2 Best Hotels in Antigua and Barbuda

Out with the old and in with new, ownership that is—this beloved property has been not just been revived but reimagined after years of renovations that include the reception building’s modern Saint-Tropez–like clean lines, which stand out among the row of old haunts. The facade’s textured design mimics sand just after the sea recedes. A newer building housing 18 executive rooms without kitchenettes seamlessly (though snugly) blends in with the existing structures that have been fully renovated with new bathrooms and kitchenettes; they're decorated with matching sea-life motifs. Spacious terraces offering cool breezes allow guests to savor the natural sound system of the soothing surf with harmonizing crickets, bananaquit birds, and tree frogs in the extravagant, enchanted garden. Four ocean-view duplexes have been fully renovated and have the most impressive panoramas. Ground-floor units represent fine buys for families—rooms 401 and 402 interconnect and virtually extend into that lushly landscaped pool area.

If you're looking for basic sun-sand-surf fun, this active resort—Antigua's largest—fits the bill luring a gregarious blend of honeymooners, families, and singles. Management diligently gussies up and maintains the public areas: there's a faux sugar mill, a free-form fantasy pool, a Creole-style vendors' village, attractive gardens, and a riot of tropical-cocktail colors. Palapas (palm-thatch roofs) and hammocks dot the long if crowded beach. The five main restaurants, Italian to Indian, are surprisingly good, especially the waterfront seafood eatery, Lydia's. The range of activities and facilities (including a cricket field, casino, and spa) surpasses that of many tonier all-inclusives. On the downside, service can be curt, and the dilapidated cinder-block structures have peeling paint, chipped doors, and rusting railings. Many units are cramped and musty with bizarre, built-in concrete furnishings. "Supersaver" rooms, though the size of closets, represent the top value, especially for singles (only $20 supplement). Every room has at least a partial sea view.