- Deluxe and intimate Caribbean hideaway exclusively for adults
- Located on a golden sandy beach lapped by warm azure waters
- Rustic, elegant rooms and suites with views of the lush gardens and sea
- Award winning dining and a fine selection of alfresco bars
The Galley Bay Resort and Spa is located on a stunning sandy beach and offers a luxurious, refined, and unpretentious sanctuary ideal for a relaxing holiday. Exclusively for adults, it’s the perfect choice for honeymooners or those holidaying with their loved ones. The all inclusive option ensures that everything is taken care of, allowing you to completely relax and unwind.
This boutique property is nestled within tropical gardens and has elegant rooms and suites overlooking the lagoon and lush private grounds. Situated next to a natural bird sanctuary, guests can witness a multitude of bird species, in addition to the many marine animals in the lagoon.
Take time out for tempting treatments at Spa Indulge, which features a variety of body wraps and massages, before sampling the array of inviting restaurants and bars dotted around the resort. Enjoy a refreshing swim in the freeform pool, or sample some of the complimentary non-motorised water sports. Guests can also enjoy live entertainment every night.
This hotel does not accept children under the age of 16.
All Inclusive – what's included
Breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner (a supplement of $35 per person applies at Ismay's). Pre-dinner hors d'oeuvres and all drinks by the glass including house wines, premium drinks, cocktails and champagne from the bars. Non-motorised watersports (including sailing, windsurfing, kayaks and snorkelling). Tennis. Fitness centre. Bicycle hire. Regular entertainment. Complimentary Wi-Fi is available in public areas.
Facilities
Bars & Restaurants
Ismay's
Ismay’s provides an elegant dining experience within its charming open air restaurant at the end of the beach. Enjoy a romantic and secluded fine dining experience where you can sample specialities including pan-roasted rack of lamb accompanied by romantic candlelight and crisp linen table cloths.
Open: 19:00 – 22:00.
Reservations are required. Gentlemen are required to wear collared shirts with long trousers or smart jeans. T-shirts, shorts, ¾ trousers and ripped denim are not accepted. Ladies are requested to wear dresses, skirts, long trousers or smart jeans or tailored shorts. No short shorts or tank tops are permitted in the restaurant.
Sea Grape
The enchanting Sea Grape restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and offers a serene dining experience on the terrace beside the sea, complete with a refreshing breeze and mesmerising ocean views. Sample fresh seafood including grouper, alongside salads and a weekly Caribbean barbecue accompanied by live steel drum music.
Open: 07:00 – 10:00, 12:00 – 14:00 and 18:30 – 22:00.
Gentlemen are required to wear collared shirts with long trousers or smart jeans. T-shirts, shorts, ¾ trousers and ripped denim are not accepted. Ladies are requested to wear dresses, skirts, long trousers or smart jeans or tailored shorts. No short shorts or tank tops are permitted in the restaurant.
Gauguin
Open for lunch and dinner, the romantic and intimate Gauguin restaurant offers al fresco, candlelit dining overlooking the azure blue seas and accompanied by swaying palms. Experience private dining in your own cabana and sample mouth-watering delicacies including chipotle chicken with water melon and cilantro or a savoury green curry infused with local flavours.
Open: 12:00 – 16:30. Sittings for dinner are at 18:45 or 20:30.
Reservations are required. Gentlemen are required to wear collared shirts with long trousers or smart jeans. T-shirts, shorts, ¾ trousers and ripped denim are not accepted. Ladies are requested to wear dresses, skirts, long trousers or smart jeans or tailored shorts. No short shorts or tank tops are permitted in the restaurant.
Barefoot Grill
Enjoy light bites and snacks at lunchtime beside the beach at the relaxed and inviting Barefoot Grill. Sample grilled delicacies amidst tropical scenery, including spicy Cajun catch of the day or handmade Caribbean hamburgers and sit back and relax in the casual environment.
Open: 12:00 – 16:30.
Sea Grape Lounge Bar
Sit and relax with afternoon tea or an evening cocktail and enjoy live entertainment at the Sea Grape Lounge Bar.
Open: 10:00 – 23:00.
Gauguin Bar
Appreciate the rustic charm of the Gauguin Bar as you relax with a fine wine or spritzer in elegant surroundings.
Open: 12:00 – 23:30.
