dthk@mhuxd.UUCP (hawkins) (03/21/84)
Antigua is delightful! We were there in February and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. The beaches are outstanding, and they say there are 365 of them-- one for each day of the year. That's not an exaggeration--every cove has a beautiful beach. Many of them are totally deserted. The island scenery is not spectacular, except for the southern portion where they have a restored 18th century dockyard (the only real "tourist trap" on the island). The views from the heights above the dockyard are outstanding. The people are friendly and enjoy a reasonably good standard of living for the Caribbean. Antigua is an ex-British colony and has been independent since 1981. There is still a lot of British influence there, and so the government is quite stable. Tourism is a major industry. The capital, St. Johns, is a typical Caribbean town of about 30,000 people (total island population is ~70,000). Main things to purchase are local handicrafts, duty-free liquor, perfume, etc. Cuisine is mainly local fish which is delicious. (Try the Cockleshell Restaurant for excellent fresh fish dinners. The Sunday brunch at the Blue Waters Hotel is expensive--U.S.$16/person--but you can stuff yourself with as much of the delicious food as you can hold.) Since the island is fairly small (108 square miles), there isn't a lot of driving around possible, and many people spend most of their time on the beach. The roads are full of potholes, very narrow, and clogged with vehicles, animals, and people. In summmary, Antigua is a beautiful island and well worth a visit if you like beaches, swimming, snorkeling, sailing, etc. Don Hawkins AT&T-BL mhuxd!dthk (201)-582-6517
gawf@nbires.UUCP (John Gawf) (03/06/85)
<feed line> I'm getting married and going to Antigua on my honeymoon in May. I would appreciate any information about experiences people have had there. Also, has anybody stayed in any of the following hotels: Curtain Bluff, Half Moon Bay, Halcyon Cove Beach Resort. If so did you use the MAP (Modified American Plan)? Suggestions for other hotels, restaurants, and activities would be appreciated.