Luxury Antigua Holidays

paul sambrooks

We visited this resort in Feb 2025 We generally had excellent weather with the occasional heavy downpour, which only lasted 10mins The overall presentation of the resort was very good but as with Barbados the room décor and furniture is in need of modernisation. The location of the resort is good but the beach faces North West so if facing the sea the morning sun rises behind you. Whilst all staff were very friendly and helpful the reservation system for restaurant does not work, with a number of guests left disappointed. If this is the process Sandals are sticking with they need an evening buffet to provide a n alternative option. The Breakfast locations do not open until 7.30am which is late for early risers and having waited to be seated in the restaurant, only to be told the buffet will be open in a few minutes is completely unacceptable. If it opens at 7.30 everything should be ready for guests on opening. The quality of food was generally good but as usual the steak house, OK Coral, is the one place that lets these resorts down. Eleanors offered quality food and generally good service but was very difficult to get an evening reservation. The daytime service at the pool bar and daytime food providers was very good on each occasion visited. This could be improved with the addition of poolside servers. Cafe-de-Paris provided a good service but would benefit from a greater variety throughout the stay. Our second stay at a Sandals resort and our opinion remains that they appear to be living off their past reputation of being a high class resort rather than improving its brand.

MJ Rinehart

This was our first Sandals experience. We stayed a week at a beach front walk out cottage. Even though this set of rooms were obviously older they were nicely updated, very clean and modern. The service was outstanding and we had a very relaxing time. We didn't feel any pressure from vendors. I would have liked to been able to tip though. The food was good but would have liked fresh caught sea food options. The grounds were exceptional and very clean. Not a lot of loud entertainment at night and that was appreciated.

Chris Chaney

My wife and I have returned from our third stay at a Sandals resort. This time, Grande Antigua! We had a wonderful week. The resort is indeed "Grande" in both structures and immaculately-kept grounds. The main pool is a stunner with tons of room to spread out and plenty of chairs/umbrellas. We spent more time at the beach, however and it is most excellent: wide with lots of room to spread out, fine light brown sand, gentle waves that are just right, and easy wading to your desired water depth. There are local vendors on this public beach, but they aren't too intrustive. There is drink service to your beach chairs, but it is somewhat hit-or-miss. There are a number of resort food options, and I would rate the quality as "good to very good"; the food quality does not rival great U.S. restaurants, but it is perfectly fine for an all-inclusive resort in the West Indies. The staff throughout the resort was well-trained, organized, and good-natured. Bartenders always worked hard to get drinks out with just a short wait. Overall we loved SGA and can easily recommend it for a getaway with your sweetie.

GW Nunz

My wife and I chose Sandals Grande Antigua for our honeymoon location back in January of 2024. Neither of us had been to a Sandals Resort before, not even an all inclusive resort ever. Sandals Grande Antigua was a beautiful location to have our first experience. The airport shuttle service was easy and the driver was upbeat/fun. When we arrived, we were greeted with great customer service and hospitality from the staff. We stayed in the Hibiscus Building. The room was really not that great, but had a nice covered front patio. The bathroom was very outdated, the shower leaked water all over the bathroom and the sink/tub were falling apart. We had direct access to the smaller pool with the swim up bar which was super nice though. The flowers and landscaping was amazing! We saw numerous birds, lizards and hummingbirds. The resort has ALOT of CATS. We couldn't believe the amount of Cats that were EVERYWHERE. Thankful that neither of us are allergic to cats! The pools were great, the bar service was always on point. The beach is really really nice, but there were a lot of people trying to constantly sell us items or excursions. I get it, they make their money off tourism, but I would of loved some more peace and quiet while my wife and I laid out and relaxed. We enjoyed the restaurants, and the food was above average. We did a snorkel trip through Sandals and that was a fun experience, and the crew/staff were super chill. The one thing that really bothered us during the trip was the "Photographers" and the "Red Lane Spa" staff. They were ridiculous, rude, and would constantly badger you about photos or the spa. They were relentless and extremely annoying and aggressive for no reason. Overall, Sandals Grande Antigua was a great first time for us at a Sandals Resort. The weather was amazing, and we had a good time. We liked it enough to book another Sandals Trip to Grande St. Lucian.

