Antigua and Barbuda eSIM

Both are possible. The ferry from St John's and the short flights both make a day trip workable, and many visitors combine the frigatebird lagoon with a few hours on the beach. The crossing depends on sea conditions and timetables, though, and an overnight gives time for the sanctuary boat trip and the long western beaches without watching the clock. Whichever you choose, book the return first, then save the guide's contact and the meeting point offline, because services on Barbuda are thinner than on Antigua.

It is the tourism board's long-running slogan, and the indented coastline does hold an unusually large number of beaches and coves. The useful distinction is between the two coasts. The western, Caribbean side, from Dickenson Bay down to Jolly Harbour and Darkwood Beach, is generally calmer for swimming. The eastern side faces the Atlantic, with places such as Half Moon Bay and Devil's Bridge exposed to swell, so check conditions and flags before going in.

St John's is convenient for the airport, the ferry and short stays, but it is a working town rather than a beach base. English Harbour and Falmouth suit sailors and anyone who wants restaurants, the dockyard and Shirley Heights within walking distance or a short drive. The west coast, around Jolly Harbour and the beaches south of it, suits a slower beach holiday. Distances are short on a map, yet the roads are narrow and winding, so add time to any plan that crosses the island.

The season runs from 1 June to 30 November, and Hurricane Irma in September 2017 showed what a direct hit can do, leaving Barbuda badly damaged. Winter and spring are the usual high season, with more settled weather and the busiest harbours. A late-summer or autumn trip can still go well, but it carries more weather risk, so choose flexible bookings, follow official forecasts before departure and keep the accommodation's contact details saved offline.

Barbuda is part of the same country, so it falls inside the territory of a plan written for Antigua and Barbuda; check that the offer names the country rather than a regional grouping. Territory and reception are separate questions, though. Barbuda is flat and sparsely settled, and what a handset finds at a remote beach or out on the lagoon can vary with the device and the exact spot. Save the day's meeting points, the return time and a map before leaving Antigua.

Yes, and it is a common addition. Montserrat, a British Overseas Territory, is reached from Antigua by small plane or ferry, depending on the current schedule, and regional flights connect Antigua with many neighbouring islands. Each of those is a separate territory from Antigua and Barbuda. Before the hop, read the destination list on the offer, and either choose one that names every island on the route or carry a separate plan for the extra stop.

Exposed headlands, the hills inland and the water between Antigua and Barbuda are the places where a signal is most likely to fade, and the result can vary by handset, plan and exact location. First check the basics: the travel line is on, it is selected for mobile data, and data roaming is enabled for it. If the problem continues, try again once back in St John's or at the hotel, and keep tickets, the boat's departure point and maps saved offline so nothing depends on a live connection.

Yes. WhatsApp stays linked to your usual number and runs on the eSIM's data. On a dual-SIM phone, your usual SIM can stay on for ordinary calls and texts. Your home carrier may charge for calls, texts or data on that line, so turn off data roaming there.

No. Horizon plans are data-only, with no phone number for calls or texts. Use apps such as WhatsApp or FaceTime over the eSIM's data, or keep your usual SIM on for ordinary calls and texts.

Yes. A travel eSIM connects to local networks as a roaming line, so turn on data roaming for the Horizon eSIM when you arrive. The plan is prepaid, so Horizon does not bill you after checkout. Keep data roaming off on your usual SIM to avoid charges from your home carrier.

You can buy more. If your plan supports a top-up, My eSIMs shows the data you can add to the same eSIM. If it does not, buy another Antigua and Barbuda plan and install it the same way.

It will if your phone supports eSIM and is not locked to your home carrier. Many recent iPhone and Android models do, but some regional versions do not, so check your exact model on the supported devices page before you buy.

No. Horizon fixed-data plans have no throttling. There is no daily limit that slows you down, so you can use your whole plan in one day if you need to. Your speed depends on the local network, your signal and how busy the network is. When your data allowance is used up, the plan stops rather than slowing down.

Yes. We always refund the full amount you paid when you request it, whether your eSIM is unused, partly used or fully used. There is no time limit for requesting a refund.