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About
4.5
#1 of 2 all-inclusives in Five Islands Village
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Value
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Treat yourself to an authentic Caribbean getaway at the Adults-Only Galley Bay Resort & Spa - All Inclusive, in Antigua. Set amid aquamarine seascapes, a powdery white-sand beach and lush gardens, this All-Inclusive boutique resort delights guests with a refined, yet unpretentious atmosphere. Ideal for couples and newlyweds seeking a romantic getaway, both adventure and tranquility are on the menu at this award-winning tropical paradise.
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Galley Bay Resort & Spa is celebrated for its premium beachfront suites, offering stunning ocean views and tranquility, though opinions on value and dining costs are mixed. The resort's cleanliness and well-kept grounds earn high marks from guests, as does its picturesque beachside location. The tranquil atmosphere, complete with live entertainment, is a highlight for many, while the friendly staff contributes to the resort's positive reputation.
While the rooms are applauded for their views and ambiance, some guests suggest decor updates. Ample amenities, including a well-stocked minibar and varied dining options, further enhance the guest experience.
Location
Picturesque
Atmosphere
Tranquil
Rooms
Comfortable
Value
Expensive
Cleanliness
Immaculate
Service
Attentive
Amenities
Top-notch
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From the moment we arrived to be greeted with a rum punch and checked in, until the sad day we checked out we had a wonderful time here. Staying here we were completely relaxed and de-stressed so quickly after a challenging year for us. We had a premium beach front suite, it was beautiful, spacious and well equipped. Apparently these had been refurbished relatively recently, the bathroom particularly was great with a large walk in shower area. The rest of the suite was really nice. The view from the suite across the beach and listening to the sound of the waves at night was so relaxing. The regularly re-stocked mini bar was a bonus and we were never lacking for a drink. There was the one time that the re-stock of beer never arrived, but it led to a laugh with our neighbours on the sunbeds when he shared a couple of beers with me, he said he hadn't ordered any but they had arrived at his suite! It turns out they were mine. All the staff were friendly and worked really hard to ensure we had a great stay. They ranged from the ultra friendly/can't do enough type of people (which were the majority) down to a few who weren't quite so friendly, but even these few were never rude and worked hard. There were some stand out staff who made the stay so easy for us. Even staff who weren't usually customer facing, like the housekeeping team and the many gardeners were all keen to greet you with a smile and a good morning. There was a manager's cocktail hour where we got to meet the team which was a nice touch. One of the staff we accidentally bumped into whilst cycling round the resort was the gardener in charge of the fruit and veg growing on site - we thought we had ventured into a staff only area by mistake, but he quickly waved us over, welcoming us and started a conversation, proudly showing us the produce growing in his fields. He was clearly passionate about his job and was rightly proud to show us, also educating us along the way. We had a pleasant time walking round learning about the gardens and he even helped my wife's bug bites with some fresh Aloe Vera. Guest services were always really helpful. We managed yoga every weekday, except the one day we couldn't book on because it was so full but 7 out of a possible 8 weekdays wasn't bad. Both my wife and I really enjoyed it as a start to the day, the classes were very beginner friendly (good for me) and Mackenzie was mindful of the range of abilities/experience in the class. She gave us an energising yet relaxing way to start our days. The food here was really good. Let's start with Ismay's, the special restaurant which needs booking and a small extra fee of $50 pp. The food here was AMAZING, it was a really special night and worth the extra fee. We really liked the staff recommendations to accompany our meals. The next up is the Gauguin restaurant, this also needs booking for evening meals but not for lunch and there's no extra fee. The setting is wonderful whether it's an evening meal by candlelight or a lunchtime meal with views over the beach and bay. The food was great, everything we ate we loved. 