Hermitage Bay, Antigua

For context, I went with my girlfriend, her brother, and his partner. Both couples stayed in beachfront villas. I was there for four nights, and they stayed for six. I noted in a previous comment that it’s pretty strange, but villas of the same level can be quite different. Overall, I’d rate my stay a 9٫5/10, and I sincerely hope to return in the future. Arrival/Check-in: 10/10 After landing, my girlfriend and I were greeted by an HB representative who provided us with fast passes through customs. Within 15 minutes of stepping off the plane, we were whisked away in a nice SUV with cold bottled water. Our driver shared island history, pointed out landmarks, and gave us a fascinating rundown of the local produce. As a nerd, I loved it. As others have mentioned, the last 10 minutes of the drive are pretty bumpy, but our driver handled it smoothly. Upon arrival, we received cold towels infused with something aromatic and refreshing. During check-in, we were offered cold, non-alcoholic drinks while filling out paperwork and learning the resort rules. Normally, they would’ve given us a tour, but it was pouring rain that night. The staff kept apologizing—as if they could control the weather. We didn’t mind; the rain was actually really relaxing. Property: 10/10 HB is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen. Gorgeous beaches, clear water, lush mountains framing the resort, a picturesque beach bar, modern-island restaurants, unique villas, and views that are hard to beat. The combination of stellar service and natural beauty is what will bring me back. Service: 10/10 (with a caveat) Though I can’t recall all the names (it’s been almost two weeks), the staff were uniformly incredible. HB employees will go out of their way to make your stay comfortable and relaxing. They reminded me more than once that I was here to unwind and that they’d handle things for me. We received a complimentary in-room meal with champagne service for our first anniversary. When placing the order, Shalanda at the front desk encouraged us to try nearly everything—the spread could have fed six people! Solange, another front desk employee, was vibrant and kind. She even opened the gift shop for us on her day off. Some standout bartenders include Kyle on the beach and Anthony at the main bar—both fun, welcoming, and passionate about creating a great atmosphere. Simone, a waitress at the main bar, was a joy to be around. I can’t forget the watersports team either—though I didn’t catch their names, they were fantastic during our island tour. The only caveat, and one echoed by other guests, is island time. As an American used to fast-paced dining, the slower service pace took adjustment. But once I let go and soaked in the views, I understood: I had nowhere to be, and that was the point. Cleanliness: 10/10 Housekeeping was outstanding. They visited twice daily (during breakfast and dinner) to clean, restock, and tidy up. They even cleaned my water shoes a few times a day when I left them out on the deck—above and beyond. Amenities/Activities: 7/10 As others have noted, there’s not a ton to do. Some weekly activities—like the garden tour and cooking class—should be offered more frequently. Also, they really need to bring back the complimentary boat/snorkeling tour. Charging over $2K per night (or 150K–190K HH points/night) should include that kind of experience. There are daily yoga/Pilates/meditation sessions, non-powered water sports, a fitness center, spa, and live music twice a day. I don’t care much for most of that, personally. As long as I’m near or in the water, I’m good. But some guests may find the options lacking and get bored. Food: 8/10 Overall, the food was very good. If I didn’t like something, it’s likely I wouldn’t like it anywhere else either. A few dishes were a bit bland until I added salt (probably just American taste buds). Nothing was particularly spicy, which surprised me—especially the jerk chicken wings, which underwhelmed me. The menu is also pretty limited. Four days was fine, but more than that might get monotonous. Also, we had a pescatarian and a vegetarian in our group. Based on past reviews, I expected more proactive accommodation for dietary needs. One night, during a surf-and-turf dinner, the vegetarian only had one unappetizing option. They did accommodate him eventually, but I’d expected better planning for that. Room Quality: 8/10 The beachfront villa was lovely. It was spacious, the outdoor shower was a dream, and the A/C worked great. That said, there were some drawbacks: the flooring was uncomfortable without footwear, the bed was just okay, and the standalone toilet felt oddly placed. That said, I’d give anything for one more afternoon on the swinging daybed. Read less

