Montserrat- to help sway the group... visit youtube and view the helicopter or land videos of the volcano. this is a once in a lifetime experience. if your group is still hesitant, take a heli ride from jolly harbour.. it's 250$ or a bit more/ea...

the land tour guide charged me $50 for about 6 or so hours. we stopped for lunch at a local stop, we visited the entire island including the economic development zone (they are building a pier and storefronts), new housing subdivisions for displaced locals, etc. lots of background history. very fascinating. there are no tourists in Montserrat so everyone is special. I read 300 overnight guests in NOv. including expats returning for the season.

Barbuda - I took the excellence over and there were many tour guides waiting for us. if you pm me your email add, i'll send you a video of the tour.. spoiler alert! you can get lobster in town as a few passengers commented on their lunch (they didn't go to sanctuary). check out the site: barbudaful.net (or .com or ???) you will find plenty of contacts here.

Antigua - I really enjoyed Eli's Eco-tour. very informative and great stops.
If you are anchored in English Harbour, you must stop in at Mad Mongoose or Abracadabras night clubs. go to pigeon beach (walking distance from Mad Mongoose/pier) for a azure, calm beach with two beach bars. Nelson's Dockyard around the corner has a few ubber cool places to chill and have a cool one while contemplating days of past.

Fig Tree Drive is worth a peak if you are into diverse topography. it is also your path from jolly harbour to Shirley heights... if you are anchoring here.. leave around 3 pm to savour many stops and the Shirley heights sunset. take a cab from castaways. ask marvelous marvin or randy and they will hook your group up for $20 ea/return. If the lot of you are going, I suggest securing your own taxi. the driver will wait for you at Shirley heights. food here is not all that good.

I enjoyed snorkeling at cades reef. we did not see the resident reef barracuda or other fun stuff as a bunch of power boats ruined it for us but it was still a good outing.

Shopping or eating were not a highlight for me in Antigua. sxm beats Antigua hands down. you may be interested in hot sauce or coconut oil. no spices.

fruit: you must try black pineapple - so sweet and grown on your way up fig tree drive (stop at the green church in Liberia) and tiny bananas called fig.

Antigua publishes an excellent magazine: antiguan. you may find a copy at antiguanice.com

so much more to share.. pm me and i'll answer all I can as I have been three times in a 13 month period. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />