Galley Bay, Curtain Bluff, or Hermitage Bay??
Jan 26th, 2007, 07:20 PM
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Galley Bay, Curtain Bluff, or Hermitage Bay??
I am booking my honeymoon for my fiance and I in June. I have looked all over the world, from the Caribbean to Bora Bora, for the perfect place. I think we have settled on Antigua, with the assistance of Tripadvisor and all of the posts I've read about it. It seems to have a good mix of everything we want. I am looking for some guidance deciding between Galley Bay, Curtain Bluff, or Hermitage Bay. They are all going to cost about the same, for the rates I am getting They are all all-inclusive. I have read great reviews or heard great things about all of these places. Here's what I know: Galley bay is supposed to be a beatiful beach, with beautiful water; the rooms seemed very average. Curtain Bluff is supposed to be classy -- maybe a little too classy (snooty), but really nice. Hermitage Bay is so new that there is only one review, but I hear it's going to be great.
Could you PLEASE give me any other pro's and con's you have about any of these three? We are looking based on the following criteria (in this order):
1. Beach / Water - looking for the most beautiful, calm, clear water we have ever seen, with long white-sand beach. I want the room to be as close to the beach as possible.
2. Rooms - I'm looking for 4*+ accomodations. It' doesn't have to be a Four Seasons, but I would like something fairly modern with a spacious bathroom.
3. Food - We like to eat! We are looking for multiple restaurants on location, with a lot to choose from. We will dine off the resort a few times, but most of the dining wil be done on-site.
4. Resort Atmosphere / Ambiance - Fun, lively, and not dead at 10:00PM. We certainly want to relax, but we want the ability to go to the bar at night and meet some fun people and have some drinks.
5. Location - We want to be close enough to town where we can go have a night out if we want to. I'll be renting a car, so we will have the option. Close Proximity to other beaches and sights is a plus.
Probably most importly though, is to feel like we really got our money's worth and got to see an amazingly beautiful place.
Any help you can offer will be most appreciated! Sorry it was so long.
-Kevin
Could you PLEASE give me any other pro's and con's you have about any of these three? We are looking based on the following criteria (in this order):
1. Beach / Water - looking for the most beautiful, calm, clear water we have ever seen, with long white-sand beach. I want the room to be as close to the beach as possible.
2. Rooms - I'm looking for 4*+ accomodations. It' doesn't have to be a Four Seasons, but I would like something fairly modern with a spacious bathroom.
3. Food - We like to eat! We are looking for multiple restaurants on location, with a lot to choose from. We will dine off the resort a few times, but most of the dining wil be done on-site.
4. Resort Atmosphere / Ambiance - Fun, lively, and not dead at 10:00PM. We certainly want to relax, but we want the ability to go to the bar at night and meet some fun people and have some drinks.
5. Location - We want to be close enough to town where we can go have a night out if we want to. I'll be renting a car, so we will have the option. Close Proximity to other beaches and sights is a plus.
Probably most importly though, is to feel like we really got our money's worth and got to see an amazingly beautiful place.
Any help you can offer will be most appreciated! Sorry it was so long.
-Kevin
Jan 27th, 2007, 02:53 AM
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I've been at both Galley Bay and Curtain Bluff so I'll try to answer your questions from that perspective. I've not been to Hermitage Bay so I can't comment on that resort.
The sand on most Antigua is not really white but has a very light golden tint. If you want truly white sand you need to visit coral based islands like Providenciales in the Turks & Caicos, Anguilla, Anegada (in the BVI's) Grand Cayman or Aruba. Those islands will also have beaches that stretch for miles. Most hilly and mountainous islands will not have pure white sand and they will be smaller "cove like" beaches.
That said Galley Bay's beach is about 1/3 of a mile long with light golden sand and brightly colored water that is relatively calm but can be "wavy" if the breezes are stirring (this shouldn't be too much of a problem in June). All of Galley Bay's rooms (except the Gauguin cottages) are right on the beach. Some units are two stories so if you are on the upper level you have to walk down a flight of stairs to reach the beach. The Gauguin Cottages are about 150 feet from the beach. The Curtin Bluff beach is smaller (perhaps 1/4 mile long) but the sand is similar in color. The water is not as calm as at Galley Bay. The rooms at Curtain Bluff are located on on the bluff (hence the resorts name) overlooking the water above the beach. It's an easy walk to the beach. Depending on the unit you are in you'd be anywhere from about 100 feet to 150 yards from the beach.
