Sunny Rentals: Your Keys to Exploring Antigua at Your Own Pace
A small, family-run car hire tucked into Sugar Ridge that treats every renter like a returning friend.
Why Go
Antigua has 365 beaches and roughly zero reliable buses to reach the good ones. Sunny Rentals is the quiet workhorse that solves that problem for savvy travelers — pulling up at Sugar Ridge Hotel to hand you keys, a full tank, and a wink about which pothole-riddled shortcut is worth it.
The Experience
Renting here feels refreshingly analog in the best way. You fill out a short Google Form, send a photo of your license, and Iris (the woman most reviewers rave about) sorts the rest — including the $20 temporary Antiguan driving permit that first-timers usually stress about. The office is a modest unit at Sugar Ridge Hotel in St. Mary's, but you'll rarely see it: most guests are met at the airport or have their car delivered directly to their villa or resort, keys in hand, full tank of gas, paperwork done in ten minutes. The fleet leans toward well-loved, well-maintained older models — compacts, mid-size sedans, 4x4s for the rougher tracks up to Shirley Heights or down to Rendezvous Bay, plus minivans and the occasional bit of luxury. Regulars actually prefer the older cars: Antigua's narrow lanes, goats, and left-hand driving are much less stressful when you're not babying a brand-new bumper.
What to Try
Book a 4x4 if you plan to chase off-the-map beaches — Half Moon Bay, Rendezvous, and the dirt roads out to Green Castle Hill reward the extra clearance. For couples sticking to Jolly Harbour, Falmouth, and English Harbour, a compact is plenty and easier on the fuel budget. Ask for a longer-term rate if you're staying five days or more; the weekly pricing is noticeably kinder than the daily.
Insider Tip
Reserve at least a couple of weeks out and specifically request Iris in your inquiry — she's the reason the reviews sit at 4.8 stars. Also: they hand you the car with a full tank and expect it back the same way, so top up at the Texaco just outside the airport roundabout before drop-off rather than paying the reconciliation fee. And don't skip the temporary permit — police checkpoints do happen and Sunny will process it on the spot for $20 USD.
The Practical Stuff
Located at Unit 1, Sugar Ridge Hotel, St. Mary's, Antigua & Barbuda. Phone: +1 (268) 764-7610. Office hours: Monday–Friday 8:30 AM–4:00 PM, Saturday 8:30 AM–1:00 PM, closed Sunday — but airport meet-and-greet and resort delivery can be arranged outside those hours by prior arrangement. Payment by credit card; a driver's license photo is required at booking. Drive on the left. The $20 temporary Antiguan driving permit is mandatory and issued through the rental. Delivery to hotels and villas across the island is complimentary.
Pair It With
- Adventure Antigua — Family-run since 1999, their eco or Xtreme boat tours pair perfectly with a rental car day — drive yourself to the Jolly Harbour or Falmouth pickup, then let Eli Fuller's crew show you the coastline you can't reach by road.
- Shirley Heights Lookout — The Sunday sunset barbecue with steel pan and reggae is the island's signature evening — and infinitely easier to enjoy when you've got your own car for the winding drive back down to your hotel.
- Boardwalk Casino Guide — An easy late-night stop after dinner in Jolly Harbour when you've got wheels and don't want to negotiate a taxi home.
- Half Moon Bay — Arguably Antigua's most beautiful beach, and effectively unreachable without a car — exactly the kind of day your Sunny 4x4 was made for.
