3rd time lucky in Antigua…a lovely hotel at last…
We first visited Antigua back in 2009 staying at a supposedly great hotel called Carlisle Bay… I don't know why they built a hotel next to a swamp however the mosquito problem was severe and the hotel was not much better. I would have reviewed it but our stay was in 2009 just before I started reviewing on TripAdvisor. The general manager was a nice guy, he just didn't seem very good at managing.
On our next visit to Antigua we stayed at Jumby Bay where there were also problems… it was the general manager from Carlisle Bay running it by then. That was just a few years ago. We have never been back.
This year we needed to book a hotel in Antigua for two separates stays, fairly close together, either side of our stay at the excellent Rosewood Hotel in nearby St Barts (which I have reviewed). Where to stay was the conundrum. Friends told us about The Inn at English Harbour. The TripAdvisor reviews looked positive… as a result my wife and I stayed there twice last month.
The Hotel at English harbour is lovely. Having read about the (albeit small) accommodation which is right on the beach just yards from the sea, we made sure we experienced it for one night having seen all the recommendations on TripAdvisor. I know the hotel are trying to obtain planning permission to make them bigger before they refurbish them, it was still a unique experience to wake up in the morning right by the sea.
We also stayed in one of the top suites which was built quite recently, was spacious, beautifully appointed and right next to reception and their main restaurant. If it is available also try and book that. We dined at the hotel every night and it was absolutely lovely. Lunch in their beachside restaurant was also delightful. We saw no need to dine and outside of the property… that was a good decision. We met the executive chef who is beyond accommodating… a lovely dining experience. On our second stay we had a gorgeous spacious ground floor suite close to the main swimming pool and beach. On the Saturday night they had a terrific female singer entertaining guests at dinner which, along with lovely staff, great views and the especially comfy dining armchairs on wheels at the rear of the restaurant…combined to make this one of the most enjoyable dining experiences we have ever had in Antigua.
All of the staff range from being lovely to exceptional and that starts from the top down, with the most excellent general manager, Fabio Giorgi. The hotel is family owned and much love has clearly been invested by the owners, management and staff. Everything was lovely.
The main swimming pool hardly ever had anyone in it or sitting around it even though the hotel was full. The grounds are so extensive and the accommodation so well spread out that it felt extremely private. We took advantage of the hourly complimentary regular boat service to visit Nelson’s Dock nearby.
When in accommodations at the lower level they sent a golf cart to pick you up to reach the main restaurant at night and at any other time required. When we were staying in one of their top suits with the private pool next to reception, this came with our own golf cart which was great fun. The last time we had one of those with a suite was at Rosewood in Bermuda.
We have never stayed at a hotel quite like this… it did feel more like an INN than a hotel, welcoming and cosseting. Please take a look at the photos we took during our two recent stays… we will not hesitate to re-book. The staff are like family… I only came across one staff member who had attitude and that was at the beach restaurant during our final lunch. There's always one… we can cope with that.
