Galley Bay Resort & Spa

Antigua, Caribbean

Star rating

The hotel

Set on one of Antigua's many beautiful beaches, the Galley Bay Resort & Spa offers guests a fabulous combination of superior service, Caribbean cuisine and rustic luxury in a very natural setting. Much of the architecture here is inspired by the French artist Gauguin. The charming individual suites have their own splash pool and are surrounded by lush gardens and views of the lagoon. There are three excellent open-air restaurants, all beachfront, offering intimate, candlelit dining of excellent quality. Ismay's Restaurant offers a higher quality dining experience to be shared for that special occasion, whilst the more laid-back Barefoot Grill is a great place to enjoy a tasty quesadilla made with resort grown produce. At sunset, hors d'oeuvres are served at the bar which overlooks the sea from under its Tahitian-style roof. There are activities such as non-motorised water sports and a recently expanded gym, but reclining with a novel on the beachfront deck from the library is equally as popular.

Amenities

  • Bicycle Rental
  • Kayaking
  • Sailing
  • Snorkelling
  • Tennis
  • Wheelchair access
  • Honeymoon
  • Wedding
  • Bar
  • Evening Entertainment
  • Fitness Centre/Gym
  • Internet Access

Where is it

On a beautiful beach, adjacent to Hawsbill and Deep Bay. Transfer time from airport: 30 minutes.

Hotel information

98 rooms on 1 or 2 floors. All with balcony/terrace, air-conditioning, ceiling fan, TV, telephone, complimentary WiFi, coffee maker, safe, bathrobes and hairdryer. Deluxe Beachfront Rooms are on the upper floors, located right on the beach. Rooms are large and are well appointed with spacious bathrooms which have a walk-in double shower. Rooms sleep maximum 2 adults.

All Inclusive of: all meals, snacks and drinks by the glass (name-brand spirits, sparkling wine by the glass, Caribbean beers, tropical coolers and soft drinks, excludes bottled water). All activities and entertainment above unless otherwise stated. Restaurants open on rotation.

Superior Deluxe Beachfront Rooms are charming rooms on the ground floor, in the centre of the resort, with private patio located directly on the beach. Each with 1 king-size bed, sleeping maximum 2 adults.

Gauguin Suites are situated on the edge of the bird sanctuary lagoon, just 50 yards from the beach and consist of two wooden cedar shingle roof rondovals with an enclosed large air conditioned sitting area joining the two. The suites have cool and modern white tile flooring with stone accents, plus their own private plunge pool, sleeping maximum 2 adults.

Premium Beachfront Suites are in 2-storey buildings, these have a bedroom and sunken living room with wet bar, huge bathroom with twin sinks, large bath and double walk-in shower, plus ocean views from the balcony or terrace, making these the largest and most luxurious option with iPod docking station, slippers and WiFi access. With 1 king-size bed, sleeping maximum 3 adults. A full-size rollaway bed is provided for Premium Beachfront Suites to allow for triple occupancy. These rooms have direct beach access on the ground floor only.

  • Book by 30 Sept ‘25 to receive up to 10% off the accommodation cost between 11 Apr ’26 – 20 Dec ‘26.  Terms and conditions apply. Any applicable offers have been calculated into the prices shown. Offers may not be combinable. Blackout dates apply. 
  • Book by 31 May  ‘25 to receive up to 40 USD off the accommodation cost per night between 01 Jul '25 - 31 Oct '25.  Terms and conditions apply. Any applicable offers have been calculated into the prices shown. Offers may not be combinable. Blackout dates apply. 

3 restaurants and 1 beach grill: Sea Grape Restaurant (serves award-winning Euro-Caribbean cuisine; breakfast, lunch and dinner), Gauguin Restaurant (offers traditional local cuisine where you can dine in individual cabanas for romantic meals; lunch and dinner), Barefoot Grill (offers a relaxed and laid-back, beachside atmosphere, serving burgers and 'basket style' sandwiches such as the classic Cuban, all made using home-grown fruits, herbs and vegetables from the resort).For special occasions try Ismay's Restaurant* (International island flavours, open evenings only — a US$45 per person supplement applies, payable locally, subject to change). 4 bars: Teepee Bar, Lounge Bar, Gauguin Bar and Rum Shack Bar serving different rums from around the Caribbean and delicious curated rum cocktails. The coffee shop features specialty coffee, tea drinks and homemade pasties. All restaurants are beachfront. Restaurant hours and availability are subject to change. Restaurants open on a rotation basis due to season/occupancy.

Regular entertainment several nights a week. Weekly beach cinema.

Large freeform swimming pool with waterfall feature. 'Spa Indulge'* with open-air treatment cabanas, sun deck and splash pool. Fitness centre. Non-motorised water sports: Hobie cats, kayaks, paddle boarding and snorkelling. Bicycles. Tennis and table tennis. New yoga pavilion. Croquet lawn. Weekly cooking demo. Nature lovers will enjoy the garden tours (Tuesdays) to learn about the fresh grown herbs and spices onsite. On-site Diamonds international shop.

