19 Best Hotels in Antigua, Antigua and Barbuda

Nestled within the historic Nelson’s Dockyard complex, this former pitch and tar store–turned–inn features the exposed, original brick stairwell as well as original timbered ceilings in the small but comfortable rooms replete with whitewashed brick walls, polished hardwood floors, sailing prints, and four-poster beds swathed in mosquito netting. The upstairs rooms spy on the yachts in the harbor through Australian pines and stone pillars, while the garden-view suites (housed in the old infirmary) and the former joinery have been converted into large suites overwrought with wooden decor; beautiful views of the harbor outshine the dim lighting. Just past the charming, but unnecessary, man-made beach and through Pillars Restaurant, a short complimentary cruise across the bay leads to the Gunpowder suites and Boom restaurant, a trendy hangout for the young and chic who lounge the day away poolside. Just behind, you will find the welcomed seclusion and flower-lined paths leading to the Gunpowder suites offering modern elegance and flair that Admiral’s lacks.

A well-heeled Brit crowd goes barefoot at this swank yet understated seaside retreat, whose lobby immediately puts you in the Caribbean mindset with vast white cathedral ceilings and sand-colored walls that mimic the color of driftwood, all accented by jewel tones culled from the surroundings—a mixture of emerald green, turquoise, and sapphire with hints of indigo. The twin beaches are minuscule, but sundecks and gazebos strategically dot the lush hillside for optimum privacy. Rooms are regularly refurbished, with flat-screen TVs and rain showers complementing appealingly old-fashioned vellum prints, intricately carved furnishings, and classic Italian tile work. Rooms 104 to 116 lack direct beachfront access, but their sizable balconies practically jut over the water. Low-numbered units in the 200 through 600 blocks feature similarly splendid views. The elegant, enormous (850 square feet) Cove Suites and newer, even larger Cove Penthouses comprise an independent enclave on 5 lavishly landscaped acres with four infinity pools. The three villas (butler and chef available) define seclusion; choose Rock Cottage for a 360º view or Pelican and Turtle for beach access. The light and bright menus emphasize healthful preparations at the waterfront Palm restaurant and the Cove à la carte restaurants. A breakfast-only plan is available for those who don't want the all-inclusive (afternoon tea and nonmotorized water sports are complimentary).

This simple, yet charming compound opens onto the quieter part of Dickenson Bay, yet it's merely steps from the rollicking restaurants and nightlife. The sizable one-bedroom poolside suites are admirably outfitted with open-plan living rooms, louvered windows, kitchenettes, and flat-screen TVs with cable. The decor is unfussy but appealing, with island artworks and wicker or hemp furnishings. The two-bedroom beachfront cottages are stunners, with beamed, pickled-wood cathedral ceilings and spare elegant design highlighting huge striking seascapes.

This cosmopolitan, boutique sister property of London's trendy One Aldwych hotel daringly eschews everything faux colonial and Creole, instead providing a monochromatic, magazine-worthy look that combines cool, classy minimalism with unsnobbish warmth. Vast, split-level accommodations emulate the Japanese decorative ideal of perfection through simplicity with white walls, black-and-white snapshots, mahogany-and-teak furnishings, mauve and peach fabrics, and chrome-and-glass accents. The bougainvillea garlanding the enormous balcony adds just the right amount of color. Deluxe gadgetry runs the gamut from fiber-optic bed lights and Nespresso machines to a movie-screening room and futuristically lighted library with Internet stations. The three innovatively trendy restaurants (including the poolside Italian, Ottimo!), complimentary nonmotorized water sports, and a soothing spa enhance the luxe ambience. There are kinks—particularly an admirable but inadequate attempt to separate families and romantically inclined couples—but the buff bodies toting cell phones make this a hip, see-and-be-seen scene.

Mere steps from the water’s edge, the main building at the congenial cozy harbor front "Cat Club" evokes a plantation great house with verandahs, white columns, and hand-carved doors. The efficiency apartments are ideal for families (the staff dotes on kids), and second-floor deluxe rooms have romantic canopied four-poster beds and scintillating views. Nonmotorized water sports are free at the minuscule, palm- and almond-tree-lined beach, where you can gaze upon megayachts anchored in the marina while lounging on newly installed beach daybeds. The on-site Captain's Quarters is a popular local liming spot with decent grub. Owned and operated by the notable Bailey family for many years, two generations of the family are on-site to make sure improvements happen yearly and ensure smooth sailing for travelers seeking true Antiguan flavor.

