Resort romance in Antigua at Galley Bay
The Elite Island Hopathon was two thirds completed. Taking us from Antigua and the enormous village that is the Verandah Resort & Spa, hopping over to Saint Lucia and the ultra welcoming vibe of St James Club Morgan Bay, and now back to Antigua for the final instalment of our journey. Our quest, to seek out the romance of a Caribbean adventure, experience some of the best resorts in the region and learn about the local history and culture. Our next stop was sure to be the most romantic of them all.
The Galley Bay Resort and Spa is tucked away on the island of Antigua, far from the crowds and other resorts of the island. A scenic drive from Antigua's international airport, past rolling hills, local businesses, and even a chance sighting of Sir Viv Richard's mother. Her son being the most famous sportsman Antigua has ever had and highly regarded as one of the greatest cricket players of all time.
Onwards to Galley Bay, the entrance is almost easily overlook and the quiet lobby sets the mood for whats to come. Next to the lobby sits the remains of a windmill, one of many dotted around Antigua. We were given an ice cold towel and a fruit drink to quench our thirst, before being whisked away on an electric golf cart, down a long dirt track to the main part of the resort.
Beautiful seclusion
The setting here is quite breathtaking, passing by two lagoons with the rocky hills as a backdrop and dense tropical vegetation all around. We were given a quick tour of the facilities checking out the styles of rooms available here. In the 40 acres of land this resort encompasses, there are 98 rooms of differing sizes and styles. One of our favourite was the Gaugin inspired cottages, set back from the beach, they included a small plunge pool and beautifully styled buildings both inside and out. They are quite the most rustic and unique rooms I've seen at a resort and definitely something a bit different for a honeymoon or anniversary, with all the resort facilities just a few short steps away.
Our room was a more modern style suite on the ground floor, there was no need for a balcony as we could slide the doors open and step right out on to the beach. With two large sofas and coffee table too, a desk and ample storage, our room was definitely ticking a lot of the romantic hotel room boxes. The bathroom was huge with a corner bath and separate shower area, lots of space to unpack and feel at home. As if all that wasn't enough to set the romantic mood, the chilled bottle of Prosseco accompanied by a plate of meats and cheeses was the perfect way to unwind after our day of travel.
Romantic facilities
We instantly fell in love with the Galley Bay resort and its easy to see why. Firstly the 3/4 mile beach has one of the most stunning vistas I've ever seen. Every morning we'd wake up and jump out of bed to open the curtains and gaze upon it once more. The beautiful sandy beach forever tempting us to stroll, hand it hand, as the waves lapped at our feet. Outside the main restaurant and beach front lobby area there are a number of rocking chairs to sit on and gaze out over the ocean. Quite a unique feature I've not seen before and perfect during afternoon tea, sipping cocktails and nibbling on miniature sandwiches.
While the Galley Bay resort is adults only, its long stretched layout sandwiched between the lagoons and the beach make all of its facilities a peaceful and secluded experience. Everyone seems to talk in relaxed, hushed tones and the two loudest noises you'll here are the waterfall cascading in to the swimming pool and maybe the blender crushing the ice for your Strawberry Daiquiri. The wonderful laid back atmosphere of the Caribbean is highly contagious here and the toughest choice you're likely to make is whether to lay on a sun lounger or one of the huge hammocks stretched between two palm trees. If you're feeling extra active there's always the Croquet lawn or take one of the resort's bicycles for lap or two around the lagoons.
An indulging spa
Most hotels and resorts have spas these days and we've been lucky enough to try quite a few over our years of travel. Galley Bay's "Indulge" spa was definitely a little different to what we had experienced before. Quite the most romantic setting for a couple's massage you could possibly ask for. Located by the beach front lobby, the Indulge spa is more a secluded compound, its fencing and trees surrounding it left only the breeze and the occasional chirping bird noise around us. Greeted with an ice cold drink and asked whether we would like an in-door air conditioned couples massage or, would we prefer the outdoor experience? I've never been given this choice before so the outdoor option definitely caught our curiosity.
Lead through beautiful surroundings, a plunge pool, outdoor lounge sofas and up to the steps of a raised "treatment pod", a rustic wooden hut overlooking the lagoon and at branch height with the surrounding trees. A warm tropical breeze gently passed through the hut and we were quietly ushered to the two massage tables. The couples massage was sublime, knowing your partner is enjoying the same relaxing and healthy massage that you are really adds to the experience and the outdoor surroundings were definitely the icing on the romance cake. It raises an interesting point that all the beautiful tropical resorts that have indoor spas should really consider moving them outdoors so we can enjoy more of the climate! We left feeling invigorated and definitely fully indulged.
Romantic dinner choices
There's no shortage of dining options at Galley Bay. With the resort stretched along the coastline there's lots of room for varying styles of restaurant and cuisine options. For a BBQ style snack there's the Barefoot Grill, perfect if you missed out on lunch or want a late afternoon snack. The Sea Grape Restaurant is the usual port of call and is right next to the beach lobby. We headed here for breakfast each morning and the occasional afternoon tea as well. They serve lunch and dinner too and boast probably the greatest view on the island with a panoramic vista of the bay. Ismay's is a fine outdoor dining experience, warmly lit and quiet with the option of dining on the beach or at their private Gazebo too. The staff were very attentive and with the palm trees individually lit all around there's a wonderfully romantic ambience here. At the other end of the beach there's the equally romantic Gougin restaurant with each table underneath its own little gazebo roof. Paths leading to each offer a more personal dining experience and this is where the modest entertainment takes place. A wonderful singer with a set list eclectic enough to impress any age and music fan.
Galley Bay is the kind of place you fall in love with instantly and dread the day you have to leave. While it may have less features than some of its bigger and busier competitors, it does everything perfectly. The setting is sublime and a joy to wake up to each day with the sunsets over the bay ending each day beautifully. One of my favourite past times here was walking out of our room, straight on to the beach and just sitting on the sand, watching the waves roll in and happy couples strolling along the shore. It really is a slice of paradise.
You can find out more about holidays at the Galley Bay Resort & Spa here and follow them on twitter too for updates live from paradise.
