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| Deana Bellamy and James Henderson |
| Key Features
ANTIGUA is a lively, busy island with some good value. It is easily accessible, with many international and regional connections and is a popular port of call for cruise ships (and consequently has good shopping). It has magnificent sand and beaches, in long strands and isolated coves, some with good beach bars. There is a small number of excellent and stylish hotels among a large stock of mid-price resorts and all-inclusives, and just a few smaller, independent places to stay. There are plenty of good villas. Activities include excellent sailing, some good restaurants, casinos (it is one of just a few islands with them) and a very interesting visible history in Nelson’s Dockyard and many forts.
BARBUDA is very quiet, with just a couple of expensive hotels and some very simple guest houses. It is a plane ride (and now ferry ride) beyond Antigua and has truly spectacular, barely developed beaches, some interesting nature and a very simple Caribbean life. | | |
Antigua and Barbuda are like two sisters. They are visibly from the same stock but unalike in so many ways. Antigua is a gregarious, populous island, with a highly developed tourism industry, while Barbuda, just 30 miles to its north, is much quieter, laid back even to the point of doziness. What they share is their appearance and setting, in the North-eastern Caribbean. They are set in a stunning blue sea, their skirts fringed with furls of fantastic pearl-white sand.
Their beaches are supreme. As coral-based islands, the sand is bright white and there is plenty of it, collecting in the curves of the islands’ whiplash coastline, pushing up superb beaches and reflecting the tropical sunlight underwater in spectacular shades of jade, turquoise and aquamarine. Not all the beaches are lively. There are always deserted stretches of sand to be found on Antigua where you can get away on your own. And if anything, Barbuda’s beaches are even finer. There are simply miles and miles and miles of perfect sand with barely any development.
Antigua is 108 square miles in size, on the map a splurge of promontories and peninsulars with spectacular bays in between them. The land is largely rolling hills on a limestone base (from reefs that grew to cover an original volcanic outcrop on the colliding crusts of the Caribbean and Atlantic tectonic plates). As a low lying island, it is mainly open land and has little forest.
Due to its geographical position and its extraordinary natural harbours, Antigua has had strategic importance since the days of empire. In the 1700s it was a British naval base and the island simply bristled with forts and barracks. These are still visible around the coastline, and include Nelson’s Dockyard, the only restored Georgian naval repair station in the world. Inland the plantation history of the island is also clearly visible. Stone windmills, standing every few hundred yards on the high ground, run through the island like a leitmotif.
The island retains its strategic value (it has had an American airbase since the Second World War), but in these more peaceable times it is because Antigua is one of the main hubs for arrival into the Caribbean, from Europe at least. And since the arrival of tourism in the Caribbean, the harbours and beaches have also taken on another use, as home to hotels. Over the years the island has settled largely for a mid-range product, in which many of the hotels have adopted an all-inclusive formula, but recently there has been a resurgence of style in Antigua, which has brought the island back a little into the consciousness of stylish travellers.
Life is in change in other ways too. After many years under the Bird family and the Antigua Labour Party, Antigua and Barbuda now has a new government in the United Progressive Party, led by Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer. There has been greater attention to public works, with improvements to the hospitals, roads and assistance for pensioners, but the changes have not been greeted with universal approval. After years of paying no Income Tax (Antiguans were taxed through goods and services), it has been recently introduced, affecting around a quarter of the population.
Antigua’s past as one of the most heavily defended places on earth, with soldiers and sailors manning fortresses to ward off invading armies, is now gone. But a few things remain the same. The island is still busy and a lynchpin in the area. Antigua is still one of the heartlands of Caribbean sailing, home to the region’s most famous sailing regatta, Antigua Race Week. Nowadays the coastal forts have been replaced by waterfront hotels, and the bars are just as busy with modern-day sailors. Instead of keeping people out, they are now welcoming them.
