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On arrival at Antigua we quickly and easily cleared customs and immigration and arranged a taxi to take us to the first hotel. Our first few days were at the Hawksbill Hotel, an older style property, quite colonial in appearance and probably suited to older clients or families with young children, although it does have a lot of steps.

Like most hotels in Antigua it is situated in many acres of grounds and unless you just want to relax on the beach all day you really need to hire a car. We stayed in a beach front club room, the top grade of accommodation situation on the beach . Hawksbill is an All Inclusive hotel which includes three meals a day plus afternoon tea. Local drinks and cocktails are included as well as certain water sports, the selection of food for the three meals was good. Other facilities included a small shop, an excursions desk, tennis courts, a wellness house for various therapeutic treatments including massage, two restaurants and two bars. The swimming pool was rather small for the size of hotel and overlooked the beach, although I imagine most people would use the beach. They also have entertainment during the week and a weekly barbecue. As an overall impression of a three star/medium class hotel we found it very good. We were greeted on arrival with a chilled glass of Champagne.

We hired a car in Antigua and apart from your own UK licence you have to arrange a temporary driving license which can be done through the rental company and costs £10.00. They drive on the left but you often find yourself on the right as the roads are so bad with bumps and potholes. The speed limit is 20 - 40 m.p.h. If thinking of travelling off the main roads then you do need to hire a 4 x 4.

We visited the Capital St Johns, although not very big they do have quite a few colourful shops. The main areas being Heritage and Redcliffe Quay, many are for tourists as Antigua is very popular with cruise ships.

Our second hotel was The Catamaran in Falmouth, a much quieter hotel, no entertainment but does have a few water craft for guests use. Although on a room only basis it has a restaurant attached which produces some very good local food. Whilst in Falmouth we visited Nelson’s Dockyard in English Harbour. In February it hosts the Antigua sailing week. During our stay they had a new 3 day Music Festival held at the Sir Viv Richards Stadium and included international names such as Lionel Richie. The stadium is the home of Antiguan cricket.

Falmouth Harbour area is now designated as a National Park, the best vantage point is Shirley Heights, noted for it’s Sunday entertainment of reggae and barbecues with quite a party atmosphere and from where you can watch the sun set if you stay long enough.

Although travelling around Antigua is easy one of the best ways to see the Island is from the sea. There are several companies who organise this and who pick up and drop off at several hotels around the island and then take the day to circumnavigate the island, stopping en route for lunch.

Whilst in Antigua we visited Sandals Grande. Aimed at the couples market this impressive 5 star Hotel stands on Dickenson Bay is one of the best beaches on the island. All Sandals properties are All Inclusive which at Sandals means 'All Inclusive' unlike some other properties. Sandals Grande has nine dining choices, a shopping plaza, six swimming pools, Red LanesSpa and fitness centre - you can even get married there!!

Antigua has a lot to see, English Harbour once home to Nelson’s Fleet, you can take a helicopter flight over the island, visit sting ray city, take the ferry to Barbuda, visit Betty’s Hope; a 17th century restored slave mill or take a scenic drive along Fig Tree Drive. If you are very adventurous the Rainforest Canopy tour is not to be missed. Plus numerous water and land sports.

This is my second visit to Antigua previously I stayed at Blue Waters and Curtain Bluff, both internationally renowned hotels. With such a diverse choice of accommodation available there is something to suit everyone. Antigua is a beautiful island, the people are friendly and helpful, hotels and food are good and I’m just sorry that I left it for so long before going back !