This healing, hillside spa hideaway aims to "eliminate all potential worries" by emphasizing simple, natural beauty and West Indian warmth—yoga classes, a boutique gym, nature hikes, and TV-free rooms further promote de-stressing. Pastel-hue, Creole-style cottages with gingerbread trim and distinctive wattle-and-daub terrace dividers have pine floors, sisal rugs, mosquito netting, Adirondack chairs, and bleached-wood louvers. Fresh flowers plucked from the exquisite gardens add splashes of color. The sparkling bay vistas from every room are restorative in themselves, though a wellness center offers massages, facials, and scrubs, many using indigenous ingredients. Only the ho-hum food—except at on-site but independent Sheer Rocks—and pokey if pretty beaches somewhat compromise the relaxing vibe.

An incomparable beachfront setting, impeccable service, superb extras (free scuba diving), effortless elegance: Curtain Bluff is that rare retreat that feels forever modern while exuding a magical timelessness. The lavish gardens and legendary 25,000-bottle wine cellar bespeak late owner–founder Howard Hulford's passions, which management is continuing and the loyal multigenerational clientele (yes, families are coddled) shares. Some might find Curtain Bluff stuffy and country-clubby, but guests merely respect one another's privacy. Gorgeous, sunken junior suites—over half the rooms—have marble bathrooms, grass mats, Mexican earthenware, deco-funky lamps, and coffered raw-wood ceilings. Stunning duplex suites, in soothing whites and blues, scale the bluff; their hammock-slung terraces alone outclass many hotel rooms. Everyone eventually emerges for classic Continental dining and dancing to live bands in the lovely alfresco restaurant, where chef Christophe Blatz also gives cooking and wine-pairing classes. The elegant waterfront spa exemplifies how Curtain Bluff remains a world-class resort that's a bargain in its class.

Lush landscaping snakes around the two-story buildings and pool at this small hillside complex, which offers excellent value for families. The handsomely appointed duplex accommodations feature most of the comforts of home, though the floral decor is unoriginal and there are only distant views of the sea (from suites 7A, 7B, 8A and 8B); all other units have garden views. One-bedrooms ( 11, 5, and 6) have been upgraded with standing showers. Though there's little to do on premises, recreational options abound in the area. Children under 12 stay free and additional guests are a small fee. This agreeable enclave is often inexplicably empty, so ask about last-minute reductions and check for specials on the website.

This posh, adult-only all-inclusive channels the fictional Bali H'ai (with colonial architectural flourishes) on 40 lush acres with a man-made lagoon, stunning grotto pool, a bird sanctuary laced with nature trails, and a magnificent boardwalk-lined ecru beach. The gardens are as manicured as the discriminating clientele, and they cannily conceal the splendid Indulge Spa, incorporating natural elements into the design. The soothing, at times crashing, surf serenades the Creole-style beachfront buildings and romantic Gauguin restaurant (with clever, thatched private-dining alcoves). The handsomely appointed superior and deluxe beachfront units (Numbers 47–48 are centrally located; avoid 77–80, which abut potential mosquito breeding grounds) represent the best value, though towering palms slightly obstruct even the second-floor views. Suites splendidly balance an old-style plantation look with modern necessities (including Wi-Fi). The Gauguin Suites, replete with plunge pools are charming but slightly claustrophobic. But these are minor quibbles for honeymooning couples and corporate bigwigs escaping the rat race.

These duplex, two-bedroom villas ring the marina of a sprawling, 500-acre compound offering every conceivable facility from restaurants and shops to a golf course. The Mediterranean Revival central activity area could put the florid in Florida, with its red-tile roofs, faux stucco, and mustard arcades. The sizable, fully equipped, pastel-hue (mint to mango) villas themselves resemble a cookie-cutter retirement village. Opt for those on the south finger, which is closer to the beach and activities, since the free shuttle is erratic and slow. You must pay separately for everything except the pool. On still days, flies and mosquitoes come out in brute force, but villas represent jolly good value for self-catering families (many have washer/dryer) and golfers.