BARBUDA
Barbuda is almost completely undeveloped by comparison with Antigua, and though it is quite hard to imagine, the island has even better beaches than its larger sister. There is just one town (more of a village really), Codrington, on the lagoon, a huge stretch of inland water that is home to the largest colony of frigatebirds in the Caribbean. The best beaches are along the southern shore, where there are a couple of hotels, and in the west, which is relatively remote. |
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Accommodation
Antigua has a large number of places to stay in all sorts of styles, from very comfortable private villas overlooking the island’s secluded bays, through guest houses and apartments, to a huge number of large, mid-price resorts and then to a small clutch of hotels that measure among the finest in the Caribbean. Of course many of them are set on the island’s glorious beaches, some on the well-known, busier stretches, others on their own isolated cove well away from the humdrum.
The island’s traditional tourist hot spot is Dickenson Bay, just north of the capital St John’s, which is backed along its length by large hotels, apartment complexes and beach bars. With so many good beaches around the island however, you will find hotels on their own strips of excellent sand all the way along the west and south coasts of the island (even a few, in coves protected from the Atlantic, on the east coast of the island). The other major gravitational centre of tourism is the South-east, around English Harbour. This has a completely different feel from Dickenson Bay. Life there is centred more on yachting and private villas. You will find a number of smaller hotels (including some with a historic atmosphere like the Admiral’s Inn), private villas and also self-catering cottages. The accommodation itself tends to be lower key and more laid back, but the area itself is extremely lively, particularly when yachting events are underway.
Many of the hotels in Antigua are ‘all-inclusives’. The formula brings lower prices but it also tends to bring a certain uniformity of style and experience for the holidaymaker, robbing the Caribbean of some of its romantic charm. However, a few of the all-inclusives do manage to reach beyond the limitations of the formula and have their own strong character or style.
Interestingly, Antigua has seen a resurgence of serious style recently. In 2003 Carlisle Bay opened in the height of modern style and Jumby Bay recently refurbished and is looking much sharper.
There are few places to stay on Barbuda, just a couple of very smart hotels at the top of the range, but there is nothing between them and the very simple West Indian guest houses in Codrington. Yet. The island has even more spectacular beaches than Antigua and so development is surely on the way.
The best accommodation in Antigua and Barbuda is listed below, with links to their individual review pages on DefinitiveCaribbean.
Hotels & Resorts
A clutch of Antigua’s hotels measure among the finest in the Caribbean – look out for Carlisle Bay, Jumby Bay and Curtain Bluff – but with such a large tourism industry, there are hotels across the price range. Many of the hotels now offer an all-inclusive plan and while many do suffer from the limitations of the formula, others manage to outstep it. Perhaps try Blue Waters, Galley Bay and Hawksbill Beach Resort. Some hotels specialise in children and others have dedicated spas. There are no large hotels in Barbuda. The few that exist (and are open) are small.
Our recommended hotels on Antigua include the following:
| Blue Waters Hotel
A large and lively Caribbean hotel tucked into its own secluded bay in the North-west of Antigua. Blue Waters is a resort hotel with its own strong character, with plenty of watersports and other activities, including a spa and entertainment.
Key Features: A well loved Antigua hotel set in 17 acres of grounds. Three restaurants (Palm al fresco, Vyviens a la carte and The Cove for fine dining), 4 bars, 3 swimming pools, beauty salon and spa, non-motorised watersports including snorkelling, kayaking, windsurfing and sailing, children’s games room, gift shop and tennis court.
From US$349/night in summer | | Carlisle Bay
An exquisite hotel set in its own very attractive, natural bay on Antigua’s southern coast. Carlisle Bay is in the vanguard of modern Caribbean style, decorated with metropolitan verve but in keeping with the loveliest tropical calm and charm.
Key Features: A fairly large Antiguan hotel at the leading edge of Caribbean style. Eighty two extremely stylish suites, full-service spa, two restaurants (one Asian), large pool, library with internet connection, private cinema, Kids Club, nine tennis courts, watersports, gym, personal training, yoga and Pilates.
