Antigua & Barbuda Country Guide

Lying in the Caribbean, the islands experience the typical climate of the tropics, meaning that temperatures are usually quite warm and rainfall is minimum for most of the year.

Average temperatures range year round between 80F/26C (February) to 85F/28C (August) allowing light summer attire suitable wear at all times (with wet weather gear recommended from October-December).

There is just enough rainfall to maintain the cool greenery while the gentle trade winds help create an ideal climate throughout the year. November is bar far the wettest month, with around 25cm of rain. Humidity remains at around 80% throughout the year. Tropical storms and hurricanes can occur during June-November.

Click on this Weather link to view the current conditions in Antigua & Barbuda.

The international dialling code for Antigua & Barbuda is +268. To dial overseas from within the islands, dial 011 followed by the relevant country code and phone number.

Emergency numbers for police, fire and ambulance are 911 or 999.

Telephone services are provided by Cable and Wireless a very reliable company. Direct dialling is available for both local and international calls. Mobile roaming agreements are available for travellers visiting the islands, however coverage can be average in many parts.

Internet cafes are available in the cities/towns and in most larger hotels/resorts, but harder to find (if at all) in other parts of the islands.

Official currency is the Eastern Caribbean dollar, which is fixed to the US dollar. US currency, travellers checks and major credit cards are welcome everywhere. A currency exchange rate for Eastern Caribbean Dollars can be found at OANDA.com - The Currency Site.

Banks

Antigua and Barbuda Development Bank, Antigua and Barbuda Investment, Bank Antigua Commercial Bank, Bank of Antigua, Bank of Nova Scotia, Barclays Bank PLC, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, Caribbean Corporation Bank, Royal Bank of Canada, Swiss American National Bank of Antigua. Banking hours are Monday through Thursday from 8:00am to 1:00pm and again from 3:00pm to 5:00pm; Friday from 8:00am to 12:00pm, and 3:00pm to 5:00pm.

Taxes

Antigua and Barbuda has a US$20.00 airport departure tax, a room tax of 8.5% and service charge of 10% (in lieu of tipping).

Tipping/Gratuities

Some restaurants & hotels will automatically add a 10% gratuity. If in doubt, just ask. Give porters and bellhops 50 cents per bag, taxi drivers 10-15% of the fare.

Population - 69,000 people
Total Area - 442.6 square kilometres (Antigua 280/Barbuda 161)
Capital - Saint Johns, Antigua (approx 20,000 people)
Time Zone - Standard time zone: UTC/GMT -4 hours (same time as the East Coast of the United States)

To view the current time in Saint Johns, click on this link to TimeAndDate.com.

Nationals of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries (except Bangladesh, Cameroon, Gambia, Ghana, India, Mozambique, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sierra Leone and Sri Lanka), Other EU Countries (except nationals of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Latvia and the Slovak Republic), USA, Canada, Australia & Japan do not require visas for stays of up to 6 months. Transit passengers continuing their journey within 24 hours by the same or next connecting aircraft provided holding valid onward or return documentation and not leaving the airport also do not require visas.

Note: Cruise ship passengers do not require a visa provided that they arrive in Antigua and Barbuda in the morning and depart the same evening.

Travellers need to ensure that passports are valid for at least six months beyond period of stay.

Types of Visas: Single-entry (US$45. Valid for 3 months from date of issue); Multiple-entry (US$45. Valid for 6 months from date of issue).

It is advisable to check this information with your relevant embassy prior to travel.

Home to several forms of music, Antigua and Barbuda is a nation of music lovers. Calypso, Soca, Reggae and Steel drum music are four forms of music integral to the Antiguan Carnival celebrations.

Calypso began as a means of communication between slaves. Slaves were not allowed to speak in the fields and they started using music to communicate with each other. With no strict form or rules, calypso is an amalgamation of many cultures. The soloist or calypsonian uses his skill to weave them all into one melodious piece. Calypso competitions are a highlight of the Carnival.

Steel drum music came into existence when steel pans started being used as instruments to back up calypso. This replaced the traditional bamboo percussion instruments used till then. Oil drums were cut and hammered into steel pans. Though the steel pan came from Trinidad, the growth of the steel bands in Antigua and Barbuda happened as an extension of the iron bands, which were very popular during Christmas. Some of the best Caribbean steel bands belong to Antigua.

Soca, an important part of the Carnival today, began in the 1970s. It grew into a very popular form in the 1980s. It seamlessly brings together the slow beats of American soul music and the fast beats of calypso.

Reggae is a musical form that originated in Jamaica. However, it is now a very popular part of Antiguan music.

Tourism dominates its economy, accounting for more than half of its GDP. Weak tourist arrival numbers since early 2000 have slowed the economy, however, and pressed the government into a tight fiscal corner. The dual-island nation's agricultural production is focused on the domestic market and constrained by a limited water supply and a labour shortage stemming from the lure of higher wages in tourism and construction work.

Manufacturing comprises enclave-type assembly for export with major products being bedding, handicrafts, and electronic components. Prospects for economic growth in the medium term will continue to depend on income growth in the industrialised world, especially in the United States, which accounts for about one-third of all tourist arrivals.

Export - petroleum products 48%, manufactures 23%, machinery and transport equipment 17%, food and live animals 4%, other 8%.

Import - food and live animals, machinery and transport equipment, manufactures, chemicals, oil.

Agriculture is another industry of the nation. It is targeted towards the domestic market only. However, water and labour are both in short supply. Construction and tourism, being more lucrative, draw people away from agriculture.

The manufacturing industry is an export-oriented industry. Electronic components, bedding and handicrafts are the major products.

The departure tax payable by tourists when leaving Antigua is US$ 20.00 or EC$ 50.00. Visitors to Antigua and Barbuda require a valid passport, a return or onward ticket, confirmation of accommodation throughout the stay and sufficient funds for the duration of the stay. On arrival, the immigration officer must be satisfied that your reason for visiting Antigua and Barbuda is legitimate.