Happy New Year to one and all! Hope everyone enjoyed their holidays and feel renewed and ready to embrace 2019. Christmas vacation for us this year meant a blissful getaway to Antigua with family. Having not visited the island in several years it was heartening to see how well this Caribbean island is prospering, especially considering how last year’s Hurricane Irma ravaged Barbuda its smaller sister island.
Spending Christmas in St John, Antigua’s capital with the family we indulged in an extravagant feast fit for Royalty, then decamped a couple of days later to the luxurious Blue Waters Resort & Spa. Being the only resort on the northwest coast’s Soldier’s Bay, Blue Waters is completely secluded, adding to its cachet of exclusivity.
The recently renovated rooms and villas are a sophisticated palette of pale grays, off whites, with pops of turquoise. The interior design maintains its signature traditional colonial aesthetic and relaxed beachy vibe. With a welcoming staff and warm informal atmosphere it’s become our go-to hotel whenever we visit.
Antigua’s profile is currently rising with a surge of bold faced names acquiring vacation homes along it’s picturesque coastline. You may remember I wrote in an earlier post about the home originally built by society doyenne Bunny Mellon and now owned by fashion entrepreneur Tory Burch. Read that post here…
The tranquility of a freshwater pool at Blue Waters Resort & Spa
Pelican Bar - Blue Waters Resort & Spa
Sublime view from one of several pools - Blue Waters
Beachfront villa - Blue Waters
Pared back Traditional-Colonial decor - Blue Waters
Well, this was an adventure…Christmas morning my brother organized 6 ATV’s for an off-road exploration of Antigua beginning at Heritage Quay on through the rainforest - Salty Dog Rentals
My nephew Anthony and I take a breather in the rainforest
Christmas Eve and we’re on a walkabout known as “liming” when all the stores are open ‘til midnight in St John’s shopping district
Christmas morning my sister-in-law prepared a traditional Caribbean breakfast of Ackee and sailfish
Cloggys restaurant takes center stage on the waterfront of the Antigua Yacht Club & Marina
This was my best best lobster meal of the trip - Cloggy’s at Antigua Yacht Club & Marina
So many beaches and so little time! All the beaches on Antigua are public, so you can take your pick - we like the intimacy of Siboney Beach
Tired of lolling on the beach? Take a quick speedboat ride to the floating bar 5 mins offshore from Siboney Beach
Spectacular view of Jolly Beach and Ffryes Beach
Dennis Bar & Restaurant - We had superb red snapper lunch
Said red snapper - Dennis Bar & Restaurant