What to choose from our range of luxury holiday resorts on Antigua and Barbados
Published 19 November 2024
Travel Specialist Ed describes the holiday resorts he visited on these two Caribbean island gems
Whether in search of rejuvenation or an action-packed ‘special interest’ holiday with us, Barbados and Antigua continue to enchant our clients with spectacular views, pristine, sandy white beaches and verdant coastline.
Antigua is one half of the Caribbean Island nation of Antigua and Barbuda. Barbados is further south with slightly higher temperatures and rainfall.
Ed, one of our Travel Specialists in charge of Caribbean bookings, visited these two island paradises earlier this year on a tour to certain hotels which we work with to provide the best possible experience to our clients. Below is his account going into detail about the resorts he particularly recommends, who these may suit, what activities are on offer and travel arrangements. Enjoy!
Travelling from London to Antigua
Let me start off with my travel arrangements. I flew with Virgin from London Heathrow to Antigua. We can organise personalised services and representation on the ground which in my case fast tracked me through the immigration queue. It is worth noting that providers like BA do not offer these to holiday goers.
Recommended resorts on Antigua
From my arrival, I felt part of the peaceful atmosphere exuded by this small but intimate hotel. It has recently been renovated – if you want to know about this in more detail, check out this article on the changes made.
It has 3 room types: The hillside pool suites (the most expensive option), the beachfront suites and the sea view garden suites (the least expensive option). Bear in mind that the highest hillside suites are quite high up.
There are two bars and a new beach club concept grill restaurant serving locally sourced food, as well as new water-based activities on offer.
I would recommend this hotel particularly for couples looking for a quiet, romantic holiday.
This is a much larger hotel with 98 rooms but because of the large surrounding grounds, it still felt tranquil even during high season.
It is all-inclusive, adults only with luxurious rooms and no less than four restaurants including: the Sea Grape offering a weekly Caribbean barbeque accompanied by live steel drum bands; the Gauguin with private cabanas next to the ocean; and Ismay’s for the ultimate, elegant dining experience. If you really want to fall into the lap of luxury, there is also the Indulge Spa which provides facial therapies, body treatments and massage rituals.
Although you certainly participate in a lot of non-motorised water sports, remember this is quite weather dependent.
The Inn at English Harbour, Antigua
Staying here for one night in a hillside suite was a delight! Quite small with 28 rooms, it is a intimate, boutique affair split into two parts – the reception, Terrace Restaurant and Stone Bar are located on top of the hill.
The restaurant here has a brilliant view of the harbour and can feel quite special at dinner when all the boats have their lights on illuminating the waves on the shore. You can also see English Harbour and parts of Nelson’s Dockyard from here.
The hotel offers a buggy service down the road which is where the rest of the rooms, tennis court, gym, spa, Reef Restaurant and beach are located.
On this part of the hotel there are three room types: beach cabanas, junior suites and deluxe suites. The beach cabanas have direct beach access and book up very quickly each year whilst the other suites are set about 30 metres back from the beach. The rooms are elegantly decorated and there is a sailing theme throughout the hotel.
I thoroughly recommend this for couples wanting to holiday in Antigua.
I stayed here for two nights in a beachfront terrace suite. I was struck by its elegance straight away when walking across an expansive koi fishpond to reach the reception. There is an extensive range of rooms and suite types available to guests, creating more of a family friendly atmosphere. Furthermore, there is a kids club and tennis courts available.
If you stay here, I suggest you dine at the Jetty Grill which must be reserved but gives you the chance to try authentic Caribbean dishes.
When I went for a walk, I was also impressed by the hotel-owned beach winding round in a horseshoe, dotted with palm trees and little sailing boats. I could hear nothing but the sound of gentle waves lapping at the shoreline. It was the perfect way to finish my touring of Antiguan hotels before moving onto Barbados!
Travelling from Antigua to Barbados
When flying between Islands in the Caribbean, Winair and InterCaribbean are the two main airlines with which to fly. I flew with the latter; it is best to factor in 2 ½ hour legal connection time for onward flights if you’re travelling the same day.
It is also worth noting these planes are small with 1-2 seating configuration. The journey was smooth to Barbados.
Recommended resorts on Barbados
This is one of the most luxurious and sophisticated hotels we work with on the island. From the white marble entranceway, you are surrounded by opulence and lush green grounds. There are 63 rooms here, every single one decorated in a unique and charming fashion.
The hotel also offers babysitting services, complimentary non-motorised water sports, tennis and two swimming pools.
The Coral Reef Club (described below) is the sister hotel of the Sandpiper. The latter is more suited to younger couples and families.
Located a minute’s drive north of the Sandpiper, this is a slightly larger hotel and one of my favourites from the trip. It has a colonial style and a gentle colour scheme consistent across all the suites available.
There is a scuba diving school on site and big game fishing can be organised in addition to kayaking, sailing and paddle boarding.
I would recommend this to discerning travellers seeking luxury at one with the local fauna.
One of our clients’ most popular choices, it is smaller than the Sandpiper and Coral Reef Club with 40 rooms but possesses all the facilities of a larger hotel. The hotel is split across the road, with the tennis court and gym located on the other side further away from the beach.
Once known as Camelot, it was re-named after the frigate birds which fly over the two beaches. Now a luxury hotel, you may stay in uniquely decorated suites, the most in demand being the Mile and a Quarter suite, Camelot suite and Colleton suite for their ocean views and elegant furnishings.
This is a charming, slightly more boutique alternative to Coral Reef Club for example.
What are you waiting for?
All these hotels pride themselves on combining excellent facilities and service for their guests, all the while taking into consideration the local wildlife and surroundings when sourcing cuisine and equipment for activities. Wherever you choose to stay, I guarantee you will feel welcome in the Caribbean when travelling with Expressions Holidays.