Whitney Wellons

We came here for our honeymoon. Tried to hold off writing this until the end but with a day left might as well. This is not a 5 star resort. Everything is outdated and needs major renovation. Rooms need a lot of work. We requested to be moved because our first room was rusted out by our private pool, fence was falling apart, pool was dirty.. The room was dirty from the sheets, to curtains, to the ceilings. The toilet didn’t work properly either. The second room had ants in our sink though we did notice they tried to clean extra since we got moved and appreciate that. Overall, the customer service is not good besides our butlers we do appreciate how kind they were. The rest of the staff is sub par… they are either somewhat nice or rude. At Eleanor’s for breakfast we saw our waitress once I had to ask another waiter just to get some ketchup and extra coffee.. if you ask the staff questions they seem aggravated and inconvenienced. Please don’t do the extras here you just waste your money to the spa to excursions are not worth the money. Also, be aware of the vendors they won’t leave you alone on the beach you can hardly relax. The internet only works half the time... The food is a hit or miss. Overall, it really was one disappointment after another and we tried to make the best out of a bad situation with the amount of money we paid and it being our honeymoon. I am mainly writing this review to help others so you don’t think you are going into 5 star hotel. First and last time we do a sandals resort. Our main complaint is we do not feel we got what we made for it was somewhat shocking on our arrival. Also sandals please don’t respond to my post with your BS corporate response… just refund me for my excursion you canceled and promised that be back in 14 business days.

Rachel Reiss

I have to believe the people raving about this “resort” aren’t Americans. The Brits on holiday seemed quite happy, but there is no way this is a 4 star hotel. Pros: the people who work there are friendly, it’s pretty at first glance (shabby up close, though!), the sand on the beach there is powder soft and the room was decent. That’s it. The beach is tiny and never any free lounges, the pools are small and cold, service is slow if you get any to begin with, and the activities desk was no help in steering us in the right direction. My local taxi driver was the best source of information. The bath towels were thin and rough, though the pool towels were a bit better. The food is fair, at best, and limited menus make it hard to stay on property. They charged $7 US for a glass of Coke! Whatever you do, don’t waste your money on the all inclusive plan, that’s for sure! There was no value for the money we paid and I’m extremely disappointed at what we got in exchange for the hefty bill. I expected some luxury, attentive service, and the feel of a good resort. This felt more like a shabby hotel that had seen better days.

angela perez

I have been in Blue Waters for 10 days with my family and it is a beautiful hotel with a very friendly staff. Plenty of space in every single swimming pool, you can always find a deck chair available no matter what time of the day. The Penthouse has a beautiful view and you get your private swimming pool to share with only a few rooms but it was always empty. The manager, Nicole, was very professional and always very attentive, definitely we will be back

Sean Calloway

Exceptional resort. The meals were delicious. We have never experienced a more friendly and helpful staff. 10/10

Grace Bills

Highly recommended Blue Water, we had the best stay here. The staff were amazing and so friendly and helpful, they had thought of all the little things including fruit sticks and ice lollies as you were sat around the pool and beach. The food was amazing, we did the all-inclusive offer and thought it was great value for money. The rooms and facilities are lovely and so relaxing. We hope to come back very soon!

