Capital City: St. John’s
Population: 97,120 (2019 est)
Language: English
Currency: Eastern Caribbean Dollars (XCD) Exchange: $1USD =$2.7XCD
Dialing Code: +1 268
Time Zone: Atlantic Standard Time [AST] (UTC/GMT -4 hours)
Government website: https://ab.gov.ag/
Antigua is the main island of the twin island state of Antigua and Barbuda in the Leeward Islands of the Caribbean. Besides locals, there is a large community of West Indians and there is also an international immigrant population comprising Western Europeans, Syrians, Americans and Canadians. The economy is mainly reliant on tourism, and over 31,000 people live in the capital city, St. John’s, which is situated in the North-West side of the island.
It has a tropical climate with temperatures falling between 22 and 34 degrees celsius over the course of the year and there is a consistent breeze from the trade winds. . The hurricane season is from June 1st to October 31st, with September typically being the busiest month for storms. English Harbour, Jolly Harbour and the northern neighbourhoods are popular residential hubs for the IA community but there are many different areas to live, all with their unique benefits.. The culture is laid back and friendly, ideal for anyone who wants to avoid a fast-paced lifestyle and with 365 beaches to choose from it is perfect for beach lovers.
The Antigua nice website has lots of useful information.
Accomodation
There are many Real Estate companies on the island. Our best advice is to use the websites below to get an idea of available properties:
Luxury Locations Real Estate Antigua
Useful information
WATER
Public water is chlorinated in Antigua but most people drink bottled water. Owing to the hot climate, the government may have to ration water, especially through drought seasons. This could mean that the public water supply will be off during specific times of the day. Most properties have a cistern (a big tank) under the house and a pump to bring water into the property. Ascertaining water supply is an essential question when looking for a rental property.
ELECTRICITY
In Antigua, some homes operate on a 110V (the same as North America), and some operate on 220V. Voltage type may depend on area but there is a move towards 110V in newer buildings. Most appliances have now been adapted to cope with both, but you must check your devices before coming, especially from the UK. Be sure to check what voltage you have access to before plugging in your appliances. Adapters may be needed so bring some from home just in case. The island does occasionally experience power outages so a backup generator is a real advantage in a rental property.
GETTING AROUND
A vehicle is an absolute ‘must’ in Antigua. The public transportation system is not very extensive nor highly developed. There are no Uber or similar services. Instead, there are traditional taxi services, but they are expensive .A car is needed to do the most basic of things. To drive you will need to bring your existing license from your home country and acquire a temporary license which is $50XCD and is valid for 3 months. This is available from the Transport Board or any local police station.
Most vehicles are automatic and left-hand drives. In Antigua we drive on the left.
INTERNET CONNECTIVITY
Internet connectivity is reasonable in Antigua but may not be as efficient as North America or Europe. There are 3 main service providers APUA’s INET, FLOW and Digicel. The provider you select may be based on the area that you choose to live in and whether a provider’s service extends to that area. For more information please visit the below
DOCTORS, DENTISTS & PHARMACIES
Antigua has many internationally accredited doctors and specialists. If you are taking an
unusual medication please make sure to first check whether it is available here. If it is available, it is likely to be less expensive than the prices charged in the US, Canada or Europe.
Doctors
Most doctors offices are located in St John’s or just north of the city around the Friars Hill area.
Dr. Vaswani (General Practitioner) 562-1160
Dr. Sorhaindo (Pediatrician) 562-1931 (w) or 562-2660 (w) Dr. Fevrier-Roberts (OB/Gyn) 462-1805 (w) or 462-2770 (w) Dr. Morcos and Associates 562-6932
Dentists
268 Dental- Dr. Kamal Moursy 562-9501/2 (located in Village Walk, Friar’s Hill Road. St. John’s)
Pharmacies
Woods Pharmacy 462-9287/8 (located in St. John’s) Epicurean Pharmacy 484-5400 (located on Friars Hill Road)
Hospitals and Clinics
There is one hospital on island. Mount St. John Medical Center (MSJMC) which is located in the heart of St. John’s. There are also a number of private clinics.
MSJMC 484-2700
Medical Surgical Associates 481-5200 or 464-9449 Mansoor Clinic 463-2232/2233
SUPERMARKETS
Compared to North America or Europe, Antigua is considered quite expensive for grocery shopping. However, Antigua is fortunate enough to have 2 of the best supermarkets in the Caribbean.
Epicurean – Friar’s Hill Road & Jolly Harbour – fully stocked with a large variety of foods, international brands and a gourmet section.
1st Choice- Anchorage Road – fully stocked and cheaper than Epicurean but has less variety, especially with international brands.
Bailey’s Supermarket- English Harbour- a small family run grocery store with fresh produce but not a large frozen selection.
Gourmet Basket – Airport Road- Similar to Bailey’s, smaller grocery store with a small variety of fresh produce, frozen and dry foods.
BUGS/MOSQUITOES
You are coming to the tropics so bugs do exist in Antigua! Mosquitoes tend to be more active at dawn and dusk. There is no malaria in Antigua. All newcomers need a month or two to get acclimatized; take precautions with your clothing and using repellant may be necessary.
PETS
Check with the government of Antigua to fully understand what is needed to have your pet successfully enter the country.
