Antigua is great - we've sailed there twice. Actually one-way sails starting in Antigua and finishing in St. Martin. There is potentially a bit more exposure to swell than the Virgin Islands depending on your location, but if conditions pick up you can always stick to the lee of the island or behind the reefs. Though you should be comfortable anchoring, the holding is quite good for the most part. The only place we ever took a mooring ball was behind Green Island. Beach access was never an issue for us. We found snorkeling to be not very good compared to other islands and spent our time on beaches and exploring on the land (and kiteboarding). If you like pristine deserted sandy beaches I would highly recommend a couple nights in Barbuda. Similar to the sail to Anegada, though a little further and fully exposed to the ocean swell so watch the forecast. You can find nice restaurants in Antigua if you want, but it's also easy to stock up at the grocery store and cook on the boat. Antigua is, in my opinion, a very logical next step after the BVIs.