The Escape at Nonsuch Bay

My wife and I are lucky enough to have just spent two weeks here. It’s a fantastic resort with lots to talk about.... Our pre-arranged taxi was there as promised, and had us in reception as quickly as possible where we were greeted with cold towels and cocktails. The rooms here are on the small side, but are very well appointed. Some other guests said they’d have preferred a bigger space but I wouldn’t have swapped any amount of room for the plunge pool. Having somewhere private like this to relax, float around, have a drink and watch the sunset was absolutely brilliant. The views from the room of the greenery and out over the bay were beautiful and something I would never have tired of. Eating here was the best food experience I’ve had on an all-inclusive holiday. Unlike a typical buffet in other all-inc places, the meals here are cooked freshly and individually to order. The waiting time allows for a few drinks to flow and the surroundings, again looking over the bay, are classy and relaxed. The restaurant did quite often run out of various items, and substitutes used instead. They were very, very accommodating of any requests to amend menu items and dietary restrictions. The choice varied every night and every lunchtime, and was always of a consistently very high standard. The bar area was excellent. A very good range of drinks available right throughout the day. Again, they did run out of various things several times but options were plentiful for alternatives. The bar stools need somewhere to put your feet rather than have them swinging, but it provides a lovely, relaxed atmosphere, particularly in the evening. Top of the list of the best things about this place were the people. The service provided, a couple of small individual instances aside, was superb. More genuinely warm, welcoming, charming, quirky, friendly, helpful, dedicated people you could not wish to meet. Every day of the holiday was filled with fun and humour from people like Lorena, Charmaine, Filson, Rehanna, Clayon and Mr G. Nothing was too much trouble, things being right was so important to them, and it was a pleasure getting to know them. Avella was regularly on hand, and her determination to make sure everyone was happy was to be admired. There were plenty of beds available poolside, and the whole pool area was excellently laid out, spotlessly clean, and offers enough options for sun worshippers as well as shade when required. There was often no breeze, which could make it too hot, but this was why having the beach at the main Nonsuch Resort as an option was so good. Taking either the free shuttle or a 10-minute walk, the main resort is again immaculate and offers a slightly cooler sunbathe as well as a nice change of scenery. We were lucky enough to be introduced to the sailing facilities at Nonsuch by guests there. (Geoff & Sandra, if you’re reading this, thank you for being so kind and adding to our trip). This was an unexpected and surprising bonus to our stay. Denise, Ricardo, Mickey and Devon looked after everything brilliantly with the same laughs and friendliness that was present throughout the whole resort. When we hit a problem and our mast broke, stranding us, they had the speedboat in the water to rescue us in a matter of a few seconds. It was very impressive. These guys also run the trips to Green Island, which I’d say is a must if you’re staying here. The beach there, the view, the ability to snorkel amongst schools of fish was one of the best parts of the whole stay. It was a great option to have for a couple of hours, with the speedboat journey almost as enjoyable as the paradise when you’re there. During our stay the hotel seemed to have employed the services of a group of four people to produce promotional material in the form of photos, videos and drone footage over a period of a week or so. I found this, the drone especially, very intrusive. The drone buzzing and filming around our terrace and private pool I felt should have required our permission. It woke me several times by the main pool too. The group’s need for space for their equipment, demands that people move out the way, and ceaseless use of their mobiles at meal times were a massive annoyance. The ambience and soft lighting at dinner were in sharp contrast to the full-brightness phone screens being passed around and discussed at length and volume continuously. These people were an absolute nuisance and I was far from the only guest glad to see the back of them. Being such a small and intimate resort, the limited number of people staying there made for a really nice environment. It was nice to see and chat to people as the holiday progressed, and catch up with them at the bar at the end of each day, sharing stories and ideas to get the most out of the holiday. If this was a larger resort, it wouldn’t have been the same experience. Being in a place where everyone got on with each other and weren’t strangers was a huge plus for me. The friendly, funny atmosphere it created was a pleasure to be a part of. I loved my stay here. As far as this type of holiday goes, The Escape is the new benchmark for me. It’s raised the bar, and everyone involved should take great pride in creating something as good as this. Read less

The Escape The special attention you receive here makes for a perfect escape. The rooms are spacious and thoughtfully designed,the balcony and plunge pool facing the panorama of the bay . We particularly loved the free taxi boat from the hotel jetty to Green Island . On our best day there we were a party of 8 people, together with a bar member and picnic bar with a beach to ourselves. The snorkelling was amazing and we also saw barracudas and a stingray ,a mini paradise. Unlike other all inclusive packages , A la Carte is the norm. Creative and tasty menus to suit all tastes . We met Mitchell,the head chef early in our stay and love his approach and enthusiasm. In the absence of Michelin stars in the Caribbean,this hotel gets a ‘Mitchell’ star from us ! The reason you will love this place is all down to the smiling , helpful personalities that are the staff, expertly overseen by the manager,Avella . Special thanks to Mr G for his wisdom , Filson for his entertaining service and Charmaine who makes a mean cocktail and is a stateswoman in the making . We enjoyed the friendly company of the guests here too . Thanks to our Antiguan hotel family , our 10 day escape was brilliant. Read less

