Antigua Holidays

michaela schenker

We’ve been here for 4 1/2 days and still have 3 more but I couldn’t not write this review right now. From the food, to the service, to the entertainment and rooms everything has exceeded our expectations. Ann-Marie the recreations coordinator needs a raise for the amazing job she does. As do all of the hands on recreation staff and reservations/activity desk ladies. We did the hilltop couples dinner last night and I could not recommend enough. Our coconut chicken skewers and lamb were phenomenal. I’ll be thinking about the chicken skewers for a while and the view was breathtaking and romantic. Our room seems to be freshly renovated and far better than we pictured coming here. We walked in and our jaws dropped. We reserved a premium ocean view which has a lot of steps but totally worth it. We rented their smirking equipment (free) and the reefs were fun swimming around with the fish and we are hoping the water calms down in the next few days to be able to take a ride on one of their mini sailboats! 10/10 stay so far and we are already sad we are leaving in 3 days. A perk: We made so many new friends from all over the world and being a younger couple at a place which has a lot of older ones, not a single one made us feel unwelcome and are honestly able to party harder than we are in our 20’s lol

Buz Hillman

This is a nice resort that has a beautiful beach. The property is small, and the guests seem more concentrated as a result. I went to the Outhouse for lunch. There you can get a good selection of island food. The place has nice activities during the day. Honestly, I think the sister property across the street is a better vacation choice. The island music played at the bar all day is quite excessive.

Deanna Somerville

Our family had a fantastic stay at Pineapple Beach Club last year. Upon check-in, we were warmly welcomed with refreshing cold drinks, and the provided airport transportation made our arrival stress-free. The staff at check-in were helpful, friendly and accommodating. The friendly staff didn't stop at check-in; they helped us with our bags to our rooms, making us feel right at home. Our favorite dining experience was at the Outhouse restaurant, which offered not only delicious food but also breathtaking views. For early risers, the lovely coffee shop served amazing coffee and a variety of pastries to enjoy before breakfast. The beach was amazing and we enjoyed the floats in the water as well. Overall, our experience at Pineapple Beach Club was nothing short of memorable. We can't wait to return!

Jessica Gold

We came to the resort on a day pass, and are very glad that we did. The food was delicious, the pools were fantastic, and the beach was beautiful. We even did some snorkeling, and saw quite a number of fish and even a lobster! The turtles in the front reception area are super cute. Definitely definitely worth the visit. !

Calicia Porter

I visited the last week of March for Spring Break and this was my first visit to Antigua. I’ll start by highlighting the positives which were the beach and the food/service at the Italian restaurant. The hostess was wonderful and had the most pleasant attitude, so did our servers. While the portions were smaller than I expected, everything tasted great! Now to the reasons I will NEVER step foot in this resort again. The room was outdated and nothing like the pictures online. I would have been better off staying at Motel 6. There were dead spiders in the shower and our toilet had scuff marks on it from where the paint chipped. The bed was hard and the room overall was just old. My parents stayed in the same building and the door latch was broken which is a huge safety concern. Someone came out to “fix” it, but they were still without a way to secure their room. Many of the staff members that work at the Topaz buffet have no sense of urgency. We waited well over ten minutes just to receive water and our drink orders each time. They also didn’t check on us to see if we needed anything. They have very little variety especially at breakfast. While the food was decent at the snack bar, a couple of the staff members had very poor attitudes. I ordered a pizza almost an hour before closing and the chef gave me a nasty look. There is no excuse for this behavior when all of the items at the snack bar are pre-made. All he had to do was add pepperoni and put it in the oven. He also had other food cooking for three or four other employees, but gave me a nasty look as a guest. My friend walked up five minutes later and he suggested that she just eat off my plate so he didn’t have to make the wings she ordered. We got so tired of the lackluster food and poor service, we ended up getting a day pass at The Verandah Resort across the street which exceeded our expectations. The only reason I’m rating this place two stars is because of the beach and the wonderful staff in the Italian restaurant, otherwise I would give this place no stars.

