The Cove Suites at Blue Waters

We recently returned from a 9 night stay at the Blue Waters Resort & Spa and I can say with confidence that it was one of the most relaxing and enjoyable trips we have ever been on. I honestly think I reset my nervous system in the best possible way by being there. To save people some time from reading this very long review, please note that we were looking for a smaller resort where the vibe was more old but updated Caribbean. One where it was quieter, tranquil and unhurried… where getting a beach or pool chair with shade wasn’t a blood sport. Blue Waters delivered on all that and so much more. OVERALL The resort is very open and airy, exceptionally clean and spread out over many acres. As such, it never felt crowded which was really nice. Check in was divine after 15 hours of travel. Upon arrival we were warmly welcomed, escorted to comfortable lobby seating to rest, and given cool lavender scented washcloths and a light tropical drink to enjoy while doing so.The staff took care of everything at the front desk and when we were ready we were walked to our room and provided with an explanation of the resort along the way. GROUNDS Everything about the resort is beautiful! From the drive down the private road to the entrance, the lobby, bars, restaurants, pathways, accommodations, spa, beaches and pools - everything - is beautiful! The grounds are so lush with amazingly maintained trees, shrubbery, plants and flowers. Birds are always chirping. It feels like paradise. I will also say that I saw very little trash lying around. The whole resort was incredibly clean! ROOMS We stayed in a centrally located luxury suite which was stunning, spacious and had beautiful views of the grounds and ocean. It was perfect for us as we were traveling with our adult son and wanted to ensure he had space of his own. The beds were super comfortable, there was ample closet and drawer space, the decor and linens were lovely and the bathroom was spectacular. We loved our expansive furnished deck and spent a lot of time there in the mornings and early evenings. Our room had a mini fridge, a Nespresso machine and an electric kettle with all the coffee, tea and fixings. Regarding power outlets, there were several different types to accommodate different countries' needs. So while we brought our adaptors, we didn’t need them. Housekeeping was fantastic!!!! Thank you, Judith!! WIFI They have an unsecured network that is pretty strong. It dipped in and out on occasion but it was really no big deal. When I needed a secure network to take care of a few things, the front desk provided me with a stand alone router that had its own network name and password that I could use in our room. BEACHES In the main area of the resort you can find three beautiful uncrowded beaches nestled on separate but nearby coves. The beaches are on the smaller side but they are so lovely, with plenty of complimentary chairs, umbrellas and towels. While I would sometimes put towels down on some chairs earlier in the morning because I happened to be up, we never struggled to find chairs and shade, even as late as 10:45 AM. The water at the beaches is stunning and the surf is generally light to moderate depending on the weather. A short distance out in the water, between two of the coves, there are several floating rafts, etc. which we enjoyed swimming out to, goofing around and/or lounging on. At the primary beach there is a water sports building with about every non-motorized piece of equipment you could imagine, all complimentary I believe. There is also a cute shop called Dotsys where we purchased several souvenirs. The owner is such a lovely woman and has been there for 36 years I think! POOLS There are three pools in the main area of the resort including one that is adults only. They are all beautiful and very well maintained. My favorite was the adults only pool due to its particularly beautiful surrounding grounds, views, cabanas (that you don’t have to reserve) and overall serenity. There are also semi-private and private pools throughout other areas of the resort but we didn’t see them. I am sure they are very nice. As a random aside, the bathroom at the pool closest to The Reef restaurant and the smaller cove beach is the nicest “pool and beach bathroom” I’ve ever seen. RESTAURANTS & FOOD All three restaurants are wonderfully open air while still being covered to protect you from sun and the occasional rain. In terms of high to low formality, I would rank them as The Cove, The Palm and The Reef. The meals and drinks at all of them were very high quality and very, very good. Portions were appropriate and just right for us. Breakfast at The Palm was lovely with a full continental spread plus hot a la carte choices such as omelets, eggs benedict/florentine/royale, a full English, etc. For those who want things like burgers and pizza, you can find them at lunch but you should know that the menus tend to be a little more sophisticated for dinner. That said, there were lots of small children so I imagine they must have a kids menu or the like to accommodate them. Like on all islands, the food is a little expensive but we didn’t think it was unreasonably priced at all, especially given the high quality. While we did not sign up for the AI package, it seemed like a good value especially if you will be eating most of your meals at the resort and enjoying a fair number of alcoholic drinks. DRINKING WATER One of many particularly nice touches at Blue Waters is that they give you really nice reusable water bottles, labeled with your name, that you can refill at the numerous water stations throughout the resort. Talk about a fantastic alternative to the endless single use bottles of water that are so terrible for the environment. ENTERTAINMENT If you’re looking for booming music throughout the day, a partying pool scene, casinos, etc. this will not be the place for you. It certainly was for us though. Instead of that, there was softer music (as in volume, not genre) at a few locations and really good live entertainment every evening outside The Palm Restaurant and Bar. It was usually a small band and I think they stopped playing at or around 9:00 or 10:00 PM. I think they might also have entertainment at The Cove restaurant and bar but I’m not certain. Personally, we loved this level of entertainment as it was enjoyable without being overwhelming. SPA I had a fantastic body treatment at the spa that was one of the best I have ever had! From scheduling my appointment to checking out and everything in between, everything was top notch. I was so deliriously relaxed after check out that I can’t remember the names of the lovely women who took care of me but oh my gosh, they were the absolute best! FAMILY FRIENDLY Blue Waters seemed very family friendly and I think it’s well suited for children across the board. I’m guessing I saw probably a dozen or more young ones ranging from 3 months to 12 years old throughout our stay. Everyone who worked at the resort was wonderful with them as far as I could tell and I didn’t see anyone - guests or staff - bat an eye, ever. There were changing stations in all the bathrooms I went in and high chairs at all the restaurants. There were also plenty of beach and swimming toys and other gear in the gift shop. STAFF & SERVICE Last but certainly not least, I cannot emphasize enough how amazing all of the people working at Blue Waters are! Every single person we met was welcoming, gracious, kind, patient, helpful and so good at what they do. We are so appreciative and grateful for all of them! I would like to give a special shout out to Nicole who took such great care of us from check in to check out, organizing dinner reservations, transportation, giving tips and recommendations, securing special snacks, checking in on us daily, and going out of her way - without any ask from me - to ensure that my husband had a most wonderful birthday! Truly, this was one of the absolute best vacation experiences of my life and I cannot WAIT to go back to the spectacular and magical Blue Waters Resort & Spa. If you are considering staying here and feel like what I described above is up your alley, book the trip! You will not be disappointed! Thank you to everyone at Blue Waters for such an amazing time. We missed you the moment we left. - The McCarthys Read less

