It’s getting closer to the ANTIGUA CARNIVAL 2015 and the countdown from today is (go here to find out !)
So what better way to get in the carnival spirit than takea look at the songs that will form an integral part of the big bashment.
Melo – Searching
Here is the link to find out more about the models that all had very exciting roles like jumping out of a plane to get to Antigua…etc… You can discuss this here on the google profile page –
https://plus.google.com/103427789477892984698/posts/bZAHo8DUokM
If you’re looking for something to do after you’ve finished the regular beach and day attractions, there’s no need to worry: Antigua has a wide variety of nightlife that will cater to your night time cabin fever needs! Local nightlife ranges from relaxed to raucous, so there’s something for everyone if you want to get out and about.
Here are some of the most popular nightlife spots in Antigua and Barbuda:
1. Abracadabra – Popularly known as “Abras”, Abracadabra is well known for its eclectic mix of locals, expats, and visiting yachtsmen and women. Located in English Harbour just before the world famous Nelson’s Dockyard, this restaurant and bar transforms into a nightclub on weekends. Music ranges from local soca, dancehall, and reggae, to urban hip hop and rap, to EDM and dance, so no matter what your musical tastes you’ll be sure to find something to suit you. Enjoy the covered main dancefloor or enjoy the music in the courtyard or on the second dancefloor at the rear.
2. Club Bliss/Studio 79 – Located Runaway Bay, this upscale entertainment complex (formerly known as Rush) has been entertaining Antiguans for years. Mainly catering to locals, but with an audience that also includes visitors and local university students, this club is definitely the place to be on weekends, especially for Friday club nights. Downstairs is the main bar with several pool tables and other games. Upstairs is the main club area for dancing the night away. If you feel like treating yourself, you can upgrade to VIP and enjoy waitress and table service. Check out their facebook page for up to date information on specials and events.
3. Mad Mongoose – Also located in English Harbour, Mad Mongoose is a lively bar located at the beginning of the Dockyard Drive strip. Like Abracadabra, this bar is also popular with yachtsmen, locals, and visitors alike. The small dancefloor is host to live bands Fridays and Tuesdays while the entertainment area to the back has a number of pool tables and tv’s showing a wide range of sports channels. You could also grab a bite to eat and hang out on the wooden benches at the entrance, which gives you a great view of the harbor and surrounding area. Mad Mongoose has daily specials ranging from Two for One Tequila Thursdays and Saturday Buddy nights, so make sure to ask what’s on when you get there!
4. DBoat – Dboat is a one of a kind and innovative approach to partying in the Caribbean. Anchored on the north coast of the island, Dboat is an old oil tanker that was converted into a multipurpose entertainment venue. During the day Dboat is family oriented, with a water park featuring slides, a diving platform and trampolines, as well as a restaurant and day tours to surrounding islands in the North Sound marine park. At night the strobe lights come on and the deck is prepped for weekend club nights and events.
5. Beach Limerz – Located at the historic Fort James beach, Beach Limerz is a new addition to the local nightlife scene.
This rustic restaurant features a number of specials including daily happy hours and a wide range of tasty local dishes, like their “Johnny Burger”. There are also a wide range of events, such as their Thursday Karaoke nights that attract a large and enthusiastic crowd, as well as their Friday party nights and live bands on Sunday. If you need to catch a break from the fun, there’s also a patio on the beach with chairs and benches to eat, drink, or party the rest of the night away.
The new slogan for Antigua and Barbuda that “The beach is just the beginning” is apt in more ways that one. Although we are renowned for our 365 beaches, you will be bored simply staying at home or in your hotel room when the sun goes down! Thankfully, there is a wide range of activities to indulge in while you’re here that take place every day. Here’s a short weekly schedule that will allow you to take advantage of what Antigua has to offer.
Friday
Pork and Wine Lime at Captain’s Quarters – This event takes place on Fridays at the Captain’s Quarters restaurant at the Catamaran Hotel, located at Falmouth Harbour. This outing (aka “lime” in local speak) allows people to mingle, talk, and have fun in a relaxed setting. The cost is only $35, and you’re allowed a choice of two meats, with pork being the specialty, as well as a glass of wine.
