Carlisle Bay

"Opened in 2003, Carlisle Bay is set on a lush, isolated section of Antigua ’s south coast and has a 21st-century design that feels more contemporary than Caribbean. With muted shades of grays, whites, and greens, the hotel projects an uncluttered, understated luxury. Its most remarked-on feature, though, is the way it appeals to both couples and families by keeping the two separate. Each group has its own cluster of rooms at its own end of the beach, and never the twain have to meet, except perhaps for lunch at Ottimo, the poolside Italian restaurant. The crescent of beach is tucked into a sheltered bay, so the waves seldom do more than whisper up onto the white sand, against a backdrop of forested hills. It’s all very restful, but the long list of free non-motorized watersports and the extensive kids' club ensures everyone has plenty to do."

"Opened in 2003, Carlisle Bay is set on a lush, isolated section of Antigua ’s south coast and has a 21st-century design that feels more contemporary than Caribbean. With muted shades of grays, whites, and greens, the hotel projects an uncluttered, understated luxury. Its most remarked-on feature, though, is the way it appeals to both couples and families by keeping the two separate. Each group has its own cluster of rooms at its own end of the beach, and never the twain have to meet, except perhaps for lunch at Ottimo, the poolside Italian restaurant. The crescent of beach is tucked into a sheltered bay, so the waves seldom do more than whisper up onto the white sand, against a backdrop of forested hills. It’s all very restful, but the long list of free non-motorized watersports and the extensive kids' club ensures everyone has plenty to do."

"Why did this hotel catch your attention? What's the vibe? To reach the hotel (30 minutes from the airport), you drive south along the island's most scenic road, Fig Tree Drive, which cuts a winding route through the shade of the rainforest. And the arrival on the private road to the resort, on the very southern end of the island, doesn't disappoint. From the rainforest road, suddenly things feel wide, open, and washed in sunlight. A bridge across a sparkling koi pond leads to the hotel's grand lobby, an open-air space with a colonial design sense and louvred windows that welcome the Caribbean breezes in. There's a real sense of place, and no doubt where you are in the world. Glimpses of the Caribbean waters and the hotel's private sweep of sand draw your eyes outside. What's the backstory? The hotel is part of Leading Hotels of the World and considered one of the finest addresses for a secluded, waterfront stay in Antigua, as well as all of the Caribbean. It's a place of understated wealth and warm island vibes, and fronts a private bay/beach that belongs to the property and ensures the overall privacy of guests. In 2019 a a resort-wide refurbishment was completed, so everything is contemporary and refined, with the focus on the gorgeous grounds, gardens, beach, and bay. Guests are usually of the high-income variety, but this isn't a celebrity place. Tell us all about the accommodations. Any tips on what to book? The hotel has 87 ocean-facing suites. Rooms are set a bit back from the beachfront here, with views of the palms and gardens, too, that come streaming in through the floor to ceiling windows. The decor is fairly minimalist, with white tile floors and curved wooden ceilings, dark wood furnishing and pops of blue on accent pillows. The effect really draws your eyes out to the views, where the focus is really meant to be anyway. My split-level room had an open plan with the bedroom opening to a sitting area and then onward to the roomy outdoor patio that furthered my easy breezy vacation mode state of mind. I'd don my robe for coffee overlooking the beach in the morning and sit out on the balcony in my bikini later with a beer. It almost felt like my own private beach residence more than a standard hotel room. The bed was comfortable and there was a double bed-sized lounger on the balcony where I spent a lot of my time relaxing. There were always fresh flowers in my room, and fresh fruit delivered daily. Overall, just a clean and healthy-living feel to the guest suites. I appreciate the espresso machines, too. Is there a charge for Wi-Fi? Complimentary and fast. Drinking and dining—what are we looking at? Most guests choose to have the bulk of their meals onsite at the hotel, as I did, too, during my stay. There are five restaurants to choose from. A delicious breakfast spread is included in the nightly rate and includes made to order omelettes, island fruits, fresh juices and pastries, and is served in an open-air dining room called Indigo on the Beach that overlooks the water. Lunch and dinner are also served here and focus on fresh seafood caught in the waters offshore, including snapper and Caribbean spiny lobster. Popular dishes include fresh catch sandwich on brioche, lobster rolls, Ahi tuna. Ottimo is the hotel's Italian restaurant, with a wood-fired oven than puts out great pizzas. It's very popular for lunch, especially with the family set. I really liked lunch (it's open for dinner, too) down at the beach on the Jetty Grill, which is adults-only and has a menu focused on grilled meats and seafood as well as classic Caribbean food like roti and jerked meats. I could have sworn I was back in Bali at East restaurant, the place to go to cater to your Asian cravings, a dimly lit inside restaurant open for dinner only with Japanese, Thai, and Indonesian dishes (lobster tempura, beef rendang, and peking duck are among the tastiest dishes). Afternoon tea or sunset cocktails are best enjoyed with your toes in the sand at the little beachy bar called Coconut Grove, where a few tables are plunked right in the sand. And the service? Service is genteel and flawless, warm smiles everywhere and non-intrusive. Check-in was a breeze. The concierge can organize any island activity that might interest you, whether that's hiring a local guide for a morning hike through spectacular rainforest into Wallings Reservoir to catch the sunrise from on high, recommending local galleries to shop for art, or leading you through the onsite herb and vegetable garden on a tour. What type of travelers will you find here? It's a Cornwall/Dorset meets Nantucket crowd. The bulk of the property's guests are British, and you'll feel it in the politesse that abounds poolside to the beach. Overall, it's a fit and healthy crowd who look confident in their swimwear despite perhaps needing some sun. They're wearing Lily Pulitzer and Tory Burch and Vilebrequin swimwear, usually sporting a stylish cover up by day and getting dressed up in the evenings. What about the neighborhood? Does the hotel fit in, make itself part of the scene? The hotel occupies its own enclave at the southern end of the island but hardly has a compound feel to it. You're picking Carlisle Bay for its location next to the island's lush rainforest area, and because the crescent of white sand beach is far and away one of the prettiest on Antigua. People who love to keep sporty on holiday love this resort. There are nine outdoor tennis courts and water sports galore from the beach right out front, with complimentary sailing, kayaking, snorkeling, windsurfing, and paddleboarding all available. You can leave for scuba diving excursions and sailing trips to check out some of the other beaches on Antigua (there are 365) right from the property's private pier. A lot of guests don't find the need to venture off the property during their vacation, but if you want to get around it's all entirely accessible from Carlisle Bay, too. Secluded feel but totally accessible. Is there anything you'd change? Water sports like wakeboarding, tubing, and waterskiing are an add-on activity for which you have to pay extra, and they take place in a neighboring cove. Any other hotel features worth noting? The resort is really popular with families, despite having the adults-only restaurant. There's a purpose-built kids club located within the hotel's gardens that's open to kids from the age of six months through six years. The club is complimentary for kids between the ages of two and six. The 17,000 square foot Cara Organic Beauty Spa is the property's real jewel, tucked away in the gardens with only six treatment rooms, a yoga pavilion, plunge pool, sauna, and juice bar. Wellness retreats are offered several times throughout the year. Definitely worth the splurge for a treatment in the luxe couples' treatment room. A special art gallery near the property that's surrounded by flowering rainforest plants is the Fig Tree Studio Art Gallery, where an Antiguan and his British painter wife sell their works. Bottom line: Worth it? Why? For a Caribbean property where the focus is on wellness, relaxation, and the beauty of the surrounds, Carlisle Bay ticks all the boxes and is worth it. With the British flair, it's a real escape from the more American-targeted resorts at other islands closer to the U.S." - Terry Ward