Carlisle Bay

Chris T

We recently stayed at Carlisle Bay Resort in Antigua and had a mixed experience. The restaurant service was genuinely good - the staff were friendly, attentive, and a pleasure to interact with. Unfortunately, this was not reflected at the management level. Management appeared disengaged and unresponsive throughout our stay. If you’re considering booking through Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts, I wouldn’t recommend it. Promised upgrades were ignored despite availability being shown directly on the hotel’s website. Likewise, my Leading Hotels of the World Sterling status was completely overlooked. There was no pre-arrival communication or acknowledgement, despite this being confirmed in advance. For the price point, the rooms are disappointing. They feel outdated and are in clear need of refurbishment, which does not align with the luxury positioning of the resort. Overall, while the frontline restaurant staff were excellent, the lack of management attentiveness and unmet benefits significantly detracted from the experience.

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.

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.