The Verandah, Antigua

Let's start off with a positive - the resort layout is beautiful. We loved the cottage style bedrooms and the fact that the whole resort is spread across a vast area. It is beautifully maintained and the team of gardeners and cleaners are always hard at work outside. I have read reviews saying people were welcomed with a drink - we did not get anything. All we got was a surly receptionist who was not welcoming at all. She just looked like she wanted to rush us along. Nothing was explained - we were just told to look at the welcome pack. The $24 per room per night charge came as a shock. The welcome pack explains it as going towards enhanced cleaning. They also say that to keep us safe, they now offer housekeeping every other day so that our contact with housekeeping is limited. This is clearly a hangover from Covid, but now it just seems like a money-making operation because they charge more for cleaning and yet they offer reduced cleaning. Make it make sense! I can tell you that there was no sign of enhanced cleaning, and once we went three days without our room being serviced. Food is distinctly average at this resort, and this is one of the main reasons why we will not be going back. We paid a lot of money for this holiday and we enjoy eating good food. The food in the buffet was uninspired - often dry and stodgy. Where are the Caribbean dishes that we went to the Caribbean for? The food in Sails and Tails was delicious, and we ate most of our lunches and some dinners there. The pizza shack was also good, as was the Rasta bar. Drinks were good and not watered down like in some all-inclusive hotels. The big issue is water. It was really hot when we were there, but we didn't know we needed to bring our own water bottles to refill at the bar. They provide two small bottles of water when you arrive, but nothing after that. I even asked at the bar if I could please have a bottle of water to take to my room one evening as I had to take medication, but I was told they didn't have any. That was a surprise because I saw them give two bottles to a couple just a few minutes before. If you're going to give them to some people, make them available to all. I'm also surprised that an all-inclusive doesn't have a minibar in the room. Service was very mixed. When it was good, it was excellent. Theodore, I'm looking at you. When it was bad, it was terrible. Very unfriendly, and often surly. The older lady in the coffee shop was particularly bad. She rolled her eyes at us a couple of times when we changed our minds in the middle of placing an order, and she made comments to the other woman in there in their local language. Both laughed and it made us feel uncomfortable. Sure, she might not have been talking about us, but it felt personal. Please, please provide some loungers with umbrellas at the pool. If you're not quick to get one of the loungers at the back, you're in trouble. And anyway, the loungers in the shade are under glass, so you really cook under them, when it's hot. Having a more natural roof with airflow would be preferable. Please sort out the issue with pool towels. I've read reviews going back a long time that complain about the lack of towels. I've also read replies from the hotel saying they are going to action this. Well, they haven't. It's still a mad dash to get towels and to hold on to them. I've never experienced this in any hotel I've stayed in, especially not one where we've spent so much. Don't bother to pay for a late checkout. They have a room near Guest Services that you can book for half an hour to have a shower and get yourself ready for the airport. Just make sure you book your slot in good time. This is not mentioned anywhere. I just heard about it from a guest in the pool. Read less

Husband & I dined last eve at Restaurant “Sails & Tails”on the Sister Property The Verandah to Pineapple Beach Club. This was our second try at Anniversary Dinner to reflect our achievement to 49 yrs Married! From start to finish this restaurant Did Not Disappoint🥂 We had wonderful, attentive service. Our meal was brought out in timely fashion, and each course was above in flavor & enjoyed immensely 😋 The tropical breeze just perfect, sounds of frog & crickets nearby made it all that more sweet hearing their chirps & croaks. We were lucky to meet Resident Tom 🐈 & shared Lobster & Ahi Tuna with him. Highly Recommend trying here. Shout out to Server Queen L, Ashha, for convo & attentiveness to us! Chef Richard for the most wonderful Cream of Crab/Corn Bisque, Main Lobster, Caesar Salad (Dressing Lemony Citrus Flavor A+), Pumpkin Cream Brûlée, & The Special Played Surprise “ Happy 49th Anniversary” to Us of sweet floral decorated Cupcakes We Will rave about you & as of this am…already have. Thank You for a memorable visit. Read less