3 times we paid a small extra fee for lobster - this was well worth it, it was some of the biggest and best tasting lobster I have had. Barefoot grill - we didn't think we'd use a 'fast food' type grill, but we did and we were glad we did. A couple of times we just wanted a simple snack, not a full blown meal. We loved the catch of the day grills, they were so tasty, fresh and easy along with the tuna press. The coffee shop had great opening hours, it was popular not just for the coffee but also for a regularly changing variety of really good ice cream and fresh cookies! Seagrape was the 'standard' restaurant, no booking required and where breakfast, lunch and evening meals were served. But there was nothing standard here, the staff were friendly and the food was all freshly cooked to order and we never had a bad meal. No buffet here, except the fruit, pastries and similar for breakfast. Either pancakes or freshly cooked omelettes were our favourites. Lunch and dinner had regularly changing menus and everything we tried was tasty. On the Thursday there was the Caribbean barbeque - which was wonderful. Again the only buffet was the salad, vegetables, rice etc. The suckling pig and the freshly grilled fish, ribs, chicken and steak were all really nice. It's a shame that our 10 day stay meant we only got to have it once! Bars - we never waited long for a drink, it's such a small resort and the bar staff were friendly and efficient. We must have tried every type of cocktail on the list, but often we were happy with a simple rum punch or a beer (and the odd bucks fizz in the morning!). The rum shack was a cool way to sample a range of rums for me. Staff did come along the beach a couple of times a day offering drinks, it wasn't a lot but it did save us the few minutes walk along the beach to the bar a few times. It really was no drama to stroll along and get a drink. Dress code was very relaxed through the day, whether in the bar or the restaurants. After 6.30 it was a smart casual affair, simply long trousers and collared shirts for men and dresses for the ladies, but we liked this, making a proper evening of it. Entertainment was good every night, often quite easy listening but the acts were all very talented with some guest dancing most nights. The resort as a whole was very tidy, well maintained and looked after. Work on keeping the gardens beautiful seemed constant and the resort clearly puts lots of effort into the beautiful surroundings. We never used the pool, preferring the beach right outside our room - it looked like a lovely area but sheltered from the breeze of the beach. We had a lovely couples massage together in the spa. My wife, who is a beauty therapist who does massages herself, said her male therapist gave one of the best massages she's ever had. Having cycles available free to use was a nice touch. We only used them once and to be honest don't expect new bikes, they were simple, free and easy to use to tour around the resort. There were some days when the red flag prevented use of the watersport equipment, probably half our 10 day stay but this really didn't cause us any drama. We made use of the free beach shuttle one day, with one of the watersports team accompanying us to Deep Water Bay. We did try both the SUP and a double kayak on blue flag days and these were fun. There was some good snorkelling with masks and snorkles provided in our room. Even when there was a red flag the sea was ok for dipping into when hot from the sun, with the average see temp being 26 Celsius! Perhaps if your main aim is using the watersports equipment or swimming then the fairly regular red flag conditions might cause you a problem, but honestly it had little or no impact on our stay, I was still in the water every single day and my wife most days.
Our only criticisms - and these are very minor - are as follows: The Gauguin restaurant had 2 sittings, an early and a late. Having a late meal meant missing most of the entertainment, but trying to book in for an early sitting was impossible for us, with all the slots apparently booked by 7.30am! It could only be booked a day in advance so we never got the chance for anything but the later slots. Perhaps they should consider a slight change to allow people who haven't been able to get an early slot to book farther ahead as it seemed to be the same people getting the early slot every time. I know we could have tried earlier but we were on holiday and getting up in time for 8am yoga was hard enough work! The housekeeping staff did a really good job of cleaning the suite, including sweeping the patio, but we would have welcomed some sort of brush to be able to sweep it ourselves again later in the day after we had dragged more sand onto it. Bugs. We hadn't noticed them particularly at the time but both of us suffered bad bug bites in the first 24 hours - our fault really as we hadn't applied the bug repellent we had brought, not noticing the sand flies until after they had done the damage. Once we started using the repellent we were ok, but make sure you take it and use it. That's about all we can think of, none of that spoiled our trip.
