The Bahamas is the more popular of these two amazing Caribbean island nations in terms of the number of visitors to its shores annually.
Nonetheless, travelers can have an unforgettable experience at of either of these destinations.
In this article, we provide greater insight into the similarities and differences between the Bahamas and Antigua to help you choose the right destination for you.
As a general rule, the Bahamas is ideal for individuals looking for a more vibrant destination with beautiful white and pink sand beaches. Alternatively, Antigua is perfect for individuals seeking a quiet and laid back island with numerous white and pink sand beaches with turquoise waters.
Read on for further details and explanations on how these two beautiful Caribbean Islands compare. This article is written by a Caribbean national familiar with both destinations.
Bahamas Vs Antigua- Which Destination Is Bigger
The Bahamas is the larger of the two places with a landmass of 5,359 square miles with about 700 islands, cays and islets.
The most populous island is New Providence Island where the capital city of Nassau is located and where over 70% resides.
Inversely, Antigua is only 169.9 square miles which includes the landmass of its dependency Barbuda. The islands are separated by only 39 air miles.
Additionally, Antigua is the more mountainous of the two destinations with Boggy Peak being the highest point of elevation at 1,319 feet.
On the contrary, Bahamas is flat and low lying. The highest point of elevation is Mount Alvernia is 206 feet. This mountain is also locally known as Como Hill.
Bahamas Vs Antigua- What Are The Official Currencies
The currency used for day to day transactions in both countries differs. The official currency of Antigua is the Eastern Caribbean dollar.
The Eastern Caribbean currency has bank notes as well as coins. Bank notes are available in $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100 denominations.
Coins are available in 5 cents, 10 cents, 25 cents, $1 and $2 denominations. Coins in 1 cents and 2 cents pieces were recently discontinued.
This currency is shared with seven other English Speaking Caribbean islands with a central bank office in St Kitts.
Nevertheless, US dollars are accepted everywhere on the island. Change is usually given in the local currency.
Contrastingly, the official currency of the Bahamas is the Bahamian dollar since the year 1966.
The currency is issued and managed by the Central Bank of is divided into 100 cents.
Bank notes are available 50, 20,10,5 and $1denominations. Coins are available in 25, 10 and 5 cent pieces. The symbol is B$.
Nevertheless, US dollars and coins are widely accepted by businesses both small and large on the island.
Casinos on the island only accept US dollars and the ATM machines at these locations dispense US dollars.
Bahamas Vs Antigua- Which Destination Receives More Visitors
The Bahamas is the island that receives more visitors of the two destinations.
As stated by tourism analytics, in 2019 the Bahamas welcomed 5,429,474 cruise ship visitors and 1,804,184 stop over visitors.
On the contrary, Antigua welcomed a total of 1,034,516 tourists for the year. There were 733,526 cruise passengers and 300,990 stop over visitors.
Bahamas Vs Antigua- Is It Easy To Visit Other Countries
Both destinations provide the option for travelers to visit other countries via ferry services.
Individuals can travel to and from Fort Lauderdale, Florida via the fast ferry service Balearia Caribbean to the Bahamas.
The ferry docks in Grand Bahama Island and Bimini.
Likewise, the option of island hopping from Antigua is limited only to the island of Montserrat.
This island is also fondly referred to as the Emerald Isle of The Caribbean and is a British Overseas territory.
The ferry named Jayden Sun departs from Heritage Quay from 8: 30 am and returns 5 pm on Tuesdays and Fridays weekly. The price of the ferry is approximately XCD$300.
Bahamas Vs Antigua- Which Destination Has Better Nightlife
Bahamas is the destination with the more vibrant nightlife while Antigua is much quieter and laid back.
The Bahamas is the larger of the two islands and hence there is a greater number of entertainment spots concentrated mainly in the Freeport and Nassau regions.
Bones Bar, Aura and the Atlantis are three spots to explore for nightlife while in the Bahamas.
For entertainment both day and night, Arawak Cay in Nassau is a must visit stop if you want to delve deeper into local traditional food and drink.
Contrastingly, Antigua is a tranquil and laid back destination.
Shirley’s Heights Lookout is a well- known spot in Antigua on Sunday evenings for entertainment. There is usually a live band with drinks and food available for purchase.
Some of the other popular nightlife spots on the island are The Lime and Tryst Nightclub, Bar and Restaurant.
Bahamas Vs Antigua- Which Destination Has Better Beaches
Antigua is marketed as a Caribbean island with 365 beaches being one for every day of the year.
Nevertheless, as the destination with the greater landmass, the Bahamas has approximately 2000 beaches.
Gold Rock Beach, Cable Beach and Tropic of Cancer Beach are three of the amazing spots to visit for beautiful white and powdery sand in the Bahamas.
The Bahamas is also known for having pink sand beaches with one of the most famous one being Pink Sand Beach on Harbour Island.
This island is only 3.5 miles long and 1.5 miles and is popular stop for affluent visitors.
The sand on pink sand beach has its distinct pink color due to the presence of foraminifera.
For a unique experience, Pig Beach on the island of Exuma is the perfect for those who want to swim with pigs.
Likewise, Dickenson Bay is one of the well- loved beaches in Antigua by both locals and tourists alike.
Its shallow and calm waters make it an ideal spot for water sports such as paddle boarding.
To help visitors choose among its many beaches, the Antigua & Barbuda Tourism Authority launched a beach personality quiz. Feel free to visit the page to find the perfect beach for you.
The island of Barbuda is also blessed with a beautiful pink sand beach between Spanish Point and Palmetto Point.
The ferry from Antigua docks at this beach which takes 90 minutes traveling time.
Bahamas Vs Antigua- Unique Things To Do In Both Destinations
Port Lucaya Marketplace, Bahamas– located in Grand Bahama Island, this marketplace is a wonderful hub for shopping and entertainment.
There are a range of vendors selling local craft and souvenir items as well as restaurants, bars and other stores.
Fort Barrington, Antigua- this was built in the 18th century to defend the island from attacks.
The fort provides majestic views of the island. Be sure to wear comfortable and sturdy shoes as the hike to the top of the fort is via a steep trail.
Final Thoughts
On a whole, the Bahamas is perfect for individuals seeking a bustling nightlife environment as well as amazing white sand beaches. On the other hand, Antigua is suitable for persons who prefer a smaller, tranquil and quiet destination with numerous white sand beaches with turquoise waters.
Need More Information?
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We welcome you to continue exploring for more articles on Bahamas, Antigua and the rest of the Caribbean using the search bar located on the top of this page.
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