Facts on Antigua
Source: Frommer's Caribbean 2004

Banks - Banks are usually open Monday to Thursday from 8am to 2pm and on Friday from 8am to 1pm and 3 to 5pm. The best bank for visitors is Royal Bank at High and Market streets in St. John's (tel. 268/480-1150). You'll find an ATM here and one at the airport.

Currency - These islands use the Eastern Caribbean dollar (EC$). Nearly all hotels bill in U.S. dollars, however, and only certain tiny restaurants present their prices in EC$. When you inquire about a price, make sure you know the type of dollars quoted. The EC dollar is worth about 37¢ in U.S. currency (EC$2.70 = US$1). Unless otherwise specified, rates for this destination are quoted in U.S. dollars.

Customs - Arriving visitors are allowed to bring in 200 cigarettes, 1 quart of liquor, and 6 ounces of perfume.

Documents - A valid passport is preferred from U.S., British, and Canadian nationals. An original birth certificate accompanied by a photo ID that's issued by a government agency is also acceptable, but we recommend that you carry a passport when visiting a foreign country. All arriving visitors must have a departing ticket.

Electricity - Most of the island's electricity is 220-volt AC (60 cycles), which means that U.S. appliances require transformers. The Hodges Bay area and some hotels, however, are supplied with 110-volt AC (60 cycles).

Emergencies - In an emergency, contact the police (tel. 268/462-0125), the fire department (tel. 268/462-0044), or an ambulance (tel. 268/462-0251). You can also call tel. 911 or tel. 999 for any type of emergency.

Hospital - The principal medical facility on Antigua is Holberton Hospital, on Hospital Road, St. John's (tel. 268/462-0251).

Language - The official language is English.

Liquor Laws - Beer and liquor are sold in many stores, 7 days a week. It's legal to have an open container on the beach.

Safety - Antigua is generally safe, but that doesn't mean you should wander alone at night on St. John's near-deserted streets. Don't leave valuables unguarded on the beach, either.

Taxes & Service Charges - Visitors must pay a departure tax of $20 and an 8.5% government tax on hotel bills. Most hotels also add a service charge of between 10% and 15%.

Telephone - Telephone calls can be made from hotels or the office of Cable & Wireless, on Long Street, in St. John's (tel. 268/462-0840). You can also send faxes and telegrams from here. To call Antigua from the United States, dial 1, 268, and the number. To call the United States from Antigua, dial 1, the area code, and the number. You might want to purchase a phone card, which you can use to connect with an American long-distance company. You can access AT&T Direct from some pay phones and some hotels by dialing tel. 800/872-2881. You can reach MCI at tel. 800/888-8000 and Sprint at tel. 800/366-4643.

Time - Antigua is on Atlantic Standard Time year-round, so it's 1 hour ahead of U.S. Eastern Standard Time. When daylight savings time takes over in the U.S., then Antigua's time is the same as the eastern United States.'

Water - Tap water is generally safe to drink here, but many visitors prefer to drink only bottled water.

Weather - The average year-round temperature ranges from 75° to 85°F (24°C-29°C).