Boutique*. Complimentary WiFi available in public areas. Internet room. Library. Cabana rooms can be booked for use on your day of departure. Rooms offer a great place to store your bags and you have access to shower facilities before the flight home. The cost is $35 for 3 hours.

This hotel has a resort fee of USD $24 including tax per room, per night, (payable locally, subject to change). Please note: a room levy of USD $5 per guest, per night (payable locally, subject to change).

Wheelchair adapted rooms with partially accessible amenities or facilities available on request. Please note that these rooms are subject to availability and may be restricted to specific room categories and bedding arrangements. Rooms and facilities vary between hotels so please check at the time of booking. To discover all the special assistance services we offer please see additional information below.

7 nights between 21 Dec-2 Jan.

* Denotes local charge.

Please note: this hotel is adults-only - children under 16 years are not permitted at any time.

Dress code: breakfast/lunch: shoes must be worn at all times and bathing suits must be covered and dry. Dinner: men are required to wear collared shirts with long trousers or stylish jeans. T-shirts, shorts, caprise and ripped jeans are not accepted. Women are asked to wear dresses, skirts, long trousers or stylish tailored shorts or jeans. No short shorts, tank tops or beach flip-flops are allowed.

For all guests in June, July and August: dress shorts can be worn (no short shorts or cutoffs). Standard dress code applies for Ismays.

Please note: guests are required to present a valid form of ID (passport, driving license, ID card) along with a valid credit card at check-in. A USD$350 pre-authorisation will be processed on the credit card at check-in to cover for any incidental purchases or similar expenses. Incidental purchases may include tours, excursions, gift shop purchases or dining in the speciality restaurant. We understand that not all guests incur additional charges during their stay, but this process assists the resort with fraud prevention. Upon check-out, the pre-authorisation is released, assuming there are no charges made.

Rating summary

  • Location Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Sleep Quality Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Rooms Image of the Tripadvisor rating
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Traveller rating

  • Excellent (3736)
  • Very good (660)
  • Average (188)
  • Poor (52)
  • Terrible (36)
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Home Away from Home

May 5, 2025 Sunsisters33871 Norwalk, Connecticut

We just returned from a wonderful week vacation at Galley Bay. My husband and I have been to many Caribbean resorts and we both said that Galley Bay was one of the best. We felt very much at home and the entire resort offered up pretty much what we look for on a vacation. Unfortunately, it rained all week so that certainly put a “damper” on our… Read more
We just returned from a wonderful week vacation at Galley Bay. My husband and I have been to many Caribbean resorts and we both said that Galley Bay was one of the best. We felt very much at home and the entire resort offered up pretty much what we look for on a vacation. Unfortunately, it rained all week so that certainly put a “damper” on our trip. The umbrella became our most used accessory. Most of the employees were very nice but some were MUCH better than others. A few who need to be recognized are the following: Samantha - always polite and spot on. She was always friendly and incredibly helpful. Tenicia had a smile that could light up the entire resort. Sonya in the coffee shop took great care of us and made a mean cup of coffee. Veronica in housekeeping was terrific. Great service with a smile - always. Last but not least was Alaska - who I will call the Master of Ceremonies. He always made a point to say hello to us and always with a compliment. We stayed in an Ocean front room on the ground floor. This room was delightful. Two beach chaise lounges with our room number on it was a great perk. The room also had an outdoor patio with two more chaises on it. An outdoor shower was a real treat. The three restaurants were totally different but all good. Some of the best food we have had in the Caribbean. The dress code was greatly appreciated. The Thursday afternoon barbecue was fantastic. Great food selection and steel drum music to add to the ambiance. Now - a few areas that need improvement. Reception was totally disorganized and inefficient. After 8 hours of traveling you really should not be asked about your departure information. Let your guests get a bit settled in before hitting them with that question. They also got our restaurant reservations wrong - put us under another guests name. This is a matter of management needing to train the staff. Not a smooth or a friendly welcome. I actually think the reception area should be on the other side of the bridge - closer to the “action” - a real disconnect here. The Tee-Pee bar is a perfect place to have a casual lunch. The menu is just perfect for a lunch by the beach. The problem here is lack of staff which translates to lack of service. We couldn’t get anyone’s attention. We simply needed some flatware and napkins. Our waiter was the only one working there so he was busy and nowhere to be found. I asked the two women working at the bar if they could get us some napkins- they were not interested in helping. I went behind the bar at got some cocktails on my own. We did give it another try on our last day - only one person working -this place is where people would spend money on lunch - needs staffing. All in all, Galley Bay gave us everything we were looking for in a vacation. We will be back. Martha and Bill Spiegel Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Home from home a wonderful place