It was an all-around fantastic experience from check-in to a resistant departure. We enjoyed the adults-only resort on the NE part of Antigua situated on stunning landscaped grounds and elevated waterfront views. The resort itself is clean and maintained, villas are a generous size with big balconies, food is decent, love the coffee shop with snacks open till 11 PM, the water is drinkable and tastes good, good selection of 3 pools (2 in a private setting, main pool more in an open social setting) and both beaches are quiet and not overcrowded. ALL the Staff were helpful, friendly, and always greeted with a hello in passing by. Special STAFF shout-outs to Theodore (always smiling and willing to please) at Seabreeze for Breakfast and also at The Beach Club for lunch, Leon a nighttime bartender at the main bar always making me the best drinks when I wasn't quite sure what I wanted (ask for a Miami Vice or Espresso Martini), Young at Water Sports on Lovers Beach and "Mr Friendly" Jeremiah lol We went on the "Experience" catamaran excursion, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! A great way to see the entire island with its pretty 365 beaches from the water. Also provided with a stop on Green Island for beach time, snorkeling, and a delish lunch served on the catamaran. Thanks to Albert and his crew for a memorable day! A suggestion to the resort would be to add more local cuisine dishes to the buffet, a side table offering daily. We didn't want to have food we ate every day at home. We wanted to experience more of the local food in Antigua. See you again soon. Read less

Excellent hotel, with bungalow accommodation in spacious beautiful gardens. So much choice with 4 pools each with their own character, and all good. Sea breeze is the main restaurant for breakfast and dinner with NO need to book. Also, the coffee shop opens at 6.30am and has a big choice of drinks, filled rolls, pastries, cookies and cakes; so always an option all day! We regularly dropped in here for afternoon tea and a cheeky cookie! The Bread pudding is good too. For lunch there’s a lovely beach cafe with a great salad bar and a range of hot dishes, including Jerk Chicken, Ribs, chicken wings and more! You can also eat at the fish restaurant or Pizzeria. We ordered a pizza and then went to the fish restaurant for salad and chips to accompany it. We easily booked the a la carte restaurants and enjoyed the menus at both. The staff are professional, hard working and friendly. The bar had a wide range of cocktails and international branded drinks. Chilled water and ice is available around the site. It took us 8 minutes to stroll from our room by the main pool to the reception, however we could phone for the shuttle to collect us if we were being lazy, and they arrived quickly. We wanted a relaxing hoIiday to recharge and this resort was 10 out of 10. The Calypso catamaran took us to Bird Island, passing the Rays on the way. We saw colourful fish, turtles coming up to breath and we got to snorkel with them too. The picnic lunch on board was excellent and the crew looked after us well. I am very happy to recommend the hotel with its excellent facilities. We could also go over to Pineapple for a day and their beach was longer if you like to stroll down a long beach. We also tried our hand at Pool and crazy golf, aqua aerobics! Read less

Hotel overall is cute but I definitely wouldn’t return or recommend. 1- At check in they gave us no info on hotel, restaurants, or activities and the hotel is big We had no idea we had to make dinner reservations Where anything was or times or restaurants/ buffet. 2- They do not provide anything in the room nothing to drink only a one time 2 small bottle of water. We woke up dehydrate we called for water they told us drink from the sink it’s filtered. I’ve never ever heard of such a thing. So if u still want to go make sure u take a water bottle to refill 3- food sucked no real choices dinner buffet wasn’t great and there was no lunch buffet only the grill which served the same menu everyday And it wasn’t good 4- You can’t swim In the beach it’s very shallow. It’s pretty to see but can’t swim. 5- no beach or pool towels if you didn’t get them early you better have saved the one from day before 6- coffee shop not great either. 7- no cans of beer to have in the room soda water nothing no snacks Overall staff was nice Room was cool but if it gets hotter I don’t think you can control the ac They didn’t even mention that u can walk to devils bridge which it’s an attraction of Antigua I wouldn’t return or recommend. Read less