Antigua’s famous boast that it can offer ‘a beach for every day of the year’ is selling it short. The island’s appeal is far wider than that and encompasses its colonial history, its lack of development, its lively yachting culture and its picturesque interior that ranges from rainforest lush to desert dry.

With total disregard for any need of a fashionable hub, its finest hotels are scattered around the island, most of them serene little micro-worlds where one can dine and play without even having to think about stepping
outside. Yet it would certainly be a pity not to - some particularly fine island restaurants open their doors duringthe winter months and it would be a mortal sin not to indulge in a little island exploration - the poor roads
notwithstanding!

Nelson’s Dockyard and the seaside shopping quays of St. John’s are a must, whilst Sunday afternoons at Shirley Heights are almost compulsory. Catamaran rides pay homage to the island’s love affair with the sea, with the
18-hole Cedar Valley golf course also serving its purpose well. And if you want to experience the island’s nightlife, the spotlight tends to shift between Dickenson Bay and English Harbour, although once Sailing Week is over at the beginning of May, the latter (like much of the island) reverts to its usual sleepy self.

BRITISH AIRWAYS OPERATE DAILY FLIGHTS TO ANTIGUA IN THE WINTER AND FIVE FLIGHTS A WEEK IN THE SUMMER. BMI ALSO FLY THERE FROM MANCHESTER EVERY FRIDAY. ABOUT 81/2 HOURS IS ALL IT TAKES TO GET THERE, WHICH IS GREAT IF YOU’RE STAYING ON THE ISLAND AND JUST AS
CONVENIENT IF YOU’RE TAKING A SAME-DAY
CONNECTION ONTO SOMEWHERE SMALLER LIKE ANGUILLA, ST. BARTHS, NEVIS OR THE BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS.