Carlisle Bay
Carlisle Bay is pricey but offers some fantastic facilities for parents travelling with babies and toddlers. Your child’s cot will be ready and waiting in your room on arrival, complete with a tiny bathrobe and slippers. Bottlebrushes and sterilizers are available if required. Monitors are available if you want to relax on the balcony while your baby or toddler sleeps. Baby clothes are always laundered free of charge. Should you run out of supplies, the hotel shop offers diapers, wipes and formula. For infants on solid foods, the staff is eager to puree the island’s fresh fruit and veg and babies over six months can be cared for through the certified “Crèche” program.
Veranda Resort & Spa
Verandah is a large upper-middle-range all-inclusive hotel with 200 suite-style rooms and a variety of activities for kids. There is a mini golf course on site and is a spacious Kidz Club containing a small pool with a fountain designed for children, and a huge outdoor playground. There are many games located around the resort, including ping-pong, pool, shuffleboard, and tennis. Sand toys are available for use on the beaches and the water here is calm and shallow. For parents, water sports available on the main beach include snorkeling, kayaking, and paddle boating.
St James Club
St James Club is a large, upper-middle-range all-inclusive resort has been an established name on Antigua for many years. The casual tropical decor in rooms is mostly updated and the 251-room property offers six pools, five restaurants and two beaches. Ping-pong and pool tables are located in various nooks around the property, so guests can play at their leisure. A teen club is located next the bayside beach, with pool and a disco area. The St James’s Club Kidz Club is situated in the heart of the resort overlooking Coco’s Beach, purpose built with a fenced in play area. There is also a covered games area located next to the main pool. The Kidz Club accepts children ages 4 to 11, providing that they are potty trained. Younger kids can attend as long as they are supervised by parents.
Jolly Beach Resort
Jolly Beach Resort has a number of activities to keep the family entertained such as scuba diving, golf, island tours and a trip on a catamaran as well as kids’ and teenager club. The rooms and some parts of the hotel need some modernisation but this beautiful setting and live night-time entertainment you may hardly notice. The Jolly Beach Resort also offer family programmes so you can all have some quality family holiday time. The Jolly Kids’ Club (3 – 12 years; 9.30am-12.30pm and 2.30pm-5pm) and Jolly Teenz Club (13-16 years; 9.30am-12.30pm, 2.30pm-5pm and 7pm-9pm) are available to keep younger guests entertained and you can opt for family rooms, suites or cottages. The resort has 2 swimming pools, 5 restaurants, 5 bars and also offers water sports, tennis courts, water aerobics, kayaking, pedal boats. There is also a wellness centre, gym, sauna and exercise classes available for parents and a program of evening entertainment.
Grand Pineapple Beach
The Grand Pineapple is a 180-room, mid-range all-inclusive hotel. It is the more affordable and slightly family-friendlier than sister property Sandals Grande Antigua. The colorful Grand Pineapple includes lots of activities, but the nice white-sand beach and great lagoon pool can get crowded. Activities include pool tables, an ample fitness center, tennis, volleyball and water sports such as sailing, kayaking, and water trikes. Next to reception, there is a small pen housing a family of turtles, where guests can watch feedings twice a day.
Nonsuch Bay Resort
Nonsuch Bay is an upscale resort on a secluded corner of the island that features 62 contemporary apartment-style rooms with full kitchens. There are three large pools, including an infinity pool on a bluff overlooking the ocean, and a family pool. There is a Kids Club and childcare available for a fee. The beach is on the small side for this size of property, but it is very pleasant with many palm trees providing shade and plenty of padded lounge chairs. Two unique features of Nonsuch are the sailing school and kite surfing lessons for adults and kids . The sailboats are new and of good quality, and the bay here gets consistent warm winds.
Blue Waters Antigua
Blue Waters is set away from the crowds and other hotels so is in a quiet and secure location ideal for a truly luxurious family holiday. The staff at Blue Water in Antigua are helpful, accommodating and friendly towards families and children of all ages. The resort is close to plenty of local restaurants plus the English Harbour and Nelsons dockyard which are worth a visit. Babysitting is available at an additional cost and there is a choice of family rooms, suites and cottages. There are 4 restaurants on site, 2 bars, a spa, tennis court, golf course, gym, water sports and a swimming pool. The hotel is right on the beach. There is also nightly entertainment ( 5 times a week).