From US$775/night in summer | | Curtain Bluff
An upscale resort in a lovely secluded setting on two bays on Antigua’s southern shore. Curtain Bluff has been a trusty fixture on the luxury Caribbean scene for many years and retains its position among the area’s best loved hotels.
Key Features: Top-notch Antigua hotel with 72 rooms and suites. All inclusive plan with watersports (small sailing boats, kayaks, snorkelling trips, deep sea fishing, also scuba diving), two beaches, pool, four tennis courts, squash court (all the above included in the rate). Full service spa and beauty salon. Fine dining and an excellent wine cellar.
From US$595/night in summer, fully inclusive | | Galley Bay
A large hotel with a magical setting, stretched along a cracking strip of sand and sea on the west coast of Antigua. Galley Bay’s 70 rooms are in both rustic, Gauguin-style cottages and in modern Caribbean style. All inclusive plan, but full of character.
Key Features: A large Antigua all inclusive hotel, 2 dining rooms, swimming pool, spa and salon, sports (with instruction) including kayaks windsurfers and small sailing boats, fitness centre, tennis courts, games room with table tennis, internet connection, walking trails around the lagoon (also a bird sanctuary).
From US$815/night all-inclusive in summer | | Hawksbill Beach Resort
A large Antigua hotel with 111 rooms stretched over four excellent beaches and waterfront on the western coast of Antigua. All inclusive plan but low key, quietly sophisticated atmosphere and pretty garden surroundings. Good deal for solo travellers.
Key Features: Commendable Antigua all inclusive resort set in 37 acres of pretty tropical grounds. Four beaches (one clothes optional), wellness centre with massage and beauty services, watersports including windsurfing and small sailing boats, tennis court.
From US$260/night all-inclusive in summer | | Jumby Bay
A small and stylish Antigua hotel set on its own island just off the north-eastern shore of Antigua. Jumby Bay is understated and elegant, and set on a superb beach that gives onto a fantastic sea.
Key Features: Luxurious private island resort just off Antigua, Antigua all inclusive resort and villas (all meals and an open bar), large pool, watersports including snorkelling, windsurfing and small sailing boats, fitness centre, three tennis courts, croquet lawn, putting green, beauty and massage services, resort bicycles for getting around, afternoon tea. Part of the Rosewood Collection.
From US$775/night all-inclusive in summer | | St James's Club
Set on its own calm inlet, Mamora Bay, in the South-east of Antigua, the St James's Club is a resort particularly popular with families offering an optional all inclusive plan. It has 250 rooms ranged in blocks looking out onto the ocean and villas overlooking the bay itself. Good for children.
Key Features: Large and lively Antigua resort with hotel rooms, villas and grounds spread over 100 acres. Four restaurants, five bars, Kid’z Club, spa and salon, two beaches (one ocean, one lagoon-side), watersports including windsurfing, pedal boats, kayaking and small sailing boats, instruction provided (on-site scuba extra), 4 swimming pools (one for children), casino, fitness centre, tennis, games room, marina.
From US$315 EP-$520 All-Inclusive/night in summer | | Trade Winds Hotel
A calm and gracious hotel with fifty rooms in contemporary style, set on the breezy hillside overlooking Dickenson Bay in the north of Antigua. Trade Winds, which sees a good mix of holidaymakers and business people, is a very pleasant retreat within easy reach of St John’s, the beach and the airport.
Key Features: Comfortable Caribbean executive-style, small Antigua hotel, 50 stylish rooms and suites. All rooms with air-conditioning, ceiling fan, CD player, fridge, cable TV, desk, WiFi, voice mail, iron and hairdryer. Bay House Restaurant - breakfast, lunch and dinner - bar and cocktail terrace, swimming pool with sun terrace, Dickenson Bay beach shuttle (or five minute walk). Air-conditioned conference/function room for 30 theatre style.
