Antigua's Beach Recommendations

[JandBR_PHX]

We liked Runaway Bay. The beach was clean and uncrowded, considering there were 2 ships in port. The bar is small, but the drinks are good. They were grilling hamburgers the day we were there, and they were pretty tasty! We've been there twice, and both times horseback riding and jet skis were available. There are a few vendors that wander the beach, but they aren't high-pressure ("Brenda" with jewelry, "Ragamuffin" with palm frond hats, etc.)

[Fabian52]

If you take a taxi just make sure you know the price r/t before you to. Do don't want to get arrested like the other 3 couples on the Carnival Cruise Line did:eek:

[geenafeena]

how far was runaway bay from the pier? how much was the taxi? we are at a loss as to what to do in antigua having never been to this island, will be there next month. we will be there from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. so we have the entire day. thanks for any help.l

[EricJ]

The taxi to Runaway was about 15 minutes. I don't recall the cost exactly, but I think under $10/pp. I wish I got the name of the bar we were dropped at, but there are some photos in the bottom half of http://www.ericjung.com/Explorer/index.htm . Just south of this bar was a half-mile stretch of deserted beach. It was quiet and the water was beautiful and calm.

[Aligator6182]

Jolly beach is a really nice beach but the hotel is not worth $60. We stayed there 3 years ago and although we enjoyed the beach and water the hotel was way below our expectations. The food was not very good and the majority of the time there was not a bartender in sight at the swim up bar. They actually have a dispenser on the bar, it likes a self-serve slurpee machine at 7-11 with a bottle of booze next to it to mix in. It sounds like a good deal because it is so much cheaper but we did a day pass to sandals in Jamaica and it was so worth the extra money. The food was excellent and the drinks top shelf. And the had plenty of staff on hand. If you do go to Jolly beach make sure you bring insenct repellent. The sand fleas are terrible.

[toberman]

There's a ton of information on this site

 

http://www.antigua-barbuda.org/Agtsp01.htm

 

Go to Transportation (left panel), then taxis. Download the pdf file. It's from 2005, but shud give a good indication of fares. Note that the fares are per car (4 people) not per person.

[Aligator6182]

Long bay looks beautiful? Do they have snorkeling there?