DJ Nights at Abracadabras – If you’re in more of a party mood you can always head down to Abracadabras, a restaurant and bar that transforms itself into a nightclub on weekends. You’ll meet an eclectic mix of locals, yachties, and expats steps away from the historic Nelson’s Dockyard area.
Saturday
5 AM Hikers – If you were too full after your pork and wine to stay out late, why not work off the extra calories? The 5 AM hikers meet every Saturday for their weekly trek through various scenic points around the island. This is good for even the most casual of walkers or for the hardcore off road runner.Check out their facebook page for more information about meeting places and schedule.
Club Sushi – After some recovery from the early morning hike, head down to Club Sushi in English Harbour for an all you can eat sushi special for only $80 EC.
Sunday
Shirley Heights Barbecue – An institution not to be missed, every visitor should attend the Sunday barbecue at Shirley Heights. Beginning at around 4 pm, enjoy the sounds of local steel pan players as you enjoy local barbecue food at Shirley Heights, a restored 18th century fort overlooking the best view on the island! As the sun sets and the rum begins to have its intended effect, the steel band makes way for a local band for you to dance the rest of the night away to local and international hit songs.
Monday
Chiki’s Hi-Fi Mondays – One of the best Caribbean DJ’s (and the only non-playing person to win a cricket man of the match award) Chiki’s ability to get a party started are world renowned. You can listen to Chiki yourself for no charge at his Hi-Fi Mondays sessions at Life on the Corner, located in English Harbour.
Asher Otto and Itchy Feet at Al Porto’s – Playing recently to sold out crowds in Antigua and St. Maarten, Asher Otto and the Itchy Feet Band are on the rise as a spectacular Caribbean band. Catch them live at Al Porto’s, an Italian themed restaurant located along the scenic docks at Jolly Harbour.
Tuesday
Happy Hour at Touloulou – Head down to Touloulou off Friars Hill Road on Tuesdays for their 5 o’clock happy hour specials where drinks are only $5 EC. Stick around for their after drinks movie and enjoy light bites and other drinks specials.
Two for one pizza at Al Porto’s – On Tuesday it’s back to Al Porto’s for one of the best dinner deals on the island. Every Tuesday is their two for one pizza special, which draws a large crowd every time for their thin crust wood baked pizza. Reservations definitely recommended.
Wednesday
Atlantic View Restaurant – Where in the world could you get two starters, mains and desserts for only $99 EC? Atlantic View Restaurant is part of the Hotel Training School, so every time you eat you give students a great learning experience without breaking the bank.Visit their page on the Antigua and Barbuda Hospitality Institute website for more details and contact information.
Catherine’s Café – Enjoy soothing jazz music from internationally renowned musician Roland Prince and the rest of his trio within the scenic English Harbour area.
Thursday
Bingo at Kings Casino – If you want good fun with a local flair, why not try bingo at Kings Casino? Antigua’s oldest casino, this establishment is located in the heart of downtown St. John’s in Heritage Quay, right on the St. John’s waterfront docks. With a wide range of table games and slots, this casino will be sure to provide you with hours of entertainment.
Kareoke at Beach Limerz – If you need an activity that allows you to become more engaged, look no further than karaoke at Beach Limerz. Located on the historic Fort James beach, this new restaurant has attracted quite a following for its weekly karaoke nights. Whether you’re an accomplished singer or a first timer looking for fun, karaoke at Beach Limerz is the perfect spot to pass the night away.
To get the video in HD – HIGHLY RECOMMENDED click the ‘HD” in the video and watch on vimeo..got fed up with the masses of ads all over my videos on youtube so testing this out.
If you would like to compare the resort prices using TRIVAGO for your stay and book a flight separate this can work out as mentioned in the video alternatively they have good deals from the major travel suppliers on different basis for example all inclusive. TIP – Here you would be crazy not to do that unless you really are a light eater/drinker. All inclusive allows you to control the cost of your stay especially a family and this place is a good way to relax with a family if you are not relying on the kids club – check the latest reviews of this resort to see how well that is going it seems to be in a constant state of flux depending mostly on demand.
