Time zone
Atlantic Standard Time - 1 hour ahead of Eastern Standard Time. GMT-4.
Languages
English is the official language of Antigua & Barbuda. The local population also speaks an island dialect.
Government
On November 1, 1981, Antigua gained its independence. Antigua is a member of the British Commonwealth and is ruled by a Prime Minister.
Entry Requirements / Departure taxes
Departure tax is included in the price of the ticket for all passengers over 12 years old leaving the island via air travel.
Visitors to Antigua and Barbuda require a valid passport, a return or onward ticket, confirmation of accommodation throughout the stay and sufficient funds for the duration of the stay.
Driving license
A temporary local driver's license is required to drive a vehicle, which can be obtained for US $ 20 and is valid for 3 months. The temporary driver's license can be obtained from the traffic department, any police station or car rental companies.
Passport and entry / Visa Requirements
https://visitantiguabarbuda.com/travel-resources/
Currency
The official currency is the Eastern Caribbean Dollar, which is pegged to the US dollar. The current exchange rate is approximately US $ 1.00 = EC $ 2.70. US dollars, traveler checks and major credit cards are accepted almost everywhere. Current courses at: xe.com
Internet
Internet cafes and WiFi spots can be found all over the island. Most hotels, resorts and villa rentals also have wifi access.
Shopping
Most of the shops in the capital of St. John’s are open Monday through Saturday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. There are numerous duty free shops in Redcliffe Quay and Heritage Quay.
Banks
Banks are open Monday to Thursday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Phones
Most hotels offer USA Direct Calling Service or you can connect with a US operator. Public telephones can be found all over the island. Mobile phones and prepaid cards are commercially available to purchase or to rent.
Services Charges & Tax
ABST is an indirect tax and is levied at the rate of 15% on the value of a wide range of goods and services imported or supplied in Antigua and Barbuda by ABST-registered persons. The rate applied in to hotel accommodation is 12.5%.
Important Telephone Numbers
Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority and its Tourist Information Offices: Headquarters in Antigua: 1-268-562-7600;
Police emergency number: 911 or 999
Firefighters: 464-0044
Sea rescue: 462-3062
Antigua and Barbuda are Caribbean islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east-southeast of Puerto Rico. Antigua and Barbuda both are generally low-lying islands whose terrain has been influenced more by limestone formations than volcanic activity.
Antigua, the largest of the Leeward Islands, is about 14 miles long and 11 miles wide, encompassing 108 square miles. Geographic Coordinates: 17°03′N, 61°48′W. Its highest point is Boggy Peak (1319 ft.), the remnant of a volcanic crater. The limestone formations in the northeast are separated from the southwestern volcanic area by a central plain of clay formations.
Barbuda, a flat coral island with an area of only 68 square miles, lies approximately 30 miles due north. The nation also includes the tiny (0.6 square mile) uninhabited island of Redonda, now a nature preserve. The current population for the nation is approximately 68,000 and its capital is St. John's on Antigua.
The islands' tropical climate is moderated by fairly constant northeast tradewinds, with velocities ranging between 30 and 48 km/h. Temperatures generally range from the mid-eighties in the winter to the mid-nineties in the summer.
