brandilee81

I would love some comparison on these 2 resorts. We are in our early 30's, looking to relax, want good food and good drinks. We love the hillside suites at Hermitage but Galley Bay also has rave reviews and it is quite a bit less expensive. We also looked at Curtain Bluff but I read that it was an older crowd and we are in our early 30's. Thanks for any feedback!

stephaniegmack

Hi! Congrats on your upcoming wedding. I came across your other forum post with details about the kind of honeymoon experience you're looking for. Before I go any further, I will disclose that I work as a sales rep for Hermitage Bay. I also live in Antigua and got the job because I absolutely fell in love with the property (I've stayed at several in Antigua) and harassed the owner until he hired me! It is absolutely the best hotel I've ever stayed at...and the easiest job I've ever had!

Now that said, there are a couple things you should know. It is very tranquil...almost spa-like. Very natural, very quiet (no piped pool music), and very relaxed. We offer non-motorised waters sports and can arrange boating activities for you (Antigua has a number of options and we also offer boat trips to some of the deserted islands around Hermitage Bay). As for reggae music at night, we do provide live entertainment most nights, but it's more a relaxed vibe and isn't always going to be reggae. The majority of our activities are based around well-being, e.g. complimentary Yoga, Pilates, organic garden tours and cooking demos, hiking, fitness room, Spa, etc.

Our beach is long, white sand with an oatmeal-like consistency. There are quite a few shells near the shoreline but softer sand as you go up the beach. Great snorkeling too; there's a reef just a few feet offshore...and of course the crystal clear waters you're looking for. Our bay is protected so the water is going to be much calmer.

We have the private plunge pools you're looking for and they are proper, full size pools. I spent the entire weekend lounging by mine when I stayed...the views are stunning! It almost feels surreal as you see so many different blues, from your plunge pool to the mangrove, the bay and the marina in the distance. Our rooms also have outdoor showers and indulgent bath tubs...you will not run short of 'the kind of views, experiences you see in movies'.
Galley Bay is a great hotel, but I don't believe their pool suites have sea views. I could be wrong.

Hermitage Bay also offers beach service, which not all hotels offer, and there is no shortage of sun loungers, so no having to run out early in the morning to reserve a space. We're also adults only (with exception of July/August) so no kids to worry about.

I could seriously go on forever! If you have any more questions feel free to contact me at [email protected] or on twitter @stephaniegmack

stephaniegmack

I forgot to mention the food! The owner, Andy Thesen, prides himself on being a foodie - and appealing to foodies - so you are sure to have one delicious meal after another. Everything is a la carte (no buffets) and made to order. The menu changes daily, and we use as much fresh, organic, and locally sourced ingredients as possible. Breakfast was my favorite meal of the day: every morning there's a different fresh-squeezed juice, which I always order with fresh-baked pastries and french toast with roasted almonds and honey.

sharona

Did you happen to do a search here for Galley Bay? I've responded to a couple of posts about Galley Bay. We didn't like it too much and we really aren't that picky. Given the rave reviews perhaps we expected too much. But we found the food just so-so and the water in October/November was virtually unswimmable because of strong tides. Not good shade on the beach either which is paramount for me because of skin cancer. I had to spend way too much time sitting on our terrace which was HOT because there was no fan. Too many negatives for us when there are wonderful places to go.

Here are a couple of my responses:

http://www.fodors.com/community/cari...galley-bay.cfm

http://www.fodors.com/community/cari...a-390963-2.cfm

Clearly Galley Bay has its supporters as you will see from some of the other responses. We just don't happen to be among the fan club.