Everything was a bit run down but cared for and without the rubbish that can ruin too many places that we have travelled to. It is lush and green with the countryside speckled with tiny houses, and lots of churches and preschools (a surprising amount of those!). Being able to catch the bus definitely made a difference to our level of enjoyment as we like getting out on our own. No one expected money or tried to rip us off. The people were very friendly and helpful. I am sure you could have fitted in half a day at a beach as well and stayed within the $50 budget if you take local buses. The day was quite a bargain at US$33 including the buses, Nelson’s Dockyards, ice creams, beers and a snack. We were always given change in US dollars (and cents) as well. It was far easier to just use US dollars, and we wouldn’t have lost out by much. We were going to exchange some money, but we were unable to find a currency exchange place easily. People converted the cost fairly, although they of course rounded up. Check Latest Prices – Read Reviews.Īntigua uses the Eastern Caribbean dollar although we had no problems using US dollars in all our transactions here. There is a pool, tennis courts, baby sitting and great family rooms. Antigua Village – This is a budget friendly option located on the beach a short drive from St Johns.It is an all inclusive resort and there is also a great pool, kids’ playground and water activities. The Verandah Resort and Spa – This gorgeous resort is located in a very central location in St John’s with a central beach.This is a great option for people who just want to relax. St Jame’s Club – Located on Mamora Bay, this beautiful resort has its own private beach and plenty of facilities.If you are staying longer than a day in Antigua, here are some great resorts: We only have positive things to say about the Antiguan buses. We caught a newish mini bus to Nelson’s Dockyards and an older van back. There were some taking buses to some of the beach destinations, so this is very possible as well. Not many cruise ship passengers seemed to take the local bus which is a shame as it is very easy, very cheap and much more interesting. The West bus station was about a ten minute walk from the ship and once we were there, everyone was helpful and it was easy to find the bus to English Harbour and Nelson’s Dockyards. Nelson’s Dockyards cost US$8 each and kids were free. The bus route starts and finishes at the entrance to Nelson’s Dockyards. It is EC$3.75 each way or they charged us US$4 for three seats. The bus to Nelson’s Dockyards leaves from the St John’s West Bus Station about every 30 minutes (we waited 40 minutes though). I would have loved to have a better look around here, but it is not really made for pedestrians. Just beautiful!Įnglish Harbour is a tiny town right outside Nelson’s Dockyards. There are places to eat and drink, and we bought some ice creams and beers at the shop and ate them by the water. One of the buildings is an inn, and I would love to stay here if I ever come back. There is a museum on the grounds as well as various informative signposts. It has been restored beautifully, and it is a lovely tranquil spot that we quite enjoyed. It is now used as the main port of entry for yachts and is the only working Georgian marina in the western hemisphere. Nelson’s Dockyards is a former British naval base. We have also included some information for people who are staying longer There are not many attractions in Antigua, but it is easy enough to fill a day. Here is some things to do in Antigua with kids on a budget of $50 which included a return back to the ship for lunch and a nap. It also meant that we felt more like travellers and less like cruise passengers for our day here. This meant that we were able to easily and cost effectively see more of Antigua than our other stops. Part of my excitement was also because, unlike our Caribbean cruise stops in the US and British Virgin Islands, Antigua has public buses that we could use to see more of the island. However, for some reason, places that I know barely anything about always excite me the most, and I was excited for our day in Antigua on our Caribbean cruise. At 108 square miles and only 86,500 people, it is a small country and just a speck on any map. Antigua is one of those places that I only seem to hear about when I watch the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony and then forget about again.

Antigua cruise port map