Antigua car rental/restaurants
 

I'm taking my family inc 3 boys to Antigua for a weeks holiday in February. Anyone have suggestions for car rental/boat rental/restaurants/beaches, etc.<BR><BR>A

There are a number of car rental agencies on Antigua including all of the major ones and most of them have a desk at the airport which can be found as soon as you exit the arrivals area. The last time we rented there, I beleive we went with one called Dion's car rental and the cost was approx US$50 per day and this was back in March. There are no taxes added to the rate. You will also need a temporary drivers permit which will cost US$20.00 and is valid for 3 months. You need to pay for this in cash.<BR><BR>Boat rentals - not sure about this but you might want to check out Jolly Harbour for this<BR><BR>Resturants - you need to give us an idea of what you like by way of food. There are lots of decent restaurants on the island but it all depends on what you are looking for.<BR><BR>Beaches - well, Antigua has alot of those. Among the best are Half Moon Bay, Halcyon Beach (which stretches for miles and is lovely despite some erosion from hurricanes) - if you rent a car and drive around you will see alot of good beaches and you will also discover alot of good ones from the water.

Try the newsgroup at www.antigua.org for more info specifically about Antigua. <BR><BR>Miller's By The Sea was a lot of fun. They have live music most nights, and the food was good. <BR><BR>Downtown, by where the cruise ships come in, the Big Banana Pizza Co. is a popular place. <BR><BR>We didn't rent a car because the driving on the "wrong" side of the road, plus the animals and narrow roads was just too much for us. We did a day-long island tour with BoTours that we really liked. They took us all over the island in a nice 4x4 and it included a good lunch at a local place.<BR><BR>I usually recommend the Sunday night party at Shirley Heights, but if your boys aren't of the legal drinking age, then you'd be best to skip it.

We will rent a car for at least some of the time we are there (although I am american hubby is English and we live there so no fears for us!)We would like to hire from our resort (jolly H Villas) as will be getting in late on the first night.<BR><BR>I like fine food (and can be a bit fussy!) but kids are English and like plain food despite my best efforts! A place w/ great food and kids menu or not averse to serving w/o sauces would be great! I'm sure we'll have to eat our fare share of pastas/pizzas to keep them happy as well. May try out the babysitting if we want to get too adventurous. the best thing is lunches on/near the beach w/ lobster/etc for me , sandwiches/burger for them. I can then always enjoy the fine wine later in the villa!<BR><BR>We are at Jolly Harbour, so I will look for boat rentals there.<BR><BR>What beach/where is Miller's? Lot's of people have recommended there? Turner's is also mentionned. I also heard the Big Banana place has a location on the beach now.<BR><BR>Andrea

Good for you that your husband will be able to drive without a problem. I am sure you can arrange your car rental through Jolly Harbour.<BR><BR>Resturants: Millers by the sea is not far from St Johns, is on a decent beach and had a great family resturant. Mainly local good but you can have burgers/hot dogs for the kids.<BR><BR>Beaches is owned by the same people who own Big Banana's - it is right on the beach - Dickenson Bay Beach. Very nice atmosphere. Food is not bad - can get lobster sandwiches/salad for lunch and other interesting stuff. Its on a great beach - the same beach as Sandals etc. You could spend a whole day there.<BR><BR>Turners is also a good choice - its about a 10 minute drive from your hotel has a great beach and the restuarant is very good for lunch or dinner - <BR><BR>Other choices - Lydia's for Sunday brunch - its at Jolly Harbour - good food and atmosphere...more to follow

Other restuarant choices - for your more discriminating tastes - Coco's which is probably a 5 minute drive from your hotel. The resturant is perched on a cliff overlooking the ocean - fabulous view and food - very romantic - would have to hire a babysitter that night. There is also Le Bistro which is a wonderful, very romantic french resturant in Hodges Bay, which is more towards the direction of the aiport. Definetly worth checking out for a nice evening out - sans children.<BR><BR>There is another restuant in an area called Gambles - its name has slipped me at the moment - but this place is great for fish - in fact I think they do mainly fish. They only open for dinner and you have to sit at long tables with others - so you get to meet and mingle with others - my favourite on the menu is the steamed butterfish fillets with vegetables - it is steamed in the oven with lots of seasoning and presented to you in the casserole dish in which it is prepared, steaming hot at the table - to die for! Its a great place to do dinner on a Friday night - will try to remember the name.<BR><BR>English Harbour also has some nice places to eat. We had lunch at the yatch club restaurant on our last visit and it was great. But there are other equally good places in the area.