Emanuel Martinez

I recently experienced an unforgettable vacation at this resort, making it one of the most enjoyable family getaways we've had in a long time. The all-inclusive package, along with the extensive kids club operating from 9 am to 8:30 pm, ensured everyone in the family had a fantastic time. The staff members are exceptionally friendly, and the resort maintains high standards of cleanliness throughout. With a plethora of on-site activities, including two beaches, numerous pools, a spacious tennis court, and a well-equipped gym, there's never a dull moment. For dining, the Breakfast Buffet at Dockside, lunch at the Rainbow Room, and dinner once again at Dockside offer the best culinary experiences. Additionally, the 24-hour cafe is a gem, especially thanks to the talented pastry chef. The kids club was a highlight for my child, with a diverse range of daily activities and a caring staff that ensured their enjoyment and safety. Special commendations go to Delroy, the manager at the Rainbow Room, for his exceptional management, and Mike T, whose smile and skills at the grill were always appreciated. Even our driver, Franklin, was exceptionally kind. I'm already looking forward to returning next year; this resort has truly won us over.

Alle Gee

I just returned home from a six day trip to St. James club Antigua. The place was absolutely gorgeous. The staff very personable friendly. The cleanliness of the grounds are amazing. The only things I didn’t like was the food and the comfortability of the mattress, it was almost like it was just a spring and not a mattress , The first room we stayed in 161 the air-conditioning unit did not work. It was leaking water into the walls and the room was filled with condensation making the floors and everything slippery and moist. They changed our room to 173 but they only cleaned it once , I had to call down more than one time to get the room . Make sure you have mosquito repellent because the mosquitoes are army trained to take you out.🦟🤣. They need to hire top tier chefs, and they have to ask if people have allergies to shellfish or any other allergens to peanuts. They don’t even ask that if you have any allergies that’s very serious. The food was very bland. We wound up getting street food that was very good other than that, I would highly recommend the place

Karen Gleason

We stayed in a Junior suite with a beautiful view and did the all-inclusive option. The week was so relaxing and fun! The pickleball and tennis courts are in excellent condition. The water activities are accessible and well maintained. The many pools and beaches are nice. All the staff was friendly and worked hard. Multiple activities offered throughout the day and live music each evening. The bartenders were friendly and worked hard - especially Elvis who is a great bartender plus was hardworking and went above and beyond each night with a smile on his face.

Rocio Santos-Carrillo

Very nice place, very chill, everyone is super kind and helpful. Beautiful beaches, wish the ocean beach had more shade/seat closer to the water instead of behind a wall. The food was the missing star. While it wasn't bad per say it left a lot to be desired except for the Caribbean dishes which were always good.The reservation system and what's available where and when, wasn't prominent enough, I felt like I always had to go look it up, we never did get to make a reservation. They do state that they don't cater to allergies which is a shame because it really is just a matter of listing the ingredients next to the food and warning against contamination. Dinner was alright but there really wasn't a lot for breakfast since I'm gluten free, dairy free and my daughter is allergic to eggs. Lunch was never that great either mostly just greasy food. Overall however it was a good Vacation and I would go back.

Ray St

A beautiful resort with a fantastic staff. From top to bottom, everyone was so friendly and so willing to help at a moments notice. The food is amazing from all restaurants for breakfast, lunch, and dinner! The gift shop was always stocked with all your necessities, especially water and sunscreen. Not as many Americans at this resort and noticed tipping culture isn't too big at the resort. This is fine for most, but these workers only make 30-40 USD per day. They work tremendously hard and deserve a tip for great service.

P. Randle

Antigua 🇦🇬 is simply beautiful. The Verandah just reopened in November, and it shows. No room service, buffet items were cold, coffee was cold. Food was not the best at the open areas that needed no reservation. Pool towels you had to show up early for or keep one for use of the stay. The room was cleaned every other day, and my floors were not mopped or swept. There is no beverage service in the room, just two bottles of water. The on-site restrooms were very cleaned. Staff was very attentive and kind. My exception was not met at this property, but I will return to visit other places.

kathy lincoln

Pack your patience if you come to this “resort”. You will be standing in line for almost everything. You have to stand in line to make reservations for your dinner. You will wait 15 minutes to get a drink. They never had the ingredients for their cocktails, so it was rum punch or a tiny beer. The breakfast buffet - after finally being seated at a table with no silverware or coffee cups - was a huge disappointment. The hot foods were cold and the cold juices and milk were warm. Yes, intestinal distress is certain. We couldn’t get anyone to help us, so we got our own tableware. We were scolded by the staff for helping ourselves. Thank you for making my birthday breakfast so memorable! We gave up on service for breakfast and visited the coffee shop instead. Probably one of the only bright spots for service. The two beaches were lovely, but be careful with the water sports. My friend was in horrible pain after the liquid in her snorkel mask blinded her for the day. The water sports staff just drops you off at the reef and leaves. She was in distress for 25 minutes before they returned. Our room had a lovely view, but the chairs on the patio are short and when you sit, the view is blocked by the railing. We wanted to bring a bottle of wine to our room - nope - you only get a small glass of wine at the bar which you must carry back to the room. This resort is not only understaffed, they are under stocked. They don’t have enough towels, glasses, plates, etc. They are short on items listed on menus. ! Most of the staff is aloof and unmotivated. We will not return to this resort - and probably won’t return to Antigua. There are nicer islands and better run resorts in the Caribbean.