From US$175/night in summer | | | ^ back to top |
Small Hotels & Inns
There are just a few small hotels and inns in Antigua (and one very stylish one in Barbuda) and they have their own distinctive style. Most are away from the main centres, scattered around the island, particularly around English Harbour in the South-east of Antigua. As the name suggests, the Beach House in Barbuda uses the best of the smaller island’s truly magnificent sand.
| Admiral's Inn
A small and friendly inn set in restored buildings right in Nelson’s Dockyard in Antigua. Admirals Inn has a delightful sense of history about it, but also a lively atmosphere because it is also at the heart of the island’s sailing action
Key Features: Admiral's Inn Antigua is one of the Caribbean small hotel treasures - a historic Antiguan Inn, set in buildings dating from 1788, in the thick of the sailing action. Fourteen rooms and suites, some relatively simple but well priced, restaurant, popular bar, some entertainment (a band on Saturdays in season).
From US$85 sgl/100 dbl/night in summer | | Anchorage Inn
A friendly, family-owned inn with some self catering rooms in the North of Antigua, within easy reach of the Dickenson Bay beach, St John’s and the airport. Recently expanded and refurbished with brightly decorated rooms, Anchorage Inn offers good value and sees an interesting mix of holidaymakers and other travellers.
Key Features: A cheerful, friendly 40 room Antigua inn including 7 studios with kitchenettes. All rooms with cable TV, air-conditioning, fridge, microwave and internet access. Swimming pool, restaurant (currently breakfast only), poolside bar, Reception with lounge, piano and bar area. Honeymoon suite, conference room for 35 theatre style. Caribbean inn weddings.
From US$115/night including breakfast | | Catamaran Hotel
A collection of 14 self-catering rooms and suites set on a small strip of sand on Falmouth Harbour in the south of Antigua. The small hotel is good value and has a friendly atmosphere. It has a pool, some watersports and a restaurant and bar close by, so you can to tuck yourself away, but it is also within a shout of the activity of English Harbour. Good place to stay for Antigua Sailing Week.
Key Features: Quiet, small Antigua hotel, pretty location for tailored weddings, 14 rooms and suites with kitchenettes. air-conditioning, ceiling fan, balconies, cable TV, coffee maker, toaster, some with half-size cookers others with hobs. Swimming pool and sundeck, restaurant, bar (evenings), watersports, WiFi in central areas, bicycles for rent.
From US$115 sgl/$125 dbl/night in summer | | Cocos
Twenty very pretty gingerbread cottages ranged around point above Jolly Harbour on the west coast of Antigua. Quite simple and rustic, but good value with a friendly atmosphere and lovely tropical garden setting. Antigua all inclusive plan.
Key Features: A relatively inexpensive, small Antigua all inclusive hotel with 20 quite simple and charming wooden cabins, each with a small balcony. Restaurant, pool and bar, small library, ceiling fans, fridge, coffee maker.
From US$325/night all-inclusive in summer | | Harmony Hall
A very small and secluded hotel set around a small estate house and windmill art gallery near Antigua’s eastern coast. Just six rooms in a quiet but very pretty setting. Closed mid-May to early November.
Key Features: Very small and charming Antigua hotel, with some traditional Caribbean style, ceiling fans, minibar, private patio, pool, beach, complimentary boat trips to Green Island (for beaches and snorkelling). Art Gallery with revolving exhibitions and good restaurant, popular stopover for lunch.
From US$352/night | | Siboney Beach Club
A small, informal, family owned, beachfront property with one bedroom suites, tucked in a garden oasis bursting with palms, flora and tropical greenery. Set on Dickenson Bay beach, one of Antigua’s most popular beaches and ideal for those seeking a more independent style of holiday close to the action. Ideal honeymoon retreat and wedding location. Very well priced.
Key Features: Affordable Antigua accommodation, 12 suites with simple, concealed kitchenettes and a Tree House studio room. Coconut Grove beach restaurant and bar. Secluded garden with swimming pool. Internet access. Small office library.