Thanks Christie and Wadadli!<BR><BR>I will have a bash (not literalyy) at driving as well. After emigrating I had to take an English driving test and passed (not easy when you've had 15 years to store up bad habits first!)<BR>Are the boys not allowed to go w/ us to Shirley Heights, because we were going to take them to soak up the atmosphere. They will not drink, they are 12-8, but have been raised in Europe and are used to watching others enbib!<BR><BR>Does anyone know what beach is Turner's on? If it's ten minuites away, is it Deadwood?<BR><BR>Also Lydia's, isn't that at Jolly Beach not Harbour? We will be going there for a day on the day pass, but not sure we want it to be sunday. It's the second day, and I will still be limiting sun exposure then. They do day passes from 9-5 for all meals/snacks/drinks/facilities.<BR><BR>Andrea

Andrea<BR><BR>Yes the boys can go to Shirley's Heights with you. Absolutely no problem there as long as they stick to Coke!:-)<BR><BR>Turner's restuarant is actually on Turner's beach. It is beyond Darkwood Beach so now that I really think about it, it is more like a 15 minute drive from Jolly Harbour. <BR><BR>And yes, you are correct, Lydia's is at Jolly Beach. The day pass will probably allow you to eat there-they are open for lunch and dinner and the beach is great.

The restaurant in Gambles is Papa Zouk's - we went there in September and loved it. The food and atmosphere were great.<BR>For a more casual meal you might want to try Lashings on Runaway Bay. There have a wide selection of local and more American food and there is often a game of beach cricket going on - great to watch.<BR>

The hubby and boys could join in, they love cricket! I've bee tryng to teach them baseball!<BR><BR>A

Thanks Natasha for reminding me of the name of that nice restaurant in Gambles. Andrea, you should try it. And Natasha's suggestion for Lashings is also a great one - <BR><BR>If your husband and boys are into cricket then you must also try a restuarant called the Stickey Wicket which I understand is just opened at the airport -in fact if you have not been to Antigua in the last year or so, you are going to be amazed at all the development that has gone on at the airport - more the environs of the airport than the terminal building itself. Anyway, this new resturant just opened and according to my friends and family in Antigua, the food is great and so is the decor - lots of cricket memorabilia and stuff related to cricket - so perhaps on your way home you might consider stopping in for a drink before or after checking in.

Thanks, I will try both stick wicket and Lashings (have to find out if Papa Zooks has things the kids would like-It's been recommended on antigua.org).<BR><BR>We will be leaving on a Sunday evening, and I think that the airport Big Banana is closed that day, so sticky Wicket would be good.<BR><BR>A<BR><BR>ps lived in the bahamas for a while but never been to Antgua before. Looked into Barbados and St lucia, but the prices and flights were better to Antigua.

I'm bumping this up, so anyone recently back can add their two cents worth!<BR><BR>Thanks again to everyone who has already replied. I'm thinking about harmony hall for lunch, as the boys would enjoy their complimentary snorkeling trip to the little island across from them, and they do pastas/chicken which they will eat. Anyone try it for lunch recently?<BR><BR>Andrea

I ate recently at Harmony Hall and it was every bit as good as ever. You should also consider Amigos (Runaway Bay), HQ (Nelsons Dockyard), Last Lemming (Antigua Yacht Club, Falmouth), Abracadabras (part owner of Harmony Hall - just outside Nelsons Dockyard) and Trapas (fantastic value - not far from Abracadabras). Enjoy!

Thanks, Brian.<BR><BR>What is the day time dress code for Harmony Hall? As we are staying at Jolly Harbour will try out some of those others too.<BR><BR>Andrea

I normally go on a Saturday and inevitably I wear a swimsuit and t-shirt.

Thanks Brian,<BR><BR>I'm sure it would be hard to convince the boys to wear anything else, although I might try to myself!<BR><BR>Andrea