USA today blog has it out for Antigua

[-eli-]

For nearly two years this USA Today blogger has been reporting on Antigua in the most negative way possible. Have a look at the latest and reply to him if you like.
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/cruises/ ... 76957.blog

[franbanks]

Hi just read the comments, i have left my own ; please find below the reply i posted,


we are flying out in the morning

"I think this is total overkill,you will get violence in every country and i mean every country,! i live in the UK ,we have shootings and gang wars along with muggings and robberys and murders,i notice we still get a large amount of tourists flocking to the UK, i think these negative comments are over the top,
I have found the people of Antigua to be really nice folk that are more than happy to say hi and make sure you have a great visit to their country, i honestly cant see what this is all about other than pick on Antigua week !!"


Fran

[Fred]

Ok, from now on I will no longer visit the nearest city to me which is 18 miles here in central NY. A shooting every week or two is not unusual, and I will not visit Syracuse,Rochester,NYC or any other city in the state of NY. However I will be in Antigua Feb 13 just in time for a very nice valentines dinner on the 14th. Get a life you bloggers!!!!!!!!!!!1

[indoors]

Hi all,
I remember on one of our visits, 2004 I think, having drinks late one evening at a club in town, listening to 3 cylinder. When a young Antiguan man asked for light,this was given with pleasantry's exchanged. A few minutes later on being served with our drinks we were told the bill had been taken care of by the young guy wanting a light. In 2005 we were informed of a good night with entertainment at Spliffs on Parham Rd, and what a night we all had! esspecially when meeting up with the owner and his son Prince, he was the guy without a light.!!!( Look forward to meeting up with our now good friends March 3rd ) Catch ya later,indoors.

[Donna]

Hi Indoors

You summed it up .... "It's the people that make the difference".

Cheers Donna

[sandysnow]

Acceptance of violent crime anywhere is not something anyone should have to tolerate as norm.

Tuesday we will be visiting Antigua for the first time and although I realize "crime is everywhere", it seems murder of tourists in the past few years on this small island, exceedingly disturbing. I have visited many other islands in the Caribbean for the 30 years and have not felt I needed to be paranoid, just aware, but I am concerned this trip that I will not have the freedom to come and go as I like. I have not found any information on if the criminals responsible for the murders of the young British newlyweds, or the Australian captain or this latest young female victim have been found and prosecuted.

[mizgeorge]

Sandy, the perpetrators of all three of these sad crimes are in custody, and awaiting trial. Please don't feel you have to take any more than normal, sensible precautions - Antigua is still a very safe, warm and welcoming place, and the overwhelming majority of Antiguans are as, if not more distressed by these events than anyone.

[sandysnow]

Thank you George for your reassurance. I have not told my husband any of this stuff I have been reading - yet. We spent last Feb. in Grenada without a care. I sure don't want to dampen his enthusiasm. We put outselves in the hands of Dominicans 30 years ago, climbing up waterfalls with the help of some young men we met wandering about. They were very proud of their island and protective of us, hauling us up steep cliffs; they were barefoot - we were young, we had a great time. Also, Grenadians are proud and quick to point out their island's natural beauty. We have family in St. Maarten, so I know there is crime there too, but usually something not inflected on tourists, albeit tourist vs tourist. A taxi driver in Barbados years ago told us that a crime committed against a tourist meant 3 times the penalty; as it was a crime against their economy, themselves and their reputation. I know the BVI's are very law abiding. Well, we will see how I feel when we get there. I will let my husband know so we can be even more aware but it is disconcerting and I hope the local law enforcement are taking measures. I admire many things I see in the Caribbean as far as the gendarmes in St. Maarten, etc. I am looking forward to this adventure, just hope these gruesome crimes aren't repeated. Petty crime is one thing, but this is unspeakable.

On a more upbeat note - BTW I love beach vendors, some of my favorite friends on SXM are beach vendors/hair braiders. I love those souvenirs I have gathered over the years.

[Donna]

Over the years we too traveled to many Caribbean Islands. We looked for the positive in all the islands we visited and the best thing we loved about Antigua was the people, they kept us coming back year after year for over 25 vacations.

You will find crime and aggression in all the islands just the same as your home country. Antigua remains beautiful and so are the people. We are planning another return in the near future and like you our best friends are the people who we've met over the years from all walks of life.

I can only suggest you travel with care and keep your eyes open. Don't leave your bags in the open or on the beach. Don't rent a vehicle that won't hide and lock your personal stuff. Don't carry your valuables (passports) to the beach or on tour and don't pick up hitch-hikers. Lock your hotel/villa doors at night. I don't think these suggestions are any different than anywhere else you might have traveled. Yes, stuff has changed a lot since our first visit in 1979 but so has Barbados and Jamaican when we returned there too. My husband is from Jamaica but that's not the island of choice, Antigua was and still is.

I hope you enjoy your vacation and post a report when you get home.
Cheers Donna

[sandysnow]

Thank you Donna, I'm sure we will enjoy tremendously & I will do a small trip report when I get back. Our friends are talking about us going again next year as a group if it works out well. You know the imagination goes wild sometimes and we always exercise care. Don't mind losing trinkets or cash, just not my life, that would really piss me off. My husband is so excited he just did an imitation of him driving a golf cart, hitting speed bumps, around the complex of Jolly Harbour. Too funny! I may check back in with this group for advise while there. Plan on doing a Circumnavigate tour or Eco tour and looking forward to the the market (it looks gorgeous) and the fish market. Fresh fish was something like $2 or $3 per lb. US in Grenada last year, too bad it took me 2 weeks to find it. Regards, Sandy