This genteel resort, long a favorite with Brits and the boating set, is ideal for those seeking beachfront accommodations near English Harbour's attractions, yet it suffers from a split personality: the original hilltop buildings hold the beamed, flagstone bar and dining room with scintillating harbor panoramas, while four cramped if stylishly monochrome beachfront rooms are serviceable (beware windless days and biting insects), but have easy access to the funky-elegant beach bar and the complimentary water sports. Three newer whitewashed, gray-shingle buildings bizarrely sit in a breezeless area behind the horizon pool far from the beach. Enormous rooms are plushly appointed with mahogany four-poster beds, hand-painted armoires, candelabra sconces, fand porphyry bathrooms; however, they're dimly lighted. Top-floor units at least offer cathedral ceilings and better views.

This refined resort proffers all the makings of a classic Caribbean private island hideaway, right from the stylish airport private car pickup, private launch, dockside greeting, and registration at your leisure. The main beach is simply sublime—except when jets whoosh by. Fortunately, attendants cater to most whims, from fresh fruit sorbets to whatever personal experiences you might dream up. Privacy is paramount: you can bike along nature trails to the island's many secluded beaches (one lures nesting turtles in season), though the fantastic new beach bar and pool grill keep everyone happy and hopping. Luxuriant indoor-outdoor bathrooms, bamboo and granite accents, four-poster beds, and hand-painted tile work integrate modern amenities like 42-inch flat-screen TVs, Nespresso machines, master switches, free Wi-Fi, dual rain shower heads, and Bose sound systems. The cuisine is impeccable. Birdsong and sea breeze fill the casual Verandah restaurant, which showcases an open kitchen with wood-burning oven and infinity pool with a seaview. Villa owners, including novelist Ken Follett, frequent the clubby 18th-century stone-and-mahogany Estate House dining room, which showcases a dazzling Italian menu.

This exclusive 40-acre compound's handsome, gabled Georgian-style buildings cascade down the lushly landscaped hillside to the eponymous bay, flecked with sails; aptly, aquatic activities abound, including sailing, windsurfing, and kitesurfing. International professionals give lessons to all levels. Residences at Nonsuch Bay, or what they call the "family" section, have enormous self-catering units, situated to maximize bay views from bedrooms and oversize verandas. Cathedral ceilings and French windows provide cross breezes, and natural materials, such as beautiful hardwood floors and accents, help bring the outdoors in. Each room is fully furnished, including stunning local crafts; the latest deluxe gadgetry: Studio Becker kitchens with Viking appliances and Kohler hardware, washer/dryers, wide-screen LCD TVs; many have separate jetted tubs and rainfall showers. Additionally, four extraordinary hilltop villas offer the ultimate in luxe living. The newer Escape at Nonsuch Bay section opened in 2019, answering couple’s calls for adults-only lounging with the same majestic setting. The 40 luxurious suites with plunge pools and wet bar are ideal for romantic getaways.

Views of English Harbour, affable management, and affordability distinguish this homey inn whose main house has six snug guest rooms (two share a bathroom); the four hillside cottages are the nicest (especially Numbers 8 and 9). The owners can provide light dinners with advance notice, though restaurants are only a short hike away. There are several beaches within a 10-minute drive. Guests meet for continental breakfast on the deck and drinks at the Honesty Bar (where you write up your tab), to be had on a lounger by the pool, which is also patronized by a cheeky iguana.

The sumptuous public spaces, lovely beach, glorious gardens, and plethora of facilities almost mask this resort's impersonal atmosphere, and renovations have added plunge pools and larger bathrooms to the rondavels (bungalows with thatched roofs). The few units claiming water vistas (Numbers 301–305 are best, whereas 401–404 lack views but open onto the beach) are cramped, poorly ventilated, and lie directly in the busiest foot-traffic path. Pluses include activities from cardio training to karaoke, romantic four-poster beds, and such extras as complimentary tennis lessons and scuba diving (only spa treatments and weddings incur surcharges). The all-suites Mediterranean Village expansion embraces 180 lavish units (starting at 500 square feet and matching marble, mosaic, and mahogany); a swim-up bar; private check-in; butler service; two upscale restaurants; a delightful pub; and posh retailers. Architecturally it's a hodgepodge, yet many details impress, as do the various pre-designed wedding themes.