In summary we had an amazing holiday trip, we will absolutely return again. We had been to Antigua 6 years previously in a different hotel, we love the island but Galley Bay is hands down one of the best experiences we have had, having travelled far and wide. I can see why they have so many return guests, whilst we like to explore different places and can't see us being one of the guests they get returning for a tenth or fifteenth time - we will certainly return and can see us returning more than once!
We are a well-travelled married couple in our fifties!
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Date of stay: February 2024
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Tamiko Butler, Guest Services / Front Office at Galley Bay Resort & Spa
Responded Mar 15, 2024
Dear Valued Guests, We are so grateful for you taking the time out to leave us such incredible feedback. It means a lot to our entire team that you were able to enjoy your time with us, and we truly appreciate your detailed review. We certainly look forward to welcoming you home and will do our utmost best to get you an early seating at Gauguin Restaurant next time! Kind regards, All of us at Galley Bay Resort.
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After multiple changes this year to our holiday, and on our 7th attempt we were glad to finally escape the doom and gloom of the UK for 10 days in December. This was not our first choice of hotel and we should have also been on another island for part of the trip but we ended up here and we did not regret it.
The hotel has done everything it can to be Covid secure from Perspex screens round the bars and hand sanitising stations positioned everywhere and all the staff wearing masks at all times, if you leave your table it is instantly sanitised for the next person.
The rooms were understandably stripped back ( we were in a Premium Beachfront) and events like Rum tasting the beach BBQ and the buffet breakfasts were a no go due to social distancing etc but your holiday is what you make of it and I felt this didn’t take anything away from our enjoyment.
ALL the staff at Galley Bay are wonderful and nothing is too much trouble, We ate at all 3 restaurants including Ismay’s which was complimentary as a repeat guest (we have stayed at Palm Island) and could not fault the food at any of them. The barefoot grill is also great to grab a quick lunch at.
The beach is just beautiful but as others have said the sea is rough and I am not confident in water so did not do anymore than dip my toes a few times.
Excursions
We went on the Extreme360 tour of the island which I highly recommend which takes in Sting Ray City and stops for lunch at Green island along with 2 other snorkelling stops, the sting rays were the highlight of my stay !
We also did the gold safari tour with Les who was terrific, again it is a full day and he was so knowledgeable and we learnt and saw so much, he will take you to Nelsons Dockyard, Shirley Heights, devils Bridge, to different beaches etc and was fun to be with.
We also spent the afternoon at Sheer rocks and did the plunge pool, day bed and Tapas journey, we got a taxi over and stayed on until later and walked down the beach to see the most awesome sunset. We both enjoyed this so much, I think it’s so easy when you are on All inclusive not to try other places but this was recommended to us and we did not regret it.
If you have never been to Galley Bay and are having doubts then don’t it is a beautiful place to be. Would I return ? No, but only because the world is too big for that so onto the next adventure.
Thank you Galley Bay for making the perfect end to 2020
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Date of stay: December 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Tamiko Butler, Guest Services / Front Office at Galley Bay Resort & Spa
Responded Jun 14, 2021
Dear Valued Guests, Thank you so much for taking the time to write such wonderful words about our Resort. Galley Bay and our entire team worked very hard to get things in place to ensure our guests feel safe and secure in such uncertain times. It’s hard to strike the balance between safe and also offering a relaxed environment, and it’s so lovely to hear that we got it right for you both. 2020 was certainly a very tough year for so many and we are glad you chose us as your pin on the map to share the last adventure of an unforgettable year. We totally understand that there is a big wide world for you to explore and we thank you for making your stop with us. If you ever find yourself in need of a relaxing Caribbean Vacation, don’t forget to check out our sister Resort, Palm Island in the Grenadines. Enjoy your lovely adventure in life and we hope we gave you some moments and memories to cherish. Kind regards, All of Us at Galley Bay Resort & Spa, Antigua
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We have always stayed at Sandals all inclusive resorts in the Caribbean but decided for a change to try Galley Bay adults only all inclusive with our best friends.
When we arrived we were greeted with a smile, a bottle of water and asked to wait in the outdoor covered reception area. We were asked to wear masks and sanitise our hands.
