Antigua Family Holidays

Serge Kozhukhar, REALTOR

One of the most memorable vacations I’ve ever had! Blue Waters Resort and Spa exceeded all expectations. The food was absolutely amazing—fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented at every meal. The service was equally impressive: warm, attentive, and genuinely welcoming from start to finish. Every detail, from the ocean views to the relaxing ambiance, made this stay unforgettable. Can’t wait to come back!

Bux Shayeb

A tranquil quiet resort spread over the northwest beach area of Antigua. The resort has a number of pools, and ample dining spaces. Breakfast is amazing, with a superb view of the sea. Rooms and suites are spacious, with amenities and almost all of them have picture perfect views. Staff are smiling and relaxed and make you feel like slowing time down. Keep up the good work.

Harry Patel

5/5 stars! 🌟 I'm so impressed with this place! The waterfront views are stunning, and the atmosphere is perfect for families and groups. The staff is friendly and welcoming, even with babies in tow! 🤱‍♀️ The food is exceptional, and everything about this restaurant screams quality. I'm already planning my next visit and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great dining experience. Don't hesitate to book your next holiday dinner here - you won't regret it! 😊

Natasha Thorneycroft

Beautiful resort in stunning gardens with wonderful views. Slightly isolated for me personally. Rooms were lovely and we had a stunning view from our huge balcony. Good was a bit samey over a liner stay and more variation would have been nice. Good and drinks are on the expensive side in the hotel.

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.

Guy

We stayed for 6 days in this hotel in Antigua. We stayed at suite 12 - the suites are huge ! We will definitely come back; the rooms are huge , new , modern and clean. the staff are amazing , every each person is so kind to you and make you feel like home. The location is the best , with amazing private beach. Kids and family friendly- including nanny services, kids club with great activities for kids. Very good food and restaurants- especially the Asian restaurant. The staff is there for you also when we needed a doctor consultation for one of the kids , they take care same day and sending a taxi to pharmacy for the prescriptions, checking on it every day. Excellent service.

Phil Lawyer

We spent a week at Carlisle Bay Resort and was blown away by the beauty, service, and attention to detail. From the moment we arrived, the staff made us feel like royalty—greeting us with chilled towels, tropical drinks, and warm smiles. The location is absolutely stunning. Nestled between lush green hills and a calm, turquoise bay, the resort feels private and peaceful. We stayed in a Bay Suite, which was perfect for a romantic escape—spacious, beautifully designed. Waking up to ocean views and sipping coffee on our terrace was a highlight of every day. Dining was exceptional across the board. Indigo on the Beach served fresh, flavorful dishes in a relaxed beachfront setting, while East was a more refined experience with standout Asian fusion flavors. We also loved Ottimo! for casual poolside lunches—especially the wood-fired pizzas. Service throughout the resort was impeccable. Everyone, from housekeeping to the concierge, went out of their way to ensure our stay was flawless. We also appreciated the thoughtful division between family and adult-only areas, which helped maintain a peaceful atmosphere. If I had to find a minor critique, it would be that some areas of the resort—like parts of the pool deck—could benefit from a little refresh. But that’s honestly nitpicking. The overall experience was world-class. I have been here 5 times … Would I return? Absolutely. Carlisle Bay is the perfect blend of relaxed luxury, natural beauty, and five-star service. Highly recommend for couples, families, or anyone looking to unwind in paradise.

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.

Ana Pereira

I am very disappointed with my stay. The cost of the hotel is far too high compared to what is actually offered. You pay more than 1000€ per night and , if you consider this a leading hotel of the world, oh well, we’ve stayed in hotels less expensive and want better. The water pressure in the room is very weak, and the temperature constantly fluctuated—either burning hot or freezing cold. The hotel itself, including the room and furniture, is in serious need of renovation and improvement. To make things worse, we waited over 1 hour and 30 minutes , almost 2 to be precise, to be served at the Italian restaurant, which was completely unacceptable. When we asked why it was taking so long, they informed us they have received lots of requests, but everyone that came after us, was served first. The experience did not match the price at all.

Jim “Nugget” Wilde

Beautiful location once inside and the rooms are immaculate. However……The food is the worst we have ever had. The drinks that are included don’t include any cocktails you might know but merely their ‘special blends’. Ice cream sundaes are scoops of ice cream with nothing else. No bananas or mangos (we are in Antigua!?). This might be ok for some people if you’re used to package holidays but if you’re British it falls WAY below standard. The female local staff have severe attitude problems too. Entertainment was lovely but we were starving.

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.