Bermuda, Bahama, come on pretty mama… in short, the Caribbean has been on my list for so many reasons and for so many years, so when I got a beautiful invite to attend a close friend’s wedding in Antigua, I couldn’t resist! 
But just what is there to do in the Bahamas? I’ve heard about islands with swimming pigs, celebrity retreats and of course, a lot of culture… so arriving in Antigua, I wasn’t surprised at just how laid back everything was. There’s literally no rush, whether it’s the traffic, people walking in front of you or the service, it’s all done with a huge dose of ‘chill’. I can’t say I hated it either… (and that’s coming from someone who’s name actually says RUSH!) 
What’s beautiful about this island is the colours, whether it’s the green on the trees, which is totally comparable to the way you feel in Asia with all the palms, or it’s the pastel houses that are dotted across the island. Either way, it’s certainly got soul. We stayed at the Blue Waters Resort, which is by far the most beautiful on the island, where the wedding was set on their beach, underneath an idyllic flower-crested pergola and tropical sky. 
The hotel itself held a few things for me to get up to, from a little gym to a paddle board or two, but it really was all about being poolside this trip… 
We ventured out to an island institution… the D-Boat on the first full day in Antigua, which was an awesome little hotspot – it’s family friendly too, something Dubai definitely needs! A retired oil tanker was renovated and anchored back in 2014 to create the island’s first, fully floating entertainment. 
Whether you’re jumping off one of their decks, swinging out to sea, snorkelling around the reef’s below or sliding off their crow’s nest, this boat has everything you could possibly need, including a bar and trampoline to work off your lunch. 
From one adventure to another, if you’re visiting Antigua, there’s one place you do need to see and that’s Stingray City. Now I was worried that it was going to be more os a sea world-esque experience and that would be a definite no-no, but it’s just a short boat ride away from the shoreline to a pontoon in the middle of the sea. Just where the blue waters turn turquoise, the stingrays come in for an easy snack. 
With a guided experience you can feed them squid with your own hands, or simply get hold of a snorkel (provided) and swim around with these majestic creatures. Many have asked if they are dangerous and honestly they are not, there’s no way kids would be allowed to swim freely with them if there was and when we were told about the simple lack of muscle control in their tails (spike), it helped reassure even the most cynical. Get out there if you’re headed to the Caribbean because it truly is an incredible experience! 