Antigua and Barbuda: Resorts

The following are the most popular hotels and resorts in Antigua:

Hotels for Families and Couples:

St. James Club

Set in 100 acres of gardens and tropical forest, a gated complex located on a private peninsula at Mamora Bay close to the amazing Half Moon Bay. The accommodation comprises 73 family villas, 20 suites and 85 rooms some with garden views and the premium accommodation has sea views which is well worth the extra money. You can choose room only or all-inclusive with food, drinks, entertainment, sports facilities, tax and service charge all included in the rate. There are 2 beaches, 4 pools, a wide choice of water sports, 6 tennis courts, a fitness centre and a wellness centre offering spa treatments and a range of therapies. The hotel has 3 restaurants offering different themed cuisines and 4 bars. There is regular evening entertainment and kids have their own activity area. Nelson’s Dockyard is only 10 minutes drive away giving easy access to the Dockyards’ restaurants, cafes, bars, shops and nightlife. The hotel is a very popular choice with visitors.

Long Bay Hotel

A small hotel, in a secluded location in Long Bay on the Atlantic east coast, the reef protected beach is great for safe swimming and good for sailing, windsurfing, kayaking, water skiing and inshore fishing, the reef is excellent for snorkelling and scuba diving. The hotel has 20 Antiguan style rooms and 5 cottages set among the tropic landscape, all face the bay. The food and facilities are excellent.

Hermitage Bay Hotel

A luxury hotel on the west coast set on a promontory with a lovely beach. It is 10 minutes drive from Jolly Harbour, 20 minutes from St. John’s and 35 minutes from the Airport. The 25 luxury Caribbean style cottages comprise suites, beach cottages and hillside cottages landscaped into the hillside tropical gardens all having ocean views. The premium cottages have private infinity pools and sundecks. The restaurant and bar are close to the beach serving traditional Caribbean dishes and fusion cuisine. There is a choice of water sports with tuition and a spa.

Carlisle Bay Hotel

Luxury on the beach, named ‘2005 Hotel of the Year’ by UK’s Tatler Travel Guide. Located to the south of Antigua on a beautiful beach with a backdrop of hills and tropical rainforest. The 80 suites from junior to 3 bedroom all have ocean views and private terraces or balconies. There are 3 bars and 2 restaurants, ‘Indigo’ restaurant on the beach has a clear view of Montserrat and the smoking volcano, it serves grilles, sea foods and salads. “East” restaurant serves a variety of Asian cuisine. The hotel has a large pool, 9 tennis courts, water sports with instruction, a spa ‘Blue’ offering massage treatments, a gym and a wellness centre. It also has a kids club, a movies room, a library and lovely tropical gardens.

Curtain Bluff Hotel

Situated on a dramatic bluff, on the southern tip of Antigua, set in 20 acres of tropical gardens and surrounded by a reef protecting 2 sandy beaches, 72 rooms and suites with balconies have great ocean views. The hotel has a well stocked cellar of fine wines. Water sports, 7 floodlit tennis courts, squash courts and a spa. Home to the Curtain Bluff Hotel Tennis Challenge, an annual event and very popular.

Half Moon Bay Hotel

Located on the beautiful Half Moon Bay on the Atlantic east coast, luxury rooms, good food, bars and very clear waters. The seas can be rough which will restrict swimming to the hotel pool on those days.

Harmony Hall

A restored sugar mill with bags of history. A remote setting at Brown’s Bay between Half Moon Bay and Nonsuch Bay. 6 charming cottages with large bathrooms and a patio, Harmony Hall has a small restaurant with fabulous ocean views, serving Mediterranean cuisine. A hotel boat takes guests to Green Island.

The Inn at English Harbour

Nestled in hills surrounding English Harbour with its own beach, the 10 Caribbean style standard rooms and 24 new suites have wonderful views of Freemen’s Bay and Nelson’s Dockyard. The ‘Beach’ restaurant has a fabulous setting for sunset cocktails and candlelight dining and the ‘Terrace’ restaurant features Caribbean and International cuisine and has an extensive wine selection. The hotel has a large infinity pool with sundeck, 2 floodlit tennis courts and a gym. Visitors can use the pool and the private beach.

Admiral's Inn

Full of colonial atmosphere, Admiral’s Inn is located in a restored late 18th century Georgian warehouse in Nelson's Dockyard. 14 rooms with beamed ceilings, a lively bar with a shady terrace and dining in a romantic garden setting overlooking the harbour. Free transport to two beaches 5 minutes away. Tennis is available at a nearby sports club.

Lashings

A good value, low cost hotel at Runaway Bay, north west coast. 14 rustic, comfortable rooms, a good restaurant, 24 hour outside bar, excellent snorkelling offshore, great views interrupted unfortunately by the offshore oil installation, long walk or USD 6 taxi ride to St. John's and golfing at Cedar Grove. Live entertainment which can be noisy.

