James, CEO of the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority. 

“2025 promises even more with the first quarter of the year, bringing increased cruise calls for Antigua and Barbuda and more airlift,” James told Caribbean Journal. 

That includes a soon-to-debut route out of San Juan on Frontier Airlines, kicking off later this month. 

Are you planning a vacation to Antigua and Barbuda? 

We’ve long said that Antigua has the best collection of high-level all-inclusive resorts anywhere in the Caribbean, from beach gems like Galley Bay (which just joined Virtuoso, actually) to the all-villa, all-plunge-pool Hammock Cove to the adults-only Verandah, where we just stayed and were seriously impressed with the laid-back feel (and the fantastic new bar). 

We also love the historic streets of Nelson’s Dockyard (which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site), and a neighborhood that also has some charming hotels like the Admiral’s Inn (rooms from $448) and the boutique Copper and Lumber ($412 per night).

There are also luxury resorts like the private-island Jumby Bay (which now has its own offshore beach bar called The Hut), rooms at $5,398 per night; and the venerable Carlisle Bay (rooms from $1,427).

What about flights? 

American Airlines has Miami-Antigua flights at $744 roundtrip righ now. Out of New York, it’s actually cheaper, with roundtrips on American Airlines at $319, JetBlue from JFK at $354 and Delta at $369. You can find more cheap flight options to Antigua here.