Lively Antigua and Barbuda move to the music of steel drums. You can visit a different beach each day and not repeat yourself for a full year—and that's why tourists and celebrities alike flock to this sun-soaked Caribbean island. Take a day cruise, rent some diving gear or cruise up the beach on a Segway for a real adventure, island-style.
Things to do in Antigua and Barbuda
4.5 based on 1396 reviews
Perched on a lush green hillside, encircled by miles of heavenly blue sea and sandwiched between two gorgeous white sand beaches is COCOS Hotel, an all inclusive Antigua resort for couples and adults only. This rustic yet luxurious boutique resort is located on the sunset side of the beautiful Caribbean Island of Antigua and comprises of a collection of 35 quaint wooden Cottages positioned on a picturesque ocean bluff. All Cottages boast large private balconies with hammocks, Adirondack chairs and breath taking ocean vistas. Avant-garde outdoor showers with a view, air conditioning and free WIFI are also included. Some cottages even come with your own private cliff-side infinity pool. A quiet and intimate resort, COCOS is ideal for couples and honeymooners seeking a romantic getaway in a peaceful sanctuary away from the stresses of a hectic Metropolitan life. Please note that the resort caters to adult COUPLES ONLY. Single guests are not accepted.
Excellent location with great beaches, although these were occasionally affected by unpleasant aromas from the nearby pond. Hotel description warns about hilly access to cottages which proved to be a little more challenging than expected. Our travelling companions found it necessary to request a move as their cottage 26 was located down 40 steps after a steep upward climb. Hotel facilities and cottages were good but the rustic nature of the cottages tended to be quite basic and we encountered some plumbing issues. Staff were very friendly and whilst quality of food was good, service at times was very slow and the planned daily menus were repeated weekly which was a little repetitive after our first week. Management were extremely helpful and responded quickly to resolve any issues and our overall experience was very positive.
4.5 based on 281 reviews
Welcome to The Escape at Nonsuch Bay Resort in Antigua. A modern Couples Only All-Inclusive getaway, The Escape is the only resort on the Island where every unit includes a luxurious private plunge Pool and outdoor tub, all with breathtaking sea views. The Resort consists of 40 Luxury Ocean front, plunge pool suites of 600 sq. designed with comfort, romance and island living in mind. Each unit comes with a king-sized bed; en suite bathroom with a separate shower and double vanity basins. The suites also feature an elegant wet bar coffee center, along with a seating area perfectly aligned with an outdoor soaking tub and relaxing day beds overlooking the room pool.
My husband and I were looking for a relaxing, chill getaway for the first time since COVID and having a baby. This is a great mix between a boutique hotel and all-inclusive convenience. Drinks were strong and plentiful, the food menu changes often with a good mix of local cuisine and crowd pleasers (e.g. burger and fries), and the rooms were a clean, private oasis to enjoy when you want down time. The staff was friendly and accommodating, especially the ladies at the front desk and the evening crew. The staff even offered us a spare room for 30 minutes to shower in before our flight. For those who are looking for the typical all-inclusive vibe, this isn’t it. There was very little entertainment and only a handful of planned on-premises activities that incurred a surcharge. But, if you’re like us and taking a quick (4-5 day) vacation and want to relax, this fits the bill and some. Also, the escape side only has a Bay for kayaking. The beach is located on the other side of the resort, which we did not visit, but they do offer regular shuttle service. FWIW, we did go off the resort several times - Dickenson Beach, which has beautiful water and lots of restaurants along the beach to choose from, and Darkwood Beach for a more local vibe with one of the most gorgeous beaches I’ve ever seen. We also did an offsite tour. The hotel scheduled round trip cabs and it couldn’t have been easier. All of this to say, we would return in a heartbeat and recommend to anyone looking for a low key vibe for vacation.
4 based on 1954 reviews
Royalton Antigua beckons. Indulge in a luxurious escape with exceptional service, stylish architecture and eclectic and delectable food. Sitting on a stunning private beach next to breathtaking clear waters, you can relax in upscale ambiance and enjoy the relaxing effect of the soft trade winds. Royalton Antigua is perfectly situated on Deep Bay, beneath the watchful eye of historic Fort Barrington. This new generation all-inclusive hotel offers discerning travelers a family-friendly vacation experience where guests of all ages are captivated from morning to night. With Royalton Antigua so close to the airport, you can be lounging by one of our pools within 30 minutes.