Fiona Robinson

Not only is the position of the hotel amazing and has great facilities BUT it is their wonderful staff that make this place SO VERY different and so special. Many of the staff have been their decades and often a couple of generations are working there. ALL of the staff, from gardeners to maintenance crew to the security lady on the gate ...are warm smiley people and super super friendly. The restaurant staff are some of the best in the world! You feel you have truly arrived back home with family when you arrive at Blue Waters. This feeling comes from the hearts' of the staff. What is interesting is that in this atmosphere of friendliness and joy, not only do you relax but the guests follow the lead of the staff and they become more smiley, warm and friendly with each other. Friendships that last, are made here. This adds up to an environment that is second to none! You totally relax here and enjoy the happy vibe and all that is on offer. We have visited 4 times now and it is still one of the best places to be in the world. It has things like yoga pavillions, Gym, Spa, watersports, adult only pool, 3 different restaurants etc....SUPERB chef.... but it has something magic too that other places do not have and find hard to replicate.. GENUINE, CARING, FRIENDLY, HAPPY, WARM, NICE and "exceptionally good at their job" staff! The Cove restaraunt is worth every penny it is the best magical venue for dinner. It has SUPERB staff. Thank you Sara and team for making everyone's evening so very special. Lucinda never retire, Rachel your empathy is so appreciated, young Niyana you are training in the best place. Brian 1 and Brian 2 and Sheddy and Orie we thank you all. My husband had to be away one evening and all the team took such extra special care of me a the Cove. They even found our favourite Greywacke wine for us. Nothing is ever too much trouble. I can not thank you enough. For the first time this year we thought we would go to another resort ( the Relais Chateaux name encouraged us) for the 2nd week of our holiday. Believing we should just "look around the corner" as we were celebrating our 40th anniversary. This was a big mistake. We have regretted the decision to not stay for 2 weeks at BW. The only lovely, friendly, genuinely warm member of staff we found in the new hotel was....a young waiter who also works at BW! In truth as i write this, i have not unpacked and am thinking of forgetting the money spent and asking BW if they can find a room for us! Thank you BW team!

Danny Hayward

Stayed here and at Bluewaters, and honestly, there’s not much in it—they both have their strengths. If the beach is what matters most, this one wins hands down. The location is incredible, right on a stunning stretch of sand that really makes the stay. That said, if you’re after charm and atmosphere, Bluewaters just edges it. This hotel has loads of potential, but it could do with some refurbishment. But the best bit? Afternoon tea served to you on the beach. It honestly doesn’t get much better. A real standout experience that sets this place apart.

Bobak Kianoush

From the moment we arrived, we knew that we were among a team who love what they do.Greeted at the airport & driven to the resort,everything was organised in advance.The process of going through customs & baggage claim, chaperoned by a Carlisle Bay representative was seamless. We were greeted on our evening arrival by Kevonne, a lovely young man who got us set up in our room & made sure that nothing distracted us from our first dinner reservation. We settled quickly in our beautiful beach access suite & were escorted to Indigo to meet Kareem, a wonderful host & Michael, the sommelier, who was always smiling, gracious & fully engaged with our needs. The menus across the restaurants; Indigo, East & Ottimo, give you a broad selection with something for everyone. From your favourite salads, pasta dishes, pizzas, sushi, steaks & burgers, our only concern was not to consume too much. We enjoyed an all-inclusive stay & would highly recommend it. At Indigo, we fell in love with the staff. After a mere 48hrs, they were on first name terms w/ our entire family & Georgier, Leanne, Shantez, Jerica & Audicia, really did represent a highlight of our dining experience. Nothing was too much & the service could be described as nothing short of exceptional. Somewhat awkward subject is how much service represents too much or too little?! On an all-inclusive experience, you want to be afforded enough attention so as not to feel neglected, but you also don't want to be bothered unnecessarily. At CB, we always felt that the staff were attentive at all the right times. They were discrete & always sensitive to our 'private' conversations or family moments. We should note that our beach service from Len, encapsulated this perfectly. He was always there when we needed something, never hovering, never missing for long periods. As a team, the staff understood our needs perfectly, and as much credit as the individuals deserve in this regard, the management are also worthy of immense praise & credit. East is the Asian dining experience & the choice & quality is again exceptional. Michelle was a wonderful host, Jerica & Samaya became friends who made us excited about going back. Michael, the sommelier, seemed to be everywhere, bringing a smile to our experience and even encouraging our little boy, to eat his broccoli. Which he did. The staff have left an indelible impression on my family & I that will last as long as memories of the beautiful geography of the Bay itself. On that note, the waters are calm & clear. In march, the weather was perfect & the occasional rain worked wonders to cleanse the air & give you a break from the otherwise perfect heat & slight humidity. The tennis facilities & tennis coaching are excellent, no matter your skill level. There are paid lessons & complimentary group clinics. The kid's club (for 3+), is an incredible resource. Leaving your kids can be tricky, but the staff at kid's club were just as special to our children as the other staff elsewhere had become to our entire family. The Jetty Grill is also an incredible dining experience & though it is adult only, there's a weekly bbq w/ a live calypso band where children are welcome.The water sports team are outstanding.There are paid experiences, but canoes, pedalos, snorkels & masks are readily available for free on a first come first served basis. There are so many members of the team that I have failed to mention, but one we cannot forget is Vida from housekeeping.She was able to restore our suite to the check-in condition. Not just a daily turn down service, but incredible pride & attention to detail. Every evening, she made the idea of returning back to the suite a complete pleasure. We have had a beautiful experience at CB & as noted,aside from the magical culture & geography of Antigua, CB have done an exceptional job of bottling all of these elements for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. One we hope, as our family grows, we will be able to experience as many times as we possibly can.

