St Johns uncovered - insider tips

The exciting Antiguan capital of St. Johns is a paradise for tourists. Maybe your visiting with the family or planning to go on a romantic break, no matter the reason you’re in St. Johns it’ll help the smoothness of your holiday to find out a few things about St. Johns before you visit. Lowcostholidays.com has put together a list of insider tips to help you during your St. Johns holiday.

When is the best time to go?

St. Johns is blessed with 365 days of sunshine a year, and with an average daytime temperature of 27oC anytime of year is a great time to be in Long Bay. However if travelling between July to November make sure to check the forecast as hurricanes are not uncommon at this time of year.

Spectacular days out

Be sure to visit Fort James. Originally built by the British to repel French invasions, today there is little left apart from some ruins and a few cannons. Now its main appeal is the stunning panoramic view over St. Johns and the surrounding area.

Hidden gems

If you’re feeling a bit swamped with the bustling, vibrant atmosphere of St. Johns then head to the botanical gardens at the intersection of Factory Rd and Independence Avenue. The gardens provide a beautiful setting to relax and unwind.

How’s the shopping?

You’re spoilt for choice in terms of shopping in St. Johns, air conditioned shopping malls are a plenty with the highlights being at Heritage and Redcliffe Quay. For a more authentic shopping experience head to the local market which is open every Friday and Saturday morning.

Get in with the locals

• When in Rome and all that, take note of the following tips to avoid those awkward cultural faux pas
• Its best to avoid the tap water, nearly every establishment in St. Johns sells bottled water so don’t worry
• A 10% service charge is usually added to the bill in restaurants, whereas taxi drivers will expect a 5% tip on set fares, a tip of $1 per bag is polite for hotel porters
• Don’t forget to stock up on sun cream to avoid getting burnt while on the beach