Antigua and Barbuda / Island Essentials

All travellers to Antigua and Barbuda will need to know the essential island facts.  The information on Antigua and Barbuda shown below is current (2011).

Currency and Credit Cards

The unit of currency is the Eastern Caribbean Dollar (EC), which is fixed to the US dollar at a rate of US$1.00 = EC$2.70. All prices on island are quoted in EC dollars, with the exception of hotel rates which are in US$ only, and duty-free items where both the local price in EC dollars is shown alongside the duty-free price in US dollars. The US dollar is accepted (apart from coins) throughout the island, but you should be aware that the rate of exchange can vary between EC$2.60 and EC$2.65 depending on where you are shopping. 

Most of the major credit cards (including debit cards) are accepted anywhere that deals with tourists on a regular basis. Do not expect local bars or small local restaurants to accept them (if in doubt double check in advance), but you will find that the larger supermarkets often do. It is worth noting that certain credit cards may attract an additional charge or simply not be accepted.

Check In/Check Out

As a general rule check-out times are around 12 noon and check-in is seldom prior to 3pm. This is not a problem, though, as international arrivals into Antigua tend to be in the mid to late afternoon. If you are travelling from within the Caribbean and will arrive earlier in the day then contact your hotel in advance and they may be able to let you into your room early. Similarly, if your departure is late and occupancy is not high in the hotel, then they may be able to provide you with a day room or shower facilities until your departure. If you are staying in a villa the departure time may be flexible, unless there is a party coming in after you and the villa will need to be made ready for the new arrivals.

Departure Tax and Taxes

Departure tax is payable by all adults and children age 12 years and overwhen leaving Antigua, unless you are in transit (and stay for less than 24 hours), when you are exempt. The amount is US$28 per person for non Caricom Citizens (Caricom Citizens EC$50), payable in cash only at the special booth located outside Departures once you have checked in for your flight. Lengthy queues can occur during busy periods, so make sure that you arrive at the airport with time to spare. 

Antigua & Barbuda introduced a new general sales tax (ABST/Antigua and Barbuda Sales Tax or VAT) in January 2007, which increased the old room tax at all hotels/resorts/villas to 10.5%. Plans for a further increase to 15% in 2010 have not been implemented. The tax is already payable at 15% on a wide range of other services and goods, including restaurant and bar bills, and car hire. 

A 10% service charge (in lieu of tipping) will also be added to your hotel/resort bill, unless you are staying in an all-inclusive resort, in which case it is built into the price already paid. These amounts can make quite a difference to the eventual price of your holiday, so if you are booking direct make sure you calculate it in when pricing up your trip. 

Interestingly, in Antigua until recently there was no income or personal tax, purchase tax, capital gain, inheritance or wealth tax.

Electricity

Domestic current has dual voltage and will operate appliances set to 110 and 220 volts AC, 50 cycles. Sockets are all 2-pin in US style.

Embassies and Consulates

There are no foreign embassies or diplomatic missions in Antigua and Barbuda, however there will either be an honorary consul or full political representation in Barbados as follows: 

Canada 
Canadians can obtain consular assistance and further information from theCanadian High Commission in Barbados which has responsibility for Antigua and Barbduda. The commission is located at Bishop's Court Hill, St Michael, Bridgetown, t 1 246 429 3550 | bdgtn@international.gc.ca 

United Kingdom 
British citizens can obtain consular assistance and information from Robert Wilkinson, the Honorary British Consul based in Antigua, c/o PricewaterhouseCoopers, 11 Old Parham Road, St John’s, t 561 5046 (switchboard) | robert.wilkinson-honcon@fconet.fco.gov.uk, and if he is not available please contact the British High Commission in Barbados, located at Lower Collymore Rock, Bridgetown, t 1 246 430 7800 | britishhcb@sunbeach.net | http://ukinbarbados.fco.gov.uk/en/ 

United States 
US citizens can obtain consular assistance (by appointment only) from Pamela Arthurton, the Consular Agent located at Suite #2 Jasmine Court, Friars Hill Road, St John's, t463 6531 or mobile t 726 6531,ArthurtonPA@state.gov.

The US Embassy in Barbados has jurisdiction over Antigua and Barbuda and is located in Wildey Business Park, St Michael. The Consular Section is open for American Citizens Services during regular office hours call t 1 246 227 4193 | BridgetownACS@state.gov. The emergency contact out of hours is t 1 246 227 4000, please ask for the duty officer. http://barbados.usembassy.gov/

Emergency

Police – 911 or 999, or Police Head Quarters, t 462 0125 
Fire – 911 or 999 
Ambulance – 911 or 999 
Hospital – Mount St John’s Medical Center, t 484 2700 or Adelin Clinic, t 462 0866 
Air/Sea Rescue – t 462 3062

Nudity

Antiguans are quite conservative and any form of nudity is unacceptable, including going topless. There is however a nudist beach at Hawksbill Bay. 
If you visit St John's you are asked to wear appropriate attire and not walk around in your swimsuit.

