We love Antigua, and we really enjoyed Sandals. We've been there twice, once on our honeymoon and a second time for our 10-year anniversary, and both times we stayed at Sandals Grande Antigua on Dickenson Bay. Our photos include destinations all over the island, because we hired an amazing private driver to take us to all of the local spots, and it was an amazing experience. If you're planning a honeymoon or an anniversary trip, here's why Antigua belongs on your list, plus the sights, food, seasons and planning basics to know before you go.
Key takeaways: Antigua is an easy, English-speaking island for a honeymoon or anniversary. Sandals Grande Antigua on Dickenson Bay is adults-only and all-inclusive. A private driver makes it simple to see Devil's Bridge, Betty's Hope, Shirley Heights and Nelson's Dockyard.
Antigua at a Glance
- Main airport: V.C. Bird International Airport (ANU), just outside the capital, St. John's.
- Currency: the Eastern Caribbean dollar. Many places also accept U.S. dollars.
- Language: English.
- Driving: on the left. Visitors who rent a car need a temporary local driving permit.
- Where we stayed: Sandals Grande Antigua, on Dickenson Bay on the northwest coast, about 7 miles by road from the airport.
- Drier season: usually January to April. Hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30.
- Distances from the resort (straight line): Betty's Hope about 8 miles, and Devil's Bridge, Nelson's Dockyard and Shirley Heights about 12 miles each. Roads wind, so allow extra time.
Why Antigua Is Great for a Honeymoon or Anniversary
Antigua is the larger of the two main islands in Antigua and Barbuda, in the Leeward Islands of the eastern Caribbean. The islands' official tourism authority describes them as having 365 white and pink sand beaches, and says locals like to call it "one for every day of the year."
That mix of quiet beaches, calm turquoise bays, history and laid-back island life is what makes Antigua so easy to love as a couple. English is spoken everywhere, and you can be on the beach soon after you land.
Sandals Grande Antigua: Where We Stayed
We stayed at Sandals Grande Antigua on both of our trips. It's Sandals' resort in Antigua, an adults-only, all-inclusive resort designed for couples. According to Sandals, it sits on Dickenson Bay on the island's northwest coast, a short drive from V.C. Bird International Airport (ANU).
A few things that make it a natural fit for honeymooners and anniversary couples, according to the resort:
- Adults-only and made for couples, with romantic touches like fire pits and private candlelight dinners.
- Beachfront on Dickenson Bay, with calm, clear water right in front of the resort.
- Signature thatched-roof Rondoval suites and other suites with private plunge pools.
- Food, drinks and many activities included, from water sports to entertainment.
Inclusions, room types and specials change over time, so Ashley checks the current details for you before you book. Planning a honeymoon? Our Caribbean honeymoon guide covers what to look for in a romantic resort.
Things to Do in Antigua with a Private Driver
A beach chair is wonderful, but Antigua is worth seeing beyond the resort. Our private driver took us to each of the spots below. A private driver or private island tour lets you set your own pace, ask questions along the way and skip the stress of driving on the left. Here's where we went:
Devil's Bridge
Devil's Bridge is a natural limestone arch on Antigua's Atlantic coast near Willikies, carved by crashing waves and surrounded by blowholes. It's part of Antigua's national parks. A prehistoric Amerindian site nearby suggests early peoples fished and settled in the area. The name comes from local stories that enslaved Africans leapt from the arch, though the tourism authority notes there's no historical evidence for them. Admire it from a safe distance, because the rocks are slippery and the surf is powerful.
Betty's Hope
Established in the 1650s, Betty's Hope was Antigua's first large-scale sugar plantation, owned by the Codrington family from 1674 to 1944. Its sugar was produced by hundreds of enslaved Africans who worked under exhausting conditions and became skilled craftsmen, boilers and distillers. After emancipation in 1834, many stayed on as paid laborers. Today it's an open-air museum with a restored stone windmill and the ruins of the estate, and a place to remember the people whose labor built it.
Shirley Heights Lookout
Shirley Heights is a restored military lookout and gun battery about 490 feet up, with what the tourism authority calls the best view in Antigua, over English and Falmouth Harbours. It's named for Sir Thomas Shirley, Governor of the Leeward Islands, who strengthened Antigua's defenses in 1781 to protect the island and its naval dockyard. The lookout was one of several hilltop fortifications built to protect the dockyard.
Nelson's Dockyard
Nelson's Dockyard is a restored Georgian naval dockyard in English Harbour, still in use as a marina and part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The British Royal Navy began using English Harbour in 1725, and UNESCO notes the dockyard couldn't have been built without the labor of generations of enslaved Africans. Horatio Nelson served here from 1784 to 1787, and the dockyard was later named for him. The stone pillars along the water are what remain of the old Boat House and Sail Loft.