Still a highly recommended resort in Antigua.
I missed the chance to visit the Antigua Donkey Sanctuary last time so made that my first stop this time round while on holiday in Antigua. As it was a fascinating area though a rather tough road after you get past the donkey sanctuary I wanted to pop the drone up and get some images and here is the resulting video. I am quite pleased with the editing though the footage was not the best it could be from a critics perspective. I hope you like it. I decided again to feature music from a local musician a Ms Claudette Peters – enjoy.
In just 1 week ended up going through 3 different cars the first a jeep style thing that actually delt with the rough road worse than the later two Toyota cars ! Also this is something I want to ask – has anyone suspected they have had their gas stolen ? in Just 2 days I had emptied the tank and made a north south run and smaller runs…STILL !!! The second car the brakes were going so I took it back and ended up with the same type of car but a manual which was a pain the kind of driving you end up doing in Antigua. Such is life and bad luck and in season it is true that the rental car outlets start to get low on stock.
I decided to stay quite local so that I would just need to run my car to the airport – 1 hour was plenty from Falmouth to get petrol (sorry gas) and it kind of makes you feel how complicated my world in the UK is when its oh so simple in the Caribbean. The other reason is I was busy visiting friends scattered about the island so I felt that I was always in my damn rental car.
I guess the charms had come back in just a week yes just what the doc ordered. The phantom was packed away and I was clocking off from duty today.
So pigeon beach was the best bet for me and didn’t disappoint I elected to go to Bumpkin’s for a drink or two to take on the beach while I tried to get some colour. I met a girl I recognised from a long time ago who worked at sweet T’s this is one of the nice things about Antigua –doesn’t seem to change. You know what you’re getting.
It was time to leave Goat Studio and leave the island until next time.
I went straight through security at ANU and bought my English Harbour 5 year which doesn’t come in a litre bottle annoyingly which is one mans limit. However I am sure many of you go home clanking down the victoria line ! It’s not going to be as smooth as the Mount Gay XO (extra old) that stuff went down TOO damn easy and left me with the feeling that I just flew first class and slept all the way !!! (That was my trip in Barbados last year ). Not that I have ever flown first class.
It was really really nice to see and stay in Falmouth while in season, however I am designed for the Dickenson Bay arrondisment.
I did buy these wonderful magnetic balls that are such fun they are in a big bin and you have a bag and so long as you can close the bag its like 11 USD. So that made a couple of gifts – some suzzie hot sauce and just enough ECD (Eastern Caribbean Dollars) left for the most expensive rum punch on the island.
Me Ga-wan
If you like AntigWWAA then you will like this ! I never realised that Barbuda is shaped like a pig !
I didn’t quite get this right as there was quite some wind and the conditions were not ideal. The gopro did ok here though I was shooting into the sun and you can make out the effect that this caused. But here is Darkwood Beach – so you know what to expect. The internet kind of takes away the adventure doesn’t it !
I started out around 8 am – missed my normal coffee stop but wanted to get ahead as things just take longer here.
I finally got to see Rendezvous Bay and walked the road that seems ok for cars. You need to turn by the horse riding tour place just as you have left liberta on the way to Falmouth. Its not so easy to find and I would recommend other beaches and hikes I think but it was still nice to see someplace new in Antigua. It took maybe 50 mins round trip walk and I didn’t feel the need to spend so long there is a pebbly natural beach. The area is going to generated into a top resort I think eventually.
I was now looking to explore a bit more of the Fig Tree Drive area. The Gallery is only open in season so I had always missed it before…So Michelle explained a bit about the Gallery hosting a Caribbean but international selection of works. Sarah the owner also exhibits and she uses gold leaf in some of the paintings which I remarked.