It was an excellent hotel and we enjoyed every minute of it. The staff were very friendly and made our stay worthwhile. The food was good and we were spoilt for choice, The room was well kept with a minibar well stocked. The restaurants were exceptional and well catered for. he beach was very nice and the day and evening entertainment was outstanding. We like to mention Sherry-Ann at the reception bar. I can't forget her Pinacolada. That was out of this world and is a great ambassador for this hotel. Sashalee and Vonda were outstanding in the Room service. Sabriya and Miguel were really nice. all the waiters and waitresses were exceptional. Elvisa Cummings was great in the buffet bar as well as all the team, Kaleen was warm and welcoming at Housekeeping, Vanessa in the Concierge was exceptional. On the whole everyone played a great part to make our stay happy and hope we can come back again. From William , Annie and Jennifer Vincent
4.5 based on 3033 reviews
Welcome to Cocobay Resort, an All-Inclusive, adult-only getaway on the sunset side of Antigua. Widely known as Antigua’s most romantic and relaxing resort, Cocobay offers the perfect Caribbean atmosphere for honeymoons, romantic vacations, unique experiences, barefoot luxury and island style wellness. The resort consists of a colorful collection of pastel cottages crowning a breezy hillside, winding down to two white sand beaches and miles of turquoise Caribbean Sea. The rustic facilities feature several infinity pools and rugged terraces, blessed with some of the most dramatic ocean views on the island. The Premium Waterfront Pool Suites provide the very best oceanfront locations along with a private plunge pool and outdoor slipper tub. They also include a more spacious interior, including extra seating area, air conditioning, bathrobes and other extra bathroom amenities, private balcony with adirondack chairs and hammock, ceiling fan, mini fridge, shower, hair dryer, espresso coffee machine, iron & ironing board, king size bed with pillowtop mattresses and high thread count 100% Egyptian cotton sheets, and an in-room safe.
We spent our 40th anniversary at Cocobay and loved it! The cottage was so cute and we enjoyed our private plunge pool. The staff at this adults only, all inclusive resort were all so friendly and helpful! The food and drinks were all delicious! We had the most relaxing time and will definitely go back!
5 based on 1618 reviews
COVID-19 Update: Effective 16 March vaccinated visitors will no longer need to show evidence of a negative Covid test. We provide on-site pre-departure testing for your return home. UK visitors no longer require a pre-departure test for returning home. Unvaccinated visitors will not be allowed to enter the country. Conde Nast Traveler Readers Choice 2021, and 2018, 2017, and 2015 Gold List. The independently owned, all-inclusive Hermitage Bay is comprised of just 30 eco-luxury suites tucked into a secluded bay, featuring a 1200 ft natural beach and reef, on the west coast of Antigua. With a laidback style and promise to deliver barefoot luxury on the beach, Hermitage Bay is an escape for the soul; a retreat for those seeking rest, relaxation, and an authentic Caribbean experience. Each of the 9 Beachfront and 4 Seaview Garden Suites features a spacious split-level lounge and patio, while the 17 Hillside Pool Suites offer large wrap-around decks and private plunge pools and sun bathing areas. Daily changing a la carte menus offer vegan and vegetarian options and feature freshly squeezed local juices, locally grown produce, and organic ingredients. Free Wi-Fi is included as are private round trip airport transfers with 'meet and greet' and a fast track service through immigration and customs for guests staying 3 nights or more.
We feel so lucky we stayed at HB for our honeymoon. This place is a gem, and we'll always remember the memories made here. The view and plunge pool from our hillside suite were incredible. The staff was always friendly and professional. Morning yoga with Charlotte was a great way to start the day. Live music at night was always excellent. The food was so delicious that we cleaned our plates every time. So much so that the front desk asked me if I was expecting a boy or girl on our last morning there. A bit offensive, but I'll let it slide because it's a testament to the great food there ;). However, please don't ever ask a guest that again. If you're looking to unplug, fully relax and be taken care of - HB is for you.