Ismay's Bar
Relish in a cool refreshing drink or cocktail amidst the beautiful lush tropical gardens and admire the natural beauty of your surroundings.
Open: 19:00 – 23:00.
Coffee Shop
Relax with friends, enjoy a good book or plan your day ahead on plush wicker club chairs within the crisp, white washed walls of the Coffee Shop sanctuary. Sample delectable pastries and freshly brewed coffee in beautiful surroundings looking out over the gardens.
Open: 07:00 – 22:30.
Tee Pee Bar
Chill out with a speciality cocktail or refreshing juice at the conical-roofed Tee Pee Bar and take in the lively ambiance as you watch the spectacular sunset.
Open: 10:00 – 23:00.
Beach & Pools
Swimming Pool
Take a dip in the refreshing lagoon-style freshwater swimming pool, complete with a relaxing waterfall and tropical surroundings. Enjoy poolside drinks from your comfortable sun lounger and soak up the sun.
Beach
Enjoy ¾ of a mile of powdery white sands on your doorstep, where you can take a stroll along the edge of turquoise warm waters or experience the local water sports.
Spa & Wellness
Indulge Spa
From facial therapies to aromatherapy cocoons and massage rituals, the Indulge Spa has something to refresh and rejuvenate the body, mind and soul. Enjoy blissful indulgence amidst the tropical gardens on the edge of the lagoon.
Fitness Centre
Flex your muscles at the well-appointed Fitness Centre complete with state of the art equipment.
Activities & Entertainment
Entertainment
Embrace the exotic vibe of the Caribbean with island-inspired live music and activities. Enjoy steel drum and reggae bands, alongside Caribbean barbecues and cocktail parties under the Antiguan sun. Other activities range from touring the resort gardens to cooking demonstrations and watching a movie under the stars.
Land Sports
There is something for everyone at Galley Bay Resort & Spa, from bicycles to tennis, and from croquet to yoga. The diverse array of land sports also includes beach volleyball and billiards.
Water Sports
Surrounded by sparking waters and breath-taking coastlines, guests can choose from a fantastic selection of water sports, including paddle boarding, Hobie Cat sailing and kayaking. If you fancy heading deeper into the underwater world, then experience snorkelling where you can see colourful coral gardens and tropical marine life.
Gift Shop
Guests can satisfy their shopaholic cravings at the onsite Gift Shop. Find the perfect souvenir of your holiday as you browse the array of island-inspired jewellery, accessories and fashion.
About the location
Galley Bay Resort & Spa is a short drive from Antigua’s buzzing capital, St John’s. Situated on the northern coast, St John’s is home to colourful houses and buildings, and a rich colonial history. St John’s Cathedral headlines the capital with its striking Baroque architecture and is accompanied by an array of Caribbean restaurants and interesting duty-free shops and markets.
The island’s vibrant heritage and upmarket atmosphere can be found in abundance in St John’s, displayed in its authentic Saturday morning fruit markets, alongside the swanky bars and shops of Redcliffe Quay. As night falls, select from stylish bars and alfresco eateries and enjoy the Antiguan sunset.
Transfer time
Galley Bay Resort & Spa is 25 minutes from Antigua Airport
Superior Beachfront Room
Max 2 adults
Superior Beachfront Rooms have a private patio and are located directly on the beach. These rooms feature a king size bed and en-suite bathroom with shower.
Deluxe Beachfront Room
Max 2 adults
Deluxe Beachfront Rooms are more spacious with a walk-in wardrobe and a large balcony or patio. Ground floor rooms have a beach shower and direct beach access.
Gauguin Suite
Max 2 adults
Gauguin Suites are close to the beach and situated on the edge of a bird sanctuary lagoon. The suites consist of two thatched rondavels and feature a plunge pool and sun deck area.
Premium Beachfront Suite
Max 3 adults
Premium Beachfront Suites are split-level with a sunken living area, wet bar, a large bathroom with a separate bathtub, 'his and hers' showers and a balcony or patio. Ground floor rooms have direct beach access.
Premium Beachfront Spa Suite
Max 2 adults
Premium Beachfront Spa Suites are split-level with a sunken living area, wet bar, a large bathroom with a separate bathtub, 'his and hers' showers and a balcony or patio. Ground floor rooms have direct beach access. Guests staying in these rooms will receive one 45 minute spa treatment per day from a selected menu (maximum 5 per week excluding arrival and departure day).
