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Home > Travel > Caribbean > Antigua and Barbuda > Antigua and Barbuda Experience > General: Antigua & Barbuda

User Reviews

for General: Antigua & Barbuda

Rating Summary based on 12 reviews

  • 5 Stars
    		7
  • 4 Stars
    		3
  • 3 Stars
    		1
  • 2 Stars
    		0
  • 1 Star
    		1

Detailed rating

  • Ease of getting around
  • Family Friendly
  • Nightlife
  • Shopping
  • Sightseeing
  		• 2.0
  		• 2.0
  		• 2.0
  		• 2.0
  		• 2.0

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Previous page Next page Page 1 of 2 | 1 to 10 out of 12 Review(s)
  • 29 of 29 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of tallpaul1983

    tallpaul1983

    3 Stars Trouble In Paradise - Tourisms Hidden Impact 01/08/2009
    User doesn't recommend the product

    Advantages Advantages Beautiful place, brings jobs to the region

    Disadvantages Disadvantages Most of the money you spend leaves the region

    This is a bit of rant so apologies up front to those who may see this as a bit bleeding heart story. However this trip really opened my eyes to the impact of our holidays on others and encouraged me to change the way I choose where and how I travel. I'm not preaching here and ultimately if we all stopped going to Antigua the island would totally collapse anyway. Just in the spirit of Ciao thought some information would help! Antigua’s traditional external image is one of sun-kissed Caribbean perfection. One half of Antigua and Barbuda, this island of roughly 80,000 people has enjoyed, in ... more
  • 22 of 22 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of hogwash

    hogwash

    5 Stars Antigua Paradise Island 28/05/2003
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages a truly awesome experience

    Disadvantages Disadvantages can I have some money for the diamond shops please

    “You will be bored in Antigua – it’s only for beach lovers”, quoted a colleague. HOW WRONG THEY WERE! I was very fortunate this year to find myself preparing and looking forward to my second holiday this year headed for two weeks of bliss in Antigua, Caribbean, West Indies. As my regular readers will know, I’m a keen fan of travelling, this trip for me was the furthest I’ve travelled yet (watch this space!) - apart from a New York shopping trip in the eighties, that is. I took a direct scheduled flight from Gatwick which I found to be comfortable, good food, leg room not too bad compared to ... more
  • 13 of 13 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of mbmb11

    mbmb11

    5 Stars change your attitudes and enjoy 04/07/2001
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages Beautiful Country

    Disadvantages Disadvantages Electricity can be a bit temperamental

    Fortunately for me, my mother in law lives in Antigua, in a village called Cedar Grove, which is about 1/2 hours drive from VC Bird Airport and St Johns. I have been to Antigua twice, on one occasion i stayed for 6 months! Whilst i know that the island is dependant on tourism as one of its main sources of income, i am often dismayed by the tendency for tourists to stay in large hotels, often in resorts that claim to provide all inclusive activities, and recommend therefore that you do not leave the resort. I also am saddened when tour reps advise travellers not to go to certain areas of the ... more
  • 9 of 10 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of SteveP

    SteveP

    5 Stars Sandals Antigua - Paradise Found 24/06/2000
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages Location, Food, Drink

    Disadvantages Disadvantages Price

    If you are looking for a caribbean holiday on a perfect beach in fine accomodation then look no further. I spent a week in Sandals Antigua for my honeymoon last year and was highly impressed. The hotels location could not be better, situated directly on one of the islands best beaches, with the restaurants overlooking the sea. Sandals is a fairly large, all-inclusive hotel. A variety of rooms are available, ranging from the simply luxurious, to the super luxurious suites. Our room fell somewhere between these two extremes and offered air-conditioning (essential), TV, and best of all a terrace ... more
  • 18 of 18 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of joaniecrumpet

    joaniecrumpet

    4 Stars A great place for independent travellers 12/08/2004
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages beautiful beaches, gloriously unspoilt in parts