It's a beautiful resort and our stay overall was very nice. The villas are really beautiful and functional. I didn't think I would like the outdoor shower but it was fine. I mostly took cool showers anyway as I was always hot from the beach. Having the enclosed toilet (Villa 8) wasn't a major thing but it was nice especially at night so as not to disturb the other person with light/noise. All of the outdoor space was nice, but I was told they are also adding plunge pools to the beachfront villas as well. I was also told they are adding something like 30-50 more villas which will totally change the feeling of the place in our opinion. There is an included minibar but being close to the restaurant/bars, we really didn't use it other than for some soft drinks. Service was a bit inconsistent. The weekend servers/bartenders were much friendlier and more responsive than the weekday folks for some reason. We had a couple of minor service fails. We called the front desk about the room service menu as we weren't sure if it was just the all-day menu or they included the dinner options. Someone said they would check and call back. They never did and we just gave up and walked over to dinner anyway. Yesterday, we ordered a burger from the all-day menu as our car for the airport was leaving at 12:45 so we couldn't have the regular lunch. It took about 40 minutes as someone forgot about it (and my wife's pina colada as well). It's a shame that this was our last interaction as most of the time, everything went well. We were also told initially that we should make our sushi and dinner reservations at breakfast but we were never asked about that by the host and I ended up doing it later at the beach bar when I remembered to ask someone about it. We also started to get a bit tired of the dinner menus after 3 days even with the daily specials. I couldn't imagine being there a week, especially as there's not a whole lot to do other than laze in the sun which isn't really our thing for more than a couple of days (but some people like that). The sushi was a real highlight and the tropical drinks were great. The dinner food was good but not great with a few exceptional dishes (scallops and octopus come to mind). Fish was usually a bit dry and overcooked when I ordered that which was surprising as its locally caught. Breakfast was fairly standard with maybe one or two local touches, but nothing memorable (like what you would get in SE Asia for example). Lunch was probably the best meal (besides the sushi) and it's in a nice new beachside area with a full bar and lovely views. The lunch menus were more creative with a varying set of island tapas served before your meal each day. None of the minor issues were a huge deal for us as we booked on Hilton points before the most recent devaluation. I would probably have been a bit annoyed if I paid cash (not that I would). I just think if they are going to charge Four Seasons (or higher) prices, they have to provide Four Seasons (or higher) service and quality all the time. However, the airport greeting/fast track and transportation each way was great and a real bonus to not have to worry about that. Most of the staff work very hard and have a smile on their face. They were especially fun at the beach bar and sushi hour with lots of banter and jokes back and forth with each other and the guests. The snorkeling tour was good. I would have paid the $40 but they took it off the bill after I mentioned it was being offered for free at the time I booked. They take you out about 10 minutes away from the resort to another reef and you get to snorkel about 45 minutes there. We didn't do the other boat tour (as it was now a paid tour and not really wanting to go around the island anyway). I hiked over to the hill nearby (where they are building a new housing development) and the views were nice (and the hills were good for working off the calories). We used the kayaks and snorkels every day. The activities staff were all great as were the front desk people (with the one exception above) and the maintenance/cleaning people we interacted with. Bugs are an issue, but it's not mosquitos, just small biting insects that don't itch as much. I did have 15 bites or so after 3 days despite using the provided bug spray every time I went out and before bed although there is a net if you want to use it at night. Those bugs are hardy! Read less

This resort is a true gem. From the moment you enter the property, you're enveloped in a sense of tranquil tropical nature with beautifully landscaped gardens and breathtaking views of the ocean and surrounding landscape. The staff were professional, attentive, friendly and eager to ensure your comfort and satisfaction, making the experience truly memorable. Read less

Hermitage Bay has my heart!! My cousin and I just returned from a girl’s trip at the resort and as with most great holidays I’m feeling the blues but this time it’s a little more intense. Hermitage Bay is a very special place, mainly because of the warm staff and incredible setting. From Martine’s entertaining golf buggy rides to Chef Arsene’s delicious beachside sushi snacks, each member of staff went the extra mile to make our stay so memorable. Our luxury hillside villa was spacious and beautifully designed with stunning views of the turquoise bay. The location is so peaceful that for the first time in years I managed to sleep for almost nine hours a night. I loved Chef Sugar’s flavoursome menu, which had a wide variety of local and international dishes. The resort had just started a new Caribbean night concept in the beach hut with a great band and singer which we really enjoyed. Plus, there was excellent live music every night. A highlight of our stay was our island boat tour, organised by the hotel but what I’m missing the most is our daily lounging by the beach sampling the delicious mocktails & cocktails. If you want to completely unwind, eat well, soak up the relaxed Antiguan culture, then this is the place. Big thanks to the staff for a truly magical holiday x Read less