Based on 4095 traveller reviews
92% of travellers recommended this hotel
Travellers Ratings
Excellent
3280
Very Good
583
Average
157
Poor
45
Terrible
30
Reviews
“ Just return from an incredible week at Galley Bay....
cland1399, Kennesaw, Georgia
Apr 12 2021
We just returned from an incredible vacation at Galley Bay. We were in room #1 which is the closest to the water/bar/pool/etc. In my opinion, the very best room on the resort. Our initial stay was...
We just returned from an incredible vacation at Galley Bay. We were in room #1 which is the closest to the water/bar/pool/etc. In my opinion, the very best room on the resort. Our initial stay was 6 days, but we extended to 7 once we got there as occupany was right at 30%, and we knew we needed to get as much time as possible by sacrificing our usual extra day when we get home before returning to work.
As other's have stated, lots of repeat guests. We found the staff to be engaging, and we felt like we were getting personal service from everyone One thing I really liked is that there is a "soundtrack" of waves always going on in the background. If you want to unwind, this is definitely the place to do it.
Food: Breakfast was good. The omelet's and eggs benedict became my go to. We alternated lunch from Gauguin to Barefoot Grill. Mostly, depending on what the specials were at Barefoot. The Jamaican jerk wings are an absolute must at Gauguin. I also had one of the best grilled tuna sandwiches ever at barefoot. I found the food to be really good at Seagrape at night. They had Wahoo the first night and a lamb shank on another that was absolutely incredible. We did Ismay's and felt the food quality was kind of on par with the other restaurants, however, we enjoyed the experience and would do it again.
Getting out and going: As other's have said, the entertainment on the resort right now is limited due to low occupancy due to covid. So, we got off resort multiple days. We took a day tour with Creole Antigua to snorkel, have a grilled lobster lunch, etc. We also went with Captain Sean (absolutely a must) for a 4 hour trip. We grabbed a couple of bikes and went around to the old fort ruins where we spotted the glassy water of the beach next to the royalton. The next day we had the stafff pack a big icechest of beer/rum punch/champagne/water and got a taxi over to that beach. It was a blast as everyday we had some rough waters at Galley Bay.
All in all, it was amazing. We typically aren't All inclusive people as we like to get out and adventure..... but we managed to do some of both. It's exactly what we needed.
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“ Lost in Paradise - All Inclusive Carribean Resort
DRV257, Pleasantville, New York
Apr 11 2021
We finally were able to get away after being vaccinated and finding a COVID safe island and resort! The resort is perfect for couples and honeymooners wanting a low-key honeymoon vacation. Many of...
We finally were able to get away after being vaccinated and finding a COVID safe island and resort! The resort is perfect for couples and honeymooners wanting a low-key honeymoon vacation. Many of the guests are repeat costumers and gave us a wealth of information. Our accommodations were outstanding! The rooms are spacious with king size beds. We stayed in the Premium beachfront suite (beach level). The suite has a spacious living area and patio. The bathroom is just as grand with double sinks, double shower heads and a jacuzzi. We woke up to the sound of waves and the view was spectacular. I would recommend staying in the Beachfront suites as compared to the Gauguin Suites. The suites are charming and privately tucked away but the view of the lagoon isn???t as amazing as the ocean view. The Deluxe beachfront rooms were closed due to low capacity. The rooms were cleaned and sanitized daily and the staff friendly and accommodating.
There were several activities offered and we took advantage of all available. We engaged in yoga every morning, and our instructor was amazing. We rode bikes daily and had a wonderful tour of the gardens with John the resident gardener. We were not able to snorkel, kayak or paddle board due to the the water being too rough.
We visited the spa several times, and had a number of treatments. The couples massage was lovely and Karyan was not only a masseuse but nail technician.
The entertainment was low key and there were only a few nights of live music.
It???s our understanding the majority of the staff have been working at the resort for years, and are professional and consistent. Cheers and good wishes to Karyann resort staff bartender/waitstaff for her amazing service and hospitality. Joan, our guest services rep assisted with all of our needs in a prompt and efficient manner.
We did have one night where the entire dinner staff seemed off, but otherwise everyone else was on target.
The cuisine was inconsistent. Breakfast was probably our best meals - the omelettes were delicious and the pancakes and flap jacks are a must! We loved eating both lunch and dinner at Gaugin???s when it was open. The afternoon tea was a lovely treat with daily dessert specials. Dinners at Sea Grapes were uneventful and it???s our opinion the chef should pay more attention to seasoning his dishes. The extra charge to eat at Ismay???s wasn???t worth it. We ordered better wine at dinner and for our room - the wine as part as the all-inclusive deal wasn???t the greatest.
