Every tropical island enthralls. With Antigua, however, there are just so many charming things that saying goodbye is not an easy thing to do especially when you have sampled these ten best things about the island.

Carnival!
When Antiguans say carnival, they mean it! An eleven-day celebration of music and dance, the Antiguan Carnival is an explosion of sights, sounds and smells that definitely speaks of its African traditions with European touches. And it’s an opportunity to shake your booty, too!

Beaches
Antigua is purported to have 365 beaches all around the island. Now, if you can explore one beach in a day, you will be staying in Antigua for a whole year. But who’s complaining? Definitely not you in your two-piece bikini soaking up the sun, sand and sea for the perfect tan!

Water Sports
Not surprising, this one. Antigua’s pristine Caribbean waters provide for the best venues to engage in water sports from jet skiing and windsurfing to snorkeling and diving. Go for the eastern seaboard for the best diving sites especially the deeper portions that can be reached by a boat.

Fig Tree Drive
Fig trees in the Caribbean, you say? Well, not really because the Fig Tree Drive is a 20-mile countryside rough road lined by mangoes, coconuts and bananas as well as the occasional quaint thatched-roof fishing villages. Fig, by the way, is the local name for bananas. Don’t ask why.

Devils’ Bridge
No, not the bridges in Europe alleged to be built by the Devil himself although this is also alleged to have the Devil’s hand. The Devil’s Bridge in Antigua is a rock arch shaped by natural forces that features many blowholes. According to folklore, many slaves threw themselves overboard in acts of mass suicides.

Casinos
Well, this might not be your cup of tea during holidays. Still, for a little gambling fun, Antigua offers many gaming establishments where you can blow money or win money depending on Lady Luck.

Hospitable People
The Antiguans are one of the friendliest people on Earth especially when you are a visitor to their island. They are so proud of their heritage that you can almost always get a free lesson in local dance and music from the locals! Lost? No worries as locals will point you in the right direction.

Sunniest Weather, Ever
Well, with the exception of the Sahara and Gobi Deserts, of course. Antigua enjoys the sunniest and driest weather in the Caribbean that visitors are assured of 365 days of sun, sand and sea! Alright, qualify that with an exception during hurricanes that, fortunately, has only directly hit Antigua just 6 times in the last 50 years.

History
Antigua has a rich history stretching from the Ciboney Indians, its discovery by Christopher Columbus, European colonization and slavery, to its administrative independence from Britain. Historical monuments abound in the island, the most notable of which is Nelson’s Dockyard. And of course, the general atmosphere of the island combines its rich African heritage with its European colonial past.

Low Cost of Living
Generally speaking, living in Antigua even for just a short holiday is like being transported to a time when living and loving in luxury was an affordable undertaking. It’s the best place to be for your honeymoon without draining the honey from the hive!

Antigua, you ask? More like Paradise in the Caribbean!

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By Gareth Jones

New Caribbean Exclusive resorts open quite often nowadays, and Antigua is definitely an island that is fast becoming host to some of the best luxury boutique hotels in the Caribbean. The Hermitage Bay an all inclusive luxury boutique all suite hotel which is rapidly developing a worldwide reputation as one of the top ten all inclusive resorts in the world.

As befits a luxury boutique hotel Hermitage Bay has only twenty five secluded and spacious cottage suites which have been cleverly designed to blend with their tropical surroundings. You have a choice of two types of suites both situated overlooking a spectacular turquoise bay and a beautiful white powder sand beach. Firstly there are the Beach Cottage Suites which are along the side of the beach with partial or panoramic views of the sea. The Hillside Cottage Suites have a private plunge pool, and encircled by an open air verandah with incredible views of ocean and islands. Another feature is the open air garden shower. You will find lovely decoration, a very comfortable bed, a massive tub, and high class toiletries supplied. The cottages have of course every amenity you can think of, including flat screen television, ipod docking, and surround sound speakers, an all inclusive and regularly filled mini bar, and your own personal room ambassador, who will do everything from arranging excursions to making sure you have everything you need.

The service is exceptional even by Caribbean Exclusive resort standards. Everyone of the staff will go that extra mile, are extremely well trained and obviously proud to be on the staff of the Hermitage Bay.

The food is out of the top drawer for an all inclusive resort, and the dinner menu changes every night.The food is definitely more sophisticated than is the norm in an all inclusive hotel with great choice at all meals, and added to this is afternoon tea, all included in the price. Another important point is that service in the restaurant is quick, and glasses are replenished speedily.

