While Antigua, Barbuda, and Montserrat are basically warm year round, the heat can get sticky from June to October, which is also the hurricane season. Peak times for visitors to Antigua other than the winter holidays are late April (Sailing Week), August (Carnival), and November (Independence Day); March (St. Patrick’s Day – the only one on the islands) in Barbuda; May (Caribana); and July (Calabash) in Montserrat.

Travelers are required to have a valid passport to enter Antigua, Barbuda, and Montserrat. Visitors also need to have return tickets and confirmed accommodations. Visas are not required for US, some European, and certain other countries. Check with the embassies for details.

Besides personal belongings, tourists are allowed to carry up to 2 liters (67 fl.oz) of alcohol and two cigarette cartons to most Caribbean isles. Certain drugs require a prescription. Local and Caribbean customs are on guard for drug trafficking.

US Customs allows $800 (or $1,600 from the US Virgin Islands) worth of goods duty-free, including 1 liter (33 fl.oz) of alcohol, 200 cigarettes, and 100 non-Cuban cigars, plus an unlimited amount of original art. No Customs declaration is required when traveling between Puerto Rico and the US. The UK permits £340 worth of goods, plus 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars, plus 4 liters (144 fl.oz) of wine, and 1 liter (36 fl.oz) of spirits.

Avoid buying items made from endangered species such as tortoise shell, black coral, or reptile skin. These are covered under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and anyone in possession can be fined.

For Antigua and Barbuda, visitors can contact the tourism offices located in the US, Canada, and the UK. The Antigua and Barbuda Ministry of Tourism  also operates an information kiosk at Heritage Quay in downtown St. John’s and has information available at the V.C. Bird International Airport. The Montserrat Tourist Board has its main office at Farara Plaza in Brades, as well as offices in London. Useful information for visitors is also available at the island’s Gerald’s Airport.

The primary health facility for Antigua and Barbuda is Holberton Hospital , located in St. John’s. In Montserrat, Glendon Hospital  offers emergency services to both locals as well as visitors.

While not idyllically crime-free, these islands are relatively safe for visitors. However, it is advisable to take the normal precautions of keeping valuables guarded, sticking to well-populated areas, and not roaming around alone at night.

The currency for all three islands is the East Caribbean (EC) dollar. Antigua has a number of banks and cash can be obtained (as EC dollars) at most ATMs. Credit cards are accepted in Antigua and many vendors also accept US dollars (but not euros or British pounds). In Barbuda and Montserrat, credit cards are not as commonly accepted and vendors prefer EC dollars.

In Antigua and Barbuda, Cable & Wireless  and Digicel  offer inexpensive phones with prepaid minutes and local SIM cards. Cable & Wireless also provides cell services in Montserrat. Some US cell phone services such as Cingular work on Antigua. Montserrat and Antigua have Internet cafés and most hotels in Antigua offer high-speed Internet connections.

Car rentals on Antigua and Montserrat are plentiful and easy to arrange either in advance or at the airport but in Barbuda, there are no cars for hire. AVIS  and Hertz Rent-A-Car  in Antigua, and Neville Bradshaw Agencies  and Equipment & Supplies Ltd . in Montserrat are popular car rental agencies. In Antigua, vans and minibuses are available. The public bus system runs on an unscheduled basis. In Barbuda, a popular way to get around this flat island is by bike and rentals can be arranged. Taxi drivers on the islands double as tour guides. In Montserrat, drivers can also arrange for a guided trip into the Exclusion Zone if the volcano is not threatening.

Downtown St. John’s in Antigua is a shoppers’ delight. Activity centers around the dock area, specifically Heritage Quay and Redcliffe Quay duty-free areas and the adjacent Vendor’s Mall. There are also clothing boutiques, bookstores, and shoe stores on St. Mary’s Street. For authentic Antiguan food, try the Farmer’s Market complex on Market Street. Other supermarkets include the Epicurean in Woods Mall and Jolly Harbour. Barbuda does not have much by way of shopping. Montserrat has a few stores in the Brades area. For souvenirs, visit the Oriole Gift Shop in the Montserrat National Trust complex or the Montserrat Arts and Crafts Association shop in Brades.

English is the official language spoken on Antigua, Barbuda, and Montserrat.

The electricity is mainly 220 volts though some hotels have 110 volts as well.

The islands are on Atlantic Standard Time, 1 hour ahead of US Eastern Standard Time.

Antigua has emerged as a major destination for couples looking to tie the knot, with several incredibly romantic settings and no residency requirement. The couple need to apply for a license at the Ministry of Legal Affairs , show their passports and other appropriate documents (divorce papers or death certificate of spouse), and pay the fees. Many of the hotels also offer wedding coordinators who can assist in getting the necessary documents. In Montserrat, the residency requirement is 3 days. The couple can apply for a marriage license at the Department of Administration  in Brades.