We stayed at The Escape in September for 14 nights, and absolutely loved it. It's such a wonderful peaceful resort perfect for just chilling out and relaxing. If you want somewhere to truly relax in a wonderful and beautiful setting then this is it. The Food: Was top notch at every meal. Hats off to the talented and award winning chef Mitchel Husband and his team. The waiting staff were wonderful and made sure your glass didn't go empty! A special hello to the gentle giant that is Mr Gore - such a lovely man. The Rooms: Are gorgeous,really modern,clean and comfortable.Every room has it's own plunge pool, sea views and coffee/tea making facilities. The complimentary fridge is kept topped up. The house keeping staff were very thorough and kept everything spic and span. The Facilities: The pool is fine for the size of the resort and there are plenty of sunbeds. The trips to Green Island were fantastic,such a beautiful place and fantastic snorkeling where you'll see sting rays and turtles. Thank you to Ricardo and Devon for keeping us entertained on the boat across to the Island - great jokes :) Reception Staff: Are all really friendly and keen to help. Thank you Zoe for being so helpful and lovely. A special thank you to Avella for being such a fantastic manager and lovely person, there aren't many managers of hotels who take the time to learn their guests names. Thank you to all the staff for your kindness and looking after us so well. See you again. Rose and Vincent Read less

In this review, I have tried to provide some useful details that previous reviews haven’t covered – information not available on the hotel’s website. This will be a bit long – if you prefer the short version I’ll summarise as: if you’re looking for a relaxing getaway and you prefer peace and quiet to lively entertainment then don’t hesitate – this is the place. ** Arrival ** After a 40-minute taxi ride from the airport (arranged in advance through The Escape for US$40 each way) we had a warm welcome from the lovely Zoe in reception. They have an amazing reception area and their desk is a tall fallen tree on its side (a description that doesn’t do it justice). We received rum punches, chilled towels and a tasty amuse-bouche while we filled out a form. We were then shown to our room. ** Room ** There are ten blocks, each comprising four rooms – the ones on the upper floor have more privacy on their balconies. The rooms are lovely. Everything was brand new as the resort opened in 2019. Such a comfy bed. We had to adjust the air con as it was freezing cold on arrival – we found 76°F / 25°C to be about right. The shower cubicle was open to the room – no door – which makes water splashing out of the cubicle unavoidable. Shampoo, conditioner and body lotion are provided but there was a bar of soap instead of shower gel. If like me, you don’t like bar soap you may want to bring your own shower gel. A previous reviewer mentioned that walking back to their room in the dark there’s no lighting – in our room a torch had been provided (also useful when accessing the inconveniently-placed room safe). There’s plenty of wardrobe space and drawers to unpack into. If like most people you have gadgets that need charging, the mains outlet nearest the bed has two 3.1 amp USB sockets. The large Samsung TV has no terrestrial channels but has Netflix instead (no subscription necessary) so you can enjoy movies and binge-watch box-sets if you like. The minibar contains a variety of soft drink cans and a couple of cans of Carib lager. There’s a carton of milk to go with tea and coffee (there’s a kettle and Nespresso machine). The contents of the minibar is replenished daily, apart from the bottle of sparkling wine – you get one of those included, but additional bottles are US$25. The plunge pool is lovely and has a great view, particularly at sunset. We alternated between here, the small but equally lovely main infinity pool by the bar, and the beach. ** Beach ** A previous reviewer said there’s no beach, but there certainly is, in the other part of the resort. A friendly driver picks you up when you want to make the four-minute trip in a car to ‘the other side’ where the beach is. We never had to wait more than five minutes to get a ride there or back. We saw some couples walk the route but rather them than us! It is a steep climb up, then down. There’s also three infinity pools on the Nonsuch Bay side, the more family-oriented part of the resort. There are plenty sun loungers amongst the palm trees. There is a beach attendant who occasionally appears to take drink orders and he fetches them from the bar in the hotel. There is also a beach bar but that was open rarely while we were there (probably because we were low-season). This offered a more limited choice. The sea is warm and shallow. The onshore breeze makes it a safe place for children to play. The beach is also where you can borrow a double kayak or a sailing dinghy (eg RS Quba or Hobie Cat) to go exploring in the large bay (9-12 and 1-4 pm). There are group lessons on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It is possible to eat lunch at the restaurant at the Nonsuch Bay side, but you had to give 24 hours notice. We weren't that organised, so had to take the shuttle back to the Escape each lunch time. There’s a ‘convenience store’ at Nonsuch, selling food for those who are self-catering but also essentials, t-shirts etc. ** Bar ** The bar at The Escape is the hub of the hotel and serves great cocktails. There is a cocktail menu, but they are happy to serve ones not on the menu. Servings are big with plenty of alcohol and you can have as many as you like. ** Restaurant ** Food at breakfast, lunch