Galley Bay Hotel (couples only)

Located on the Five Islands Peninsula, the hotel has a secluded setting on the west coast in 40 acres of tropical gardens between a bird sanctuary and a long stretch of white sandy beach, luxury suites on the beach all sea facing. 3 restaurants, the breakfasts at Ismays are the best and the goat curry and the banana slide cocktail are to be recommended. The sea can be rough so snorkelling is poor but good for windsurfing.

Coco Bay Resort (couples only)

A stylish resort, 49 colourful Creole style cottages set in 10 acres of lush tropical hillside overlooking Ffreys Beach, one of the best beaches in Antigua, south of Jolly Harbour on the west coast. The infinity pool is steps away from the secluded Valley Church Beach, great for water sports and guided walking tours. The resort has 2 restaurants. The separate ‘Shear’ restaurant adjacent to the resort overlooks Ffreys Beach and is also open to non residents.

Sandals Grande Antigua (couples only)

A very large resort voted ‘the worlds' most romantic resort’, located on Dickenson Bay north of Antigua, it has 189 luxury rooms, 9 gourmet restaurants, 10 bars, 5 pools and 5 whirl pools. A full range of water sports including snorkelling, scuba diving and hydro bikes, spa, entertainment including a casino.

Grand Pineapple Resort

Set in 25 acres of tropical forest on Long Bay, one of the best beaches in Antigua facing the Atlantic, the reef protected beach is great for swimming, snorkelling and wind surfing. Dine at The Outhouse perched on a cliff giving stunning views of the ocean. This resort is not suitable for the physically disabled.

Jumby Bay Resort

Located on a 300 acre private island, 2 miles north east off the coast of Antigua and 10 minutes by ferry. Surrounded by white sandy beaches, clear waters and lush landscaping it is a naturalists’ delight. 39 suites and 11 luxury villas are spread across a third of the island having easy access to the beaches. 2 restaurants and bars, casual open air dining on the veranda with ocean views serving Mediterranean cuisine and elegant dining at the historic ‘Estate House’ restaurant, a 230 year old colonial plantation manor. Facilities include 3 tennis courts (2 floodlit), a croquet lawn, putting green, 25m lap pool, fitness centre, a business centre and a choice of water sports. The island has 3 miles of hiking or biking trails.

Coconut Beach Club (couples only)

A small hotel with 40 rooms on Yepton Beach on the north west coast, set in tropical gardens and a coconut grove, right on the beach. Dickenson Bay and the Sandals Resort are close by. Caribbean style rooms, very nice and no frills. Good for water sports, horse riding and trekking, two restaurants and beach bars, wellness centre and regular live entertainment.

Hawksbill Beach Resort

Set in 37 acres of tropical gardens on the west coast of the Five Islands Peninsula. The resort has 4 secluded beaches, one reserved for clothes optional. A low rise complex of cottages and apartments having sea views. For larger parties the colonial style Great House on the tip of the Hawksbill peninsula is a private villa with its own kitchen, bar and panoramic sea views, ideal for wedding parties. The ‘Tamarind Tree’ is a relaxed open air restaurant. The ‘Il Vignetto Sul Mare’ restaurant features Italian cuisine. The resort has regular evening entertainment which is authentically Antiguan.

Jolly Beach Resort

A low rise complex (no lifts) in 40 acres of tropical gardens on the lovely white sandy Jolly Beach on the west coast. It has a 8,000 square feet fantasy pool, waterfalls and jacuzzi, the beach is ideal for water sports, 6 room categories all sea facing with balconies on 4 floors with no lift also beach front cottages. 5 restaurants serving Caribbean, Italian, India, buffet and grilles, 5 bars, live entertainment and a casino. A wellness spa, a babysitting service, guided nature walks to Boggy Peak and Johnson's Point. Close to an 18 hole golf course at Jolly Harbour.

The Cottages at Jolly Beach

50 deluxe 1 and 2 bedroom suites on 3 levels with balconies and self catering facilities overlooking the harbour. There are no lifts. The Cottages are separate from the Jolly Beach Resort but guests have the full use of the resorts amenities, day passes to the resort cost USD 83 and children USD 50. Golfers can have 50% discount on green fees at the Jolly Harbour Golf Club.

Royal Antigua Resort

Set in 150 tropical acres a complex of 277 rooms and 12 poolside cottages on the lovely sweeping Deep Bay. A protected clear water cove on the northern side of the Five Islands Peninsula, excellent for water sports and snorkelling to the Andes wreck 100 metres off shore. 3 restaurants and 6 bars, live entertainment Please note the hotel was still under renovation in January 2009, please check status when booking.