Galley Bay Resort and Spa

The setting is idyllic just like paradise. The staff very attentive and go out of their way to accommodate your wishes. They are super friendly but never intrusive. We felt safe the whole holiday with 24 hour visible security. We would return in a heartbeat.

Great staff who all went the Extra Mile (we arrived at midnight and they had food (sandwiches, fruit and a bottle of champagne) waiting for us. Nice walking beach (quite private) but the water was rough most of the week (only 2 of 8 days with a green flag). Never a problem getting lounges around the pool and the pool bar attendants were kept busy yet always delivered our drinks in a few minutes. Food available essentially all day. Acceptable evening entertainment until 10:30-11:00 every night.

The Galley Bay Resort in Antigua may be the best vacation spot I've ever seen, all things considered, and I've traveled a lot! The setting and scenery are simply breathtaking! I've never been so inspired to take pictures because it seemed that everywhere I looked, there was something uniquely beautiful to try to capture. Though there were some guests with expensive digital cameras and multiple lenses to be swapped, depending on photographic considerations, I left my expensive digitals and lenses at home, rolled the dice with my Samsung Smart Phone and got world-class pics every shot! Textures, tones, contrasts, and colors abound which complement the native environment to make great photos, even with lesser expensive camera equipment. Even the moonsets from our porch at night were as stunning as the sunsets, and we stayed up each night to take photos of the sparkling water, almost iridescent with the reflection of the moon. I could go on about the beauty of nature there and the terrific care that the groundskeeper takes of the vegetation on the huge property, but, instead, I need to say that, as visually stunning as Galley Bay is, their staff radiate everything that's good about human nature--I didn't see a person for the entire week who wasn't smiling! The gentle good nature of everyone there is in no way gratuitous but reflects, I'm convinced, a sincere appreciation of everyone they encounter as well as a committment to focusing on their guests' satisfaction. I found throughout the week that these pleasant encounters were, without exception, the norm in guest relations. No request went unresolved, and most were attended to almost immediately. Our room, a Deluxe Suite on a second floor, was spacious, well decorated, and elegantly practical. The bed was comfortable, the grounds quiet (no kids under 16 are allowed), and every place we went was spotlessly clean. The resort has been there for years, and so it isn't "flashy new." Instead, it reflects a dignity of years in excellently maintained condition, functional in every intended way. The gym appears to be recently upgraded, though, and is the best workout facility I've seen in any Five-Star hotel in which I've stayed, with new Cybex equipment, two treadmills, an elliptical, a stationary trainer, and free weights, all in a a spacious, uncluttered, air-conditioned room with a great view to the grounds and beach, and there's even a shower! Meant to be a relaxing, chill week, we bent to the lure of activity (there's just so much to do there, all arranged by Guest Services, and thanks to Iba for his helpfulness). The sailboat snorkeling cruise down the coast with Captain Sean on his boat "Beats Working," was an incredible experience! His and his mate's hospitality is unmatched, and the sailing along the coast gave him a chance to educate us all about the local villages, the history of the island, and with a geologist's knowledge of the topography, I felt that I learned enough to pass a test afterward. He limits the guests on his boat so we were all comfortable for the entire cruise and never felt crowded. The snorkeling at the reef where he anchored was very good (not Cayman Island or Cozumel good, but very good), and I don't believe that Captain Sean's rum concoctions (pick from several) and wonderful dinner with his mom's bread pudding dessert influenced my comments in any way. The high point of the week may have been the Scooter Snorkeling we did with Damon Farrell through Skylork, also a resort offering. I recommend it to anyone who stays at Galley Bay unless there is an overriding health restriction. Damon is a fabulous guide, attentive, personable, professional, knowledgeable, and extremely safety-conscious. He limits the size of his groups so that no one gets left behind or overlooked in the water, and he knows where to go to see the most marine life, varied and in great quantities (as their video at skylork.com shows). He's also a fountain of local knowledge and the history of the island and provides some terrific underwater photos after the dive for keepsake hero shots. The resort food isn't a Five-Star offering on a daily basis, as I feel the chef could back off a bit on presentation to offer up more fresh seafood, prepared more simply (though some of the British guests labeled it "fabulous," but it's more than good as it is. One drawback is that, from 1000-1200, there is no restaurant food available. Breakfast stops at 1000. Lunch, served from 1200 to 1700 at the Barefoot Grill was a treat every day, though, with the daily specials often being the best meal of the day. Guests at Galley Bay were internationally eclectic, creating a pleasant mix of cultures and attitudes. The place is as laid back or as active as you want to make it. We went for a combination of both and were at every turn somewhere between pleasantly surprised and overwhelmed in a good way. We'll definitely go back to Galley Bay, hopefully next year, and meet many return guests, as many whom we met have been doing for years.