From US$125 sgl/$150 dbl/night in summer | | | ^ back to top |
Villas
Antigua has quite a good selection of villas available for rent, but the villa rental industry itself is not as developed in the island as it is elsewhere in the region and things are sometimes a little uneven. To begin with, some of the nicest houses are not easy to find out about as they are not widely marketed (often the owners deal directly with clients), and this can make it hard to locate the place that’s right for you. Also, on the ground in Antigua there is often a certain lack of management and staffing. In order to get the best of a villa holiday in the island you need to know what to expect and perhaps get some help with pinning down the best options for you.
While many villas are represented by rental agencies, many are not successfully managed, which means that standards can often be patchy. In addition to this, the biggest issue perhaps is staffing, which in many cases is not what you might expect by comparison to other Caribbean islands. There are exceptions of course, but maid service tends to be along the lines of hotel service, with a visit generally once a day. Only a few villas have a housekeeper, even fewer have a cook.
All this said, there are some good houses available for rent and of course Antigua itself offers lots of interest for those suited to an independent life on holiday, with excellent beaches to visit with good beach bars and a lively restaurant and bar scene. The houses themselves are scattered around the island, some in spectacular and quite remote settings, including above or near their own secluded beaches. The biggest concentration of independent villas is probably down in the South-east of the island, around Falmouth and English Harbour and east of there. The whole area has a great independent atmosphere. There are other villas in the north of the island, on the hills behind Dickenson Bay.
Another option to consider is staying in a villa within a development or in a villa resort, see below. Both Jumby Bay and the St James’s Club have some private villas for rent, but some of the best villas can be found around English Harbour within the area, particularly around Galleon Beach. Set high on the hillsides they have fantastic views over the yachts in harbour and over Nelson’s Dockyard and then there is all the activity, the restaurants and bars, of English Harbour itself.
| | Sleeps 12 | Moondance
A thoroughly exotic retreat in eclectic tropical style, with designer décor and quality furnishings, set within the grounds of Galleon Beach (with use of their facilities). Three-bedroom main villa, one bedroom studio cottage and one bedroom cottage (both of which can be taken separately), all with lovely views over English Harbour. Virtually beachfront, set above a quarter mile stretch of a safe, white sand beach. Perfect for families, weddings or honeymoons.
Key Features: An exquisite Antigua villa rental choice, swimming pool, Jacuzzi, wet bar, cable TVs, DVD, VCR, CD system & CD players, hairdryers, telephone, library of 500 books, board games, barbecue and use of the facilities at Galleon Beach including complimentary tennis, non-motorised watersports and ferry service to Nelson’s Dockyard.
From US$650-750/night | | | Sleeps 10 | Rock Cottage
A secluded, very private five-bedroom villa in a stunning location at the tip of a point at Blue Waters Hotel. Spectacular master suite, bathroom and pool with a view, very comfortable living areas on a small clifftop, private jetty.
Key Features: An exclusive Antigua villa with plunge pool/jacuzzi, Satellite TV, DVD player, CD player, DVD & CD library, selection of books, modem point, barbecue, use of Blue Waters Hotel facilities including watersports, fitness centre, tennis court, beaches, 3 swimming pools (1 adult only); private jetty with mooring & sundeck, private 24ft power boat and skipper available (extra)
From US$1,707/night in summer | | The Carib House
Immensely stylish property, with a fusion of earthy Caribbean flair and European refinement, set in landscaped grounds above Falmouth Harbour and Antigua’s southern coast. A three-bedroom main villa (with a one-bedroom apartment and a one bedroom chattel house cottage), all designed to get the best in open-air living. A perfect getaway for families or couples seeking privacy in style, an excellent setting for special occasions such as a wedding.
Key Features: Immensely stylish choice for Antigua villa rentals, large open-plan living areas, swimming pool, cable TV, VCR, surround sound CD stereo system, linked to gazebo, pool table/table tennis, selection of books, videos & board games, wireless internet connection available, wet bar and large barbecue grill.
From US$8,120-10,150/week in summer | | | Sleeps 8 | Babylon
An artfully rustic 4 bedroom villa, slightly bohemian in style. Designed for easy living with spectacular views from its elevated position overlooking Galleon Beach resort at English Harbour, guests can enjoy both the privacy of villa life and the complimentary facilities of the resort.
