Planning family holidays in Antigua is exciting because an entire Caribbean island of adventure awaits you. But how will you get around with your kids once you arrive? Antigua may be small, but its 365 beaches and countless attractions are spread all over the island. While there are local minibuses and taxis, these can be unpredictable or expensive for a family. Buses stop running by early evening and might not go to all the sights, and taxi fares add up quickly if you rely on them daily. The best way to explore Antigua with kids is by having your own vehicle. Renting a car gives you freedom and flexibility that organised tours or public transport can’t match.
Here are the top ten reasons why you should rent a car in Antigua for your family holiday:
With a rental car, your family can set your own schedule and adjust plans. There’s no need to rush or adhere to a timetable for tour bus pickups. You can pause for a while if your kids need a snack break. This is especially valuable on family trips. You can leave for the beach a bit later if the children sleep in, or stay longer at a site if everyone is having fun. You won’t be at the mercy of fixed tour itineraries. There is no problem if you want to spend an extra hour building sandcastles on a beach.
Many of Antigua’s most beautiful spots are in remote locations. Renting a car unlocks the whole island for your family. You can drive to hidden beaches and lesser-known coves that tour buses don’t reach. For example, places like Half Moon Bay or the remote Devil’s Bridge rock formation on the east coast are much easier to visit with a car. If your kids love animals, you can head out to the Antigua Donkey Sanctuary, a fun charity farm where children can pet and brush donkeys. It’s in the countryside and not served by regular tours. You can visit historical sites like Betty’s Hope (an old sugar mill) or Nelson’s Dockyard without joining a group tour.
A car makes it simple to start on family road trips in Antigua. The island has scenic drives like Fig Tree Drive, a lush route through rainforests and old plantation areas in the south. You can pile everyone into the car and spend a day just driving around the island’s coastal roads. With kids, you can pull over for fresh fruit at a roadside stall or take a spontaneous detour to show them a panoramic ocean view. If you spot a playground or a local cricket match in a village, you can stop and let the kids experience a bit of Antigua’s daily life.
Travelling with children often means carrying a lot of extra gear like strollers, diaper bags, beach toys, snacks, and maybe a portable cot. A rental car gives you a secure place to store all these items as you move around. You can load the vehicle with beach gear, snorkelling equipment, and baby supplies. Cars in Antigua have air conditioning, which is perfect on hot days. Your family can cool down in between outdoor stops. There’s no worrying about carrying everything on public minibuses or trying to find toilets at set times because you can drive to facilities whenever needed.
Renting a car can be budget-friendly for families. While the upfront cost of a car rental in Antigua might seem high, it often beats paying for multiple taxis or tour tickets for each family member. Taxis in Antigua can charge per ride and even add fees per passenger, so the fares quickly multiply for a family of four or five. For example, a single trip from your hotel to a distant beach and back in a taxi could cost nearly as much as a full day’s car hire. A rental car saves money if you plan to explore for several days. Organised tours also charge per person, which adds up when you have kids. You might end up paying for a tour that visits places you’re not interested in. Fuel in Antigua is reasonably priced, and petrol stations are available.
Families often want to pack as much fun as possible into a holiday. You can easily plan multi-stop days with your own car without worrying about transport logistics. For instance, you might spend the morning at a beach, visit a historical fort, go zip-lining in the afternoon, and end the day dining in St. John’s. Doing all this in one day is easy when you have a car to hop between locations. You’re not stuck waiting for a taxi or bus for each leg of the journey. You can also carry everything you need for the day in the car (swimwear, dry clothes, towels, snacks), so you’re always prepared for the next activity. For example, you can hit Shirley Heights lookout for the famous sunset BBQ party and still have time to visit the nearby Nelson’s Dockyard.
Resorts are wonderful, but to truly experience Antigua, you’ll want to venture beyond the hotel grounds. Renting a car allows you to explore local villages, roadside eateries, and cultural sites. You can drive into St. John’s city on market day and let your kids see the colourful produce and spices on display. Or take a detour through small villages to show them local Caribbean homes and chat with friendly residents. With a car, you can stop at a roadside vendor selling fresh coconut water or the famous Antiguian black pineapple.
You could also attend local events or festivals if your trip coincides with one. For example, if there’s a summer Carnival event or a cricket match, you can join in because you have your own transport. Taxis and tours typically stick to the main tourist spots, but with your own wheels, you can find hidden cultural gems. Maybe you’ll visit a rural pottery shop or a lesser-known historic church. These experiences can be educational for children and more immersive for everyone. Importantly, having a car means you can do everything on your own timetable. If the kids get tired, you can head back to your hotel.
Travelling by rental car gives your family privacy and comfort that other modes of transport cannot. Instead of sharing a taxi or bus with strangers, your family has a private space to relax, chat, or even sing along to favourite songs. In Antigua, many taxis are shared or may pick up other passengers going in the same direction, so you might not always have a ride to yourselves if you use a cab. With a rental car, it’s just your family, which is often more comfortable, especially for shy children. You can also control the car’s temperature and set the radio to a Caribbean music station.
One big reason to rent a car is to avoid the hassles from other transport options. Antigua’s public transport, while affordable, has limited routes and no formal timetables. Buses might not show up when you expect, or you might have to wait in the sun for the next one. They also only run from early morning to about 6 PM, which limits your flexibility. By driving yourself, you eliminate these uncertainties. You won’t waste vacation time waiting around, and you can leave an attraction whenever you’re ready, not when the next bus is scheduled.
Taxis, on the other hand, often need to be arranged in advance from more remote spots, and at peak times, you might struggle to get one. Having a car spares you from negotiating fares each time. Moreover, by renting a car at the airport or your resort, you handle the paperwork once, and then you’re set for the whole trip.
Driving in Antigua is easy and safe, even if you’re from a country that drives on the right. The island’s pace is calm, and local drivers are usually patient and not aggressive towards tourists. In fact, Antiguans often beep their horn as a polite “thank you” rather than out of road rage. The speed limits are low. It is around 32 km/h in towns and 64 km/h on highways.
Roads in the main areas are paved, although you might encounter potholes or narrow lanes. You can also use a sturdier vehicle, like a small SUV, if you plan to drive on dirt roads. However, a regular car is fine for most outings. Importantly, seatbelts are required. Antigua has no specific child seat law, but good rental companies provide car seats to secure your kids.
The island also requires visitors to get a temporary local driving permit. However, this is usually arranged by the rental agency. Make sure you have this along with your home license when driving. Once you’re set up, driving in Antigua with family is a comfortable experience. You can navigate with a map or offline maps. Download the map beforehand, as the signal can be spotty in rural areas.
Renting a car in Antigua is the smartest and most practical choice for families because it gives you complete control over your holiday. Instead of relying on limited public transport or expensive taxi rides, you can drive to every beach, attraction, or family-friendly activity on your own schedule. Rent a car in Antigua with Final Rentals and pick up your vehicle at V.C. Bird International Airport. With Final Rentals, you get transparent pricing with no hidden fees, unlimited mileage, and a wide range of vehicles suitable for families of all sizes.
