Holidays in Antigua & Barbuda 2022/2023

• A paradise for beach lovers
• Charming, laid-back attitude
• Steeped in sailing heritage
• Reef-filled waters

Hold up a brochure against any view of Antigua & Barbuda and you’ll struggle to tell the difference. This pair of islands are textbook Caribbean, where swaying palms stud sugar-white beaches which arc like crescent moons around sheltered bays. Antigua holidays do not disappoint.

Antigua is the larger and more well-known of the two islands, especially for its golden curves. There are 365 beaches here – one for every day of the year. However, Antigua’s spectacular sands are more a way of life than a quirky selling point. Sipping rum from shacks on the beach while admiring the view from a luxury resort represents a typical day here – bar for the odd snorkel. However, ever since Horatio Nelson was stationed there in the 18th century, Antigua holidays have become a haven for sailors. Hardly a month goes by without a regatta or yacht race taking place on its shimmering waters, a legacy of British colonial rule that has only become a stronger fixture on the Antiguan calendar over the years.

Tiny Barbuda is often dismissed in favour of its big sister, but its blush-coloured beaches, minimal tourists and reef-filled waters await those wise enough to include it on their Caribbean holiday.

Antigua & Barbuda is well known for being spoilt rotten with beautiful beaches and many of the luxury resorts you can stay in on these islands front some of the finest strips of sand in the Caribbean. You can be atop a rocky headland, framed by lush jungle or on a private island paradise, but you'll only ever be steps from cotton-soft sand.

Antigua & Barbuda is a great year-round holiday destination, with plenty of rays to catch whenever you choose to visit.

December to April is peak season, with temperatures averaging a high of 27°C. It’s the driest time of year, sunshine is aplenty and April sees the Caribbean’s largest regatta roll into town, with Antigua Sailing Week staging races and cultural events.

The official Caribbean hurricane season runs from 1 June to 30 November and though the risk is unlikely, you could encounter a tropical storm. That said, June-November is typically nesting season on the island, making it a great time to spot hawksbill turtles. May to August is still beautiful, with average temperatures peaking at highs of 31°C, despite increased chances of showers. It’s also the time of Antigua’s biggest celebration, the 10-day Antigua Carnival in July and August, where the liberation of slaves is marked with performing brass and steel bands.

September to November sees the highest chance of rain but there’s still many sunshine hours to soak up and the weather turns the landscape lush and bursting with vegetation and tropical flowers.