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.
US$1,000/night | | Lime Hill
An elegantly dressed 4 bedroom villa with delightful views from its elevated position overlooking Galleon Beach resort at English Harbour. Guests can enjoy both the privacy of villa life and the complimentary facilities of the resort. Ideal for entertaining, mature families or groups of friends.
Key Features: An extremely stylish private home for Antigua villa rentals, infinity edge swimming pool (24ft x 8ft), cable TV, CD player, gas barbecue, hair dryers. 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.
US$1000/night | | Villa Kulala
A stylish and original four-bedroom villa set on a point overlooking Dian Bay on Antigua’s meandering eastern shoreline. Villa Kulala has distinctive Balinese décor and a contemporary Caribbean design, with interior courtyards and open-sided rooms that enable the best of indoor-outdoor living.
Key Features: One of the newest seafront villas for Antigua island vacation rentals, tropical and Balinese décor, furniture and wall hangings, infinity pool, good kitchen with range cooker, dishwasher and refrigerator/freezer, sitting room with cable TV, DVD, CD player, ipod docking station and wi-fi internet connection, private access to bay, villa rental in Antigua direct from owner.
From US$1,000/night in summer | | | Sleeps 6 | Countess
Comfortable, 3 bedroom Antigua villa with lovely views from a wide covered veranda, on a hillside position overlooking Galleon Beach at English Harbour. Guests can enjoy both the privacy of villa life and the complimentary facilities of the resort.
Key Features: An Antigua villa rental with good privacy from its lofty position, swimming pool (8ft x 18ft), cable TV. Set within the 20 acre Galleon Beach resort within Nelson’s Dockyard National Park, good beach, complimentary use of 2 tennis courts, non-motorised watersports, ferry service to English Harbour. Commissary, restaurant and bar.
From US$450/night in summer | | Island Pearl
A charming, 3 bedroom villa with a homely appeal and a full length covered veranda, with wonderful views from its elevated hillside position overlooking Galleon Beach resort at English Harbour. Guests can enjoy both the privacy of villa life and the complimentary facilities of the resort. Suitable for couples or a small family, and also good for honeymooners.
Key Features: A very pleasing and comfortable choice for Antigua villa rentals, swimming pool (8ft x 18ft), cable TV and CD player. Set within the 20 acre Galleon Beach resort within Nelson’s Dockyard National Park, good beach, complimentary use of 2 tennis courts, non-motorised watersports, ferry service to English Harbour. Commissary, restaurant and bar. | | Sirius Villa
A delightfully light and airy private 3 bedroom villa at Galleon Beach resort with well-furnished open plan living/dining/kitchen area, a sizeable wide veranda, pleasant pool terrace with excellent views from its hillside position overlooking Galleon Beach at English Harbour. Perfect for families, couples and groups of friends.
Key Features: One of the nicest Antigua rental villas at Galleon Beach, swimming pool (8ft x 18ft), cable TV. Set within the 20 acre Galleon Beach resort within Nelson’s Dockyard National Park, good beach, complimentary use of 2 tennis courts, non-motorised watersports, ferry service to English Harbour. Commissary, restaurant and bar.
From US$450/night in summer | | | ^ back to top |
Villa Resorts
A villa resort is a series of villas with some central, hotel-style facilities, usually a pool and bar, sometimes a restaurant and other services such as central housekeeping and security. While there are a lot of apartments in Antigua, there are just a couple of villa resorts. These include Jumby Bay, which is set on its own offshore island, the St James’s Club in the South-east and Galleon Beach, which has both self-catering cottages and some very comfortable free-standing homes all within a shout of the shops, bars and other action of English Harbour.
| Galleon Beach Villas & Resort
Low key and affordable beachfront retreat set in leisurely gardens overlooking English Harbour in the South-east of Antigua. Galleon Beach has a mix of self-catering cottages and private villas with pools, all giving onto a pretty white sand beach. Excellent, relaxed family resort. Good for weddings and honeymoons too.