and dinner was excellent. I have a big appetite but was never hungry. We had some amazing meals. Breakfast includes a continental-style buffet and a menu of hot options including a ‘full English’ and a daily special. At breakfast, you’ll be asked to pick a time when you’d like lunch and dinner. Lunches are three courses – soup, main course and the desert of the day. At dinner, they serve a choice of starters and mains, an amuse-bouche and dessert. There’s also tapas served between 3 and 5 pm – you can choose three dishes from a choice of seven – order at the bar. There’s a choice of still or sparkling water, house wine (which we found a bit rough), finer wines for a supplement, or soft drinks, lager and cocktails. The menu was varied and didn’t repeat. Lobster and steak were available for a $35 supplement. A special dinner in your room or ‘floating breakfast’ in your plunge pool are available - for a hefty supplement. We found the service at dinner slow – the time from the starter being cleared away to the main course being served was usually 30-40 minutes. This was particularly unwelcome on our arrival day when we just wanted to eat quickly and get to bed. ** Green Island ** Reading the other reviews I had expected that guests first had to take a car ride to the Nonsuch side and take a boat to Green Island from there. But The Escape has its own jetty just under the restaurant and the boat arrives at 10 am and 2 pm (five days a week?) to ferry guests out to the island. The ride takes about seven minutes. On arrival there, guests can use sun loungers and help themselves to cold canned drinks or a staff member will pour you a rum punch. Green Island has beautiful white sandy beaches, clear water and great snorkelling. Masks and snorkels are provided, but no fins. We saw a variety of fish and a stingray. The boat returns to collect the guests at 12 and 4. We went in the afternoons when it wasn’t as hot (there’s no shade) and we were less likely to be disturbed by catamaran trips. We went out to the island a couple of times, and the second time we were the only people there – we had the island to ourselves! Devon, the boat captain, gave us a special tour. If you get the same treatment, have some dollars for him in appreciation. Towels are available for use on the poolside, at the beach, on the island or if you go exploring by car. ** Activities ** Other than live music one night (a singer accompanied by a keyboard player) and the music that is played from the bar (an eclectic mix of whatever is on the barperson’s playlist - mainly reggae but even hip-hop!) the entertainment is what you make it – watersports, trips and time spent chatting with other guests at the bar. Guests were aged between their mid 20’s and 60’s, mostly British but also a few Canadians and Americans and even some locals having a staycation. Most people kept themselves to themselves. There’s nothing to do in walking distance of the hotel. We signed up for the Sunday evening excursion to Shirley Heights. This was great, US$20 each for the round-trip in a shared minibus and US$10 entry. Lots of tasty food and drink for sale at reasonable prices while you listen to an excellent steel band and watch the sunset over English Harbour. Some of us went on from there to the Roadhouse, a bar/eatery/disco about ten minutes drive from The Escape. This was good fun and a chance to mingle with the locals. We hired a car for three days, arranged for us by the reception staff – about US$75 a day including CDW and tax for a 4-by-4. A sign in the car said we had to return it without any sand or have to pay a US$100 cleaning fee, so we bought a cheap brush to clean it before returning the car. If you don’t want to hire a car, the hotel will arrange for a driver to take you sightseeing or to other beaches – this cost about $120-140 depending on duration. We also had a stand-up paddleboard lesson from Irene at the 40Knots school which is based at the Nonsuch Bay beach – she was excellent but expensive (US$150 for an hour for two people). The school closes for a while at the end of the summer and only reopened on 14 October. ** What else should you know? ** There are mosquitos around. We had maybe a dozen bites each during our ten days but they don’t itch too badly. There are jellyfish in the sea, but they aren’t harmful. As all the other reviews have said, the best thing about The Escape is the lovely staff – they are friendly, helpful and chatty and they work together well as a team. We loved it there and we’re looking forward to going back. Read less

Stayed at the escape for our honeymoon for 12 nights , this resort is quiet resort aimed at couples and was perfect for us , there is a high level of service through out the resort thanks to Avella and her team. big thank you to Mitchell and all the kitchen staff for preparing the food to such a high quality the steak was sublime,the freshly caught snapper was even better .The service from the waiting staff was always polite and nothing was to much trouble big thanks to Javier for serving us with a smile and stories of his big catch . Green island is paradise ,we spent many an hr on this island again big thanks to Pettrina for keeping the rum punch flowing , On a couple of occasions we decided to stay on the island all day and were treated to club sandwiches freshly delivered by speed boat again going the extra mile and exceeding our expectations. Big thanks to Devon and Ricardo for making the speed boat ride fun. House keeping again spot on with everything. Every employee at the escape from the gardeners to the manager always smiled and said hello and was welcoming. Thank you for a wonderful stay Read less