We're considering Antigua next winter after four trips to the BVI. Does anyone have any suggestions for a small hotel or resort located on a beach with a resturant/bar. Want clean and safe on a not so busy but not deserted beach. <BR><BR>Also does anyone have any suggestions as to exploring the Islands beaches in a rental car? Where should we start North shore, South??

There is a place called &quot;The Inn at English Harbour&quot;. It's small and is on a beach, although not a great one. They do offer a free water taxi to better beaches. It gives you a view of the English Harbour as well as of Nelson's Dockyard. It's very old fashioned, very charming,i.e. screened plantation shutters, etc. and has a very historic feel to it. The food is of a good quality and they do provide entertainment at night. We didn't rent a car on Antigua. The roads are full of potholes and they don't have very good signs there. We hired a driver and saw lots. We saw Nelson's Dockyard, Shirley Heights, the Interpretation Center, Betty's Hope and he took us through some really lush hill country and through the rain forest. Saw lots of goats, children and men riding donkeys. we also went shopping in St. John's. And it wasn't that expensive. BTW, Redcliffe Quay was our favorite spot for buying t-shirts.

The Hawksbill was a nice medium sized hotel. We had an ocean front room and it was lovely and private. Actually, it was more like a small cottage. The grounds are nice for strolling and have many picturesque spots. However, the service in the restaurants sucked and the food was iffy.

For a small hotel on a lovely beach on Antigua, I don't think you can beat the Long Bay Hotel. (www.longbayhotel.com) There are only 20 rooms and 4-5 cottages, so the service is always personal. The beach has a reef for snorkeling and it is shared by only one other hotel. It's on the far eastern side of the island, so it's away from things. I'd advise renting a car while there. <BR><BR>Food is way above average at the hotel, there's a beach bar that serves lunch and another bar in the main part of the hotel that's open in the evenings. Great staff at this place, too!<BR><BR>Very casual place, the owner walks around barefoot during the day. Collared shirt required for dinner at night. Mostly British clientele during high season and a mix during low season (when I was there, there was one couple from Guyana and another from Atlanta, Georgia.)<BR><BR>Long Bay is definitely safe and clean, the beach crowd picks up a bit on weekends when some of the locals come to swim, but is otherwise quiet. <BR><BR>Can't say enough good things about this place. It's not in the Fodor's guidebook, but I found it in Houghton Mifflin's &quot;Best Places to Stay in the Caribbean.&quot;<BR><BR>By the way, the rates include breakfast and dinner, taxes and service charge, so they offer very good value as well. Inquire by email for even better deals! email me if you have questions. [email protected]

Forgot to say that I have also stayed at the Hawksbill. I enjoyed it, and while it has four beaches, none of which was crowded when I was there, the food isn't nearly as good. <BR><BR>Hawksbill's standard rooms are not as good as the standard rooms at Long Bay. Didn't stay at Hawksbill's garden cottages or club rooms, but the cottages at Long Bay are very roomy. I stayed in the View House my first time there. <BR><BR>If beaches are most important, you may prefer Hawsbill because each beach is gorgeous. If you value more personal service, Long Bay is the better bet. <BR><BR>Hawksbill is closer to St. John and Dickenson Bay, where most of the action is, so if you're taking a taxi, it will make a difference. If you rent a car, it won't matter. <BR><BR>Have a great time!