Key Features: Easy-going Antigua resort within Nelson’s Dockyard National Park. 33 villas (1–4 bedrooms: 15 garden + 11 beachfront cottages and 7 Antigua villas with private pools) scattered over 20 acres, good beach, 2 tennis courts, non-motorised watersports, ferry service to Nelson's Dockyard, WiFi available, commissary in season, restaurant and bar.
From US$450-1000/night in summer 3-4 bedroom villa | | | ^ back to top |
Cottages, Apartments and Condominiums
Cottages and apartments represent some of the best value for visitors to Antigua, which has quite a long tradition of independent travellers who are happy to look after themselves rather than be in a hotel. There are groups of them all over the island, but obviously there are more around the main centres, in Dickenson Bay and particularly around English Harbour in the South-east.
At Galleon Beach Resort (please see under Villa Resorts) has delightful cottages and the following are notable options:
| K'ai Etoile
An enchanting guest cottage with a traditional tropical style, set below the main property Moondance Villa, and within the grounds of Galleon Beach, with sister cottage Twinkle next door. Has lovely views over English Harbour. Virtually beachfront, set above a quarter mile stretch of a safe, white sand beach. Perfect for couples, and for honeymoons.
Key Features: Virtually beach front Antigua villa rental, TV, VCR, CD player, telephone, shared barbecue, and use of the facilities at Galleon Beach including complimentary tennis, non-motorised watersports and ferry service to Nelson’s Dockyard.
From US$260/night | | Twinkle
A rustic, charming cottage with a typical tropical style, set below the main property Moondance Villa, and within the grounds of Galleon Beach, with sister cottage K’ai Etoile next door. Has lovely views over English Harbour. Virtually beachfront, sitting above a quarter mile stretch of a safe, white sand beach. Perfect for couples, and honeymoons.
Key Features: Virtually beachfront Antigua villa rental, cable TV, CD player, telephone, shared barbecue, and use of the facilities at Galleon Beach including complimentary tennis, non-motorised watersports and ferry service to Nelson’s Dockyard.
From US$170/night | | | ^ back to top |
Guest Houses
There are not many guest houses in Antigua. There are a couple of very simple places in St John’s which see mostly West Indians, so you might prefer the Ocean Inn which overlooks English Harbour and in St John’s Murphy’s Place, which is in the outskirts of town.
If you are looking for simple and inexpensive accommodation, it is worth considering some of the cheaper apartments, see below.
| Ocean Inn
A well-priced guest house set in sloping gardens above English Harbour on Antigua’s southern coast. The Ocean Inn is a small and friendly stopover within a shout of all sailing action.
Key Features: Low key Antigua lodgings / guest house close to Antigua’s sailing action. Ten rooms (in a main house and cottages) with private bathrooms (two with shared), TV, bar, WiFi, pool and sunbathing area, and pretty gardens. Good value Antigua accommodation, breakfast is included, other meals on request
From US$65 sgl/$75 dbl/night in summer | | | ^ back to top |
Sailing and Cruising
Staying for a time in a villa or hotel and then spending some time on board a yacht can make a great combination in the Caribbean. While no hotels offer a formal package with their own yachts, Antigua does of course have many crewed yachts and some bareboats, so it is easy to arrange a sailing holiday back to back with a stay on land.
Hotels and villas that lend themselves well to a stay-sail holiday include:
| Admiral's Inn
A small and friendly inn set in restored buildings right in Nelson’s Dockyard in Antigua. Admirals Inn has a delightful sense of history about it, but also a lively atmosphere because it is also at the heart of the island’s sailing action
Key Features: Admiral's Inn Antigua is one of the Caribbean small hotel treasures - a historic Antiguan Inn, set in buildings dating from 1788, in the thick of the sailing action. Fourteen rooms and suites, some relatively simple but well priced, restaurant, popular bar, some entertainment (a band on Saturdays in season).
