Best Luxury Resort in Antigua: Galley Bay Resort & Spa

Antigua. Just saying the name of the Caribbean island immediately conjures images of white sandy beaches and sapphire waters. Like holding a seashell against your ear, it echoes with the sound of rolling waves and seabirds coasting across a cloudless sky.

The island that originally began as Great Britain’s most important Caribbean naval port more than 200 years ago is now one of the world’s most sought–after tropical get–aways. With average temperatures ranging from the mid–70s in the winter to mid–80s during the summer and an annual rainfall averaging 45 inches a year, it requires no leap of imagination to understand the destination’s increasing popularity.

The island is host to several resort destinations catering to every type of guest visiting the island, from the avid surfer to the traveler whose main goal is to do nothing but decompress and escape from the world.

Antigua’s Galley Bay Resort & Spa is one of these fabled resorts.

A 20–minute taxi ride is all it takes to reach this all–inclusive tropical getaway that describes itself as "an intimate hideaway for discerning travelers who want a refined yet unpretentious experience." Stretched out across 40 waterfront acres of its own private beach, Galley Bay gives every guest fast and easy access to both the water and resort amenities. It is currently listed in the top five Antigua resorts on TripAdvisor and is the recipient of several awards, including TripAdvisor’s 2014 Traveler’s Choice Award, 2014 Condé Nast Traveler Reader’s Choice Award and Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Hotels 2014 Award. More recently, it placed eighth in a November 2014 article published by CNN of the "Top 25 all–inclusive resorts around the world."

Guests planning a visit to the resort may choose between a variety of options, ranging from premium beachfront suites, boasting floor–to–ceiling sliding glass doors that open onto your own private veranda with stunning views of the ocean, to beachfront rooms with direct access to the beach, to the luxurious Gauguin cottages. These private cottages—a newlywed favorite—"reflect the artist’s [Paul Gauguin’s] lifestyle in Tahiti, with privacy that represents a departure from many of the constraints of civilization."

Among the various "hidden jewels" this resort offers its visitors, General Manager Chris Ghita notes the most popular: "Our weekly cooking demonstrations, where one of our chefs performs live using something local and indigenous to Antigua," he says. "Guests participate and receive a participation certificate and the original recipe."

The resort boasts several different dining options, each with its own unique menu featuring fare that will appeal to any traveler’s tastes, from the global to the indigenous. If you’re just looking for a quick place to escape the sun for a few minutes and enjoy a quick cocktail, bars and lounges are scattered throughout the resort for that exact purpose.

As far as dining options are concerned, Ghita says, "Our private beach dining is a must–do. Set on powdered white sand with Tiki torches glowing on the shoreline, here you have your own butler with white gloves. Guests are allowed to choose their menu, which we then pair with a varietal wine."

Ghita has been the general manager of the resort for a little more than a year and says that his team’s "sheer passion is meeting and exceeding our guests expectations," which is a key factor in making the resort the special, luxurious experience it is. It’s the little things that resonate with guests and, as such, Ghita points out, "Employees usually go out of their way to present repeat guests with their favorite drink upon arrival from the airport [and place] hand–written notes and a fresh vase of flowers in every room that has an anniversary or a special occasion."

Galley Bay Resort & Spa, Ghita says, is a true couple’s resort; the resort enforces a 16–and–over age restriction, thus ensuring the peace and tranquility its guests anticipate upon arrival. The majority of its guests are comprised of wedding parties, honeymooners, retirees and "the business travelers who are looking for a total detox vacation." And when it comes to detoxing, Galley Bay encourages its guests to relax and… Indulge.

Launched in 2008, Indulge Spa is Galley Bay’s embodiment of "relaxation and pampering." This multi–level sanctuary showcases several massage areas: two rustic, open–air treatment "pods" overlooking the resort’s bird sanctuary and lagoon, a couples’ massage room and an air–conditioned private massage room. It additionally offers facials, spa therapies and salon services. In–room services may be scheduled as well.

For those desiring a little more action during their vacation, the staff at Galley Bay is happy to arrange day trips to explore the island beyond the resort. The Antigua Rainforest Canopy Tour takes place in the heart of the rainforest, where a suspension bridge over the water leads to the start of 9 zip–lines suspended over the glorious gorge in Fig Tree Drive. A trip to Stingray City offers a safe and educational excursion while learning about and handling Southern Stingrays in their natural habitat, while a Caribbean helicopter tour will give you a bird’s–eye–view of the active Soufriere Hill Volcano. The island provides countless opportunities for exploration and adventure.

The location, amenities and professional yet personal service experienced at Galley Bay Resort & Spa offer the "perfect vacation" and a "fantastic island getaway," which is exactly what former guests are saying on TripAdvisor after they’ve returned from their utopian holiday.

More information on the resort, including rates and availability, can be found at galleybayresort.com.