Where to stay in Antigua

If you're planning on jetting off to the beautiful island of Antigua, you may find yourself spoilt for choice when picking your dream resort.

Opt for one of the island’s superb all-inclusive resorts and you'll have everything you need at your fingertips so you can switch off, adjust to the relaxed pace of Antigua's 'island time' and focus on making the most of your holiday.

Here are just a few of our favourites:

Our favourite family hotel in Antigua

The Verandah Resort & Spa

This expansive northeast coast resort ticks all the boxes if you’re looking for a great-value all-inclusive plan, a beautiful setting, fantastic beaches and a choice of activities for you and the kids. It’s more like a village than a resort and its spacious suites – with namesake verandas – are set in white-washed cottages named after Caribbean islands and local plants, so you could find yourself calling 'Aruba' or 'Anthurium' your home for the week.

Everything is spread out in the tropical gardens so it feels very peaceful. Golf buggies are on hand to take you from one place to the next which is very welcome if all the activities have left you feeling wiped out or if that extra helping of dessert has left you feeling too full to walk back to your room – after all, indulgence can be tiring too.

The calm waters of the two reef-sheltered beaches are perfect for swimming and watersports while on land you can follow nature trails, play mini-golf and tennis or take a short stroll to Devil's Bridge to see the landmark rock arch. Children may need a little coaxing to leave the fantastic kids' club where they can enjoy art classes, pool games and film nights as well as an activity-packed play room with colourful murals, an adventure playground and a splash pool for cooling down.

Find out more about The Verandah Resort & Spa

Top of the list for a romantic Antigua honeymoon

Galley Bay Resort & Spa

Venture just outside the capital, St John's, to discover this charming adults-only hideaway that is perfect for honeymooners. You’ll be welcomed in the cosy living area lobby, which sits alongside a sugar mill, before being whisked across a bridge over the saltwater lagoon to the resort.

Nature-lovers will be in their element here as a bird sanctuary surrounds the resort and you can watch brown pelicans diving for their dinner and herons wading in the lagoon. If you visit between June and August then don't miss the chance to sign up for the resort's 'Turtle watch'. You’ll receive a call during the night if any turtles are spotted on the beach and while you may rub your bleary eyes in a confused daze as the phone jolts you awake, the chance to see these majestic creatures lay their eggs on the beach is an enchanting experience that you won't want to miss.

All of the rooms here are right on the beach except the unique tepee-shaped Gauguin Suites which are tucked away in the gardens – perfect if you’re looking for extra privacy or fancy something a little bit different. These rustic white-washed cottages with vaulted bamboo-woven ceilings are made up of two thatched rooms – a bedroom and a bathroom – that are connected by an open-air walkway and they each have a private terrace and plunge pool.

Find out more about Galley Bay Resort & Spa

A luxury Antigua resort with incredible views

Blue Waters Resort & Spa

As you enter the elegant, airy lobby of this stunning hillside resort you will catch a tantalising glimpse of the ocean through an archway and long to check out the view before checking in. And what a view – the gardens are spectacular and bougainvillea cascades from balconies and hems pathways at every turn. Budding artists will be itching to pull up an easel under a shady palm and try to capture the vivid colours of the vibrant pinks and purples that frame the dazzling blue ocean and white-sand beaches.

Families are very welcome here but as the rooms, cottages and suites are scattered along the beachfront and the hillside it still feels very peaceful and intimate. With two family-friendly pools, a tranquil adults-only pool and secluded beaches, there is plenty of space for everyone. Dining is a real treat and with a choice of three excellent restaurants – including the award-winning Cove Restaurant which is perched on a cliff – it is worth opting for the all-inclusive meal plan.

If you’re looking for extra space and privacy then the elegant Cove Suites are definitely worth considering. Set at the far end of the resort with exclusive access to four infinity pools, these open-plan suites are beautifully furnished and offer a plush living area, spacious bathroom with claw-foot bath and – as is to be expected at this beautiful resort – incredible ocean views.

Find out more about Blue Waters Resort & Spa