Jolly Beach, Antigua

sheena ramlochan

Just came back from our 4 day stay at Jolly Beach. We were very skeptical about staying here because of the reviews we read so here's my honest opinion. From the moment we arrived at the hotel we were greeted by friendly staff. I saw a lot of reviews about staff's attitude and to be honest every person we interacted with were friendly and helpful. We got to the resort 2.5 hrs earlier than check in time because of our flight time. We were allowed to leave our bags with them and go to the restaurant for lunch and drinks after which we got our rooms; an hour earlier than we were supposed to. The rooms are small, no denying it but they were clean. The bathroom in the supersaver room is small but like the room, it too was clean. The room had shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, soap, toilet paper, box of tissue paper, hair dryer, safe, iron and ironing board. There's no mini fridge, kettle, water, tea/coffee. The rooms we got were to the extreme end of the resort so we had quite a trek to get to the lobby/restaurant/bar and it rained while we were there and there is no shelter to walk under to get there. On the days we spent there the food at the restaurant and buffet were good and well seasoned. There were bottles of pepper sauce in the buffet which we were happy for. The pool is big, clean and beautiful; the swim up bar is lovely as well. The main attraction is most definitely the beach, gorgeous, calm, clean and just a few foot steps from the pool area. We had a wonderful time at Jolly Beach, will definitely recommend, don't worry about the rooms too much because you won't be spending a lot of time in there anyways.

Helena Barney

Just returned from a fabulous 11 days food is plenty full.. the grill bar is delicious the best server is Tanya ( Rihanna) we called her she was our favourite person staff work so hard especially Terence the duty manager he’s definitely not work shy even during the bad storm !! Actual manager nowhere to be seen.. apart from that rooms comfortable a little tired .. pool and beach area 100% sell the place met some cracking ppl but most of all had fabulous time and we are definitely coming back

Ananeika Edward

Rating: ★☆☆☆☆ (1 out of 5 — only because zero isn’t an option) Our experience at Jolly Beach in Antigua was extremely disappointing. The customer service was virtually nonexistent — unhelpful and inattentive. The food selection was very poor, and items frequently ran out with no effort to restock. To make matters worse, the cleanliness was unacceptable. Our blanket had visible mildew spots, and my husband had to kill small bugs in the room. That alone made it hard to feel comfortable. Even basic amenities were missing — we had no lotion or proper toiletries. When we requested lotion, we were told it wasn’t available. For a resort, that’s completely unacceptable. We only stayed one night, and that was more than enough. I absolutely do not recommend this place to anyone. It fell far below even basic standards of hospitality.

Daily Routine Taxi Service

Jolly Beach Resort, Antigua – A Caribbean Gem Jolly Beach Resort in Antigua stands as one of the island’s most iconic and well-known resorts, often recognized as the first and most mentioned by travelers worldwide. Situated on the stunning southwest coast of Antigua, it boasts a prime location along one of the island’s top three beaches. The long, powdery white sand stretch meets the crystal-clear waters of the Caribbean Sea, offering breathtaking views and unforgettable experiences. This budget-friendly resort is highly recommended by guests for its unbeatable combination of affordability, natural beauty, and relaxing atmosphere. The Resort itself is rated five stars for location, price, and scenic charm, making it a favorite among couples, families, and solo travelers alike. Guests can enjoy a range of amenities including jet skis, kayaks, beach chairs, and umbrellas, ensuring comfort and fun under the sun. Local vendors set up near the resort, offering authentic souvenirs and crafts that reflect the island’s culture. Additionally, nearby local restaurants serve up delicious Antiguan cuisine and international favorites. Whether you’re lounging on the beach, exploring the clear waters, or shopping from friendly local vendors, Jolly Beach Resort delivers an unforgettable Caribbean experience. Its reputation, value, and stunning surroundings continue to make it a top choice for visitors from around the world.

Jeff Upson

THE MOST ACCURATE REVIEW. As a well seasoned traveller and have visited many places. This place is such a coin toss on what you get. So let's start at the beginning. This place was built in 1979 and is a very old building so you won't get modern technology here that you get in a modern hotel. However the hotel has old fashioned charm with modern touches tried to be added as a bolt on. The place is getting renovated in process as it gets spare money something gets updated. So bere this in mind. The rooms are very basic and dated with a temperamental television with poor signal on some of the channels. There are no facilities in the room. You only get an ice bucket and 2 glasses, shampoo and body wash in the bathroom and a box of tissues. However the balconies have a great view to watch the sun go down. Sadly I didn't get to see one of the updated rooms.The air conditioning and fan in the room worked well even with the open ventilation in the bathroom (patterned cider blocks that you get in a garden wall covered with flyscreen where people can easily look in as you use the bathroom). Someone I spoke to had a coloured glass window in there bathroom so there is quite a difference. The beds are comfortable and have a safe and hanging area. My room was one of the pre updated rooms so it will be a coin toss what you get. My room is one of the pre updated rooms. I am guessing the updated rooms are where people give a nice review. The staff are definitely a coin toss. June at the pool bar definitely knows great customer service along with the lady in the excursions information desk ( not the old grey haired lady she has bad customer service). The same with the reception desk the grey hair old lady there has very bad customer service I saw her with other customers and she is more interested in her paperwork than customer service. I hired a car (hotel arranged this). They said when I was finished they said leave the key with reception and they would collect it from there. The old lady refused to take the key so I had to hang around the reception for them to collect the key. It's the same in the restaurant some staff are great and some staff are terrible. So it's definitely a coin toss as to the level of service you get. The manager (owner) is a great man and will do anything to help so if you have a problem with a member of staff let him know and he will put things right. The food is very basic for breakfast. Only one hot meat for breakfast. Ether sausage or bacon ether day but never together. The omelette station is very tasty and a nice selection of cereal and cold meats. I didn't try the lunch menu as the BBQ grill beside the pool bar was very tasty. Much better than all the other food stations. Shame it's only open 12 to 4pm. The cocktail selection is limited to about 10 options but the staff are creative and ask them to choose and they can make some nice drinks. The evening meal is dependent on what day. It's ether buffet style which has a nice choice or it's the pizza restaurant. I had bad cooked pork there ( still red inside and juices flowing pink) and the portion sizes are tiny. The pools are nice. There are 2 pools. The big one with the swim up bar and hot rock falls. It has music playing when the bar is open. There is also a smaller pool that is much quieter. There are no watersports available. The only thing was an independent jet ski hire on the beach 60 dollars for 30 minutes. The hotel is on the beach so there is no long walk to it. There are plenty of loungers on the beach so no need for the rush to get one in the morning. The pool bar and BBQ is right beside the beach so very easy to get too. 10 out of 10 for the pool and beach. This hotel has great potential. Just little attention to detail items would move this from a 3 star hotel to a 4 star hotel Give training or sack the miserable staff I am sure there are plenty of people willing and better for customer service. Information package in the rooms showing what the hotel can offer and what trips are available are just a few to think about.