Destination Guides & Maps - Antigua and Barbuda

Buy Antigua and Barbuda Travel Guides  

Antigua & Barbuda Packages  Antigua & Barbuda Flights 

Antigua & Barbuda Hotels       Antigua & Barbuda Car Hire

Time Zone: UK -4

Capital City:  St John's.

Language:  English is the official language; local dialects are also spoken.

Area: The total area of Antigua and Barbuda is 170½ square miles (442.6sq km). This is made up of Antigua, 108 square miles (280 sq km); Barbuda, 62 square miles (160 sq km); and Redonda, 0.6square miles (1.6 sq km).

Population:  66,422. 90% of the people are of African descent; the remaining 10% are a mix of European and other origin.

Currency: Eastern Caribbean dollar (EC$), made up of 100 cents. Notes come in EC$100, 50, 20, 10 and 5 denominations. Coins come in 50, 25, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cents, and in EC$1 denominations.

The current exchange rate is £1 to EC$4.18. The EC$ is pegged to the US dollar, at a rate of US$1 = EC$2.70.

US dollars are also widely accepted, and it's easier to carry traveller's cheques in US dollars rather than sterling.  Major credit and charge cards are accepted, especially American Express and Visa.

Visa: Not required for UK citizens, but your passport must be valid for at least six months, and you must possess a return or onward ticket.

Geography: The state of Antigua and Barbuda is made up of three islands: Antigua, Barbuda and Redonda.

All are volcanic in origin. Antigua, 16 miles by 14 miles, has a central lowland plain running from St John's in the north-west to Willoughby Bay in the south-east.

Hundreds of white sand coves and bays line the coast and the north and east coast are protected by coral reefs.

The highest point is Boggy Peak, at 1,330ft (405m).

Barbuda, 25 miles north of Antigua, is a low-lying coral atoll that teems with wildlife.

Redonda, 24 miles southwest of Antigua is small, rocky and uninhabited.

Religion: Anglican is the main religion; others include Roman Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, Pentecostal, Seventh Day Adventist and Moravian.

The island is covered in little churches and chapels.

Electricity

Most places run on 110V AC, 60Hz (as in America and Canada).

However, some hotels have 220V. Check before you plug anything in.

Emergencies

The hotel front desk will have numbers for 24-hour doctors.

The number for Police Headquarters is 462 0125. For ambulance, call 462 0251.

For the fire service, call 462 0044.

In emergencies you can also call 911 or 999.

Telephone

To call Antigua from the UK, dial 00 1 268 plus the local seven-digit number.

When you are making calls on the island, just dial the seven digits.

To make calls from a public phone, you'll need a phone card, available at the Cable & Wireless office in St John's (on Long Street) and in shops.

Post

Post office hours are 8.15am-noon, and 1-4pm, Monday to Thursday; 1-5pm Fridays.

Poste restante facilities are available at the post office in St John's.

Business hours

Banking hours vary from bank to bank, but most are open 8am to 2pm, Mondays to Thursdays; 8am-4pm on Fridays.

Some also open on Saturday mornings.

Most shops open 8.30am to midday, then 1pm to 4pm, Monday to Friday (some stay open for lunch too); 8am to midday on Saturdays. Some shops have early closing on Thursdays.

Tipping

Some restaurants include a service charge in the bill, but it's customary to leave a bit extra on top if the service has been good.

If service is not already included, leave 10%.

Hotels add on 10% for staff tips and taxi drivers should be tipped 10% of the fare. For porters, tip US$1 per bag.

BBC World Service

Want to get a closer look at Antigua and Barbuda? http://earth.google.com/

<< Back