Donna Neftin

I love this place. It’s paradise! The staff is smiling and friendly. The rooms are spacious and the beds are comfortable. The view is spectacular. The food is delicious! The beach is calm and the water is warm. The sand is white and the water light blue/ turquoise. At night the tree frogs chirp you to sleep. It’s just day 2 of my vacation and I’m so has happy 😃 to be here.

jennifer carroll

*** updating my review*** The General Manager called regarding my review and was truly sorry for the inconvenience and they even left additional pool towels at our room!! The major point is that they read their reviews and actually care enough to make it right! That is what matters! The place is beautiful not as kept like other places the staff you do see is nice BUT good luck sitting at pool and getting a towel - ZERO sense of urgency! Still NEVER brought a towel to the pool! I would NOT stay here again! Waste of money! I am only on day 2 of 6 - let’s hope it gets better but I doubt it

Kimberly Giang

My husband and I stayed 5 nights at the Verandah. We are a super active couple in our 30's so we most enjoyed all the recreational activities in the water and around the resort. Overall, we thought it was a lovely stay! The property itself is well kept and maintained. It is pretty spread out and hilly but walkable for those that want the exercise. The porter service was great for the times you dont want to walk but it takes a few minutes of patience for them to arrive (thank you Tristan).The fruit infused water stations around the property were such a nice touch. Bathrooms were always cleaned and stocked. The recreational activities and game areas were really nice. Our favorite was learning to play pickleball! The instructor was awesome! We stayed in the "Clownfish" Waterview suite. Our room was spacious and clean but super simplistic, nothing extra or noteworthy. There was an issue with opening the back door but maintenance was able to fix it after a day. The patio had a simple bistro set and nothing more. Bed was comfortable. The shower pressure was fine and water temperature got nice and hot. There was a nice variety of foods offered at the buffet and restaurants. Of course, some items are hit or miss but my husband and I were always able to find at least something we enjoyed. The breakfast omelet station was great (thank you Marina). The pizza place was actually pretty good! Service at restaurants was good for the most part. It seemed some nights were a lot slower maybe due to being short staffed. Anneshia was our fantastic server several times at Sails and Tails and had like 16 tables or more by herself. She ran those tables nonstop with a smile on her face! Michael, Theodore, and Kayla also were pleasant servers and gave great service! The Cafe was nice to enjoy in the mornings and throughout the day. Gleniq was pleasant and added a little extra love to all her drinks she made for us. The pub was also a nice place to hang out in the evenings. The Pineapple Beach Club was nice to visit for a change of scenery. You have to request a day pass from Guest Services prior to going. Its a completely different vibe. My husband and I enjoyed the BBQ cookout for lunch and the activities! The activities were way more fun and entertaining than at Verandah. Reccommendations to visitors: Schedule everything in advanced at Guest Services including dinner reservations and day passes. Bring cash and smaller denominations for tips because there's not really anywhere to break bills down. Cash is needed for taxis. Wouldn't really recommend for anyone handicapped or disabled due to the wide spread and hilly nature of the property unless you're super patient and heavily rely on porter cart service. Items that would make for a nicer stay: Having menus in the rooms would be really convenient. An ATM or way to break down smaller bills would have been nice and allowed for more staff tipping. Daily scheduled activities were a bit disappointing because we would plan our day around activities that either wouldn't happen (beer pong) or too full to participate (bingo only had like 12 cards). Maybe a sign up sheet for activities could help?

Jackie Faris

Staff and services brilliant. Nothing to much trouble. Food absolutely excellent at every level. Apartments need some serious update in interior design. Very dim lighting on grey walls with no pictures give the impression of a prison cell. Care of the Apartments however is good.

Alberto Zafonte

Very nice and quiet place. I loved my bedroom for the comfort and the view through the windows. Very clean and comfortable. The restaurant a little bit expensive IMHO but the plates was good. I appreciated the breakfast. Nice experience

R M

What an exquisite experience! I went with some new friends that I met at Shirley Heights. It was so good that I took my travel buddy back two days later to introduce her to it. I've had the popcorn shrimp appetizer, the mahi mahi main, the Passion fruit Panna Cotta dessert and the Mango Thyme mocktail and all were delicious! Officially my favourite restaurant in Antigua ... and the ambience is amazing!

