Your suggestions

[canadianjovigirl]

We are looking for a private or small group while here as only wanting to see a few sights and have more beach time then cruise beach excursions give. Any suggestions or recommendations?

[PORT ROYAL]

26 minutes ago, canadianjovigirl said:

We are looking for a private or small group while here as only wanting to see a few sights and have more beach time then cruise beach excursions give. Any suggestions or recommendations?

Take a cab and do a short tour to one’s requirements.  Then get dropped off at Catherine’s for a lunch, drinks, beds, beach, sea, boutique shop etc..  When ready to return, Catherine’s will call one a cab.

[canadianjovigirl]

1 hour ago, PORT ROYAL said:

Take a cab and do a short tour to one’s requirements.  Then get dropped off at Catherine’s for a lunch, drinks, beds, beach, sea, boutique shop etc..  When ready to return, Catherine’s will call one a cab.

Trying to avoid the cab scenario after reading all the posts here about them and prefer to have something prebooked 

[TTEllis]

Hey PORT ROYAL,

Why don't you give her the information you have on Lawrence.

Lawrence is always a winner.

Thanks Todd 

[PORT ROYAL]

9 hours ago, canadianjovigirl said:

Trying to avoid the cab scenario after reading all the posts here about them and prefer to have something prebooked 

As suggested by @TTEllis , here is the best operator on the island.  He will take care of everything, from the tour to a timed collection.   Lawrence will be happy to discuss ensuring one has a great day, getting the best possible experience of this beautiful island.
Enjoy -

Thank you Todd.

 

 

Edited January 8 by PORT ROYAL
Typo

[canadianjovigirl]

2 hours ago, PORT ROYAL said:

As suggested by @TTEllis , here is the best operator on the island.  He will take care of everything, from the tour to a timed collection.   Lawrence will be happy to discuss ensuring one has a great day, getting the best possible experience of this beautiful island.
Enjoy -

Thank you Todd.

 

 

I tried him as saw he was recommended but he has no beach tours that day just the group set tour and we are not wanting all those sites. Just wanting 2-3 and beaches so looking for something more private that we can customize 

[PORT ROYAL]

9 minutes ago, canadianjovigirl said:

I tried him as saw he was recommended but he has no beach tours that day just the group set tour and we are not wanting all those sites. Just wanting 2-3 and beaches so looking for something more private that we can customize 

Then try….

https://www.petestaxiandrentals.com

and

https://www.barrytaxi.com

 

 

[cruisenshop]

We used Barry at Barry Taxi. vbarryoliver@hotmail.com

He does a private tour of the island (Shirley Heights/ Nelson’s Dockyard/Darkwood Beach.) 
We were a party of six and he worked on our timing - clean van- excellent driver- great tour guide. Highly recommend! 
 

[TTEllis]

Nice!!

[mathed101]

On 1/15/2024 at 10:13 AM, cruisenshop said:

We used Barry at Barry Taxi. vbarryoliver@hotmail.com

He does a private tour of the island (Shirley Heights/ Nelson’s Dockyard/Darkwood Beach.) 
We were a party of six and he worked on our timing - clean van- excellent driver- great tour guide. Highly recommend! 
 

 

Would you be able to give a little more information about your tour such as timing, order of stops, knowledge of the guide, beach time, and food stop if any? We are a party of 6 and prefer private tours as well. This would be our first visit to Antigua and several of our party are not really sit on the beach all day people. Any information would be wonderful!

[cruisenshop]

Barry picked us up at the port at 830 he drove us through town, and toward Nelson’s Dockyard noting various churches and cricket fields on the way. That took at least a half hour. He’s very knowledgeable and interesting . It wasn’t boring at all. His knowledge of culture, history and politics there was incredible. He dropped us at Nelson’s  Dockyard and  our party got a docent and did a tour, went to the bakery for a pineapple pastry. Maybe 45 minutes to an hour there? It’s fabulous there. Could stay much longer but we’ve been there before. Since it’s private you decide how much time you need. Then
he took us to a lookout near by  for photos (we had never been there before in previous trips to Antigua) then we drove  to Shirley Heights. We took photos there and  walked around -30 minutes? Then we drove through the rainforest and stopped at a stand where he had arranged for us to taste black pineapple. 
then he took us to darkwood beach and we were there for 1.5 hours. Magnificent 

we did not stop to eat per se - he had beverages in the van and between the pastries, pineapple and snacks we had in our bags we didn’t need more food. There was food at the beach and at Nelson’s Dockyard- including a fresh fruit stand. 

 

Since it’s private you decide where to go/how much time. This tour was SO much better than Lawrence’s tour. We got to do what we wanted when we wanted. Barry is a gem - it was our favorite day on our ten day cruise! 

I think our timing was 830-230. Again , you can work with Barry to organize the trip that’s right for your party of six. 