Lee Pendleton

It’s not usually my thing to write reviews as time is a high priority to me but I really to feel it’s a priority to write one for Carlisle bay and the team there. It’s not that often you find a hotel that has an incredible culture, Carlisle Bay certainly has this at its highest level. We had the pleasure of coming with our little boy and he was treated like a prince from the moment we arrived. The staff at Carlisle Bay went above and beyond to ensure our family felt welcome and cared for. Ganja is incredible and is definitely a rising star for the hotel. From the warm greetings at check-in to the thoughtful touches in our room, every detail was meticulously planned to make our stay unforgettable. What truly sets Carlisle Bay apart is the genuine kindness and attentiveness of the team. They remembered our names, our preferences, and even our little boy’s favorite snacks. The kids' club was a dream come true for him, and it gave us the chance to relax and enjoy the stunning beachfront and luxurious spa and the gym. The dining experience was exceptional, with a variety of options that catered to every taste, including our picky eater. The fresh, locally sourced ingredients and the chefs' creativity made every meal a delight. Note: please attend the Thursday buffet, world class. When you try the corn try not to cry with happiness as it’s something else! Carlisle Bay isn’t just a hotel; it’s a sanctuary where you can truly unwind and create lasting memories. We left feeling rejuvenated and already planning our next visit. If you’re looking for a place that combines luxury, warmth, and impeccable service, Carlisle Bay is it. Thank you to the entire team for making our stay so special! PS the homemade pizza with pool side pizza oven, are as good as they are in Italy!!!! Pendleton’s

Geoff R

This is a wonderful location in Antigua, specifically great for families with young children. Our almost 2-year-old had a blast, which is our main barometer for a successful vacation these days. The Kids Club is great, with lots of toys (especially cars) in an air-conditioned setting, as well as a small splash pool, a pretty playground on sand, plastic scooters and all sorts of games and classes, with a very sweet group of caretakers who are lovely with the kids. The resort itself is situated on a paradisiacal beach with lazy water lapping in and out, perfect for floating, swimming, daytime snoozes with a paperback and solid rest at night. Some further breakdown of our experience: Pros - beautiful location with oceanfront patio suites, calm waters and a walkable beach; friendly atmosphere and well-kept grounds with lush plants, pathways and a koi pool; genuine, welcoming and helpful staff dedicated to customer service, who always stop to talk and joke with children; the suites are large and they are very well-cleaned each day, enjoy the small touches like a little water pool for dipping feet, free dried fruits, a fancy coffee machine; excellent breakfast with a view at Indigo and a warm breeze (daily smoothies, omelette and avocado toast were the go-tos); free kids’ pizzas at their Italian restaurant during the day; the Asian restaurant is the best choice for dinner, as dinner at Indigo left a little to be desired; afternoon iced tea with tiny sandwiches and cookies; a solid gym with a second floor setting and new equipment. We didn’t try the spa but it looked sleek and restful. Cons: bit of a drive from the airport (40 minutes) but worth the ride; it is expensive and the food is overpriced, I’m talking New York City+ expensive for most of the menu items, so that is something to consider. Likely the case at most upscale resorts though. The room, bathroom and bed are nice, but don’t expect St. Barth’s glitz or anything - I personally enjoy the more minimalist white-walled style. The outstanding location, picture-perfect beach, kids club, unique perks, and truly wonderful staff are the reasons to choose this resort.