We were booked in quickly and efficiently and taken by golf buggy to our room. From the minute we opened the door we knew it would be amazing with really good air conditioning.
The rooms are huge (we booked a suite) with massive bathroom housing bath, 2 showers and 2 sinks. Huge queen size bed, living area and finally the beautiful balcony overlooking the sea. As far as I’m aware all rooms overlook the sea.
There are 3 restaurants - Sea Grape (no booking needed), Gauguin - book and Ismay’s which has an additional charge of $40 per head. There is also a snack bare called Barefoots.
We ate in all the restaurants with the exception of Ismay’s as it was fully booked. Please note if you book this you have to have long trousers.
We spent our whole time on the beautiful beach, using the hobi cat a few times.
The hotel has a small pool which we chose not to use as the beach was fabulous. Lots of clean beach towels available and each room has 2 sun beds allocated to them.
The fridge was stocked with waters, cokes, sprite, beers and wine as part of the all inclusive package.
The hotel is very chilled and not lots of organised events going on but this may be due to Covid.
All restaurants have a mask wearing policy until you sit down and staff ask you to sanitise before entering.
We have a certain expectation with all inclusive but Galley Bay exceeded this with every meal. The food was amazing and catered for meat eaters, veggies & vegans alike with a very creative menu. We met the head chef Jeremiah who has worked at the resort for 24 years. He was so lovely and certainly had a passion for good food.
Evening entertainment was brilliant with a band every night finishing at 10pm. At the present time there is an 11pm curfew in Antigua but that suited us as we are early risers.
All in all this has been one of the best hotels we have ever stayed in. The staff are so lovely and friendly and good fun with a less corporate and a more family feel to it.
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Date of stay: July 2021Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Ask for an upstairs room as they have wooden vaulted ceilings and a better view of the sea.
Make...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Tamiko Butler, Guest Services / Front Office at Galley Bay Resort & Spa
Responded Jul 27, 2021
Dear Valued Guests, What lovely and kind words you have left for us in this review. You have highlighted all of the areas in which we strive to excel in at Galley Bay and we are so pleased that you gave us the opportunity to offer you this experience. We consider ourselves a family at Galley Bay and can only hope that all of our guests feel like a welcomed addition to this family. We are blessed with a beautiful environment to call home and consider it a priority to preserve this environment for all to enjoy. We hope that we will be welcoming you home again sometime in the future and offer you and even more memorable experience than this last one. Kind regards, All of Us at Galley Bay Resort & Spa, Antigua
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We have been to Galley Bay previously. Therefore, we have compared our latest holiday (early January 2020) with those of our previous couple of visits to Galley Bay.
In the past, there was music at the Gauguin restaurant from a singer or a duo during dinner. This has now been replaced by one of the local radio stations being broadcast over a speaker system during dinner. This is obviously a cost cutting exercise which has had disastrous effects. The previous romantic atmosphere at this beautiful restaurant has been shattered. To add insult to injury, the cleanliness standards have also fallen at the restaurant. Glasses and crockery stick to the tables (all it would take to fix this is for the tables to be properly wiped down) leaving an uncomfortable feeling whilst dining. They also used to have citronella candles placed at the tables and now they do not. Another mistake, as there were so many sandflies present that the candles would have kept them away. This feels like yet another cost cutting exercise which, for the saving of a small amount of money, has greatly detracted from what previously, was an amazing dining experience. Regardless of the need for the citronella, candles add a certain pleasant atmosphere. Please just bring them back!!
Now I move on to Wi-fi. If you need a reasonable Wi-fi signal to either conduct your business or even to watch Netflix etc, then don’t go to Galley Bay. They offer a very poor quality “free” signal in your room, which at best may eventually download an email. You can upgrade to “super fast” speed at a cost of $10 per day. This is disgusting given that all good hotels across the world now offer free fast broadband to their guests. It’s not as though you don’t pay a fortune to stay here in the first place, but to then add at least $100 to your bill for a VERY POOR speed Wi-fi signal immediately gives you the feeling that profit comes before service.