Places of Worship

The official denomination of Antigua is Anglican, but as with so many West Indian countries there are a good many other churches too, including Roman Catholic and other denominations that came to teach the slaves in the early part of the 1800s. The timing of services is likely to change. Please check locally. 

Anglican 
Parish churches of note include St Peters in Parham, St Georges in Fitches Creek and Valley Church at Valley Church Bay. 

St John’s Cathedral, St John's, t 462 0820 
The Cathedral Church of St John the Divine has Sunday services at 6.15am, 8am, 11am and 7.15pm and on Saturday at 7am. 

Roman Catholic 
Holy Family Catholic Cathedral, St John’s, t 461 1127 
Masses at 7pm on Saturday and 8am Sunday. 

Tyrells Catholic Church/Our Lady of Perpetual Help, English Harbour 
Mass on Sunday at 10.30am 

Baptist 
Central Baptist Church, St John’s, t 462 2894 
Services on Sundays at 10am and 6pm, and Wednesdays at 7pm. Sunday School at 9am and 7pm. 

Villa Baptist Church, St John’s 
Services on Sundays at 10am and 6pm, and Wednesdays at 7pm. Sunday School at 9am. 

Methodist 
Ebenezer Methodist Church, St John’s, t 462 3864 
Sunday worship at 8.30am and 6.30pm. 

Spring Gardens Moravian Church, St John's, t 461 0656 
Services at 6.30am, 9am and 7pm on 1st Sundays and other Sundays at 9am and 7pm. 

Potters Zion Moravian Church, Potters Village, t 462 5956 
Sing-a-long every 4th Sunday at 7pm.

Service Charge / Tipping

Hotel, villa resort and villa accommodation incurs a 10.5% government sales tax or VAT (the ABST/Antigua and Barbuda Sales Tax for accommodation is due to increase to 15% at some point in the future, when it will be in line with all other services now being charged 15%) and a 10% service charge in Antigua, and these are normally added to your bill (unless you are staying in an all-inclusive hotel). It can make quite a difference to the eventual price of your holiday, so if you are booking direct make sure you calculate it in when pricing up your trip. 

Tipping for good service is obviously appreciated and is regarded as the norm. In restaurants and bars, check the bill, but around 10% should be added – some add this automatically along with the 15% ABST. 

In private villas and apartments, service is not included, so all members of staff should be tipped on your departure. Check with the local property manager or rental agent for guidance.

Taxis

Taxis are widely available in Antigua, at the airport, in town and in any of the main tourism centres including Dickenson Bay and English Harbour. Chance that you cannot find one, just walk into the nearest hotel and they’ll call one for you. Taxis are not metered - fares are fixed – but it is still a good idea to confirm the cost of your journey before setting off. It is also probably a good idea to know whether the rate is in US$ or EC$. 

Taxi associations and stands include: 
United Taxi Association, VC Bird International Airport, t 562 0262 
St John’s Taxi Service, Heritage Quay, t 460 6855 
West Bus Station Taxi Service, St John's, t 462 5190 

Some sample fares are, from the Airport to 
St John’s – US$12 
Dickenson Bay - US$16 
Carlisle Bay - US$31 
Nelson’s Dockyard – US$31 

And from St John’s to 
Dickenson Bay - US$12 
Nelson’s Dockyard - US$24 

Please note fares may be subject to change without notice.

Time Zone

Antigua is on Atlantic Standard Time, which is four hours behind GMT (Britain in winter) and five behind Europe. During the winter it is an hour ahead of the eastern seaboard of the USA. 

Antigua has no summer daylight saving time, so when the clocks change for the summer it is five hours behind Britain and on the same time as the eastern seaboard.

Tourist Information

There is a tourist information desk at the airport, located within the Arrivals Hall, beyond the immigration desks. 

The head office of the Antigua and Barbuda Department of Tourism is in St John’s, at the Government Complex, Queen Elizabeth Highway, t 462 0480 | deptourism@antigua.gov.ag. There is a desk at which you can get information. The Antigua & Barbuda Tourism Authority, is based in the ACB Financial Centre, High Street, St. John's, t 562 7600 | info@aandbtourism.com. 

There are overseas offices of the Antigua and Barbuda Department of Tourism/Tourism Authority in: 

United Kingdom and Europe 
Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority UK & Europe, Victoria House, 4th Floor, Victoria Road, Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 1JR, t 01245 707 471 tourisminfo@aandbtourism.com 

Canada 
Antigua and Barbuda Department of Tourism & Trade, 60 St. Claire Avenue East, Suite 304, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4T 1N5, t 1 416 961 3085 | info@antigua-barbuda-ca.com 

USA 
Antigua and Barbuda Department of Tourism & Trade, 25 SE 2nd Avenue, Suite 300, Miami, FL 33131, t 1305 381 6762 |   cganuear@bellsouth.net 

Antigua and Barbuda Tourist Office, 3 Dag Hammarskjold Plaza, 305 E. 47th Street, 6A New York, NY 10017, t 212 541 4117 or  888 268 4227 | info@antigua-barbuda.org