[CroozeNoob]

On 1/20/2024 at 12:55 PM, cruisenshop said:

Barry picked us up at the port at 830 he drove us through town, and toward Nelson’s Dockyard noting various churches and cricket fields on the way. That took at least a half hour. He’s very knowledgeable and interesting . It wasn’t boring at all. His knowledge of culture, history and politics there was incredible. He dropped us at Nelson’s  Dockyard and  our party got a docent and did a tour, went to the bakery for a pineapple pastry. Maybe 45 minutes to an hour there? It’s fabulous there. Could stay much longer but we’ve been there before. Since it’s private you decide how much time you need. Then
he took us to a lookout near by  for photos (we had never been there before in previous trips to Antigua) then we drove  to Shirley Heights. We took photos there and  walked around -30 minutes? Then we drove through the rainforest and stopped at a stand where he had arranged for us to taste black pineapple. 
then he took us to darkwood beach and we were there for 1.5 hours. Magnificent 

we did not stop to eat per se - he had beverages in the van and between the pastries, pineapple and snacks we had in our bags we didn’t need more food. There was food at the beach and at Nelson’s Dockyard- including a fresh fruit stand. 

 

Since it’s private you decide where to go/how much time. This tour was SO much better than Lawrence’s tour. We got to do what we wanted when we wanted. Barry is a gem - it was our favorite day on our ten day cruise! 

I think our timing was 830-230. Again , you can work with Barry to organize the trip that’s right for your party of six. 

This sounds so pleasant! If you don't mind me asking, what was his pricing like? We are traveling with two, and trying to be cost conscious about the whole trip, pinching pennies wherever we go!

[mathed101]

On 1/20/2024 at 12:55 PM, cruisenshop said:

Barry picked us up at the port at 830 he drove us through town, and toward Nelson’s Dockyard noting various churches and cricket fields on the way. That took at least a half hour. He’s very knowledgeable and interesting . It wasn’t boring at all. His knowledge of culture, history and politics there was incredible. He dropped us at Nelson’s  Dockyard and  our party got a docent and did a tour, went to the bakery for a pineapple pastry. Maybe 45 minutes to an hour there? It’s fabulous there. Could stay much longer but we’ve been there before. Since it’s private you decide how much time you need. Then
he took us to a lookout near by  for photos (we had never been there before in previous trips to Antigua) then we drove  to Shirley Heights. We took photos there and  walked around -30 minutes? Then we drove through the rainforest and stopped at a stand where he had arranged for us to taste black pineapple. 
then he took us to darkwood beach and we were there for 1.5 hours. Magnificent 

we did not stop to eat per se - he had beverages in the van and between the pastries, pineapple and snacks we had in our bags we didn’t need more food. There was food at the beach and at Nelson’s Dockyard- including a fresh fruit stand. 

 

Since it’s private you decide where to go/how much time. This tour was SO much better than Lawrence’s tour. We got to do what we wanted when we wanted. Barry is a gem - it was our favorite day on our ten day cruise! 

I think our timing was 830-230. Again , you can work with Barry to organize the trip that’s right for your party of six. 

 

Thank you so much for your itinerary and time spent at each spot!  Since you had been to Antiqua before, were there any spots that you experienced before that you would recommend that we add to this tour?  How was Darkwood Beach? Was it crowded and were there beach chairs? Any snorkeling? 

 

I have responded to your Dominica post as well for the same reasons here. If you find the time there are a few others that would like to know about your tour with Peppers.

[punkinbits92]

On 1/15/2024 at 10:13 AM, cruisenshop said:

We used Barry at Barry Taxi. vbarryoliver@hotmail.com

He does a private tour of the island (Shirley Heights/ Nelson’s Dockyard/Darkwood Beach.) 
We were a party of six and he worked on our timing - clean van- excellent driver- great tour guide. Highly recommend! 
 

Were his rates reasonable for the island tour?

[mathed101]

@cruisenshop

He dropped us at Nelson’s  Dockyard and  our party got a docent and did a tour, went to the bakery for a pineapple pastry.

 

Did you have to make a reservation for a docent and tour or did you just get one when you arrived? What were the rates if you recall for the tour?  

 

Thanks for the information!!

[cruisenshop]

Barry quoted us $50 Us per person ( but we were a party of six) I don’t know what he’d charge for more or less passengers. Email him, he’s responsive. 
 

Antigua is one of our favorites and we enjoy the trip to Shirley Heights, Dockyard and other stops for scenic views. We like history, architecture, art, food, drink, beaches. It’s really personal choice. You can tell Barry what you want to do and he can suggest stops. In our case this was our first trip to Darkwood Beach. We added it for something new and we were not disappointed. 
 

My profile pic was taken on Darkwood beach. It made me want to plan a separate trip to Anitigua. 

 

Tour guides/docents are at the entrance at Nielsen’s dockyard and work for tips, you don’t reserve. I’ve been there twice this year and had excellent guides both times. We tipped generously. 

 

Darkwood Beach was magnificent - clean, not crowded, you can rent chairs - we loved it so much we asked to stay longer and Barry obliged. He’s a gentleman and did not ask for more money but we did tip him generously. 

Edited February 23 by cruisenshop