We came to Antigua ; famed for having 365 beaches The plan of the resort misleads so we feel we booked the wrong resort ; Blue Waters faces the sea but access to the sea is available but is quite limited The pools are decent and fresh water but nonetheless we didn’t fly thousands of miles and spend thousands of pounds to swim in a pool Beds are decent so too is the food generally Housekeeping not good enough , linens /towels poor , and service levels are perfunctory Staff are really nice , but the management and direction feel aloof and absent reception was unhelpful and no one greeted us in the whole week It is not bad but we wouldn’t return ., disappointed and really not worth the money We booked the more expensive suites but have given 3 star rating for 3 star service and resort………… and breakfast too , is a realy meagre (if we are generous ) 3 stars it was just a "meh " holiday Read less

This is paradise! Everything was super, the service, our room, the resort landscaping and the food. The service was perfect and very personal, housekeeping, reception, concierge and dining host soon knew our name and greeted us like friends. Our room was very quiet, overlooking the ocean, bathroom had plenty of space for everything and a nice balcony. The resort had lots of chairs and cabanas so there was no shortage of resting opportunities, throughout the resort area small spaces in addition to the usual location like beach and pool. The resort is well kept, flowers everywhere. Breakfast buffet is very rich and warm items are also super. Dinner options also great (we were on bed and breakfast plan with a la cart dinner). Overall, a very relaxing vacation for us, the only issue is the distance from our home in California to Antigua, otherwise we would come back every year! Read less

Blue waters Resort represent a truly Turquoise paradise. It offers absolutely astonishing hang out areas, from pools to bars to water sports where you can hang out with friends or even just a spending sometime solo. Unlike other Caribbean resorts, Blue Waters offers one of the best services on the island, the stuff is very friendly and helpful with any time of request! Each guest is a top priority for them and you’ll never feel neglected. It’s perfect for a family vacation too since it’s kids friendly and they offer a lot of entertainment meanwhile parents can spend some quality time on their own. The lobby is also a hanging area (especially beautiful at sunset time) This resort is a guarantee of absolutely wonderful vacation! Don’t miss a chance to visit it! Read less