Kelly Andrew

Absolutely appalled by the service of the at South point. We went there for lunch, we received our bill for our meal in East Caribbean dollar then when I went up to the counter to pay they charged me in US dollar without telling me I was paying in USD so I ended up paying triple the price for my meal and they didn’t say anything so just took the extra money. We had to wait over an hour and a half for all our meals to arrive. Very disappointed in this.

hag

Lovely restaurant with uninterrupted view to marvel on the big ships and boats while having cocktails and mocktail. We had early dinner which was really yummy. Look at photos. Ambience is great, neat and tidy. Staff were friendly and very accommodating. We enjoyed the sunset view which was a plus and also get to watched the kids practicing on their small boats. What better way to end our island hopping holiday. Amazing. Big shout out to Nikoletta and crew for a great customer service.

Jen Robson

What an AMAZING place Cocobay Resort is! We had the most fantastic week here, and I can honestly say it was one of the best holidays I’ve ever had. As soon as we arrived, we were met with friendly faces, and everyone was lovely to us throughout our stay (particularly Denise, Jermaine, Mel S. and Sandy!) On this note, the drinks and food were amazing - being coeliac, it can be difficult to find gluten free options when eating abroad. However, this was no trouble at all during our stay and there were always plenty of gluten free options/alternatives - Devonya in particular had excellent knowledge about this and was brilliant at letting me know what I could or couldn’t have in advance! I liked that the menu changed every day, so during our week’s stay, we were able to try lots of different foods. The cocktails were amazing - Derrick and Marsha were very attentive and sometimes brought our next drinks over before we had even asked! I loved the location, and particularly liked that this wasn’t just a hotel - you really feel as if you are immersing yourself in the island life with the various cottages. It also felt very safe, as there are always staff members walking around and there is security at the front of the hotel. The views out to sea were fantastic, and it was very enjoyable having live entertainment 6 nights a week. I think we came at just the right time, as the pools weren’t too busy and we were always able to get a good spot even by late morning. Overall, I would thoroughly recommend this resort to anyone looking for a luxurious break - I am already dreaming of when I can go back!

Rico Nigro

The Resort was fantastic !! The staff was extremely friendly and helpful. The view from our room was amazing, but the room could of used some updating in bathroom and more storage. A screen door for the huge sliders would of been nice to help with mosquitoes, but overall we were very happy. We were very pleased with all our meals. I thought I may have gotten bored with just eating at the one main restaurant, but they did a great job have different options each night. The food was great ! We were looking for a nice quiet place to relax at and this was the place. We did meet many nice people at the resort that enjoyed it as much as we did. They had some entertainment at night which was nice that usually ended between 10 and 11. We were able to walk to some other nice beaches besides the one by the resort. I would highly recommend it if you are looking for a nice quiet relaxing resort with a great staff !! We are hoping to go back again in the future. Thanks for the great time !!

Traecy Pierson

I stayed at Cocobay for my birthday and really enjoyed the view. However, I was not a fan of the food. The portions were small and did not taste like high-quality ingredients. In fact, my husband mentioned that something that he ate tasted like it came out of a can. I can't recall their names, but the two guys who brought the floating breakfast to us were phenomenal. We chatted like we knew each other for years. The view was incredible, but I am not sure how I feel about the location. Each time that we needed to travel into St John's, we had to pay $50+ USD for taxi. Overall, it was a pleasant stay, though.

Victoria

My husband and I stayed over Christmas, just for a few days. We wanted to be on a beach for the holidays, and mission accomplished. The beach was amazing!! And the swimming was great! The hotel was just okay, as was the food. Not many options to snack throughout the day/night. Found myself craving food at the end of the day. The service was lacking at times and could have been better. Overall, we had a nice time. But we’re happy to get to some real food when we got to the airport. Would definitely come back to Antigua, just a different hotel.