From US$85 sgl/100 dbl/night in summer | | Catamaran Hotel
A collection of 14 self-catering rooms and suites set on a small strip of sand on Falmouth Harbour in the south of Antigua. The small hotel is good value and has a friendly atmosphere. It has a pool, some watersports and a restaurant and bar close by, so you can to tuck yourself away, but it is also within a shout of the activity of English Harbour. Good place to stay for Antigua Sailing Week.
Key Features: Quiet, small Antigua hotel, pretty location for tailored weddings, 14 rooms and suites with kitchenettes. air-conditioning, ceiling fan, balconies, cable TV, coffee maker, toaster, some with half-size cookers others with hobs. Swimming pool and sundeck, restaurant, bar (evenings), watersports, WiFi in central areas, bicycles for rent.
From US$115 sgl/$125 dbl/night in summer | | Galleon Beach Villas & Resort
Low key and affordable beachfront retreat set in leisurely gardens overlooking English Harbour in the South-east of Antigua. Galleon Beach has a mix of self-catering cottages and private villas with pools, all giving onto a pretty white sand beach. Excellent, relaxed family resort. Good for weddings and honeymoons too.
Key Features: Easy-going Antigua resort within Nelson’s Dockyard National Park. 33 villas (1–4 bedrooms: 15 garden + 11 beachfront cottages and 7 Antigua villas with private pools) scattered over 20 acres, good beach, 2 tennis courts, non-motorised watersports, ferry service to Nelson's Dockyard, WiFi available, commissary in season, restaurant and bar.
From US$450-1000/night in summer 3-4 bedroom villa | | Horizon Yacht Charters Antigua
A small and trusty owner-managed yacht charter company based in Antigua in the Eastern Caribbean, with a fleet of eleven very comfortable monohull yachts and a couple of catamarans. Based in Jolly Harbour on the protected western shoreline of Antigua, Horizon Yacht Charters (Antigua) offer mainly bareboat charters, in yachts between 39 and 54ft (with between two and five cabins), but can arrange a cook or for a skipper for a couple of days while you settle in. Well positioned for offshore and ocean sailing around Antigua and Barbuda and for island-hopping trips north to St Martin or south to Guadeloupe and Dominica. A reliable company that offers a distinctly personal touch.
Key Features: Top end, owner managed Antigua yacht charter company; a range of Bavaria, Beneteau, Jeanneau monohulls (39 - 54ft), one Dufour yacht and two catamarans (Island Spirit and Bahia); skippers and cooks on hand, sailing courses (with instructor skippers where needed), cell phones, watersports equipment and toys available, rendezvous scuba diving. Well priced and friendly, good Caribbean bareboat yacht charter experience. | | Moondance
A thoroughly exotic retreat in eclectic tropical style, with designer décor and quality furnishings, set within the grounds of Galleon Beach (with use of their facilities). Three-bedroom main villa, one bedroom studio cottage and one bedroom cottage (both of which can be taken separately), all with lovely views over English Harbour. Virtually beachfront, set above a quarter mile stretch of a safe, white sand beach. Perfect for families, weddings or honeymoons.
Key Features: An exquisite Antigua villa rental choice, swimming pool, Jacuzzi, wet bar, cable TVs, DVD, VCR, CD system & CD players, hairdryers, telephone, library of 500 books, board games, barbecue and use of the facilities at Galleon Beach including complimentary tennis, non-motorised watersports and ferry service to Nelson’s Dockyard.
Sleeps: 12
From US$650-750/night | | Ocean Inn
A well-priced guest house set in sloping gardens above English Harbour on Antigua’s southern coast. The Ocean Inn is a small and friendly stopover within a shout of all sailing action.
Key Features: Low key Antigua lodgings / guest house close to Antigua’s sailing action. Ten rooms (in a main house and cottages) with private bathrooms (two with shared), TV, bar, WiFi, pool and sunbathing area, and pretty gardens. Good value Antigua accommodation, breakfast is included, other meals on request
From US$65 sgl/$75 dbl/night in summer | |
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