5 based on 723 reviews
Flanked by water on both sides, Curtain Bluff sits on a rocky promontory (bluff) that juts into the sea between two beautiful beaches. One is calm, ideal for swimming and watersports; the other beach is washed by ocean surf. 72 Rooms and suites, all with staggering seascape views, are spread out along the Surf Beach and up the bluff. There are two restaurants: the open-walled Tamarind Tree serving breakfasts and candle-lit dinners, and the Beach Cafe & Bar, where barefoot-casual lunches are enjoyed one step from the sand and a few feet from the water's edge.The resort's exceptional facilities include a championship tennis center, a fully equipped watersports center (scuba, Windsurfing, paddle-boarding, waterskiing, Hobie Cats and kayaks), a squash court and fitness center. When it's time to relax, there's our tranquil spa overlooking the sea, a beachside swimming pool, a beach bar, and hammocks swaying in the shade of coconut palms.With the exception of a few above-and-beyond luxuries (Cuban cigars, vintage wines, spa treatments), everything is included in the room rate, making it one of the best values in the Caribbean.
We recently went to Curtain Bluff on a family holiday and had the best time!! The resort, staff and overall experience was incredible. We are already taking about planning our next holiday, my favourite hotel ever! :)
4.5 based on 584 reviews
An intimate, romantic, all suites hotel set in a fabulous, bird and flower filled, tropical garden, on the sheltered mile long white sand beach of Dickenson Bay. A tranquil hideaway for the discerning, independent, traveler looking for excellence in Caribbean hospitality and 'home away from home' comfort.Palms grow through the roof of the award winning Coconut Grove Restaurant where a ribbon of sand separates the dining tables from the blue Caribbean Sea.
My husband and I spent 5 days at Siboney and the experience was nothing short of wonderful. We got excellent service from the front desk staff, especially Deandra and Joyette who we constantly interacted with, the housekeeping staff and the the restaurant. The location is ideal with the beach at your doorstep and many other restaurants and other activities in the area. We will definitely be returning to Antigua and Siboney again.
4.5 based on 753 reviews
A 300-acre private island located just two miles off the coast of Antigua, Jumby Bay Island casts a spell of serene enchantment. A naturalist's haven that plays host to a variety of wildlife amidst the tropical foliage and pristine, white sand beaches, this all-inclusive hideaway is recognized world-wide as a private island resort paradise. With 40 luxurious resort rooms and suites, and a host of privately owned residences, Jumby Bay's exemplary hospitality is something that has long been lauded by the Caribbean's most discerning travelers.
Jumby Bay is a fantastic hard product of natural beauty, spoiled by 3/4 star hotel and service. My wife and I stayed in mid April 2022 for a dual birthday vacation. Airport greeting and transfer worked well, however it was a steady decline following. I will detail our stay and the highlights and lowlights. Upon check in around 3:00pm we were informed that room would not be ready until 4:00pm, after a long day of traveling, I could understand but it was a bit frustrating (especially as we were pushed to check out by 11am and room wasn’t used the day / evening we left). Informed that only dinner available was a vegetarian buffet, however discovered through the lunch waiter we could order grilled fish and meat which we did as the vegetarian options were sparse and not all edible - it felt much like a cheap Sandals-style all you can eat - certainly not 5 star quality. The buffet was serving food that was meant to be hot, such as lasagna, cold (in chafing dishes with no heat source, sitting out for ages) and some of the cold food looked a bit dubious, suffice to say we special ordered an over-cooked mahi mahi and decided to call it a day (luckily our lunch waiter mentioned that, because the dinner staff had no idea about it). To compound issues, they ran out of Pinot Noir - the staff was too lazy to get some more from that estate house. Our evening was pleasant but we had to discover our shortest path to the room via walking vs bike riding or cart, again orientation was hurried and a theme throughout the stay was you needed to discover what is on offer and available, as the staff was not going to tell you. Breakfast was decent, especially as we learned to order off the “in room menu” at the restaurant from another disappointed group, not the restaurant menu. Again, this is not brought up - but if you figure it out - you’ll have a better experience and fresher food. Breakfast was probably the most consistent meal, only one day did the lose our order and we just gave up. Note, the Children’s quesadilla was surprisingly good and a nice option. Beach bar and staff and pool grill were the hardest working staff on