Destination: Antigua

The island of Antigua lie centrally placed in the Caribbean, and enjoys a stunning panorama over the North Atlantic Ocean on one side, and the Caribbean Sea on the other. This beautiful island has a reputation as a popular holiday destination for anyone wanting to experience crystal blue waters and golden sands, but it makes families very welcome and provides plenty of entertainment for children of all ages. And because the island relies heavily on tourism, it hosts a number of popular events throughout the year, including Sailing Week which is held in April, and a wonderfully colorful and elaborate Carnival, hosted to celebrate the island’s emancipation, at the end of every July.

Antigua is bursting with history, and many of the place names, like English Harbour, Free Town and Dutchman Bay, give a glimpse into its close connections with some of its earliest English visitors.

With temperatures that rarely fall below the mid seventies, even in winter, this is one of the warmest and sunniest of the Caribbean Islands, and tourists flock to its exclusive beaches every month. There isn’t really a ‘best time to visit’, but if you’re trying to avoid the rain completely, then the months of December through to April are always a great time to grab some welcoming sun.

Things to do in Antigua with Children:

Kids of all ages will love a visit to Stingray City. This water based tour will whisk the whole family off on a speedboat to a shallow pool where you’ll be shown how to handle and feed wild Stingrays. This trip includes snorkeling, and although there’s no age limit, guests must be comfortable swimmers to participate. For more information or to book a trip to Stringray City click here.

On a family day out, head to the Devil’s Bridge. It’s a great place for a family picnic or just a walk along the sea line. These geological formations have a lot of history, and older children will be curious as they learn that this was the site of mass suicides by slaves during the days of the slave trade.

For a selection of tours by water, head over to Eli’s Eco Tour where you and the kids can choose between catamaran tours, a trip on a classic yacht, or the infamous eco tour which involves visits to the mangrove trees and reefs and the chance to do some diving to explore the local habitat. Children are welcome, but diving depends upon swimming ability.

A visit to Nelson’s dockyard is a fascinating exploration of the past history of the Island that will delight visitors of every age. This ancient British Naval yard was once the main port for British ships that were capturing the Caribbean islands and cutting off traders on the sugar routes. Now, it a fabulous museum with a variety of exhibits, including a selection of artifacts saved from the ancient vessels, such as bells, anchors and cannons.

Prickly Pear Island is a must visit destination for any family heading to Antigua. This fabulous little island is a short boat ride from Antigua itself, and your host for the day is Miguel and his family. This is where kids can let their imaginations run riot as they play at being castaways for the day. There a trails to enjoy, flotillas to relax on, and Miguel has set up his own beach bar and restaurants so you won’t have to hunt for your own food. Transportation is twice a week, but they’re happy to arrange visits on any other day on request.

Click here for a list of tours on offer by Dosomethingdifferent.com
 

Recommended family friendly accommodation in Antigua

The all-inclusive Beach club has new family suites, which consists of 2 adjoining rooms interconnecting on the ground floor. The suite comes with a family pack comprising of cot, pushchair, baby changing and bathing station, steriliser, mini beach towels, baby bath towels, amenity kit plus a toddler activity pack, bucket and spade and a Puffin book library. There ara also plenty of activities including free water sports and a children’s activity programme for 4 to 12 years of age. Click here for more details on this holiday.

The Verandah Resort & Spa sits is in a spectacular setting offering fantastic service and makes for a fun-packed family holiday. You can enjoy a massage whilst the children enjoy the kids' club and mini cinema. Click here for more details on The Verandah Resort.

You will find Virgin holidays and Kuoni luxury holidays offer a great selection of hotels in Antigua.