A luxury travel advisor's guide to Antigua: hotels, beaches and unforgettable experiences
When people ask me why I travel so often, this trip is the perfect example.
I recently spent four days in Antigua on the Aspire Retreat, enjoying beautiful beaches, warm Caribbean sunshine and some excellent food. But I was also there to meet hotel partners, strengthen relationships with suppliers and experience the resorts for myself, so that when I recommend somewhere to a client, I know exactly who it's right for.
Over just a few days I visited four luxury hotels (and one villa), explored hidden beaches by catamaran, learned how Caribbean rum is made and discovered some wonderful places that I'd happily recommend to clients looking for a luxury escape.
Blue Waters Resort & Spa
After a daytime flight with Virgin Atlantic, I arrived at Blue Waters Resort & Spa on Antigua's north-west coast. A non-stop flight from London to Antigua is approximately eight and a half hours.
I stayed in one of the Cove Suites, a spacious suite overlooking a shared infinity pool and the Caribbean Sea. High ceilings, airy white decor and a breezy ceiling fan meant it immediately felt peaceful. From my balcony I was excited to spot two pelicans gliding over the water so I went outside to explore.
The resort itself is beautifully landscaped, with winding pathways through mature gardens full of tropical flowers and hummingbirds, secluded pools and plenty of quiet corners overlooking the sea. Staff whisk guests around the property in golf buggies, although it's equally enjoyable to stroll through the grounds and take everything in and nothing is too far away.
Dinner on my first evening was at Blue Waters’ clifftop Cove Restaurant, where the live music and delicious food gave me a wonderfully relaxed welcome to the Caribbean. Unfortunately, jet lag got the better of me, and after an early night I was ready for a busy few days ahead.
Blue Waters is perfect for
Families wanting spacious suites or larger villas with hotel service, with beautiful gardens and plenty for the kids to do
Couples looking for a relaxed luxury Caribbean resort outside of school holidays
Guests who prefer understated elegance over a large, lively resort
Meeting the luxury travel experts
The following day was dedicated to meetings with some of the world's leading luxury travel brands.
Over the course of the day I met representatives from suppliers including Oceania Cruises, Ikos and Sani Resorts, Abercrombie & Kent and many more (I did sixteen meetings in one day!). These events are invaluable, allowing me to strengthen relationships, hear about new developments and gain insights that simply aren't available in brochures.
Luckily we did get to break for lunch back at Blue Waters, where fresh local fish and salad with a passionfruit dressing showcased exactly why Caribbean cuisine deserves attention.
Tamarind Hills
That evening we visited Tamarind Hills, a boutique beachfront villa and suite resort on Antigua's stunning south-west coast. Set between Ffryes and Darkwood beaches, it delivers villa privacy with resort service and is set on one of the best white-sand beaches I saw in Antigua.
As the sun began to set, we enjoyed cocktails, canapés and live music before touring one of the resort's spectacular four-bedroom villas.
Each villa is individually owned and designed, giving every property its own personality, and they all have private pools. The one we visited was exceptionally spacious, with beautiful indoor and outdoor living spaces and sunset views over the ocean.
Tamarind Hills is perfect for:
Extended families travelling together
Groups of friends celebrating a special occasion
Guests wanting villa privacy with hotel services close by
Guests with mobility issues should choose the lower level suites as some are on higher terrain for those all-important sea views
Rum tasting at Galleon Bay
The following morning started with something a little different. We headed over to Galleon Bay to take part in a rum-making workshop, learning how rum is produced from sugar cane before being distilled, blended and flavoured. It was fascinating (and delicious) to discover just how much craftsmanship goes into one of the Caribbean's most famous exports. I even came away with my own bottle of rum - the name is my own creation.
Galleon Bay itself itself offers wonderful views across the sea towards Montserrat and is well known as one of Antigua's best places for turtle snorkelling.
Hermitage Bay
Lunch took us to Hermitage Bay, one of Antigua's most exclusive adults-only resorts.
With just 30 detached suites spread between the beachfront and the hillside, the whole resort feels wonderfully secluded. The atmosphere is calm and unhurried, with plenty of space to unwind while looking out across one of the island's most beautiful bays.
