If you happen to travel to the Caribbean, it will be unforgettable. The likes of Fiji, Rarotonga, and the Cook Islands are all just outside our backyard; therefore, if you’re willing to put in 30-plus hours into getting yourself to the West Indies, there must be a reason why you’re doing so. Usually, it’s Antigua that makes its way onto the list since it successfully combines that quaint colonialism feel along with an air of luxurious boutiqueness.
There are top resorts such as Cocobay, which boasts a picture-perfect view of the cottages overlooking the blue ocean. However, the real trick is making sure your vacation turns out adventurous.
Things You Shouldn’t Skip in Antigua
In order to truly experience the island, you need to escape the all-inclusive “bubble” on occasion. Antigua is renowned for boasting 365 beaches; however, you will be overlooking some of the finest aspects of the West Indies if you confine yourself to visiting the beach located directly in front of your cottage. The following is a short list of some of the things worth doing:
- Sunday at Shirley Heights: Sure, everyone who comes to Antigua ends up there, but there is a reason why steel drum music, barbeques, and English Harbour’s sunset are world-famous.
- Local seafood stands: Look for a place off the beach that is not frequented by tourists. If they are cooking snapper or lobster, you are at the right place.
- The Saturday market in St. John: Here is where the action takes place. The market is full of noise, vibrant colours, and the smell of fresh thyme and ginger. It is the perfect place to experience St. John at its best.
- Private boat tours: To truly appreciate the number of secluded coves and beaches located between the cliffs, one must tour them via boat.
- Into the interior: Most tourists stick to the coastlines, but the drive from Fig Tree Drive, which is the rainforest area, provides a reprieve from the heat and salty surroundings with some magnificent greens.
Why a Little Flutter is the Perfect Nightcap
Once the resort dinner ends and the stars begin shining in the sky, the opportunity to try casinos for a total change in pace comes highly recommended. The whole experience is all about the social aspect involved with gambling – having conversations at the poker table, the sound of chips, and the excitement when one wagers some money.
If you aren’t in the mood to get dressed up and head into St. John’s, the digital side of things has moved on quite a bit. A lot of travellers now spend their evenings on their own private decks with a drink, using sites like Casinos Analyzer to find a decent place to play a few rounds online: see this here. It’s a much more chilled-out way to get that same adrenaline hit without having to leave your place.
And finally, having a proper guide is what really counts here. It would be highly unreasonable to book a luxury hotel without having reviewed it, and the same reasoning is valid for gambling as well. Are you planning to gamble at a local club in town or simply try playing some games on your smartphone while sitting on the deck with a view of the Caribbean Sea? There’s nothing that could add more fun and excitement than doing this.
Setting Up the Perfect Island Rhythm
A good holiday requires a certain flow or rhythm. You want those long, lazy mornings when your only decision to make is whether you should go for another coffee or jump into the ocean, but you also want to keep your nights alive. Antigua is very small, and that is its greatest advantage. You will be able to tour the whole place without feeling like it’s a job, and switching from absolute silence in your hotel to bustling nightlife in the area will be effortless.
It doesn’t take long for most individuals to feel like they need a change after spending several days in a spa getting pampered while reading poolside. There is always something to be gained by getting out from behind the resort gates and seeing what’s really going on out there.
According to official international travel advisories, knowing the lay of the land and making transportation arrangements is definitely the way to go about ensuring that your evening will be one that will leave you satisfied. The addition of something local – be it a fish shack or the gaming floor – will typically be the best part of your visit, assuming that you’re not going in blind.
Making the Most of the All-Inclusive Setup
What is good about being at such a place as Cocobay is that all the little things are taken care of. The quality of food and drinks is excellent, while there is no need to worry about bills when ordering a cocktail. In order to “win” on such holidays, however, one needs to take advantage of the resort as a home base.
- Be out early: Go and hike or explore in the early part of the day. Otherwise, by 1 pm, you’d better be enjoying yourself under a beach umbrella. Ask around: The staff at the resort will be able to tell you where all the fun parties and live music are.
- Diversify your nightlife: Go one night to the resort’s bar and meet other tourists, while going out the following night to an entirely different scene in town.
- Don’t plan too much: Your vacation is meant to be restful. Having one activity a day should be more than enough and will allow you to relax rather than working yourself into exhaustion.
- Take your recovery days seriously: Once every three days, you need a real “zero” day. No activities whatsoever; just pool, books, and beach.
The Real Vibe of Caribbean Luxury
The form of luxury enjoyed by tourists in the Caribbean has changed. There is no longer anything that involves the use of white gloves or any pretentiousness in the dining room. In Antigua, barefoot luxury refers to enjoying meals of seafood fresh from the harbour and sleeping in lodgings that reflect the island’s natural setting. This is a more relaxed form of luxurious services, and one can simply breathe. Add a bit of spice with one of the sites offered by Casinos Analyzer, and your trip becomes a real top-level experience.
This is precisely why the island proves itself to be such an ideal destination for this type of large-scale travel excursion from New Zealand. You enjoy the luxury of being able to take in some of the best relaxation experiences that there are, but you also benefit from the presence of a culture that is enjoyable to be around.
History, Beaches, Luxury
While travelling halfway around the world is quite an undertaking, Antigua lives up to expectations in ways the closer destinations sometimes fall short. It combines rich history, stunning beaches, and luxurious lifestyles in a very authentic manner.
In order to combine the tranquil atmosphere of a boutique hotel with the excitement of the nearby game and entertainment centres, you make sure that the holiday does not turn out to be one big, long dream. It is this mix that makes your holiday an experience worth remembering once you return to your city.