the island. They genuinely cared and tried, though they admitted they were under staffed and over worked. The pool grill was a decent lunch, albeit very slow and 2 waitresses doing orders, drinks, bussing and servicing for about 30 tables. At one point we were helping ourselves and them - as we felt bad they were trying their best. Don’t anticipate much better quality then 3 star food here, but it’s convenient and a nice view. Spa experience - was a highlight and relaxing. On par with most 4-5 star experiences - but nothing over the top or memorable that we could not experience anywhere else. Balance of dinners were at Veranda and the Estate House. Veranda had a beach buffet which was awful, the music act was the highlight - but food was tired and nothing special. We came away with disappointment in terms of quality, variety and any lack of care. One highlight was we had to obtain our own wine - which we got scolded for but we were tired of waiting (over an hour since ordering it) - they didn’t protest much. Onto the Estate House, first night we waited over half an hour past our reservation despite open tables they had to stage due to short staffing. The food as others have said was the best - but not 5 star. The first night eating there they served tuna that was still frozen and had ice in the center - wasn’t fully cooked, we again called it a night. The second evening was better with an earlier seating and decent food. Drinks and wine were better - but by then, the dye had been cast on our dining experiences. Other notable points - reminder multiple times of my wife’s birthday which they claimed to have a special meal planned for, including the morning of, which never materialized - not a huge deal, but little things matter. You can tell the management just doesn’t care. Don’t anticipate clear explanation on what’s available or not, best too google and do your own research. Bizarrely our luggage was opened when it was out of our possession during checking in. We mentioned this, nothing was taken, we reported it, but it was odd. The house keeping walked in and continued entry despite my wife being in a state of undress and asking multiple times to come back later - they were insistent on giving her an Easter Egg desert. A litany of little and medium sized details and experiences that if you’ve been to 5 star hotels and resorts at this price point you notice. Jumby Bay simply doesn’t care and will charge you for the privilege of the stay, name and hard product. Candidly, there are far better, nicer parts of the world to stay at in this price point / no need to come back. As a final point, the departure was a scramble - poor communication on boat to car to airport and then a feeling of hands out for tips left a final bitter taste.
4 based on 1635 reviews
See why so many travelers make Hawksbill by Rex Resorts their all-inclusive resort of choice when visiting St. John's. Providing an ideal mix of value, comfort and convenience, it offers a romantic setting with an array of amenities designed for travelers like you. While staying at Hawksbill Antigua, visitors can check out Fort James (2.5 mi), which is a popular St. John's attraction. Rooms at Hawksbill Hotel Antigua provide air conditioning, and guests can stay connected with free internet access. You can also enjoy a pool and free breakfast while staying at Hawksbill Beach Resort. Need a place to park? Free parking is available at Hawksbill By Rex Hotel. At Hawksbill by Rex Resorts, your comfort and satisfaction come first, and they look forward to welcoming you to St. John's.
First arrived looked neglected as you approach it from outside.. told to leave bags and wait. No drinks .. zero shaded areas . Pool was something from the inbetweeners movie with a dead dog in it.. everyone was burnt so badly . Food terrible service terrible .. made you pay for basic things such as water!! Service terrible staff aggressive and rude ... Food horrible like nothing I've experienced before inedible. rooms like a prison cell zero views literally boarded up.. the bed was soaking wet from what who knows!! .. hated it.. left after 20 hours went to Carlisle bay which was beautiful and hence holiday saved... No refund .. vile people . Be warned don't go there . Dirty grubby grim place hate hate hated it ... Er did i mention I hated it. I'll make sure everyone in my life knows to avoid like the plague and for all you people out there reading this .. if you book and go just remember reading this today and when your crying don't say you weren't warned..... Choose Carlisle bay or blue water no comparison in quality .. So bad I could not not share no one deserves to turn up there . ...
4.5 based on 1254 reviews
Carlisle Bay on Antigua is one of the leading luxury Caribbean resorts, its accommodation designed to allow for both families and couples to holiday in peace. Both kinds of traveler have a dedicated end of the resort, which allows for everyone the tranquility of the spectacular beach.
