These past four days I have spent on the beautiful island of Antigua. I toured numerous resorts each day and am here to tell you my one favorite. Wait…I can’t. Each resort was more beautiful than the last. From boutique resorts to the well-known Sandals Antigua. Antigua has a resort for everyone. Let me take you on a brief tour of my favorites….
Galley Bay Resort & Spa is an adults-only all-inclusive resort with 98 rooms, all but 14 are ocean front. The 14 that are not are absolutely beautiful with their own plunge pools. When pulling up to this resort, there is a very unassuming front desk and a view of their lagoon. You take a golf cart to get to your room and this resort takes you back in time with an actual key – no key cards here. Many of their rooms are updated though some of their rooms have yet to be updated but they are large, clean rooms with amazing views. They have a beach grill, 2 restaurants and one restaurant with an upcharge of $45 per person. While they do not have room service, you can request the day before to have breakfast in your room. This property also has 4 bars, a Rum Bar, non-motorized water sports, coffee and gift shop, nightly entertainment, yoga in their pavilion overlooking the beach, a gift shop, a Diamond shop (many ladies have been known to take their men to the Rum Bar to drink then the Diamond shop to purchase). Coming to Galley Bay, you are on an absolutely beautiful stretch of beach and you feel the authentic vibe of Antigua. The service is wonderful. This is for a traveler looking for tranquility.
Hammock Cove Resort & Spa was one of my favorites – absolutely beautiful. This adults-only all-inclusive luxury hotel is the one of the newest hotels in Antigua. Here you will find fine dining and premium liquors in their 2 restaurants and 2 bars. Every night of the week there is a special food category on their menu such as Thursdays being Oysters and Prosecco and Saturdays serving Caviar. Their 41 villas are either water front or water view and has a plunge pool. Each villa is assigned their own ambassador (butler) for their every need. Guests are given a cell phone to connect with their ambassadors. While the beach isn’t large, it is powdery white sand and the guests are able to go next door to The Verandah’s beach. There is also a 3 tiered pool as well. Absolutely beautiful resort.
The Inn at English Harbour has only 28 rooms and has an English vibe. This luxury resort has traditional Colonial decor. The check-in as well as a restaurant and bar are set on a hillside while all of the rooms are down by their spectacular beach and pool. This resort has 2 restaurants, 2 bars and 1 pool. They have a water taxi which will take guests to Nelson’s Dockyard. Being at this resort made me long for my days in England. Kids 10 and over are welcome here but the vibe is more for adults-only. This resort is not for someone looking for modern amenities but for someone looking for peace, a beautiful beach, amazing service and to get away from it all.
Cocos Hotel (not to be confused with Cocobay) is an adults-only all-inclusive resort with 43 cottages set on 2 beautiful beaches. This is a very hilly resort. If you do not like the hills, you can stay in their standard rooms by their one pool but otherwise, this is not a resort for you if you can’t walk hills. If hills are an issue, check out their sister resort Keyonna Beach Resort which is very similar for couples and no hills. Cocos has 2 beach grills and 1 restaurant which the menu changes daily. Their rooms are beautiful with their dark wood but if you are a TV watcher, this resort is not for you as there are no TVs in their rooms. They have nightly entertainment. Overall, this is a stunning luxury rustic resort.
Hodges Bay Resort & Spa is a newer family-friendly luxury resort. This resort which is only 5 minutes from the airport has 79 rooms and offers either a European or an all-inclusive plan. I was lucky enough to eat at this resort in one of their 2 restaurants and the food was phenomenal. I also had to sample a drink at one of their 3 bars and it was not a watered down drink that you find at some resorts – it was just perfect. They have beautiful artwork around this modern resort. While their beach isn’t the largest, you can take a boat out to their beach island. At this resort you will find nightly entertainment, non-motorized watersports and a Kids and Teens Club. All of the rooms are beautiful with their modern style and you have a choice of a 1, 2, 3 or 4 bedroom. The 4 bedroom is absolutely gorgeous with a large living and kitchen area, beautiful ocean views in the bedrooms, an outdoor shower in the Master bedroom and it includes a butler.
Royalton Antigua pleasantly surprised me. It was a beautiful, clean all-inclusive family-friendly resort with modern rooms, and a wide variety of food choices at their 8 restaurants. This 294 room hotel that opened in 2018 also has 5 bars and 5 pools and a beach with beautiful views. You can upgrade to their Diamond Club for more amenities, rent a Cabana for $110 a day with its own plunge pool or do any of their non-motorized water sports. There is both a Kids and Teens Club here as well as many activities for adults. Traveling with kids in your room but you don’t want 2 double beds? Here they offer 2 queen beds instead. And really looking for luxury? Stay in one of their 6 over the water bungalows.
Other luxury family friendly resorts I visited, which were all amazing, were Carlisle Bay (best dinner I had in Antigua), The Verandah Resort & Spa and Blue Waters Resort and Spa. One note is The Verandah is a very spread out hilly resort but they have golf carts ready to drive you around. These all were modern resorts and each had their own uniqueness to them.
The most well-known resort in Antigua is Sandals Grande Antigua. With its 373 rooms, 11 restaurants, 7 bars and 6 pools and its beautiful wide beach, there is something here for everyone. You can choose between the high rise Mediterranean village a bit further from the beach or the Caribbean village closer to the beach. There are 21 room categories here including luxury rooms, club level rooms and butler rooms. It has a lively atmosphere and anywhere you look, you see people smiling.
I highly recommend taking a boat ride while in Antigua so you can see all of the beautiful beaches from a different view. This island is breathtaking and has definitely captured my heart.
I would love to help you plan your Antigua vacation. Contact me at 610-466-5560 or jodi@jzwtravel.com. Jodi of JZW Travel
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