Please make sure to stop by the Culture Shoppe – a stand selling wonderful tasting saroll I think Elaine told me it was a red coloured flower drink ! The red flowers you can see on the drive up. She will give you all manner of info on the area and its right at the point where some hikes can be made (long since well kept) – but you will need to call her about that. So she can help you hike to the summit of the local mountain/hill too. It’s a shame that even on cruise ship day the taxis zip past here and don’t allow the passengers to stop and get a break. She is often used by them however to supply a toilet break ! She needs a little help to develop. Her entrepreneurial spirit will go on ! Get hold of her on 1-268-460-3949 (Home) or 1-268-783-3343 (Elaines Cell) – or just be forceful and stop by her stall – it’s a place to get starfruit and black pineapple and other in season fruits. Just at her stall is a roadway you can drive the 400m down to where a dam is and the start of hikes – but the trails are not at all maintained and you would need a better map and machete. So this is why you need to call Eileen to arrange a guide but you will be hiking the unknown.
I did take some aerial footage of the area I am yet to review. [editors note I poped the drone up and surveyed above the canopy – very undeveloped green hills all around so a hike to the top may give some disappointed views ???]
As I wound out of the trip you get just past Carlisle bay and to the small but magnificently perched Grace Bay. The Monravians were the only ones to educate the slave children in the ruin you can see to the left so it’s the only slave school for children on the island of Antigua. See the image and video.
The community is lobbying for the government to restore this historical landmark. I found out this because a woman approached me about my flying activity on the corner. I had just gotten some footage but AGAIN realised the camera had not been running! I need a system to force me to remember that. I took to the sky.
I stopped to pick up a local woman who needed a lift despite me telling her I was just about to stop at boxers restaurant. I ended up just having coffee and she was still waiting for a lift so I took her as far as darkwood beach where I chatted to a guy from the cruise ship. They really do bring the people in and the atmosphere it’s a very crucial income but not all Antiguan’s benefit!
It’s often the case that you find your interests while on holiday. Antigua can get you interested in such a variety of activities from scuba diving to horse riding, kite surfing, SUP paddle boarding the list goes on. I think it’s to do with the arrangement of tours centred around the ‘thing’ that makes it very easy to do while you are away.
Back home for example you might have seen kite surfing but it will be a club and there is no obvious entry point. Antigua is somewhere to discover yourself again. And as such your self development can continue.
I went diving with my friends Indigo Divers today – the vis wasn’t as good as it can be at this time of year but the two dive sites we did we had Antigua Sharks ! You can read more of the diving here on Caribbean Diving.
Today I was back at some of the best that Antigua offers in beaches and did a mini hike to Willoughby bay – now there is a very nice bar restaurant at the opposite end of pigeon beach called Catherine’s something or other. It’s a modern beach bar and restaurant something that we see more in Antigua. So you are where you want to be (a great beach) now with a modern and tasteful setting – I didn’t stay so couldn’t tell you the prices but you would enjoy the experience and this could be the best way to enjoy pigeon beach for many. The walk through (you cant get by car) to Willoughby bay is 7-10 minutes. There is not a place really to swim but you get the sound of waves crashing against the rocks and it’s a nice romantic gig I suppose. It’s a place for artists to come and wonder for sure and you will find the walk enthusing. On the way you will also get the impression that some big money is being spent on the local infrastructure in the general are here – roads ! I am guessing a resort or massive luxury villa round the corner.
I met a really nice and interesting couple Eileen and Dave – they are working on boats and really seem to be the ideal couple! She is from Taiwan and Dave, Chester. They are not your typical people (just like I needed to find) and they are living next door in the studios. They invited me to a BBQ that I was a bit late for (you know Driving in Antigua!) They went to a lot of effort and I was very grateful.
They work on the boats and could be classed as professional yachts workers I suppose. They are all here at the moment planning their route to the med as the season in Antigua ends. They don’t all choose to live on boats and some boats are someplace else so often accommodation for yachties is a need! I think as well sometimes they crave a bit of elbow room and a proper shower. But some of the luxury Yachts in Antigua are the size of hotels! I was drinking my coffee at the Skulldugery café in Falmouth (12ec) looking across to a mega yacht Mocolombo or something like that and it had a waterline panel down exposing dwaf like wave runners! it gave the already massive looking craft scale. Falmouth almost closes full time in the summer (out of season) Antigua and there are few places of interest it’s very slow so be advised if you want and out of season holiday.
