The Best Hotels in Antigua, the Caribbean

Stay in Antigua’s last remaining stone plantation house, built around 1670. The Great House sits on the 26-acre (11ha) Mercers Creek estate and overlooks its own bay, kissed by cooling trade winds. It’s home to a spa, a pool and a courtyard restaurant that serves a decadent afternoon tea. Rooms include four plantation house suites and garden cottages that boast a blend of Georgian and modern decor, including a mahogany bed and double rainfall shower.

The Admiral’s Inn gives its guests a taste of its colonial history, having served as a British gunpowder store in the 18th century. Built from Georgian brick shipped from England, the three-story property is now a boutique hotel in Nelson’s Dockyard on Antigua’s south coast. The most atmospheric rooms are the loft and deluxe gunpowder suites, which overlook the harbor. The Admiral’s Inn has an infinity pool and a spa set in tropical gardens, along with two restaurants and a small patch of beach.

Rooms open directly onto the beach at the Catamaran Hotel, which lies in peaceful Falmouth Bay. This intimate property has 14 rooms with kitchenettes and features classic island decor with nautical colors and fabrics. Superior rooms are set on the second floor and come with four-poster beds and supreme bay views. Take advantage of the pool and free sailing lessons, and for authentic Caribbean food, dine at the Captain’s Quarters restaurant.

Come to Hodges Bay for five-star luxury by the Caribbean Sea. Within 8 acres (3ha) of flowering gardens, the $100m resort features a coral-sand beach, a lavish spa and a pool. Perfect for small gatherings, its suites offer open-plan living areas, some with kitchens, but if you need more space, the impressive four-bedroom ocean villas have private plunge pools. All have balconies, most with sea views of Hodges Bay. Activities include tennis, watersports, a kids’ club and live evening entertainment.

On a 300-acre (121ha) island just off Antigua, experience desert-island vibes at Jumby Bay – an all-inclusive resort dotted with pools and palm-tree-lined paths that lead to a white-sand beach. Activity-wise, it offers rum tastings, watersports, tennis and cooking classes, while facilities include a kids’ club, a spa and a fitness center. Stay in a suite with a plunge pool or a more stylish and spacious villa. Food options include an extensive breakfast buffet and seafood dining at the beachfront Veranda.

Set on a hilltop that was once an island fort, the Inn at English Harbour offers colonial splendor. The main building has bare-brick walls and a stone terrace overlooking the bay, perfect for dining al fresco. Weatherboard cottages are scattered down the hillside and feature mahogany floors, local art and private balconies. Enjoy tennis courts, a library, a gym and spa service, along with a refreshing pool, watersports, and a private beach and dock.

Looking for an adults-only escape? Galley Bay is one of Antigua’s best. The 42-acre (17ha) resort is covered with exotic gardens, set along Landing Bay Beach. To reach the resort, which is loved for its Antiguan spa treatments delivered in thatched-roof beach cabanas, you’ll have to cross a sparkling lagoon. Beachfront rooms have seaside decor with whitewashed walls and blue or green accents. Galley Bay also has a pool, croquet, evening entertainment and a range of all-inclusive food and drink options, including a weekly Caribbean buffet and the Rum Shack.

If you’re after a family getaway, Nonsuch Bay Resort has a stellar kids’ club and sports activities such as snorkeling and kayaking. Island-style suites have up to three beds and are ideal for families, with self-catering facilities. If it’s an adults-only break you want, stay at the Escape, a private area of the resort with a fine-dining restaurant, a pool and a spa. Beachfront cottages and plunge-pool suites offer coastline views, and there’s a private beach.

Keyonna Beach Resort is perfect for a romantic holiday in Antigua. As a couples-only resort, expect plenty of privacy, which is guaranteed on its exclusive 1,000ft (305m) white-sand beach with Bali beds. Wooden beach cottages have four-poster beds, his-and-hers outdoor showers and a lack of TVs, creating the ultimate sense of peace. Watch the sunset from your private terrace, and dine on West Indian cuisine at the beachfront restaurant.

An all-inclusive holiday at St James’s Club Antigua includes five restaurants, evening entertainment and a host of activities, including various watersports. Facilities include a spa, tennis courts, a fitness center and a kids’ club. Landscaped grounds lead down to the sugary sands of Mamora Bay and Coco Beach. All-inclusive villas line the hillside above the bay and come with kitchens, while adult-only suites have a wet bar and access to a kid-free pool.