With so many beaches to choose from, a local driver can also help you find a quiet stretch of sand for an afternoon swim. Ashley can help you arrange a private driver or island tour to see these spots too. Tours and attractions can change from season to season, so she'll help you choose the options that fit your trip.
Antiguan Culture and Food
Antiguan food blends African, Caribbean and European influences. A few things to try:
- Fungee and pepperpot: the national dish, a cornmeal-and-okra side served with a hearty vegetable and meat stew.
- Ducana and saltfish: a sweet potato and coconut dumpling steamed in a banana leaf, served with saltfish.
- Goat water: a spicy local stew.
- Antigua black pineapple: the island's famously sweet pineapple and its national fruit.
- Fresh seafood: lobster, conch and catch of the day.
Sailing is part of island life too. Antigua Sailing Week brings racing yachts to the island each spring, and Antigua's Carnival fills the streets with music and color from late July into early August.
When to Go to Antigua
Antigua is warm all year, cooled by steady trade winds.
- Mid-December through mid-April is the peak travel season and a popular time to escape winter. January to April is usually the driest stretch.
- Hurricane season: The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, according to NOAA's National Hurricane Center. Many travelers still visit during these months. If your dates fall in this window, consider travel insurance and keep an eye on official forecasts as your trip gets close.
Getting There and Entry Basics
Flying in. Visitors fly into V.C. Bird International Airport (ANU), just outside the capital, St. John's.
What U.S. citizens need:
- A valid passport. Bring a U.S. passport book that's valid for your whole trip.
- A return or onward ticket.
- Antigua's online arrival form. Travelers arriving at V.C. Bird International Airport are encouraged to complete the official electronic immigration and customs form at ArriveAntigua.com shortly before their flight.
Good to know: Antigua drives on the left. The local currency is the Eastern Caribbean dollar, and many places also accept U.S. dollars.
Entry rules can change, so always check the U.S. State Department's Antigua and Barbuda page and the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority's travel FAQ before you travel.
Is Antigua Right for You?
If you're looking for beautiful beaches, calm blue water, history and a relaxed, romantic pace, Antigua is hard to beat. We love it, and we went back to Sandals Grande Antigua for our 10-year anniversary. Comparing other islands or traveling with family? Our Caribbean all-inclusive vacations guide explains how to compare resorts across the Caribbean, and Antigua is also a popular cruise stop, covered in our Caribbean cruises guide.
At Simply Travel by Ashley, Ashley Muhlenkamp helps couples across the United States plan honeymoons and anniversary trips to Antigua, and her planning services are completely free to you, with no hidden fees. Tell us about your trip to get started.
Antigua and Sandals FAQ
Is Sandals Grande Antigua adults-only?
Yes. According to Sandals, Sandals Grande Antigua is an adults-only, all-inclusive resort designed for couples.
Where is Sandals Grande Antigua?
Sandals Grande Antigua is on Dickenson Bay on Antigua's northwest coast, near the capital, St. John's, and a short drive from V.C. Bird International Airport (ANU).
Does Antigua really have 365 beaches?
The Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority says the islands have 365 white and pink sand beaches, and locals like to say there's one for every day of the year.
Do I need a passport to go to Antigua?
Yes. U.S. citizens need a valid passport and a return or onward ticket to visit Antigua and Barbuda. Air travelers are also encouraged to complete the official online arrival form at ArriveAntigua.com. Always check current requirements with official sources before you travel.
Is Antigua good for a honeymoon?
Yes. Antigua pairs calm turquoise bays and what the tourism authority counts as 365 beaches with history, good food and adults-only, all-inclusive resorts such as Sandals Grande Antigua. We honeymooned there and went back for our 10-year anniversary.
How do you get around Antigua?
Visitors often get around by taxi, private driver or organized tour. Antigua drives on the left, and visitors who rent a car need a temporary local driving permit. If you take a taxi, make sure the driver is licensed. We hired a private driver to see the island.
What is Antigua known for?
Antigua is known for its 365 white and pink sand beaches, sailing (including Antigua Sailing Week each spring), Carnival in late July and early August, the view from Shirley Heights and the UNESCO-listed Nelson's Dockyard.
When is the best time to visit Antigua?
Antigua is warm all year. Mid-December through mid-April is peak season, and January to April is usually the driest stretch. Hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30.
Let's Plan Your Antigua Getaway
Dreaming of your own honeymoon or anniversary in Antigua? Fill out the "Let's Plan Your Vacation!" form on our homepage, call (419) 852-4445, or email simplytravelbyashley@gmail.com. Ashley's planning services are free, and she's available Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM Eastern.