My wife and I stayed in May 2022 for a milestone birthday and loved this place. It's not perfect, but for us, the plus points far outweighed the negatives. If you've not stayed here, it's an 87-room 5* hotel spread over two-thirds of a sandy bay about a kilometre long. Almost all the suites face the sea and all of them are within about 50 metres of the water. I know this is a long read but hopefully it will help answer some of the questions arising about the hotel on the forums. The rooms are beautiful, with lots of cool white and pastel blue decor, tall ceilings and full-length glass balconies or patios facing the sea. We were upgraded to a two-bedroom suite upstairs and while we didn't need the second bedroom, it was useful as a dressing room/storage. Each bedroom has its own aircon and fan. The bathroom is spacious and has separate bath, shower and WC areas. The suite came with a queen-sized bed, medium to firm mattress, and two singles in the second room. Also a 3-seat sofa and a single armchair inside, plus a large dressing table. On the balcony, there's a double day-bed and a glass dining table with a couple of chairs. The balcony has mosquito screens if you want to leave the doors open and listen to the sea. The curtains include effective blackout screens. There's a small minibar fridge (no freezer - you get an ice bucket) and a Nespresso machine. The soft drinks and snacks are complementary but you pay for beer and wine. Wifi signal is strong and consistent but didn't seem to be password-protected. The room has a safe, phone and flat-screen TV. Service to the room was usually very quick. Our bags arrived within 10 minutes of check-in and when we ordered afternoon tea on our balcony, it arrived within 10 minutes too. The hotel did not charge us an in-room fee for the latter. The hotel is notionally divided between families/kids, east of the main restaurant, and adults only to the west. The kids' section is idyllic as the ground-floor rooms have patios opening directly onto the beach, with the sea maybe 20 metres away. The beach is wider by the adult section and the rooms are a little farther back from the water. In-room soundproofing is good. We were in the kids' section but rarely heard any noise from the families around us. There's some noise from the restaurant when the band's playing but they don't finish late. The surf noise is gentle because the bay is so sheltered. The grounds are luxuriant, with trees, vines and ornamental plants screening the paths and some of the communal buildings. There's a lot of birdlife around the hotel including hummingbirds, doves, bananaquits and grackles. There's also mongoose. The hotel beach is beautiful - one of the best all-round beaches on the island in my opinion. It's fine golden sand, gently shelving, and because the bay protects it, there's rarely any surf. Between the hotel jetty and the small rocky headland to the east of the bay, there's barely any stone or coral in the sand so you don't need water shoes. It's a bit rougher west of the jetty. There are extensive patches of seagrass starting about 30 metres out in the bay (the water's about neck-deep by there). Just short of these, the hotel has moored half a dozen round floating platforms, so you can sunbathe in the water. Non-motorised watersports include kayaks, SUPs, water bikes, a pedalo and a few Hobiecats (all free from the watersports centre, by the jetty). The bay is calm so you can go out quite a way, but sailors and SUP paddlers need to be careful of the wind, which blows down a gap behind the bay and can be tricky to fight against as it pushes you towards the rocky eastern headland. There's a rescue boat on standby while the watersports centre is manned. The pool is large and freeform. When we've been in the past during school holidays it's been noisy, but this time it was mostly quiet. There were plenty of beach sunbeds when we were there, and we always found free ones. An attendant issues a towelling cover (sometimes) and large beach towels. You'll also get bottles, or a cool box, of drinking water. There is good snorkelling off the shore, but you have to look to find it. West of the jetty, there's a rocky headland which has some decent reef fish, squid and lobster, but visibility can be a little cloudy. Morning is definitely a better time. If you push round the headland, you pass a small sandy bay, and then running parallel to the shore from this is a series of rock ledges in about 4-6ft of water. Visibility is better here and the ledges shelter a number of interesting fish species not commonly seen on the reefs, including soapfish, hamlets, hind and hogfish. There are some coral outcrops that hold the usual reef species too, and the open water on the outside of the rock reef attracts a few predators such as tarpon and jacks. There are barracuda of varying sizes everywhere, and snook, jacks and needlefish in the sandy parts of the bay. In front of the hotel, green and hawksbill turtles feed on the seagrass beds. These were evident on previous visits too, so the calm waters there seem to attract them. On the last evening, I counted at least 6 turtles in the bay. Behind the jetty, just past the watersports