Carlanne Herzog

Foremost, the staff is great: knowledgeable, friendly and will go that "extra mile" to assist you. The beach is beautiful; chaise lounges and towels for all, but get out there early if you want chairs near to your room location. Bartenders can pretty well concoct anything you want with a few limitations. A few top drawer liquors choices are charged plenty extra to have even if you are on full inclusive room/meal plan. I wish you well with the overly fancy coffeemaker in the room; it took me a few days to get hang of this gizmo. Good massage in the spa; fair job on the shampoo and blow dry (expensive at $70 plus almost 25% in taxes and service charges). We have been to Antigua 6 X now, but this is the first experience at Carlisle Bay.

Adelle Muller-McKinstry

Galley Bay Cottages was a cozy and peace spot. We enjoyed having a kitchen and balcony. The host was incredibly helpful. We highly recommend these off-the-beaten path cottages.

Bella

Beautiful Caribbean style cottages with a breathtaking sea view and constant gentle breeze. The host is kind and helpful. Bath toiletries and kitchen items are provided. If you're cooking, you only need to purchase food ingredients, as a variety of seasonings, olive oil, vinegar, tea, coffee, even paper towels are on hand. The host's attention to detail is phenomenal. Be prepared to walk up a steep driveway and several steps, but that's just the added benefit of exercise. A recommended stay!

Eric Gunter

Back again once again at the Cottages, I believe for our 5th visit to the beautiful island of Antigua. Always a consistent experience; a well-kept and -appointed, somewhat secluded spot. The beauty of the location is it's only minutes from the port area of St. John's, so you're not far from things you need. Car optional if you don't mind a bit of walking and/or using public transit. Galley Bay Beach was red-flagged every day this time, and there are no lounge chairs to use, so hint: bring a hammock! Marco takes great care of us time and time again.

Susan Castelli

A total dive where few things work, noisy as can be, biting bugs in mattress I'm still trying to recover from. Very run down cottage (we stayed at Spice). Think Marco is planning on selling it to some big developer, so does not give a hoot about this place. Seriously, look elsewhere. Think the good reviews are all paid. My review is real.

Sandi Nelles

We come to these cottages year after year. The beach is a 5 minute hike but I'd rather sit in my private tropical paradise anyway. Well appointed kitchen so we cook our own breakfasts and some dinners. We have stayed in them all. Spice this year. Propane bbq for grilling. Decent grocery store 10 minutes away so you don't have to drive in the hell of St. John's!

