I Stayed There: Hermitage Bay Antigua

My husband and I recently had the pleasure of vacationing at one of the Caribbean’s premier resorts, Hermitage Bay Antigua. The property’s tagline is “A Place to do Everything, and Nothing”, and it could not be more fitting! We thoroughly enjoyed both chilling out and experiencing Antigua.

The Vibe

Hermitage Bay’s vibe is experienced even before arrival. The reservations team thoroughly communicated with me prior to arrival, making it easy to plan tours and book spa treatments in advance. All guests have included VIP arrival service at the airport too, so immediately after stepping off the plane we were whisked through customs, immigration and baggage claim and into our private transfer. This made it one of the easiest airport experiences of my life!

Of course, it only got better from there. Check-in at the property takes place in the open-air lobby, and guests are offered the option to order anything they’d like to eat or drink – definitely a few notches above what we’ve experienced at other adults-only, all-inclusive resorts. The check-in process was very quick and easy, as Hermitage Bay staff members know to wait until the next morning to give guests a property view and orientation. This was much appreciated after a long day of travel!

A bellman took us to our Hillside Pool Suite which was nothing short of spectacular with panoramic ocean views, a private infinity pool, expansive verandah, canopied bed, soaking tub with ocean views and outdoor shower – also with ocean views! I really appreciated the fact that the bellman courteously and quickly showed us the suite’s features and then departed without any expectation of a gratuity. Tipping is accepted at Hermitage Bay, but guests are able to easily leave it at check-out so that they don’t have to feel the need to carry cash around every day. The staff provided incredible service throughout our weeklong stay and never made us feel like we should tip – we just did so because we really wanted to at check-out. 

How I Felt

I felt completely relaxed and pampered throughout my time at Hermitage Bay. The staff really went above the call of duty to be genuine and friendly to all guests, providing a serene yet fun sense of luxury. Each morning when I awoke to the gorgeous Caribbean views, I felt like I had stepped into a luxury travel magazine’s photo shoot. Hermitage Bay looks amazing online, and what you see in their promotional photos is truly what you get as there is no need for them to exaggerate anything – reality is better than the edits!

The Digs

Hermitage Bay only offers 30 suites, each housed in a private cottage. Our Hillside Pool Suite was perfect for us, but I know we would have loved the Seaview Garden Suites or Beachfront Suites too because all are very spacious (over 1100 square feet) with soaking tubs, outdoor showers and plenty of room to relax on the balconies. I’m fortunate enough to have traveled to many resorts, and this suite was one of the most unique and luxurious accommodations I’ve ever stayed in. My husband thought it was even superior to overwater bungalows in Bora Bora!

The Agenda

Most of our time was spent relaxing and soaking up the sunshine at the resort. I loved walking the beach and hunting for sea glass most days. We took a kayak out one day to a couple nearby deserted beaches and had fun snorkeling along the resort’s reef. I also had two spa treatments which were incredible and so relaxing that I found myself in a state of chilled out bliss for hours afterward. In the evenings, we really liked watching the sunset from our private pool with a glass of champagne.

We did venture out on the island twice, even though it was difficult to tear ourselves away from the resort! We visited Shirley Heights on Sunday for the weekly sunset party and steel pan band concert. It was a little too crowded for our tastes, but we still enjoyed the views so if we ever end up in Antigua again, we will likely still visit Shirley Heights but on a different day of the week. Our favorite tour was with Adventure Antigua when we visited Laviscount Island and met 49 Giant Aldabra Tortoises. The island is the largest sanctuary of these tortoises in the western hemisphere, after they were flown to Antigua from The Seychelles a few years ago by an animal lover and conservationist. We were completely in awe of these unique reptiles!

The Eats

Hermitage Bay’s food and beverage offerings never left us feeling an iota of disappointment. The resort has just one restaurant, but the menu changes daily for each meal. Ingredients were very fresh and of the highest quality – you could tell they did not cut any corners! Our favorites were breakfast tacos with house-made tortillas, the abundance of straight-from-the-sea fish like grouper, snapper and mahi, as well as the freshly baked bread. I’m no wine expert, but Hermitage Bay’s included wine list was definitely above average, and the staff was always willing to give guests a full bottle on ice to enjoy in their suite after dinner or for sunset. Each evening the resort featured local musicians, and we looked forward to experiencing this Antiguan flavor during dinner.  

Why I Would Go Back

About the Author

Carey Driscoll is the supplier-facing business development manager at VAX VacationAccess. As a former travel advisor specializing in tropical locations, she enjoys helping our preferred travel suppliers connect in relevant and engaging ways with VAX’s community of agents. Carey’s love for travel really took off in college when she spent a semester exploring Greece. Her personal favorite vacation destinations are Tahiti and Hawaii, and she lives in Ohio with her husband and two children.