centre, is access to a mangrove lagoon. Although it's pretty squelchy in there, there's a lot of birdlife picking small fish out of the shallows, and if you sit quietly you'll see crabs, mullet, stingray and tarpon going about their business. The hotel is located in an isolated part of the island, so hiring a car is an advantage. The 22 bus service starts in front of the hotel entrance and runs to St John's via Jolly Harbour. It's EC$3 for a single ticket. However, few buses run after dark so getting back to the hotel at night will probably require a taxi (around US$20). It's about 15min to Jolly Harbour, and 30min to English Harbour from the hotel. There's one local restaurant, Karnagio (Greek), which has good recommendations. We didn't eat there. There are several places offering Caribbean food between the hotel and Jolly Harbour and we ate at several of these. Shanaz was very good, and Sunset Horizon was a cool place to watch the world go by while waiting for the jerk chicken to cook. There are a host of small restaurants and pop-up food options in this area, aimed more at locals, plus several stalls selling delicious local fruit. Other attractions nearby include the Zipline place (10min drive), Wallings nature reserve (where you can book hikes in the forested hills of the SW of the island), and an art centre nearby that never seemed open. We used Reef Riders from Jolly Harbour to do a self-drive snorkelling trip to Cades Reef that was great fun - I've done a separate review of this. The hotel has cut back on the complementary activities that it used to offer. It no longer runs twice-weekly free snorkelling trips, and the manager's cocktail party has been canned. Free events now comprise: Pilates and yoga sessions, tennis clinics, nature walks around the hotel grounds with the gardeners, cooking lessons and a Sunday morning hike up Mt Obama (my wife did this and said it was a tough walk - but the views were amazing). There's also a long signposted hike to Winter Hill via a stony track at the western end of the beach (past the jetty), if you're feeling brave. Some independent hiking groups do this walk at weekends, so you might be able to join them if you want to go with a group. You'll need trainers - it's a rough path. Chargeable trips included snorkelling at Cades Reef now cost US$300 (++25% charges - prices at May 2022; min 4 pax); Nelson's Dockyard tour ($135++;min 6); sunset cruise ($450++; max 4). You can also book spa treatments and boat charters. My wife had a ferociously hard massage at the spa and said it eased the knots out of her shoulders, but she creaked for days after. We didn't use the gym or tennis courts. There's a library and book exchange, and also a boutiquey shop that never seemed to open. What food we ate at the hotel was good, but we were on B&B and we found the additional meals horrendously expensive. A simple dinner at East, comprising two bowls of nasi goreng, one dessert, a couple of beers and a cocktail came to US$140 including the ++ charges. It simply wasn't value for that amount of money, which was why we ate out a lot of the time. That possibly explains why there were few diners at the restaurants and drinkers at the bar in the evenings, which makes for a lack of atmosphere if you enjoy socialising. Breakfasts were excellent however, with a variety of set options and the usual fry-up extras available from the buffet. Bacon is American-style streaky, not back. They do gluten-free options including very good banana bread. There's plenty of pastries, fresh fruit, cold meat and cheese, yogurts, juices and smoothies. Afternoon tea is a couple of sandwiches and a couple of cakes.Once again, gluten-free was available, but only on the sandwiches, not the cake. So: apart from the cost of dining, the other gripes we had included: Patchy service at breakfast occasionally - forgotten orders and slow table service (this was infrequent - usually service was excellent and cheerful). Inconsistencies with housekeeping. Ice bucket not always filled and evening turndown service not always offered. Towelling covers not always available for beach sunbeds. The canvas on some of the sunbed cushions is quite distressed. One or two maintenance issues in the bathroom: the shower switch on the bath was broken, and some of the grouting was coming away. Insects in the room (this is not a complaint but an observation): if you leave food out in the room, bugs will find it; and if you leave the balcony screens open in the evening, mosquitos will find you. Some of the issues we had with the hotel are also mentioned by other reviewers, so maybe your level of expectation will influence what sort of holiday experience you have here. But we found the service was generally cheerful, courteous and professional so as I said, the smiles far outnumbered the frowns. As a final gift, the hotel extended our checkout of the last day until evening (as we were on an 8pm flight home) which effectively gave us an extra day in paradise. For us, this was a well-run, luxurious place - yes, with one or two flaws. But overall we had a hugely enjoyable break on the island. Hopefully, we'll be back.
ThingsTodoPost © 2018 - 2024 All rights reserved.