Beaches and coastline
The island is ringed by short, sheltered bays, and the tourist board likes to say there is one for every day of the year. The calmest swimming is generally on the west and south coasts, which sit in the lee of the trade winds; the Atlantic-facing east is breezier and better for kitesurfing. Dickenson Bay in the north-west is long and lively, with watersports and bars. Further south, the Five Islands peninsula and Jolly Harbour have quieter beaches and several adults-only resorts.
When to go
Mid-December to mid-April is the dry, sunny high season and the most expensive. Late April brings Antigua Sailing Week to English Harbour, which fills hotels in the south. Hurricane season runs from June to November, with the greatest risk from about mid-August to mid-October, when rates fall and some resorts close for refurbishment.
Getting there
Everyone arrives at V.C. Bird International (ANU), on the north-east side of the island a few miles from St John's. British Airways flies nonstop from London Gatwick year-round in roughly eight to nine hours, Virgin Atlantic adds seasonal Heathrow flights, and US airlines fly nonstop from New York, Miami and Charlotte, with some routes seasonal. Transfers are short: around 15 minutes to Dickenson Bay, 30 to 45 minutes to Jolly Harbour or English Harbour. Jumby Bay guests take a short drive to a private jetty and a crossing of under ten minutes.
How long to stay
Seven nights is the natural length from Europe, since the flight home to London usually runs overnight. From the US East Coast, five nights works well.
