We went to Antigua in Sept 2011...we went with a package with Virgin,and on a deal at that, so can't comment about Hotel prices. But we never had a problem with Mozzies at all ...we had maybe one or 2 bites each if that and most nights we forgot to use repellent (due to the fact that we never saw a problem I think)...even going up in the Mountains to Shirley Heights for dusk and a Reggae Party we never got bitten

Hope i am fortunate enough not to be bitten. Just had a weekend in Rome and managed to be bitten 5 times!!

Car hire is almost a must. There are so many beautiful beaches to find. We also found the locals really helpful as road maps were not accurate all the time. They obviously were used to seeing tourists studying maps in their cars. They were quick to help with no motive behind it either

Yes had thought about that...I guess need to decide which Island is more worthy of car hire - Antiqua, St Maaertin or St Kitts. I suspect the former actually - as I think all 3 could work out quite expensive!

When are you going?

Mid March next year.

sorry- I missed that in your first post! Weather should be great then
It was way back in 2006 that we went and we stayed at two different places but can' really give advice as things can change so quickly. We only stayed in the second place as English Harbour was deserted( our original booking) so we looked around and moved to Jolly Harbour Villas. Loved that place- we had a 2 bedroomed, 2 and a half bathroom, full kitchen , dining table and living room, an upper balcony and a HUGE terrace with a mooring! It was a bargain price at the time. We had our own golf buggy to get around the resort in. Something similar might be worth looking for as it was fraction of the jolly beach hotel price. The beach was another stunner.

That sounds nice and obviously you have fond memories. Shall keep options open as quite a while way and other trips before then to do first! Funnily enough one that i did see was small and two bedroomed with balcony, above English Harbour (we dont mind if it is quiet for a few days)...in a way prefer o keep away from the main touristy establishments.

English Harbour will probably be very busy as it would be yachting time. We went in the summer. I think I would have liked it though- just empty when we went.

I went several times but quite a number of years ago now, I recall they named there little sand flies - no see ums they weren't mossies but did tend to come out more in the late afternoon, so if you are having a nice stroll along one if the beautiful beaches ( for me it was Half Moon Bay beach) apply a repellant.

Half Moon Bay is absolutely stunning

I have just noticed that there appears to be a departure tax for each person who leaves Antiqua to be paid in US Dollars cash at the airport.

Is that the case? I hate places that do that.....all seems such a rip off.....hope made the right decision about caribbean. Everything I have seen so far seems to involve some sort of payment of money!

I had to pay a departure tax when leaving Mexico, it isn't the country you are leaving, it's the UK passenger duty. ( think I am right).

If you paid it at the airport on departure then it wasn't the UK Air Passenger Duty because that has to be paid when you buy your ticket or package holiday. It probably was a locally levied departure tax - it's getting more and more common in poorer countries.

SM

Yep it is local dept tax for any flight. Bit ridiculous especially when as tourist spending money on the island...just object having to pay to leave!

I have to admit I find it quite surprising , we didnt have to pay a local dept tax when we departed St Lucia this year , we might have done in Barbados but that was quite a few years ago , I thought it was only poorer underdeveloped countries that still charged this local tax to help build up their infrastructure .