LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Antigua
built 291 days ago
Antigua vacation rentals and villas are excellent lodging alternatives for a peaceful getaway in the Leeward Islands. Renting a villa in Antigua or its sister island, Barbuda, will afford you the space, privacy and comfort you want for a relaxing and affordable Caribbean vacation. Enjoy the view of English Harbour from Shirley Heights or learn the islands’ history at the Museum of Antigua and Barbuda in St John’s, the capital. Still largely undeveloped, Barbuda is an excellent place for bird watching, beachcombing, snorkeling and scuba diving. Eighteenth and 19th century buildings remain in English Harbour, Antigua’s historic area, which is ... the launch point for Antigua’s renowned Sailing Week. But with 365 beaches on Antigua (one for every day, they say), you will inevitably be drawn back to the soft pink and white sands, and calm, clear Caribbean waters.
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Cultural walking tours of Antigua are offered six days a week. They are the work of Elizabeth Bell, who came to Guatemala in 1969 from the U.S. and stayed. She has literally written the book on Antigua, twice (Antigua Guatemala: the city and it's heritage and Lent and Holy Week in Antigua). This tour is an interesting "peek behind the door" of Antigua -- telling you about the people and forces driving Antigua today and in its past, as you go to a few of the main destinations of Antigua. Since Elizabeth Bell is one of those people driving Antigua, her perspective is hard to beat. An essential complement to a more conventional tour of the of the top monuments and their histories.
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Antigua had no natural spring water and was populated by none-too-friendly Caribs, so it was generally avoided until a group of Englishmen from nearby St. Kitts landed in 1632 and, as was the fashion, claimed the island for the English Crown. The Caribs had other ideas. They proceeded to launch numerous attacks on the new colonials but failed to dislodge them. The English settlers strengthened their foothold and cultivated cash crops such as tobacco, indigo and ginger. In 1674 Sir Christopher Codrington came to Antigua from Barbados and set up the island's first sugar plantation and called it Betty's Hope after his daughter. His success led to many more sugar plantations being established and over time some 150 sugar mills came into being.
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Antigua has a stable growing economy, driven by tourism and by an attractive Offshore International Business Corporations legislation. This growth has increased the demand for tourist accommodation and for rental and investment properties. This has continued to drive a consistent building boom of quality housing, tourist accommodation and commercial buildings.
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The politics of Antigua and Barbuda takes place in a framework of a federal parliamentary representative democratic monarchy, whereby the Head of State is the monarch, who appoints the Governor-General as vice-regal representative. In 2007 Louise Lake-Tack became the first female to hold the position of Governor-General in the history of Antigua and Barbuda. A Council of Ministers is appointed by the Governor-General on the advice of the Prime Minister, currently Baldwin Spencer. The Prime Minister is the head of the government. Vere Cornwall Bird Sr., Antigua and Barbuda's first Prime Minister, is credited with having brought Antigua and Barbuda and the Caribbean into a new era of independence.
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On Antigua, the new all-new, inclusive all-suite The Verandah Resort & Spa's rates start at $485 double, with a seven-night minimum holiday stay. At Galley Bay, prices start at $775 double, with an eight-night minimum. At St. James's Club Resort & Villas, rates start at $490, with a seven-night minimum. On Tortola, Long Bay's rates start at $493, with a five-night minimum. In the Grenadines, the exclusive Palm Island's rates are from $650, with a seven- night minimum.
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Antigua