The surroundings from the bay, the white sand beach to the gardens are close to perfection, and it certainly is noticeable that Hermitage Bay is an adult only resort.

One of the great features of the very large suites are the expansive verandahs.

The hotel pool is located right next to the main bar, and the three tier dining room is kept always cool from the sea breezes, as it is open to the bay. The watersports are fantastic, with experts teaching novices how to sail and snorkel.

It is great to be in such a top class all inclusive resorts where you recognise the internationally renowned spirits and mixers and you aren’t forced to suffer local brands, there are even 12 year old malts!

This absolutely top class Luxury Boutique Hotel has four outstanding features, the first and foremost being the service, followed by the food, the surroundings, and finally the suites. You will really enjoy a stay at the Hermitage Bay, and in fact like most other guests you won’t want to leave this exclusive Caribbean resort.

For more information on Antigua Vacation Spots go to http://www.antigua-vacationspots.com/pages/Site-Map.html

About the Author: Gareth Jones is responsible for Antigua Vacation Spots as well as authoring several articles about Worldwide Vacation Spots and he recommends Caribbean Vacation Spots His first love is the Caribbean especially the hotels on Antigua.

Source: www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=232155&ca=Travel
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By Gareth Jones

The Galley Bay Antigua is a genuine Caribbean Exclusive Resort is not in doubt, it is whether or not it is an Antigua Luxury resort that would be right for you as the question you need to answer.

First things first Galley Bay is quite a small resort with only about 100 rooms or so, in a secluded setting on the tranquil west coast of Antigua, set in forty acres of tropical gardens. There is a bird sanctuary lagoon on one side, and a three quarters of a mile beach on the other. It is the perfect Antigua All Inclusive resort and many of its discerning guests return year after year. Galley Bay has been designed to fit in with its surroundings, and thatch, bamboo and terracotta predominate in the public areas of the resort. Reception is in an historic sugar mill, and transport around the resort is by golf buggy. You will be untroubled by the outside world as to reach the resort you must cross a wooden bridge, there are no children under sixteen except during the Christmas and New Year Holidays, all of which adds to the reputation of this place, surely one of the Caribbean’s most exclusive resorts. If you can, book one of the premium beachfront suites. They come in blocks of four with two at ground level and two upstairs. If possible choose the ground floor for easy access to the beach . It is a great joy to fall asleep and waken to the sounds of waves crashing on to the wonderful beach, and then to be able to get up and be right on the beach. If you feel insecure on the ground floor the views and the privacy from the veranda are a great compensation for having to walk a flight of stairs to get to the beach!!

The rooms are large, well equipped, including flat screen television, ipod docking station and the bathroom is huge with twin showers, and a bath you could float a destroyer in, and everything is spotless with the consumables from mini bar to toiletries changed and stocked every day. Towels and bed linen are in the same bracket, changed daily.

You will find at Galley Bay that the swimming pool isn’t huge but it never seems to be busy, and there is no difficulty getting a sunbed at any time. There are bars scattered throughout the hotel, including a self service juice bar, so getting a drink isn’t exactly a problem, which it can be at other Antigua All Inclusive Resorts. Whilst on the subject of all inclusive the food at Galley Bay is of a high standard, and the Gaugain Restaurant is not only very good, but very romantic as well. You will need to make a reservation on the day you want to eat there,. The alternative is the Seagrape.

One of the great things about Galley Bay is that it never seems to be crowded, perhaps because there is so much space, and so many places to be, and lets face it not too many rooms, you can sometimes feel you have the resort to yourself.

Great exclusive resorts have great staff, and again Galley Bay scores in this respect. The staff are friendly, helpful, yet unobtrusive, and it is true to say that your wine glass will continually and mysteriously be full.

Galley Bay is not only a great Caribbean Exclusive Resort it is also a cut above any other Antigua All Inclusive Resort

For more information on Antigua Vacation Spots go to http://www.antigua-vacationspots.com/pages/Site-Map.html

About the Author: Gareth Jones is responsible for Antigua Vacation Spots as well as authoring several articles about Worldwide Vacation Spots and he recommends Caribbean Vacation Spots His first love is the Caribbean especially the hotels on Antigua

Source: www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=231327&ca=Travel

For more about Jet Set Life Destinations click here.