    Disadvantages Disadvantages "all-inclusive" culture, unlovely capital

    Some people like all-inclusive breaks. They're safe, reliable and often cheaper than travelling independently. But do you really want to spend every day on the same sunlounger, eating from the same tired buffet every night, while a jaded steel pan band trills out the theme from Titanic? If you're the type who enjoys quantity rather than quality (does anyone really need TWO lobsters for dinner?), perhaps the sanitised paradise experience is right up your street, and it's there to be had in Antigua. But for the independent traveller, there's a much more authentic and magical experience to be had ... more
  • 13 of 13 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of izzybee

    izzybee

    4 Stars ALMOST Paradise! 02/06/2004
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages stunning, and secluded

    Disadvantages Disadvantages a bit too quiet for some? And too many cruises stop there!

    There can be no doubt that Antigua is a lovely island and you would be hard pushed not to enjoy a visit! The island is quite touristy, without being overwhelmed by it, but the cruises that stop in St Johns most days make the capital quite frenzied for a few hours a day and its well worth trying to avoid these periods (usually lunchtime - 5pm). There are completely unspoilt areas too, but the mentality of most visitors to Antigua seemed to us to be quite unconcerned about local people and their way of life and more focussed towards a relaxing beach holiday with every luxury laid on. Not that ... more
  • 11 of 11 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of pagandawn

    pagandawn

    5 Stars St James club Antigua 02/11/2004
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages escapism & peace & tranquility

    Disadvantages Disadvantages Very Quiet not suited for kids

    My childhood dream was to get married on the sunny Caribbean Island of Antigua & boy did it come true.. On arrival at the airport we were all greated by the rather humid temperature..boy was it hot! After a rather slow checkin we were led to queue up outside for our taxi to the hotel which was approx 30 mins from the airport, and was it a ride to remember... We were all sandwiched in to what was described as an Antiguans answer to a Sooty mobile.There were 12 of us altogether all squashed up like sardines complete with luggage & pushchair, the lady driver would of made Schumaker look slow, we ... more
  • 12 of 12 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of haze1smith

    haze1smith

    4 Stars Antigua 17/09/2004
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages Beaches are georgous; plenty to do; friendly locals

    Disadvantages Disadvantages Avoid hurricane season, sand flies and mosquitos

    Apparently Antigua has a beach for every day of the year - somehow I onoly got round to using the two at our resort - Allegro Pineapple. Allegro is on the west side of the island and is within walking distance of Devils Bridge - a natural phenoninom but play safe and keep away from the edge of the water. The locals were polite and friendly and the beach hawkers took no for an answer if you were not interested in what they were selling. Antigua has a warm tropical climate and our main bugbear (pardon the pun) was with the sand flies and mosquitos - a good insect repellant will do well - the ... more
  • 19 of 26 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of mumofone

    mumofone

    5 Stars A beach for every day of the year 29/06/2004
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages 365 beaches

    Disadvantages Disadvantages long flight

    I travelled to Antigua for my wedding, it was one of the most beautiful places I have ever been, they say there is a different beach for every day of the year and although we only saw one it was perfect. Very good value as its mostly all inclusive which includes meals, drinks and many watersports. The entertainment is hotel based so make sure you choose one with enough facilities for your needs, we stayed at the Jolly beach resort which has 04 resturants, a bbq grill on the beach and plenty of evening entertainment including steel bands playing all the modern songs, very cool to hear "shaggy" ... more
  • 9 of 15 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of fem33mids

    fem33mids

    5 Stars A wonderful experience 18/12/2000
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages wonderful experience

    Disadvantages Disadvantages long flightin cramped conditions

    We booked a last minute holiday didnt plan on the caribbean but found it the only available holiday at the time we could go.We landed at a tiny airport and taken by taxi to our resort.We were so lucky we actually stayed in a 4 star hotel "royal antigan" Friendly staff, clean rooms wonderful beaches and pools terrific cocktails from what i can remember (it was all inclusive!) beach games ,watersports and food/entertainment With so much to do at our hotel we had no need to venture out if we didnt want to but you dont visit a country to not see what it has to offer.We hired a mini bus and a group ... more
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