The tale of three islands and rum - Part two

We had a little surprise in store at the airport, the YU lounge had invited us to visit. If you want to be spoilt, this is a treat! You are taken by car to the plane steps with your own security to go through. A little bit of luxury! After our 20min flight to Antigua we were whisked to our first hotel St James Club.

This is an all-inclusive family property with lots of facilities and different room types. I had a rather large room facing the bay and wedding pavilion which was a lovely setting to see all the twinkling lights at night. My room was in the Royal Suite area which is adults-only. It was a spacious room and very comfortable. The suites have their own concierge and pool area which is lovely and quiet. Exhaustion set in, so it was an early night for me. Next morning after a buffet breakfast we had a full site visit of the hotel seeing the spa and villas, water sports and bars (more rum)! There really is something for everyone.

Next, we checked into the Verandah all-inclusive resort. This one felt different again. My room, which had a view of the Lagoon. You get around in golf buggies as the resort can be a bit hilly. They run them like buses (sometimes three did come along together!)

Early afternoon we headed up to Shirley's Heights where on a Sunday the locals and tourists gather together to listen to a fantastic steel band and watch the sunset over English bay whilst eating BBQ and drinking rum punch (there seems to be a theme going on here!) We left around 7pm and then headed back for dinner at the Verandah.

Next morning, we checked out and then into the adults-only Pineapple Beach Club which is right across the road. We were booked on to a Catamaran boat trip, so we headed to the beach. What fun! They moored about 25mins out so that those that wanted could snorkel and then we headed to a bird island and were the only ones there for a few hours. You could snorkel or just paddle but I opted for a short hike up the hill to see the views and birds. Of course, being me, I got attacked by the birds! Sandwiches and yet more rum punches were supplied and dancing to the music on the boat all the way back to the beach after 5 hours - our last night’s dinner at the hotel before sadly checking out of the hotel to head to the airport via a stop to purchase rum and hot sauce.

We had one last hotel to visit, The Galley Bay, and this hotel was outstanding. The setting on the beach was wonderful with a bar to sit there and sip your drink watching the sunset. They have redone the walk out rooms which take you straight out onto the beach. The hotel is adults-only and has a very intimate feel about it.

After a short transfer - everywhere seems a short transfer which is great - we were saying goodbye to Antigua! My feelings are I will be back. I never knew how close and easy it was to get between the three islands. Everyone we met was so friendly. They said on Nevis "you are only a stranger once" and I do believe that. With only 12,000 people there and only 48,000 on St Kitts, even Antigua with a population of around 100,000 is not massive. If you want to know more about any of the hotels I have visited, please do get in touch!