May 4, 2025 Susan I South Molton, United Kingdom

Another wonderful stay here at this fabulous place Thank you everyone for making us feel at home and special for our yearly visit As usual all the staff are friendly and cannot do enough for you Our room this visit was amazing - the bird life during the day Truely amazing the ducks stole our hearts a bonus was a turtle laying her eggs and the… Read more
Another wonderful stay here at this fabulous place Thank you everyone for making us feel at home and special for our yearly visit As usual all the staff are friendly and cannot do enough for you Our room this visit was amazing - the bird life during the day Truely amazing the ducks stole our hearts a bonus was a turtle laying her eggs and the tree frogs of an evening after the rain were Spectacular !!! 🤣🤣 The food as always a delicious feast at breakfast lunch and evening meal Cocktails and drinks a plenty !!! God bless you all and already booked for April 2026 - just one request though not to much liquid sunshine next year !! 🤣🤣🤣xxx Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating First time visitors thumbs up from us

May 2, 2025 lyndalogie Lincoln, United Kingdom

We visited for the first time with friends who were visiting for their 14th time. There are a large number of returning guests who obviously love the resort. Rooms are spacious and comfortable with a good toiletries and plenty of drinks in the fridge. We had a ground floor room leading right out onto the beach. Unfortunately we rarely used the… Read more
We visited for the first time with friends who were visiting for their 14th time. There are a large number of returning guests who obviously love the resort. Rooms are spacious and comfortable with a good toiletries and plenty of drinks in the fridge. We had a ground floor room leading right out onto the beach. Unfortunately we rarely used the beach as the weather was poor. While the beach was undoubtedly beautiful and would obviously have been more beautiful had the sky been bright blue, we were disappointed that the large amount of seaweed was never removed. The seaweed was smelly and full of flies. I would have thought that a luxury resort would rake the beach daily; many other resorts we have visited have done so. The food was of a high standard always delicious and varied. The food in all restaurants was good but our meal in Ismay’s was exceptional. The drinks on offer were good quality, branded drinks and cocktails were delicious and varied. As others have said some of the staff are brilliant, attentive, friendly and efficient. Unfortunately there were also occasions when service was poor, slow and with errors and omissions. Overall we had a lovely holiday and found the resort to be friendly and can definitely see why people return time after time. The weather was disappointing but this is not something anyone can predict or change. Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Second time stay ... won't be our last!

May 1, 2025 amandacR6722BZ Reigate, United Kingdom

This is our second visit to Galley Bay. We came for our honeymoon back in 2021 and loved it so much, we returned and don't want to leave! The weather has been a bit hit and miss but even with the showers we've had an amazing time! This resort and spa is in such a beautiful place! The staff are so happy to help, the food is incredible and you feel… Read more
This is our second visit to Galley Bay. We came for our honeymoon back in 2021 and loved it so much, we returned and don't want to leave! The weather has been a bit hit and miss but even with the showers we've had an amazing time! This resort and spa is in such a beautiful place! The staff are so happy to help, the food is incredible and you feel really looked after! Our second visit has been just as good as the first and it certainly won't be our last! Thank you again to everyone at Galley Bay for a wonderful holiday! Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating “Beautiful Setting and Missing First Impressions and Inconsistent Hospitality”

May 1, 2025 Joy T

⸻ Stunning Setting, But Poorly Maintained and Inconsistent Service We’ve stayed at resorts all over the Caribbean and were genuinely excited for our first visit to Antigua and Galley Bay Resort. Unfortunately, while there were a few highlights, the overall experience didn’t meet expectations for a property marketed as luxury. The beachfront… Read more
⸻ Stunning Setting, But Poorly Maintained and Inconsistent Service We’ve stayed at resorts all over the Caribbean and were genuinely excited for our first visit to Antigua and Galley Bay Resort. Unfortunately, while there were a few highlights, the overall experience didn’t meet expectations for a property marketed as luxury. The beachfront setting is undeniably beautiful, but the resort itself feels tired and in need of attention. The front entrance lacked any sense of beauty or arrival—just a dirt path, no paving, and empty flowerpots with no flowers in them. It was a missed opportunity to create a welcoming first impression. To make matters worse, the front office was disheveled and cluttered, and clearly visible through a glass door. If you’re going to keep a messy office, at least frost the door to preserve the guest experience. Throughout the resort, maintenance and aesthetics were lacking. Weeds were overgrown, hoses were left out on the lawn, and many areas were just bare dirt with no landscaping. The beach in front of our room was never raked—seaweed and leaves sat untouched the entire stay—and our lounge chairs were never straightened or cared for. Most of the common area furniture was old and outdated, and the dining tables in the evening had no flowers or decorative touches. The resort simply lacked warmth and charm. Service was inconsistent. About 20% of the staff were genuinely kind and professional—Samantha and Danita at Gauguin’s Restaurant, in particular, stood out with their warm, attentive service. Unfortunately, the remaining staff lacked basic hospitality. One especially disappointing moment happened at the coffee shop when my brother-in-law misordered a caramel macchiato while trying to understand the menu. The staff member rolled her eyes and muttered something under her breath—an interaction that was both unprofessional and uncomfortable. On a positive note, the food was excellent. There was a nice variety of menu options with fresh ingredients, and the seafood—especially the local fish—was delicious. The culinary experience was one of the few highlights of our stay. Galley Bay has incredible potential. With its peaceful beachfront setting, it could be something truly special. But without serious investment in upkeep, leadership, and staff training, it falls far short of delivering the luxury experience it promises. ⸻ Read less