St. John's, Galley Bay Review

Overall Rating

We spent 3 weeks at Galley Bay, and it actually exceeded our initial expectations. This is a beautiful place, and the most relaxed ambiance we have ever encountered. The sea is beautiful, and there are many places without rocks. Simply walk along the beach a little, and use the rocks to snorkel over, as there is some great marine life there.

Erm, well, they can't cook mushrooms lightly for breakfast, as they like to chop and annihilate them.

VC Bird is possibly the most unorganised, small and non-user friendly airport I have ever encountered in my travels ever - Antigua needs to sort this, as a lot of tourists said that was the only reason they would not return to Antigua again!

This was a fantastic resort, and I do not know how anybody who could review and say the food was bad. This food is top notch; no queuing to serve yourselves a load of banal usual all inclusive stuff. You are served, and suffice to say I gained 8lbs and I was trying to be careful. Yes, it is expensive, and we spent an absolute fortune, but we feel we got value for money.

The pool was absolutely fine! It is not murky, but because of the way it is built onto a rock coloured surface to look natural, it looks a slightly different colour, but it is lovely to swim in and go under the waterfall. There are seats all the way round the pool, so you can sit on a ledge and cool off.

We chose to get married here, and again, they could not do enough for us. One wedding per day is the maximum they will allow, unlike some other resorts with couples marrying one after the other like a chain. It is your day, all the staff know you are marrying, and they even know your married name, such is the dedicated team here. They decorated the gazebo beautifully, even though we chose to marry on the beach, so we cut the cake in there, as it seemed a shame not to use the lovely flowers. The drinks are all branded, so there is none of the rubbish you usually get, and they will make up any cocktail, on top of the list they show. If you don't like the food, simply request what you want, and they will cook it if they have it.

Trips I would thoroughly recommend - the Excellence to Barbuda, as this was fantastic and well worth every penny. What a wonderful experience, and one we will treasure forever.

Use Stanford Payne with his luxury car for the day, and he will take you around the island in comfort, not in some of the battered taxis offering this service - it's the usual - you get what you pay for.

Shirley Heights - oh well, if you like loads of tourists stuffed into a small area with burgers and beer, then you go. The sunset is lovely, and the steel band great, but to spend 4 hours there??!! Maybe just turn up an hour before sunset? I didn't feel this was the real Antigua.

If you are lucky enough to be there for Carnival (early August) then go. So many didn't bother and just sat around the pool, but we spent a whole day down there, walking the route, taking 180 photographs and a video, and dancing in the streets - boy do Antiguans know how to party.

I would recommend Galley Bay to anybody who wants a nice, quiet, relaxing luxury holiday away from the crowds, but if you want hordes of people and a full beach with noisy powered water sports, then OK go to Sandals, but we preferred the peace and quiet and dessert island feel.

It is a small, luxury, exclusive resort, and as Giorgio Armani has his house next door and has been known to eat here, it obviously has a touch of class, although at a price, but we don't begrudge one penny.
We will return, one day.