Fiona Robinson

We had to walk out of this hotel half way through our holiday. We found the manager and MD charmless. The hotel fell well below ( recently acquired) Relais Chateaux standards to our mind. It was the 3rd Relais Chateaux hotel we have visited this year and we usually stay at 5 or 6 of them every year. We chose it for the RC name and were sorely disappointed. The front desk was a place to avoid unless Zain and Carl were on duty. They were full of smiles and engaging and keen to help but otherwise the staff there would often ignore the guest's greeting. The facilities and location are great, the Spa well run and friendly. The waiters in the main restaraunt were charming and hard working. Danny runs his male team with humour and kindness and goes out of his way to look after the guests. Jackiel Benn, Hendred, Africa, the wonderful Brian ( at the Beach restaraunt, who was the only reason we did not leave on the first day, sadly and incredulously, was then moved to the back office!) and Glocester were all fab. Henry looked after our room and was engaging, efficient and friendly. Have to say the ocean front room were out dated though the bathroom had been modernised. We had no glass in the windows so the aircon leaked out through the shutters. The bed had a ridge in the middle the linen and pillows were not of good quality. The sinks and toilet did not drain properly. The matting was grubby as was the sheer modesty curtain ( the curtain is much needed as there is a footpath outside uour balcony used by staff and guests so privacy is hard) The chef Chrisoph was good and helpful but i think still the hotel could offer more variety for a RC hotel. The lunch offering resembled a school or office canteen despite the lovely setting. Dinner at the beach is handled by the efficient Auslando but you can not disguise the fact that there is just a curtain dividing the beach bar from the restaraunt and more staff are needed there. The diving team are friendly but too keen to cancel a dive. This happened 4 times in 6 days. The rive team seem to think that if only 1 guest wants to dive then it is not worth doing it. They are inflexible on timing or on offering a beach dive if it is too choppy to go to the reef by boat. If you are a serious diver you need to book with an outside provider. The pool staff were always late and unhelpfulat the afult pool. I think a good example of what it is like to be a guest, is illustrated when i asked the front desk for the room to be cleaned. I explained my husband would need the room in just over 1 .5 hrs and asked if we could just get a quick clean before 10.00 AM. I returned to the room at 10 to 10 to find it had not been cleaned. So i called reception again and asked if someone was still coming to clean it. The curt reply i got was " It is 9.56"! This says it all. In most hotels the member of staff would be reprimanded or even lose their job but in this hotel it was deemed ok. I complained to the manager directly and by email and she never deigned to reply to my email...which is just rude. We brought all issues to her attention and she did introduce us to the chef and bring a fan to our room but then was "off" and gave us no contact info or any one else to contact if problems persisted. She had twice "cut us dead" when we greeted her and the " arrival welcome" was pittiful. We were left to get our cases out despite 3 staff members being in the area. We should have listened to our instincts then and got back in the cab. We checked with other guests and 3 different couples felt the same as us. Though there are many guests who return every year... i have to wonder if they have low expectations or do not like exploring what else is on offer.

Jamie Dixon

‘And relax’ Curtain Bluff is the perfect vacation stop. The Carribean is hard to top, but the cherry on the cake is always visiting this wonderful time-machine of a hotel, that somehow manages to make you feel instantly relaxed. If you’re looking at staying at one of the best hotels in Antigua, you will not be disappointed. It’s a high quality all-inclusive hotel that makes a huge effort and its private ownership stems a sophisticated approach to all of its guests and many friends.

Tony O'Reilly

My family have been coming here for more than 50 years. I literally grew up with these workers and see them as my Uncles, Aunts and family. I really hope that the bartender works there, he gave me my first drink at 18 Love all the workers including Daniel

Susan Allen

We had another amazing trip to Curtain Bluff and everyone there made us feel like family! We were invited to the owner's home and I can't describe how incredible the views are from there! The staff is awesome and they are all welcoming, happy and fun. Will definitely be coming back many times.

Megan Tinsley

I had the luxury of experiencing what a special place Curtain Bluff is. The location on a peninsula offers spectacular swimming in the always perfect temperature bay. The water sports were always ready for use, I simply asked and within minutes we were being pulled behind the boat tubing and water skiing. I did not get to go sailing or paddle boarding, or enjoy the other water sport options, but they were always available ready to use. I also enjoyed playing tennis daily on their 4 courts surrounded by lush greenery and the the bay. The meals and food they served was delicious with a variety of options for everyone I was traveling with. They had Vegetarian, gluten free and every day the chef changed the menus. I enjoyed the Sunday brunch when in addition to the breakfast menu they served favorite local island dishes. With this being an all inclusive resort, everything was available to us without the hassle of carrying around money or a purse or even a towel for the beach. This made the stay another level of incredible. One afternoon we chartered a catamaran to tour the island on and a snorkel at the 6 mi long reef. This was an additional cost, but the front desk arranged it and we boarded right on the beach at the resort. No bus or driving anywhere! Every employee who I met was incredible, any request from booking a catamaran to the IT guy getting me all setup was simple, fast & friendly. The service during this entire trip was top and truly added to our stay. The only thing I wish was that I had more time there to enjoy the Spa (I heard it was great!) and another game of boccie.