Antigua and Barbuda Travel Health

TRAVEL ADVICE

Visa Requirements

All visitors need a valid passport and a round-trip or onward ticket for entry into..

Travel Health

Vaccinations recommended for travel to Antigua and Barbuda are Hepatitis A and Tetanus..

Local Currency

The official currency of Antigua and Barbuda is the Eastern Caribbean dollar (EC$). Notes..

Weather

Antigua and Barbuda experience a lovely tropical climate throughout the year with very..

Local Customs

The people of Antigua and Barbuda are warm, friendly and welcoming. As you would expect..

Languages

The official language of Antigua and Barbuda is English with other local dialects being..

Transport Options

The international airport for Antigua and Barbuda is the VC Bird International (ANU)..

Travel Tips

Casual attire is typical in Antigua and Barbuda unless it is specifically requested for..

Local Food

The cuisine on the islands includes a variety of seafood, especially lobster and red..

Local Timezones

Antigua & Barbuda Standard Time is 4 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT-4) and both..

Dutyfree Limits

The following items may be imported into Antigua & Barbuda without incurring customs..

Travel Health

Vaccinations recommended for travel to Antigua and Barbuda are Hepatitis A and Tetanus with Diphtheria and Typhoid sometimes advised depending on the season and region being visited. Travelers arriving from a yellow fever infected area, over the age of one, are required to produce a yellow fever vaccination certificate.

The water is generally safe to drink however may cause mild abdominal upsets. Bottled water is readily available and is the more sensible option. Milk and dairy products are safe for consumption as are local meat, poultry, seafood, fruit and vegetables.

There are reports of Dengue fever throughout the country so precautions against mosquito bites should be taken. There is a high prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean and includes Antigua and Barbuda.

Medical treatment on the islands is very expensive therefore health insurance is strongly advised. There is one hospital and one private clinic on the islands as well as several General Practitioners. At the private health clinic, Adelin, a deposit of US$4,000 via credit card is required for any treatment as they do not accept any medical travel insurance.

The hurricane season in Antigua and Barbuda usually runs from June to November.

The islands are generally very safe places to visit however you should always exercise caution in foreign countries. Always secure valuables, stay alert particularly at night and try to remain in well-lit areas. In Antigua there has been an increase in crime over the last couple of years involving gun crime.

Like any country in the world there is the risk of terrorist attacks which may target civilians particularly in popular tourist destinations.

Traveling on the roads throughout the country is fairly safe however many roads lack road markings and many of the streets are not lit at night. Always exercise caution and remain alert at all times and try to avoid road travel at night.

Emergency numbers for Antigua and Barbuda are: all emergencies 911; Fire (268) 462-0044; Police (268) 462-0125/999; Ambulance (268) 462-0251.

We strongly advise that all Australian travellers check the latest travel advice on the Australian Government Smart Traveller site.