I like to be fair and balanced on any review that I write. I will say the the location here is beautiful and, in the main, the staff are caring. I can not be so complimentary to the senior management though. They are letting what used to be a place with excellent services, slide into the realms of ordinary and average.
If, like us, you’ve been here before, please don’t expect your holiday to be as good as it was in the past. It’s sliding in the wrong direction,,,,it’s such a shame. Management need to up their game and get it back to how it used to be.
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Date of stay: January 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
If you are looking for a modern, westernized & buzzy type of atmosphere then Galley Bay is probably not the right resort for you. If you are looking for pure paradise, a tranquil environment on one of the most beautiful beaches, surrounded by nature and a true feel for the Caribbean then Galley Bay is defiantly the place for you. There is a reason guests have been coming back 30+ years to this resort.
Staff: From the moment we arrived the staff welcome us by name with BIG smiles. It's a smaller resort so the staff gets to know you quickly. They take a genuine interest in their guests and we were treated like royalty the entire week.
Beach: The beach was absolutely breathtaking. We had a walk out beach front room that we enjoyed waking up to every single day. There were always enough chairs and shade so we never had to worry about that. Some days the waves were a little rough while others the water was warm, calm and super clear. We had a lot of fun floating around for hours in the ocean. Not a spec of seaweed to be found and the beach was pristine. Armani has a vacation house on the same beach which you can see from the resort and walk right up to.
Food: Breakfast was delicious and had your standard needs (eggs, bacon, toast, french toast & fruit) they also had a different type of pancake every day.
Lunch: Several options - a grill by the pool with burgers, hot dogs, cuban sandwiches etc. OR 2 restaurants - you can choose from which offer a variety of options. The jerk chicken wings were def one of our faves
Dinner: 2 restaurants to choose from + Ismay's which for a small fee will provide a delicious meal and some of the proceeds go to charity. I am a very picky & plain eater. While my husband and mom enjoyed the menu very much sometimes I did find dinner challenging. HOWEVER, I asked nicely if it were possible to get some pasta and the resort had no issue making me pasta on the nights I was not feeling up to the regular menu. The pasta was amazing. I've found at past resorts sometimes the bread can taste weird but at Galley it was fresh bakery style and was really good. Same with the deserts! :)
Room: Upon arrival there was a bottle of Champaign on ice and a cheese & crackers platter which was a nice welcome and a good snack after our flight. The room was standard but had nice new TV's and good channels, beds were very comfy and while the room was a little dated - it was very Caribbean style and met all our needs.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: March 2020
Room Tip:Get a beach walk out - you won't regret it :)
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This trip was for our 20th anniversary and it was absolutely terrific. The beaches were nice and the staff was always friendly. The food was delicious. You had a choice for your appetizer then your meal and your dessert. They were all so fancy. It was like 5 star dining. There was something for everyone including vegetarians. The room was very clean and kept that way throughout the week. There were yoga classes almost daily and the gym had everything I needed, weights, machines... I really liked that they had bicycles there to use even off the premises and they gave us maps to help us get to where we wanted. They gave us a list of different excursions they thought we might enjoy and we had so much fun on the one we chose. The property so well maintained and they even had a garden tour to help us gain knowledge about the different plants they have around the property. The bar was always neat and friendly. They aren’t cheap on the alcohol when they mix a drink. It was the best!!! I would highly recommend this resort for anyone looking for a couples only, intimate setting.
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Date of stay: January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This was our third visit to Galley Bay and it was as wonderful as ever! We are always amazed at how the staff remembers guests that have stayed there before. When I mentioned this to a waitress one morning at breakfast, she smiled and replied "because you're family". We feel like we're visiting friends and family when we come to Galley Bay. The managers are visible every day asking guests how their stay is going, not just during Covid, but every time we've visited. If there's any problem, it will be fixed right away.