Caitlin B

Beautiful resort. Staff were accommodating of alternative food requests. Rooms make you feel like you are on a proper little island , basic but nice, although kinda noisy as someone kept arriving at 5/6am with music blasting and you can’t shut the frog noise out but you get used to it! The location is beautiful but feels kinda far from a lot of things so it’s expensive to get taxis around I’d reccomend renting a car. Food is impressive for all inclusive in my opinion and you can order more than one dish if you are still hungry. I’ve stayed at sandals and here and I way prefer here. Much more of a local feel, not a huge behemoth resort where you could be anywhere and I appreciate the low use of plastic bottles (unlike sandals)

Amber Flowers

This resort was amazing! It was very peaceful and relaxing. The food was surprisingly good for an all inclusive. We did not have a bad dish our entire stay and the gnocchi was my favorite! There is only one main restaurant but they change the menu daily. Lastly, the staff was amazing! Keirah was always cheerful and super helpful! She was responsive and made the entire stay more enjoyable! Make sure you ask for her!

Tyeise Randolph

It was truly a great Escape. The entire experience from arrival to departure was phenomenal. The staff was professional yet friendly, rooms were clean, spacious and offered great views. Nonsuch Bay Resort is a place to go unwind and escape the real world. Thank you all!

Jasmine Bryant

Beautiful and comfortable resort! This isn’t the place to go if you’re looking to party and there isn’t much to do in surrounding areas but if you’re wanting to just enjoy the scenery and amazing food I would highly recommend. The staff is very friendly and accommodating and the resort offers a few daily activities. I would definitely come back to visit.

David Richardson

Outstanding adult only all inclusive if you are looking for a relaxing time. I loved the fact we had table service at every meal and the beach was quiet - we were here for 15 nights through Xmas. Staff couldn’t have been friendlier or more helpful. Would highly recommend

Tomiko Burroughs

DONT STAY HERE! We have been waiting for a refund from “ management “ since mid November, it’s January and still no refund or response to my attempts to follow up on this refund. This place is beyond terrible, after our 1st night we checked out and found another resort. We didn’t care that we paid in advance we just wanted out. Food was awful! Remember the hashbown patties served at McDonalds for breakfast? This was a breakfast item. The room was swarming with bugs. The bellman was sent to our room twice with cans of raid and suggested we sit in the dark to prevent the bugs from coming in. Traveler beware this place is absolutely awful.

ruma jo

Spa and food all inclusive was a dream! Thanks Aveda for the trip! I'd love to come back one day!

Chris Hannant

Enjoyed my stay here but can't really support the "luxury hotel" categorization. Good: Rooms are decent size, gym is well equipped. Sunsets at Carmichael's are wonderful. Staff are polite and attentive. Bad: The two pools are rather small and the food at the restaurant is mediocre. I would have regretted an all inclusive here.

coolfooly

Sugar Ridge was wonderful. The staff was helpful and the room was clean. It’s on a mountain side so be ready for stairs. I’d say the all inclusive probably isn’t worth it but the breakfast plan is. You can easily walk to jolly beach or crows nest beach / bar from here and there are several restaurants within walking distance. If you get a room with a plunge pool make sure it’s in the lower numbers as the higher numbers don’t have good enough sun exposure to warm the pools. I will say they make really great french fries.

Ms. Inspiration

Absolutely beautiful resort with all the amenities you could ever want or need including a full gym (there are daily hikes into town). The view of the mountainside, the Caribbean sea + the spa, courteous staff & divine rooms is all simply amazing. There is also a very nice upscale restaurant if that is what you want & there are daily trips to the beach. It is Quiet, Serene, Peaceful, Beautiful but yet there are so many things to do if you so choose. A++++

Pris Jim

My partner and I booked this beautiful hotel after seeing the amazing views it provided. We loved how beautiful and clean everything was. The food was spectacular both at Sugar Club and Carmichael's. Very romantic and perfect for us. What lacked was the staff service. From the start, we would ask for minor things (info on nearby places, water bottles at 12am) and we would instantly get little to no help from reception or staff. I booked a spa day for us and the manager was extremely rude. Did not even ask us how our treatment was but was quick to ask another lady (i am hoping it wasn't because she was Caucasian and we aren't). My boyfriend is well off, we comport ourselves with manners anywhere we go but this lack of customer service was very disappointing. The waiters and waitresses were not too friendly. Even the hostess would give us issues when we asked to get a table for dinner, clearly seeing that there were about 10 tables empty. She would give us an excuse saying they were all reserved but when she asked her supervisor, voila! We got a table. We finally suggested to one the restaurant's managers and she agreed with us: she said she's seen the lack of correct service in the hotel. This is considered a luxury hotel and customer service should be top notch. I travel a lot and in many Caribbean islands what sticks with your memory is how wonderful you are treated. Overall, I would not stay here again but Antigua itself is a beautiful island with lots of culture.