travleis

Carlisle Bay is a new (opened December 2003) upscale resort on the south coast of Antigua, just a half mile from Curtain Bluff (Antigua's oldest luxury resort).

It is owned and managed by a British outfit which owns One Aldwych in London. There have been numerous write-ups about Carlisle Bay in well known magazines in recent months. My impressions are quite similar to most that I've read previously. Prices are steep and include breakfast. Low season rates are about $600 without 18% tax.

The resort's strongest asset is the beautiful design/theme of the rooms--both the guest rooms and the public areas. Someone really did a very nice job. But don't expect classic Caribbean rattan and cheap-ish feeling elements. The design is decidedly modern, but with a casual and relaxed feel. The beautiful main building and Indigo restaurant are open air with high, peaked 2 story ceilings; weathered and lightened dark wood; and cubical type chairs with contrasting pillows.

The rooms (we are staying in an Ocean Suite--these were newly built for the resort's reincarnation; the Beach Suites were part of the previous resort) are long and open with raised ceilings and the same type of wood and design as the main building. Very modern flair. The resort's website pics are an accurate depiction of the typical Ocean Suite. 27" TV's are in the rooms with about 10 channels (incl HBO, CBS, ESPN, CNN).
The patio/veranda is a highlight (seek a top floor (3rd floor) room for best views)with beautiful views of the swaying palms and beach and Caribbean. Montserrat (active volcano) is on the horizon. The terraces have ample space and nice quality comfortable furniture for 3-4 people.

Tub looks out the window (to an ugly swamp). Showers are good and are walk in stone affairs. Very nice toiletries (New Zealand natural ingredients).

Another highlight is the pool. Free form with nice deck and very nice quality chaise lounges. The pool features a ledge several inches beneath the water surface on which you can place your lounger so that your legs are in the pool but the lounge top is not.

Rooms have DVD and CD players, and 150 DVD's (mostly typical American hits) are available for free along with many CD's.
There is a fully stocked minibar. Charges apply.

There is a 40 seat movie theater which shows 2 movies each evening at about 5:30 and 9:00 PM.
Room service is 24 hours.

The final highlights are the staff and food quality. Quality of service here is the best we've experienced in the Caribbean by a solid margin. To a person, people are friendly, but more noticeable (relative to most places we've been in the Caribe) staff are unusually solicitous. People are bending over backward to make sure everything's right. They've obviously been very intensively trained in this regard.
"Can I change your towel on your chaise lounge to give you a fresh one?" We asked early in the day to look at the evening menu at Indigo: "Let me personally escort you to the restuarants to show you the highlights". The general manager personally greeted us and gave us background on the resort. Etc etc etc.
The restaurants are beautiful, with Indigo situated on the beach, open to the breezes. East serves Asian/fusion food and is also beautiful for its unusual dark appearance with bright red cloth covered chairs. I love spicy Asian food so this was a highlight. See the review of the food in Gourmet magazine.

Well, those are the highlights. Now for the lowlights (the issues the magazines usually don't want to report out of courtesy). Carlisle is located in front of a smelly, ugly mangrove swamp, so views away from the beach (out the back of the Ocean Suites) are truly unattractive. The area is very poor and the village surrounds the resort. There is a secure entrance for vehicles. Most people won't choose to walk the streets beyond the resort. The hills immediately around the resort are a bit scrubby looking. The beach is a 5-6 on a scale of 10 for the Caribbean. Sand is tan, there are quite a few little shells and debris mixed in. The water is not particularly light in color. The 'rain forest' mountains are just northwest of Carlisle, so afternoon showers are common.
The beach is a public beach. Not many locals wander there, but there has been one vendor.

Score card (scale of 1-10):
Staff: 9
Room quality: 9
Beach: 6
Pool: 8
Food: 9
Location: 5
Amenities: 9
Value: 5


So, would I stay here again?
Unfortunately no.
Some may love this place. It could be a very nice honeymoon spot.
The biggest reason I can't embrace Carlisle Bay is that I keep comparing it to Jumby Bay. I love the wide open spaces and freedom at JB, the safety factor, the cleanliness, the no worries feel there. The rooms at JB aren't as nice as Carlisle's. The staff aren't as nice or helpful as Carlisle's.
When my spouse and I walked to our room at Carlisle the first night (after checking out of Jumby) we both said we felt homesick for JB. Sounds corny, but that's what we both felt.

calville

Thanks for the thorough report! I've been enthralled with Antigua since we took a cruise last yr and spent a day on the beaches. We toured Curtain Bluff and thought it was pleasant and attractive but not enough to warrant a stay. Unfortunately, we did not visit Jumby Bay. Antigua has fantastic, white, sugary sand beaches. I've been curious about Carlisle Bay- thanks for the blunt report. I imagine great public beaches were only minutes away by car but at those prices, you expect an excellent beach on site. I've never been to Anguilla or BVI- how does Antigua compare?

travleis

One thing I should add to the above review, I really didn't give enough praise to the chefs and waitstaff at Carlisle. The food there is really excellent and easily on par with the best found in Anguilla (my personal standard of comparison in the Caribbean). It's relatively expensive, but not out of step with pricing on most other islands. Food at Carlisle is a definite highlight.

As for the above questions, the beaches that I've been to on Antigua don't compare with those on Anguilla, T/C's, and St. John. At least in terms of sand quality and water color. Antiguan beaches are more tannish, and the sand is grainier. Perhaps there are some whitish powdery beaches on Antigua, but I haven't seen them. That's not to suggest Antigua's beaches aren't nice. But the best powdery soft white beaches of Turks and Anguilla are amazing.
Jumby Bay's main beach is not much different than Carlisle's for sand quality, but it's bigger, more open and prettier to look at. I'd rate Jumby's beach a 7.5 out of 10 within the Caribbean, and Carlisle's a 7. Cap Juluca's I'd give a 10.

penny

Excellent review of Carlisle Bay! The staff and the food were perfect. It is a nice spot. There is a recent article,
and photos in Town & Country Travel.
We arrived at Jumby post Carlisle, and
felt exactly like you. Yet I have talked to others who prefer Carlisle!
Thats why we have choices, and the "experts" on this forum. I would also give Jumby's beach an 8! Of course
most of Anguillas beaches are 10!!!!

penny

TO: Katiekate, hope this helps. Good info on Carlise/Jumby.

penny

Katiekate--topping for you again.

katiekate

Thanks Penny...I'd forgotten about this post from last yr.