Many of the repeat guests spoke about what wasn???t offered due to COVID restrictions-BBQ???s, snacks at the bar, all restaurants open all the time. The coffee shop, library and rum bar were all closed. My suggestion is to keep the board games intact and offer organized game activities such as water aerobics, happy hour croquette, and paddle tennis. All of the equipment looks dated and we played Scrabble every day with a broken playing board. There was a small book collection (6-8 books). Overall, we had a relaxing and rejuvenating vacation!! We can???t thank the staff enough for making our trip a great success!
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“ We will be back!!!
232binh,
Mar 17 2021
Galley Bay is everything that we hoped for and so much more. The most wonderful experience we have had in all of the years of our all-inclusive resort adventures.
The resort itself is a small...
Galley Bay is everything that we hoped for and so much more. The most wonderful experience we have had in all of the years of our all-inclusive resort adventures.
The resort itself is a small resort that only accommodates maybe 200 people. During our stay there were only about 20 people staying there, which made social distancing very easy to do.
Upon our arrival, we were upgraded to an on the beach suite which was absolutely stunning. It was clean and we could literally walk out the door to the beach.
The beach was clean and there was plenty of space to wander about.
Even in the midst of a global pendemic, Galley Bay did not compromise on their service and attention to detail. All of the staff made a point to know and greet you by your name making you feel like a part of the family. Derrick, the operation manager, made a point to say hi to everyone whenever he's on the property and ready for conversations. He also had some killer dance moves!!
Though the choice of restaurants were limited, only one restaurant open per night, there was no shortage of dishes to choose from and they were super accommodating on making changes to meet our dietary needs. The food was delicious!
If you are looking for some adventure outside of the resort we highly recommend taking a sail boat ride with Captain Sean. He has been doing his Captain Sean Tour for over 25 years and knows every inch of the western Antiguan coastline. His drinks and food onboard was amazing! We also ventured out on the resort's bicycles for a quick 25-30 min ride to the nearby Fort Barrington. Amazing 360 view at the top after a short but steep climb, sneakers or hiking shoes recommended.
We will definitely be back to Galley Bay and will recommend anyone who wants to travel to Antigua.
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“ As good as it gets for service and relaxation
Tom B, London, United Kingdom
Feb 28 2021
The resort description here on Tripadvisor accurately describes what to expect. Galley Bay is how to run an upscale resort. You are treated as a VIP from the moment you arrive. The hotel want you to...
The resort description here on Tripadvisor accurately describes what to expect. Galley Bay is how to run an upscale resort. You are treated as a VIP from the moment you arrive. The hotel want you to feel 'part of the family". Staff remember your name and your preferences. Whatever you need, if they can supply it or do it, they will. Rooms are stylish with free wifi, and you face directly onto the beach. Booked for 3 days initially and ended up extending 3 times. (Lots of repeat guests, and lots of guests extending, like us).
If you want party central or an action packed holiday, this is not the place. It's a place to relax, and be indulged. But enough to keep you busy and active if you want that. Water sport options are adequate for a 100 room resort, but the (beautiful) beach is open to the sea, and choppy waters can mean the red flag is flying most days. A memorable holiday and a resort I will definitely return to.
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“ Very Impressed with COVID Measures
JFsB, Fairfield, Connecticut
Feb 28 2021
This was my fourth stay at Galley Bay and I must write how impressed I was with their COVID measures. Everywhere you went, hand sanitizing stations were available, the staff (with the exception of...
This was my fourth stay at Galley Bay and I must write how impressed I was with their COVID measures. Everywhere you went, hand sanitizing stations were available, the staff (with the exception of one bartender at Gauguin one evening, which management corrected immediately) wore PPE. The diligent staff made sure you used the hand sanitizer before entering a common space, kept the dining and bar areas spotless and germ free. They maintained social distancing in restaurants at all times. On the whole, guests complied with wearing face masks, but, as always, there were a few outliers.
The resort has maintained their superior level of service; all staff were professional and friendly; they really can't do enough for you. Housekeeping was again superior. All restaurants were open, and the service and food were absolutely fantastic.
Can't wait to go back.
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