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Style: Comfortable, quite rustic and arty hillside retreat. Lots of space for chilled out al fresco living
The Beach: Downhill walking distance of Galleon Beach’s quarter mile curve of glorious white sand with calm waters and excellent swimming
The Rooms: 4 bedrooms, 2 en suite bathrooms and 1 shared bathroom
Key features: Excellent Antigua villa rental location for views and privacy, swimming pool (12ft x 22ft), Jacuzzi, cable TV, VCR and a CD system. Set within the 20 acre Galleon Beach resort within Nelson’s Dockyard National Park, good beach, complimentary use of 2 tennis courts, non-motorised watersport and ferry service to Nelson’s Dockyard. On site reception, commissary, restaurant and bar.
Children: Welcome, though not suitable for small children due to the villa’s layout and hillside location
Staff: Babylon is provided with a daily hotel style maid service. Babysitting can be arranged upon request through Galleon Beach reception. 24 hours notice is recommended. The rate is US$8 per hour. A local cook can be provided for US$40 a day to prepare two meals of choice, from breakfast, lunch or dinner |
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Description
The exterior of Babylon is similar to the other private villas that sit overlooking Galleon Beach, being contemporary Caribbean in style, but once you are inside you will see immediately that the interior décor is a different story. Once owned by rock legend Eric Clapton, the villa has an artfully rustic, Bohemian air achieved by colour-washed walls in a dusty coral pink in the main living areas, and lime green in the bedrooms. The villa has one of the most elevated positions at Galleon Beach resort and it seems to hug the side of the hill. It has simply stunning views across Freeman’s Bay and on a clear day the island of Montserrat can be seen. The villa has two levels, with steps leading from the gardens below up the side of the property.
On the upper level is a large, comfortably furnished sitting room, with large white sofas, cable TV and VCR plus a CD system. It is dominated by a very large oil painting with a rather striking water scene, which some might find a little on the ‘dark’ side. The room has doors to which fling right open onto the extensive covered terrace which has a dining area to one side, and an area to sit and relax. A compact, well equipped kitchen is tucked into a corner off the living room.
From the sitting area on the covered veranda guests can step right into the Jacuzzi which spills down to the swimming pool below. A couple of steps below the veranda is a wonderful tiled sun terrace with a shady spot set into the back wall and a pergola with a delightful swing-chair. The swimming pool features painted turtles on the bottom and juts out over the gardens below. It also has the same glorious views as the main veranda.
There are four air-conditioned bedrooms at Babylon. Three are located upstairs, including the master bedroom giving onto the main veranda. It has a queen size bed and en suite bathroom with shower. The other two bedrooms are located off the living room, one with a queen bed and the other with a double four poster. They share a bathroom with shower. The fourth bedroom is on the lower level. It has twin beds and an en suite bathroom with shower.
Galleon Beach is a small resort on the eastern side of English Harbour, laid out in leisurely gardens, with land that slopes gradually away from the beach, becoming steadily steeper until it turns into cliffs. It is on the opposite shore from the activity of Nelson’s Dockyard so it is within a shout of all the action, but it is also quiet and slightly secluded, enabling you to escape when you want to. |
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Beach and Swimming
An approximate 5 minute walk down the hill (longer back up) through the resort gardens to Galleon Beach takes you to a quarter mile curve of glorious white sand with calm waters and excellent swimming. A coral reef approximately 75ft off shore offers good snorkelling. As part of the National Park there is a small public picnic area to the north end of the beach, which has wooden picnic benches with umbrellas set on an area of lawn just above the beach.
Babylon has a swimming pool (22ft x 12ft with depths of 3½ft to 7ft) which features painted turtles on the bottom and juts out over the gardens below, with glorious views of the bay. An adjoining Jacuzzi is set into the main veranda above, and has a spill over feature. |
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Sports & Recreation
Guests staying at Babylon benefit from full use of the facilities at Galleon Beach including two tennis courts (rubberised asphalt) for daytime play, with rackets and balls available from reception. Non-motorised watersports are complimentary to all guests and include single & double kayaks, sunfish sail boats, windsurfers and snorkelling gear.