Rooms at both places are nicely appointed but the ones at Curtin Bluff are a bit more luxurious.
Both resorts have good food but I'd rate Curtin Bluff's as being overall better than Galley's Bay's. Both resorts have two different dining areas but I would describe them as being as "multiple restaurants". There's a very good "off resort" restaurant within walking distance of Galley Bay and I don't recall off-site restaurants near Curtain Bluff.
Both resorts have a bar where people gather for after dinner drinks and conversation. They have live entertainment a couple of time a week but neith can be described as having an active nightlife - for that you'd have to go "off-resort".
Both resorts are not really "close to town". Figure about a 20 to 30 minute drive to St. John's. There are 365 different beaches on Antigua, and while some of those are failry small they are evenly spread out around the island so no matter which resort you stay at you won't be very far from other beaches.
Hope this helps.
The sand on most Antigua is not really white but has a very light golden tint. If you want truly white sand you need to visit coral based islands like Providenciales in the Turks & Caicos, Anguilla, Anegada (in the BVI's) Grand Cayman or Aruba. Those islands will also have beaches that stretch for miles. Most hilly and mountainous islands will not have pure white sand and they will be smaller "cove like" beaches.
That said Galley Bay's beach is about 1/3 of a mile long with light golden sand and brightly colored water that is relatively calm but can be "wavy" if the breezes are stirring (this shouldn't be too much of a problem in June). All of Galley Bay's rooms (except the Gauguin cottages) are right on the beach. Some units are two stories so if you are on the upper level you have to walk down a flight of stairs to reach the beach. The Gauguin Cottages are about 150 feet from the beach. The Curtin Bluff beach is smaller (perhaps 1/4 mile long) but the sand is similar in color. The water is not as calm as at Galley Bay. The rooms at Curtain Bluff are located on on the bluff (hence the resorts name) overlooking the water above the beach. It's an easy walk to the beach. Depending on the unit you are in you'd be anywhere from about 100 feet to 150 yards from the beach.
Rooms at both places are nicely appointed but the ones at Curtin Bluff are a bit more luxurious.
Both resorts have good food but I'd rate Curtin Bluff's as being overall better than Galley's Bay's. Both resorts have two different dining areas but I would describe them as being as "multiple restaurants". There's a very good "off resort" restaurant within walking distance of Galley Bay and I don't recall off-site restaurants near Curtain Bluff.
Both resorts have a bar where people gather for after dinner drinks and conversation. They have live entertainment a couple of time a week but neith can be described as having an active nightlife - for that you'd have to go "off-resort".
Both resorts are not really "close to town". Figure about a 20 to 30 minute drive to St. John's. There are 365 different beaches on Antigua, and while some of those are failry small they are evenly spread out around the island so no matter which resort you stay at you won't be very far from other beaches.
Hope this helps.
Jan 27th, 2007, 01:37 PM
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That definitely helps. Thanks a bunch!
Everything I have read said that Galley Bay's water is usually rough -- but I'm hoping it will be better in the summer. I'm suprised that you said Curtain Bluff's is even worse. That's good info. Did you think Curtain Bluff was too "snooty" of a crowd? How old are you? Also, what resort would you recommend, given what I am looking for? Thanks.
Everything I have read said that Galley Bay's water is usually rough -- but I'm hoping it will be better in the summer. I'm suprised that you said Curtain Bluff's is even worse. That's good info. Did you think Curtain Bluff was too "snooty" of a crowd? How old are you? Also, what resort would you recommend, given what I am looking for? Thanks.
Jun 17th, 2007, 01:12 PM
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Curtain Bluff has their rooms on a little bluff close to the windward beach (choppy water). There is also a calm beach across the narrow peninsula.
Curtain Bluff is more elegant, one of the original classic Caribbean resorts.
Curtain Bluff is more elegant, one of the original classic Caribbean resorts.
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