The northern resorts offer a bit more of interest. I did get back to Dickenson Bay and took a couple of photos it shows a new chic look to peppers and lime – sounds like they killed the Sunday cooler fete and just tried to bring an Ibiza look and feel to Antigua.
Well anyways they were keen to follow me to the Roadhouse in southeast Antigua – it was a great night and beautiful lobster and drinks each we made it 90 ecd. The lobster was like 20 USD roughly.
Amazing place and is getting bigger. It’s a local lime dinner and dance is what I would describe it as. You may well need to reserve this. Don’t miss it just on Sundays so clashes with Shirley heights 5.00pm till..
How to get there..Google maps link https://www.google.com/maps/place/Road+House+Restaurant+And+Bar/@17.0564768,-61.7363855,15z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x2f584281cdf0ff74!8m2!3d17.0553693!4d-61.7299482
I returned to one of my favourite beaches today
and as it was quiet I decided it would be ok to get some aerial video from up above. Check out the image while it will take me longer to process and edit the aerial video.
An example of the water quality – the dark patches are turtle grass not reef so the snorkelling is ok but its not reef. Still enjoyable.
Arrival into ANU I was met by Titi who took me to the office to get payment sorted and a car organised. I was given a small Jeep that has dash controls similar to my mums old Nissan Sunny that I procured from her and that was my first car that I could rely on ! I digress – it was good to be back in Antigua.
A short stay of 7 nights is what my internal doc ordered. A list of priority of things to buy from Baileys the supermarket next to Sweet T’s ice cream parlour. I was slightly hungry as Virgin Atlantic serve those finger sandwiches that taste great but don’t fill you up. So Sweet T’s helped me with an island burger and fries.
As a priority I needed a large 5 litres bottle and refill from that. Staying longer I might have gone for a bigger one that you can barely pickup and carry yourself return the empty thing to get the deposit on the bottle at the end. They are a pain as you need to also get a pump unless you elect to DIY and decant the h2o its awkward but it reminds me of my early days around and about in the Caribbean so it feels like a homely task. A can of Off – however I have to say that the mozzies have not really been getting at me straight away as they normally do. I am here at the beginning of Feb so perhaps that’s why. And Nacho’s and rum punch – the latter a guilty pleasure. I did spot English Harbour was 41 ECD as a ref point – the can of Off
was 24 ish. It’s around 2.6 ECD to the USD. That’s right around 9 USD ! Nothing that is imported to Antigua ends up being cheap. Barter hard for those mangos they grow on trees here in season. Or you might like to just pick some off one of the trees in your Vacation Rental Property.
There was not much of a conclusion to the rest of the evening I did drop by the drop in bar a favourite of the yachties in English Harbour. And I have to say it’s a buzzing place all around and the harbour is full as we are outside of Hurricane season – the boats leave the Caribbean during that time generally as they cannot get insured. To say it has an effect on Antigua’s tourism would understate it which is a shame as I regularly get a cheaper Caribbean Holiday during the summer time and in fact the weather is very nice and the risk low.
It was difficult for me to find my way back home especially as my jeep didn’t have great lights. I am happy with the studio ‘Goat Rock’ Studio– when you stay by yourself its nice to have a smaller space.
With a variety of accommodation types available Nonsuch bay offers an excellent ‘beach hotel experience’ in their secluded bay on the eastern side of Antigua. Antigua is small enough that it doesn’t really matter what side of the island you are on.
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2014 annual report for this blog.<–Digital window verification 001–>You can find more detail here – https://antiguablog.co.uk/2014/annual-report/ Indeed we are getting some great traffic and will be ramping things up for 2015. If you would like to take advantage of a free trial advertising spot to see if it can work for you then please just contact us. 
Here’s an excerpt:
The concert hall at the Sydney Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 22,000 times in 2014. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 8 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.