The resort’s recently refurbished Calabash Restaurant & Lounge is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner during the season, when there is also live entertainment a couple of nights a week. The menu includes both local and international fare using farm fresh local produce and catch of the day from local fishermen. A free, high speed internet service is available for diners in the lounge, which has several wireless laptops set-up for internet use. |
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Weddings
Galleon Beach is an idyllic spot for a low key wedding on the beach or out on the jetty A basic wedding package is available (which can be adjusted to suit) and would include: wedding registration & licence, marriage officer, tropical wedding bouquet (flowers from the resort), flowers in and around the villa, button corsage for groom and Champagne for the toast. Wedding video, photographer and wedding cake can also be arranged. |
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Locality
Galleon Beach is set within the National Park at English Harbour and the historic Nelson’s Dockyard is just minutes away by water taxi and less than 10 minutes by car. English Harbour is a haven for yachtsmen, many of whom are in residence during the winter season and then who arrive in droves for the famous Antigua Sailing Week towards the end of April. The Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta (April) and the Nicholson Charter Boat Show (December) also pull in the crowds. The English Harbour area has many bars and restaurants, a marina, gift shops, provisioning store, bakery, post office, ATM, bank, internet café, a craft market, museum and of course the historic docks. It should be noted however that while things are very lively in the winter season, during the middle of the summer everything is fairly quiet and a number of businesses take a couple of months holiday.
Just along the beach from Galleon Beach is the Inn at English Harbour, a hotel with a beach front bar that serves breakfast and light snacks. Apart from the commissary at Galleon Beach itself, where you can purchase the basics, the nearest grocery store/supermarket is Bailey’s on the Falmouth main road. This has all the essentials, including fresh local bread and cakes and some fresh produce (all meat, poultry etc is frozen), but the best supplies are at the Epicurean supermarket located 30 minutes away to the north of St Johns on Friar’s Hill Road in the Woods Shopping Mall. There you will find a wide selection of both local and imported food items and wine.
Where nightlife is concerned, apart from English Harbour and its various bars, the highlight of every week is the Sunday afternoon barbecue at Shirley Heights Lookout, where visitors and locals gather to party and watch the sunset with a drink or two and enjoy a live steel band concert, followed by a reggae band. |
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Useful Hints
A provisioning service is offered if you would like your villa to be stocked with groceries for your arrival. You should e-mail your list to Galleon Beach (if booking direct) or let your travel organiser know what you require. If you are staying in a villa and would like a cook to prepare a welcome meal, you should advise Galleon Beach or your travel organiser, letting them know what is required. You will be billed for your groceries plus a 10% Service Charge and 10.5% Government Tax by Galleon Beach on arrival.
An overnight laundry service is available at and additional cost.
Babylon has telephones installed (land lines) which are for local calls only. International telephone service and an internet connection is available at Galleon Beach Reception during regular office hours. As an alternative, cell phones can be arranged through Reception at an additional cost.
Please note that Galleon Beach was sold in early 2006. Redevelopment was scheduled to commence after 31 May 2007 and the 'resort cottages' are now closed. A start date for construction work has not been issued. The private villas remain open for business and Galleon Beach is still taking reservations. As yet we are not sure how these will be affected by the development once it goes ahead. |
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Rates
The daily rental rate for Babylon Villa is US$1,000 year round, subject to 10.5% Government Tax and 10% Service Charge. Rates valid 08 Dec 2007-06 Dec 2008.
A 3-day deposit is required to confirm all bookings, and is applied to the first and last two nights of the confirmed booking. Cancellation policy is 21 days prior to arrival. Check-out time is 10 a.m. and check-in is from 3pm onwards. |
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How To Book
Babylon Villa bookings are all made through Galleon Beach. Please contact Galleon Beach by using the DIRECT ENQUIRIES facility or web link shown at the top of this page. Alternatively you may book through a tour operator or travel organiser features this property. |
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UK Tour Operators
If you wish to book through a tour operator or travel organiser, please follow the link below.
See List of UK Tour Operators
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Airport Meet & Greet
If you are travelling independently, taxis are readily available at the airport and the ride from the airport will take around 30-40 minutes. Alternatively, if you would prefer to be taken care of from the minute you arrive at the airport until your departure, a Transfer and Concierge Service is offered by St James Travel & Tours.
If you are booking through a travel organiser, it is likely that their representative will be at the airport to meet you. This service and your return airport transfers should be included in the cost of your holiday. Please check at the time of booking. |
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Getting Around
There is a complimentary water taxi service from Galleon Beach to Nelson’s Dockyard on hourly basis from 8.30/9am to 4.30 pm, after which a service is available via Apple Water Taxis who currently charge EC$5 per person, per ride.
Although most things are relatively close at hand, a hired car is strongly recommended for all villa holidays. Public transport is sporadic and not a convenient option and anyway does not come down to Galleon Beach itself (though you can always get a ferry over from the Dockyard). A car will be useful if you want to dine out at night or do lots of sightseeing and particularly when it comes to shopping for groceries. Book car hire via your travel organiser or direct with Galleon Beach and ask for your vehicle to be delivered to the property approximately 2-3 hours after your scheduled time of arrival on Antigua or the following morning. Vehicles can be returned at the airport or be collected from the property at a pre-arranged time on your departure day. |
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