Live music accompanied lunch, adding to the relaxed atmosphere without ever feeling intrusive. If you are ever there, the cheesecake is an absolute must!
Hermitage Bay is perfect for:
Honeymooners
Couples celebrating a milestone anniversary
Adults looking for privacy, peace and understated luxury
Carlisle Bay
We rushed back to the hotel for a very quick change, and then we were off to Carlisle Bay.
Carlisle Bay has a much livelier feel, making it an excellent option for families as well as active couples. The long sandy beach is perfect for watersports, while many of the spacious suites have recently been refurbished, with more renovations planned. I loved the conch shell in every room - to place outside your door when you don’t want to be disturbed. Again, the resort is on a stunning beach.
We rounded off the evening with a beach barbecue, fire performers and dancing barefoot on the sand - exactly the sort of Caribbean evening many people picture when they imagine Antigua!
Carlisle Bay is perfect for:
Families with children
Active travellers who enjoy watersports
Multi-generational family holidays
Exploring Antigua by catamaran
One of my favourite experiences of the trip was exploring Antigua's coastline by catamaran.
We visited secluded beaches that can only be reached by boat, admired spectacular villas belonging to Robert De Niro and Giorgio Armani from the water and stopped for a swim in the crystal-clear Caribbean Sea.
Naturally, there was also plenty of rum punch.
Being out on the water really highlights just how beautiful Antigua's coastline is, with hidden coves and beaches appearing around almost every headland. Despite being June and the start of the hurrican season, we had the briefest sprinkling of rain and the rest was all blue skies and sunshine.
The Hut Beach Club
For our final evening we crossed over to The Hut, an exclusive beach club on its own private island for a white party.
Guests can spend the day relaxing on the beach, hire one (or all) of the private beach huts and enjoy exceptional food in a spectacular setting.
If you're planning a luxury holiday in Antigua, I'd strongly recommend setting aside a day to experience The Hut. There’s also a sister property on the Isle of Wight if you fancy trying it out closer to home!
Villa Musica
Before heading home, we enjoyed brunch at Villa Musica overlooking Falmouth Harbour and relaxed by the pool before we needed to leave for the airport.
This six-bedroom private villa is perched high on the hillside, offering sweeping sea views, a spectacular infinity pool and full housekeeping service.
For families or groups travelling together, it represents exceptional value, with selected departures from around £1,800 per person including flights in October 2026. It's equally suited to milestone celebrations, wellness retreats or simply gathering friends together somewhere unforgettable.
Villa Musica is perfect for:
Extended families
Groups of friends
Milestone birthdays and celebrations
Wellness or corporate retreats
Why I always like to visit destinations myself
This is exactly why I believe first-hand experience matters. A brochure can tell you how many restaurants a hotel has or how large the rooms are. Spending time there tells you how the resort feels, who will love it and which clients it suits best.
Over four days I experienced everything from elegant adults-only retreats to family-friendly resorts, private villas, local rum tasting and some of the island's most beautiful beaches.
Antigua offers an incredible variety of luxury holidays, whether you're planning a honeymoon, a family adventure, a villa holiday with friends or simply a week somewhere warm to recharge.
And after spending a few days exploring the island, I can confidently say it's a destination I'd recommend time and time again.
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Antigua: need to know
Main airport
V. C. Bird International Airport (ANU)
Flight time from London
Approximately 9 hours 5 minutes
Flight time from Manchester
Approximately 8 hours 25 minutes (seasonal direct flights)
Flight time from Glasgow
Via London
Time difference
GMT -4 (4 hours behind the UK during British Summer Time)
Currency
Eastern Caribbean Dollar (EC$). US dollars are widely accepted.
Language
English
Hottest month
June (average 28°C)
Coldest month
January (average 25°C)
Rainiest month
October
Driest month
February
Best beaches
Ffryes Beach, Pigeon Point Beach and Jolly Beach
Don't miss
Nelson's Dockyard, English Harbour
Local specialities
Ducana, pepperpot, saltfish, Antigua Black Pineapple and, of course, rum!
Best for
Luxury beach holidays, honeymoons, family escapes, sailing, snorkelling and villa holidays.
Good to know
Antigua is famous for having 365 beaches – one for every day of the year.