Guests are asked to wear masks while entering a restaurant or walking around the resort. At this point, I think everyone is used to wearing a mask anyway so it's not a big deal. Galley Bay also provides you with masks with the Galley Bay logo on them and they're very comfortable to wear.
The food is outstanding at Galley Bay. Our favorite restaurant is the Gauguin and we were happy it was open on our last night there. We visited the first week the resort had reopened due to Covid so it wasn't open until our last night.
The nightly entertainment by the local bands was nice, and it's easy to meet other guests here.
We usually stay in a Premium Beachfront room and we love being able to walk out our back door and step into the sand. The beach was as beautiful as ever.
We can't wait to return to Galley Bay! If you have any questions, send me a message.
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Date of stay: October 2020
Value
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from EliteIsland Resorts, Marketing at Galley Bay Resort & Spa
Responded Dec 13, 2020
Dear Sunsational, You've got our hear too, and can't thank you enough for the great review. We are very happy to hear that you loved your most recent holiday with us, and we do hope you will return before long. We love what we do, and we're glad it shows! Keep smiling, and dreaming of your next stay at Galley Bay. See you soon, Your Friends at Galley Bay Resort & Spa, Antigua
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We have just returned from our seventh holiday at Galley Bay. Why you might think? Well, having searched through many brochures, websites and other advertisements over many years we have found nothing to compare with this wonderful resort. We have even tried some. The Galley Bay has everything we, as a couple require. High quality service, food and entertainment, in a totally relaxing chilled out environment, in stunning surroundings is the watchword. This is the ideal resort for a perfect relaxing holiday. Step off your terrace onto a long soft sand beach, which stretches past your own door. With a few more steps you can bathe in the sea then quickly back onto your terrace for a drink. At your front door a winding path takes you through botanical gardens to one of the three open air restaurants with imaginative menus, and great service. The food and dining facilities are outstanding, and include lobster, fish, some of which I have never heard of, and various steaks and other meats cooked to perfection. The rooms are typically Caribbean and not the exaggerated style of some modern 5 star hotels, but very much in keeping with the philosophy of this resort. This is an all-inclusive hideaway, free from teenagers, piped music, and throngs of people. The grounds are like botanical gardens which hide the buildings, and a walk through them or round the lake will introduce you the abundant wildlife, of Mongoose, various lizards, humming birds, and the like. You can even go fishing in the lake if you like. The Whistling Ducks are the highlight of the day, strutting around the public areas. They are so tame they can be stroked, and will even leap up on your sunbed for a sleep – whilst you are still on it. If you don’t like them, just shoo them away and off they will waddle to a more receptive place. The senior Management from the Vice President, Alex, the Resident Manager, Cedric, and even the Executive Chef Stan, are readily available to help, or just have a chat, as you pass. Their approach is reflected in the quality of the staff that is willing, cheerful and efficient, and there are plenty of them always ready with a smile. I could go on but the fact that up to 80% of the guest are repeaters will confirm my own viewpoint that this is an outstanding resort, geared up for relaxation, with ample opportunities for activities on land and water. The majority of the guests are in the 30 plus age bracket so perhaps if you are a teenager or in your early twenties it may be a bit quiet for you.
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Date of stay: January 2020
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip:Beachfront suites are excellent.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We are parents of three young kids and the pandemic has been a stressful, busy time for us. We did not realize how tired we were, how in need we were of extended time alone together, and how wonderful it is to have people care for us until we came to Galley Bay Resort for our 15th anniversary.
From the moment we arrived, the staff went out of their way to meet our needs, learn our names and our preferences, and give us a true escape from reality.
Galley Bay has everything you could possibly want in a vacation in a small space. You can be as sedentary or active as you want—all the food, drink, beach, pool, gym, yoga classes water sports are at your disposal and all-inclusive. Your room is stocked with water and soda daily, and wine, champagne, and beer on request. The spa also is lovey and does great massages.
