What to do Antigua for the day?

We going to Antigua on a cruise next year. We're never been here before.

I was wondering what did you do there for the day?? and What would you recommend doing there for the day??

Any ideas / suggestions are welcome

I also need some suggestions on this island. Are there any "must do"s??

An economical suggestion: make it a beach day. We took a van ($8 per person) out to Valley Church Beach. No admission fee but $10 to rent an umbrella or lounge chair. A small restaurant and nice changing/bathroom facilities are there but none of the noisy distractions like jet skies, casinos etc. We really enjoyed it.

An economical suggestion: make it a beach day. We took a van ($8 per person) out to Valley Church Beach. No admission fee but $10 to rent an umbrella or lounge chair. A small restaurant and nice changing/bathroom facilities are there but none of the noisy distractions like jet skies, casinos etc. We really enjoyed it.

did they have showers to rinse off?

thanks

I love the saying, you get what you pay for. For a quality Island experience, id advice not to focus so much on saving. Many persons often commented negatively on their island experience turning away others from even wanting to experience it for themselves. If you want to experience Antigua, try trip advisor things to do. I like this route because you get to filter your choices much better based on the reviews of previous travelers.

Also, you find things to do that suits you. You may not like water based activity, but rather land based activities, or vice versa, you will get a combination of all the best excursions in Antigua.

Usually, when a company is not listed on trip advisor, it is for many reasons that if not favorable for you.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g147242-Activities-Antigua_Antigua_and_Barbuda.html

We going to Antigua on a cruise next year. We're never been here before.

 

I was wondering what did you do there for the day?? and What would you recommend doing there for the day??

 

Any ideas / suggestions are welcome

When we visited we took the city bus to Valley Church beach. Bus fare was like $2. Beach is amazing. The city bus can be picked up in town at the fish market (which is interesting to see in itself). We've only been there 1x so that is all I can recommend. We are returning in Sept and doing the same beach day we loved it that much.

We'll be doing Valley Church beach when we visit again next year but then we've been to Antigua numerous times and it would be very sad if a first timer missed out on the beauty of this island. We were with some friends last year and we went to the taxi dispatch desk in the duty free shops, about 100 yards straight up from the pier. Prices are fair if you go there and you might be able to keep prices down (although it isn't expensive anyway) if you share the van with others. I'd highly recommend getting your driver to take you to Shirley Heights, Nelson's Dockyard, English Harbour then end up with a couple of hours at Valley Church beach from lunch and cocktails at The Nest beach bar. It's an interesting island and you'll have a very enjoyable day

We'll be doing Valley Church beach when we visit again next year but then we've been to Antigua numerous times and it would be very sad if a first timer missed out on the beauty of this island. We were with some friends last year and we went to the taxi dispatch desk in the duty free shops, about 100 yards straight up from the pier. Prices are fair if you go there and you might be able to keep prices down (although it isn't expensive anyway) if you share the van with others. I'd highly recommend getting your driver to take you to Shirley Heights, Nelson's Dockyard, English Harbour then end up with a couple of hours at Valley Church beach from lunch and cocktails at The Nest beach bar. It's an interesting island and you'll have a very enjoyable day

This sounds like a great combination day and what we have talked about doing ourselves. What would be a good ballpark price in your experience to do this in a shared taxi as well a maybe a taxi for 2 or 4 people? I am good with fair, just not sure what that should be.

This sounds like a great combination day and what we have talked about doing ourselves. What would be a good ballpark price in your experience to do this in a shared taxi as well a maybe a taxi for 2 or 4 people? I am good with fair, just not sure what that should be.

We paid $30 each for 7 of us. Had the van all day and we could spend as long / short a time in each place. I didn't think that was too bad as we've paid $8 each way just to get to Valley Church beach. I organised with people from our roll call and wanted to book in advance for this one but there are dozens of taxis if you go to the taxi dispatch desk

Thank you tartanexile81. That gives me a better idea on total van cost for a day. Sounds like you already had a driver in mind before going that you may have reserved?

It also sounds like one can easily find someone on the fly as well.

Thank you tartanexile81. That gives me a better idea on total van cost for a day. Sounds like you already had a driver in mind before going that you may have reserved?

It also sounds like one can easily find someone on the fly as well.

We booked one which was recommended here but it is VERY easy to grab one on the day

We took a six hour tour with Scenic Tours Antigua in Jan 2017. I believe it was $38/pp. We got a tour and beach time!

Just my two cents on valley church. After 25 yrs. on and off the beach itself has not changed, except for the aminities as explained above which are excellent in my book. But, the never changing beach line which is a two foot drop off onto more stable bottom is the Getya if you have ANY mobility issues. Going down, or sinking down a piece of cake. Climbing back up hill through sinking shifting sand is only for the very mobile. Very deceiving also, as the beautiful water is very inviting and you just know you gotta get in it. Over winter was there and knew better, but only by crawling hands and knees was I back to my lounger. It's a great spot, but if you are a diehard water baby better have two strong young guys to lead you out. Going back in September. Really think hard on this choice. But enjoy. Antigua is a beautiful island!

