Galley Bay-dreamin'

For the second half of our trip to Antigua, my husband and I chose to stay in a Premium Beachfront Suite at Galley Bay (another adult-only property, but much more luxe than our previous hotel on the island). I also loved the look of the Gauguin Cottages with their own private plunge pools, but they were sold out for our dates. But with the sand and ocean right outside of back door of our beachfront suite, you can't go too wrong!

This resort is impressive from the first moment you pull into the driveway and spot the old sugar mill surrounded by tropical foliage.

Upon arrival at the open-air lobby overlooking the lagoon, we were welcomed with a strong and delicious rum punch and a big smile from the manager. After check-in, we jumped into a waiting golf cart and were driven across the lagoon to the main area of the resort. After a brief tour on wheels, we stopped in front of the last of the 2-story buildings housing the premium suites, and headed inside to see our home for the next four days. 

I had been a bit concerned that the decor may be a bit too modern for our tastes, but my fears were unfounded. While the room did boast all the modern luxuries (including a huge bathroom), it also had plenty of tropical touches to remind us that we were at the beach. And of course, it's impossible to forget where you are when you have this view! 

The grounds of the resort are beautiful, but it's hard to tear yourself away from the beach! With a long stretch of pure white sand fronting that famously turquoise Caribbean water, Galley Bay has one of the loveliest beaches I've ever seen!

The water can get a bit rough at times, so swimming is not always possible, but they do offer a beautiful free-form pool with a waterfall for those looking to cool off a bit!

The service here is not the very best I've experienced, but it is certainly good. As my husband and I were celebrating our anniversary, we were delighted to come back to the room our first evening to find a bottle of champagne on ice and a congratulatory note waiting for us! At the restaurants, our orders were always taken and served efficiently, and were always correct. Room service was brought promptly and still at the right temperature, and any other requests (extra towels, a fishing rod, wake-up call, etc.) were handled quickly and without fuss.

As with the service, I did not feel like the food was rave-worthy in general, but was on par with what we expected. Dishes were always nicely presented, and the variety was good - I'd just liked to have seen a few more seafood (especially shellfish) dishes on the menu! Do note that there is a $20 surcharge for lobster entrees, and a $35pp surcharge for dining at Ismay's.

My husband and I enjoyed wonderful massages in the wonderful spa one afternoon - highly recommended! Our massage hut overlooked the lagoon, so we were able to enjoy the sounds of nature during our hour of pampering.

My husband also enjoyed fishing in the lagoon (despite not catching anything)!

Galley Bay does offer the typical land and sea activities you'll find at most Caribbean resorts (tennis, bicycles, kayaks, Sunfish, etc.), but we mainly just vegged on the beach here, aside from a day on Barbuda (post on that shortly to follow)!

And the obligatory sunset photos...

Overall, I very much enjoyed the stay at Galley Bay, and think it's a wonderful option for anyone looking for a romantic, boutique all-inclusive beach vacation! It would also be a fabulous spot for a destination wedding!

Have questions or want to plan your own trip to Galley Bay? Please don't hesitate to contact me at Caroline@easyescapestravel.com!