Antigua is still a popular vacation spot for travelers who could choose to vacation anywhere. So how does Antigua and Barbuda attract this well-heeled crowd? In the case of Antigua (pronounced
an-TEE-gah), you start with what nature gave you: an abundance of sun and immaculate white sand. Then you add some of the most luxurious villas and exclusive resorts in the Caribbean, and you have a veritable magnet of attractions for any taste.
Antigua has smaller island dependencies, including Barbuda (pronounced bar-byou-dah), about 25 mi/40 km north of Antigua (more of a bird sanctuary than a lavish resort) and the uninhabited Redonda, 35 mi/56 km to the southwest.
Antigua, however, still has some vacation hotels for travelers who aren't as wealthy (more, actually, than its high-end neighbors, Anguilla and St. Barts). Anguilla also has excellent golf courses, forested hills and beautiful offshore islands. It's a favorite destination for yachters.
Fort James has also become a popular historic site, in addition to Nelson's Dockyard, the Museum of Antigua and Barbuda, Fort Barrington and Betty's Hope Sugar Estate.