We took a cooking class through Nicole's Table. We had a great day, at their private home w/ a wonderful patio & view. Her husband, Adam also does a Rum class. You will enjoy eating the fruits of your labor on the beautiful patio. Felt like we were part of the family.

Just my two cents on valley church. After 25 yrs. on and off the beach itself has not changed, except for the aminities as explained above which are excellent in my book. But, the never changing beach line which is a two foot drop off onto more stable bottom is the Getya if you have ANY mobility issues. Going down, or sinking down a piece of cake. Climbing back up hill through sinking shifting sand is only for the very mobile. Very deceiving also, as the beautiful water is very inviting and you just know you gotta get in it. Over winter was there and knew better, but only by crawling hands and knees was I back to my lounger. It's a great spot, but if you are a diehard water baby better have two strong young guys to lead you out. Going back in September. Really think hard on this choice. But enjoy. Antigua is a beautiful island!

Thank you! Valley Church is now marked off my list... :D

You must go to Sandra's Island Fusion Cafe for lunch! I had the best food on the island there (especially jerk chicken and lobster thermador).

We took a six hour tour with Scenic Tours Antigua in Jan 2017. I believe it was $38/pp. We got a tour and beach time!

Do you remember how much beach time there was? thx

We took a cooking class through Nicole's Table. We had a great day, at their private home w/ a wonderful patio & view. Her husband, Adam also does a Rum class. You will enjoy eating the fruits of your labor on the beautiful patio. Felt like we were part of the family.

This sounds like just the quaint experience we are looking for! Can you tell me how to find this one? Thank you thank you!

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Do check out the impact of last years storms. Jolly Harbour lost a lot of their palms so little shade. Also sadly some of the great locations have closed resorts like Deep Bay which has impacted on that great location. We have been twice (non cruise) and took a catamaran tour which did Nelsons dockyard plus some beach and snorkeling time. Shirley Heights is a great look out and if there on a Sunday it is party time 4-10pm but check if still happens.

A lot of tours are part boat/catamaran based which when coming off a cruise may not be top of the list 🙂 For an island boasting a different beach for each day of the year just a shame the investment isn't there to support one of the best!

We are there again for a day in December and it has been a sad challenge to find somewhere to go once discovering my fave destination had closed.

On 10/20/2018 at 5:12 PM, newbiewaves said:

Do check out the impact of last years storms. Jolly Harbour lost a lot of their palms so little shade. Also sadly some of the great locations have closed resorts like Deep Bay which has impacted on that great location. We have been twice (non cruise) and took a catamaran tour which did Nelsons dockyard plus some beach and snorkeling time. Shirley Heights is a great look out and if there on a Sunday it is party time 4-10pm but check if still happens.

 

A lot of tours are part boat/catamaran based which when coming off a cruise may not be top of the list 🙂 For an island boasting a different beach for each day of the year just a shame the investment isn't there to support one of the best!

 

We are there again for a day in December and it has been a sad challenge to find somewhere to go once discovering my fave destination had closed.

Could you tell me who you used for the catamaran to Nelsons, beach and snorkeling.

Thanks

eeekk it was several years ago and were staying in a resort via Virgin holidays at the time so may have been through them.  We were staying at Deep Bay and boarded there (where the tours were also touted) sadly the resort there is now closed so the facilities and touts gone.  It is however a pretty 'classic' Antigua tour so you may find similar via google searching 'Antigua catamaran tours'. They go round the island with Nelsons dockyard first stop then to another bay or island for beach time with snorkeling and lunch they provide then more sailing taking in Eric Claptons pad then back to Deep Bay. Also on another note I am a terrible 'sailor' however did not experience any sea sickness on the catamaran.

We took the public bus #2 to Nelson's Dockyard.  The bus cost $2 US (bring a few singles as change will not be in US$).  See post #6 for description. Ask the locals and they will tell you how to find the bus station. The Dockyard is a UNESCO site, national park, and costs about $8 to enter.    Very historic and in great shape, it's still a working dockyard, and you can see sails being repaired, and look at the gorgeous yachts docked right there.  You can buy a reasonable lunch at the bakery.

I disagree with the suggestion above that you can't have a quality time without spending money on excursions and pricey transport.  I loved this bus trip in Antigua, and felt it was one of the most genuine and interesting  experiences I've had. It was really great riding along with the local people as they went to work or their homes, while the bus radio played a call-in show with people talking about their issues. Everybody was very kind and helpful when we were not sure where to get off and on.  Nelson's Dockyard is a beautiful site, and you don't need an expensive tour to look at this beautiful historic site.

We took the public bus #2 to Nelson's Dockyard.

I have seen on a much older post that it is bus #17 that goes to Nelson's Dockyard.  Do they both travel that way?

We are going to the north side of Dickenson Bay, where I hear there is pretty decent snorkeling. 🙂 I will report back after our trip

can you follow up ?