My family makes Antigua’s most memorable annual vacation.
There is a danger in returning year after year to the same place. You might end up comparing it to other trips.
I was not worried about The Verandah Resort, Spa and Golf Club. They turned out to have the best four-star family resort on the Island. It’s located in Long Bay on 30 acres of beachfront, and offers stunning ocean views.
Four-star resort and spa, The Verandah Resort & Spa is located in Antigua’s Long Bay.
Pictured is the resort’s Bar & Grill, which looks out to one of Verandah’s two private beaches
Dan’s nine-year old son Zak uses the resort’s huge chessboard along with a friend, while his father enjoys a refreshing poolside Baileys Colada
Although smaller than St James Club’s sister property, the resort offers all you can want. On-tap cocktails plus two large family pools (the biggest on the island), private beaches, water sports and more.
Antigua has beaches for all seasons, two of which are found at The Verandah.
The hotel is only for guests. There are no sunbeds available. You can also enjoy the complimentary watersports like canoeing or windsurfing.
It was great fun taking Zak (nine years) and Nell (six months). However, the seas were rough so I overestimated how fast I could sail. A gust sent us out to the ocean and Nell lost her Peppa Pig hat.
Every day, we went to the Beach Bar and Grill and enjoyed lunch while taking in the beautiful views.
Claire, Claire’s wife, began her morning in the gym each day. She said that it had the most extensive selection of gym equipment she has ever seen.
Dan tells that the Verandah offers a wide range of watersports for free, including canoeing and windsurfing.
Dan says, “It’s an amazingly beautiful all-inclusive featuring lush tropical greenery & incredible ocean views.”
One of two bedrooms in the villa’s plunge pool is shown here. Dan said: “The 180 rooms in the resort are all separate, Caribbean-style cottages with more charm, higher quality, and more space than many.”
We had to let our kids try the resort activities like crazy golf, chess, and a huge swimming pool. It was a great way to give them more time to have fun with their friends, while we could still enjoy on-tap cocktails. Baileys Colada is a drink you should try if you don’t already.
The accommodation is different from standard-issue blocks. Instead of the usual-issue block, there are 180 rooms in Caribbean-style, stand-alone cottages with more space, charm and better specifications.
You can enjoy a panoramic view of the ocean in the waterfront suites. The resort uses elegant touches like bamboo and wood.
Dan claims that The Verandah resort is more affordable than other Antiguan resorts and has everything you need and more. The type of suite Dan and his family stayed in is shown below.
Smiles are better: Dan’s six-year-old daughter Nell and Claire share a joke at the poolside
All ages are welcome at the resort, from couples looking for a touch of romance to families who want entertainment and other activities. TIts layout sprawls out along the stunning coastline. This makes it feel expansive and relaxed.
There are four restaurants in the heart of the complex, a stone’s throw from the main bar, with Seabreeze the largest and most popular of the dining experiences.
A huge buffet will be served for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The food can be prepared in both Caribbean or international cuisine, so it caters to all palates.
Nicole’s Restaurant offers a more formal experience in gastronomy. The experience was truly memorable, and we enjoyed our ‘date night” there with the children.
Antiguan’s hotel traditions include afternoon tea, which is offered every afternoon. A highlight is the weekly “cook-out”, a barbecue and live band, that is held each week.
Half Moon Bay boasts 132 acres with the “most stunning white sand crescent shore beaches in all of the world.”
The Sandersons (pictured above) go to Stingray City, where they can snorkel with huge grey southern rays.
While the Verandah doesn’t offer super-luxury like many hotels on the Island, it is more economical and includes everything you would need.
You don’t have to stay in resort to enjoy the many activities available on the island.
Our trip to Stingray City was a great experience. We snorkeled in the Caribbean Sea with giant southern stingrays that tickled our stomachs.
One of my pets was even in the sea, so I held it and took a photo with family members.
A taxi took us to Half Moon Bay. It boasts stunning white sand crescent beach views and 3200 feet of coral sand.
And what holiday to Antigua is complete without a Sunday evening BBQ soirée at the Shirley Heights lookout point, watching the sun go down while enjoying live music, Caribbean food and a cocktail or two.
We had a wonderful time with the Sandersons. I need my Baileys Colada.