The grounds are meticulously maintained and evoke an idyllic natural environment. The food is fresh, perfectly seasoned and always the right temperature. We met the head chef, Nathaniel, one day and mentioned to him that we didn’t think we’d get into the fine dining restaurant, Ismay’s, because it was booked, and moved things around to accommodate us. That’s just an example of how wonderful the staff is at Galley Bay. Some other staff members who stood out are Kerrigan and Claudia at the bar, Vaughn and Stuart and Amanda in food service, Kelley, Fary and Shiloh in Watersports, Mackenzie in Yoga, and Kenya who was the first friendly face we met. Captain Sean and Fristian also did an excellent sailing and snorkeling tour and we just wish we’d had more time with them!
As AirBnB hosts who are familiar with the travel and hospitality industry, we know that a happy staff is an indication of good management, and it seemed most staff at Galley Bay likes their job. I’m sitting by their pool right now typing this review on our last day and I’m so sad to leave—my husband and I feel more in love than when we arrived. We both agree it was the best, most restful vacation we’ve had together since our honeymoon 15 years ago, and we have Galley Bay to thank for a lot of that.
Thanks you GBR! We hope to return some day.
-Adrienne G
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Date of stay: August 2021Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Tamiko Butler, Guest Services / Front Office at Galley Bay Resort & Spa
Responded Aug 9, 2021
Dear Lovely Guests, It is safe to say that stories like yours are what keep us motivated and inspired as part of the Galley Bay Family. Our staff very much enjoy helping our guests to have special and unique experiences with us and we are overjoyed that you had such a wonderful stay. Thank you so much for sharing your experience and we will be sure to pass on your praises to the wider staff. We look forward to welcoming you home for a stay in the future, whenever you are ready to relax and detach from the busyness of life. Kind regards, All of Us at Galley Bay Resort & Spa, Antigua
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A beautiful hotel set on a secluded bay amid greenery and with a lagoon. The buildings are all colonial style and our room opened onto a patio and directly onto the beach with loungers on the beach and patio. The room was very comfortable and had everything you needed. We only used the two main restaurants (Ismays had a $42 supplement which we though was a bit off), the Seagrape restuarant opened out onto the deck over beach and was available for breakfast, lunch and dinner, all a la carte and the food was beautifully presented. The Gaugin restaurant as one end of the bay was individual thatched roundels overlooking the sea, we only ate there for dinner and once again lovely Caribbean food. We also ate lunch at the Barefoot which was more of a fast food shack and of a much lighter menu. Afternoon tea was also served in the Seagrape Bar. there was also a coffee shop available all day for teas, coffees, and juices along with little cakes.
The layout was along the long beach and the greenery was beautifully kept. We went on the garden tour, led by Kurt the garden supervisor and his enthusiasm for his plants and knowledge was unbelievable. There was a walking/jogging trail which took you over bridge over the lagoon and around the lagoon. The gym was also well appointed.
The staff were really welcoming, always helpful and did everything they could to make your stay perfect.
Also tried the Spa and the service again was great.
Entertainment in the evening was very low key the high spot was the night they had a steel band, these were exceptional
Will definitely visit again.
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Date of stay: January 2020
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip:pick ground floor opening onto beach
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Apologies for the late response. I couldn't tell you exactly, but all wines were very drinkable. My wife is the wine drinker rather than me and she was happy with the selection - white, red and rose.
Enderby, United Kingdom56 contributions37 helpful votes
You can only book the reservations each day for the next day, it depends what time you want, if an early sitting in G’s then book about 7am but Ismays is less of an issue. The rum bar is open certain evenings and that info will be available from guest services. The yoga likewise can be booked through them, we booked for the week
There are more places to choose from in the Five Islands Village area.
PRICE RANGE
C$1,071 - C$1,668 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
galley bay hotel st. john`s, galley bay antigua, galley bay st johns, antigua galley bay
LOCATION
CaribbeanAntigua and BarbudaAntiguaSaint John ParishFive Islands Village
NUMBER OF ROOMS
98
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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Yes, it offers wheelchair access, reduced mobility rooms, and facilities for disabled guests. For specific enquiries, we recommend calling ahead to confirm.