Out with the old and in with new, ownership that is—this beloved property has been not just been revived but reimagined after years of renovations that include the reception building’s modern Saint-Tropez–like clean lines, which stand out among the row of old haunts. The facade’s textured design mimics sand just after the sea recedes. A newer building housing 18 executive rooms without kitchenettes seamlessly (though snugly) blends in with the existing structures that have been fully renovated with new bathrooms and kitchenettes; they're decorated with matching sea-life motifs. Spacious terraces offering cool breezes allow guests to savor the natural sound system of the soothing surf with harmonizing crickets, bananaquit birds, and tree frogs in the extravagant, enchanted garden. Four ocean-view duplexes have been fully renovated and have the most impressive panoramas. Ground-floor units represent fine buys for families—rooms 401 and 402 interconnect and virtually extend into that lushly landscaped pool area.

Management has diligently smartened the public spaces and exquisite landscaping at this venerable resort, taking full advantage of the peerless location straddling 100 acres on Mamora Bay. Regularly refurbished rooms are commodious and vibrantly decorated (the Royal Suite, Premium, and Beachfront units are worth the extra cost, boasting elegantly enhanced bathrooms). Activities galore satisfy the most jaded travelers; in inclement weather you can enjoy movies in the screening room, treatments at Spa Tranquility, and trivia contests or dance classes in the smartly renovated Jacaranda Lounge. The newly renovated, self-catering two-bedroom villas cascading down the hillside are a good value for large families. Though the restaurants are spectacularly situated over the water—especially Coco Beach, the Docksider, Piccolo Mondo, and the Rainbow Garden—food varies in quality. Next to Coco Beach, Eleven/11 becomes a nightclub in the evening. The sometimes harried staff and occasional invasion of younger, rowdy Brits on package deals further diminish deluxe pretensions, but this hotel remains a favorite with many regulars. 

If you're looking for basic sun-sand-surf fun, this active resort—Antigua's largest—fits the bill luring a gregarious blend of honeymooners, families, and singles. Management diligently gussies up and maintains the public areas: there's a faux sugar mill, a free-form fantasy pool, a Creole-style vendors' village, attractive gardens, and a riot of tropical-cocktail colors. Palapas (palm-thatch roofs) and hammocks dot the long if crowded beach. The five main restaurants, Italian to Indian, are surprisingly good, especially the waterfront seafood eatery, Lydia's. The range of activities and facilities (including a cricket field, casino, and spa) surpasses that of many tonier all-inclusives. On the downside, service can be curt, and the dilapidated cinder-block structures have peeling paint, chipped doors, and rusting railings. Many units are cramped and musty with bizarre, built-in concrete furnishings. "Supersaver" rooms, though the size of closets, represent the top value, especially for singles (only $20 supplement). Every room has at least a partial sea view.

Verandah's splendid hillside setting overlooks calm, reef-protected Dian Bay, and hiking trails snake around the property to Devil's Bridge National Park. Though some local activists disagree, this ecocentric resort emphasizes low-impact environmental responsibility, without sacrificing upscale contemporary conveniences. The mint-and-apricot New England–meets-Creole cottages built on pylons incorporate solar energy. Waterfront suites (76 in total) have been upgraded with new flooring and luxurious walk-in showers and double sinks. There are plentiful activities for kids, including ecological edutainment, an 18-hole mini-golf course, a playground, and a dedicated pool and restaurant. The sizable, villa-style units offer unobstructed ocean or bay views (units 167–186 are primo); vaulted ceilings; stylish touches like granite counter tops; natural materials such as wood, bamboo, and stone; family-friendly sofa beds and kitchenettes; and such high-tech necessities as TVs and Wi-Fi access (in those closest to the public spaces and pool). Other first-rate facilities include an enormous free-form swimming pool that doubles as a social center, an adults-only grotto pool, a two-tier plunge pool, several appealing restaurants, a mini-cinema, and the Tranquility Body & Soul Spa.