My journey started in Scarborough, hopping by train down to Heathrow via York, the Underground and the Heathrow Express. To make things easy before an early long‑haul, I checked into the Radisson Red London Heathrow for the night, which was ideal for a quick rest before the adventure began.

The next morning it was time to fly. I travelled with Virgin Atlantic from Heathrow to Antigua, with a short touchdown in Barbados. We started the trip in style with access to the Clubrooms lounge at Heathrow, which set the tone nicely: a calm space to relax, refuel and get excited for the week ahead.

Before I knew it, we were touching down in Antigua, warm Caribbean air greeting us the moment we stepped off the plane.

First Stop: Blue Waters

Our first base was Blue Waters, the first of three hotels we stayed in during the trip.

That first evening we had dinner at The Reef restaurant, which really set the bar high for the days to come: relaxed, elegant and right by the water.

The next morning, thanks to the time difference, I was up early and headed straight for a swim in the sea before breakfast. There is nothing quite like an early dip in warm Caribbean waters to start the day. Breakfast in the main restaurant was delicious, with the choice of buffet or table service, and plenty to keep everyone happy.

Exploring the Island by Jeep

That day we headed off on a full‑day island jeep safari, which I would highly recommend to anyone visiting Antigua for the first time. It was a brilliant way to get our bearings.

We visited historic Nelson’s Dockyard, stopped at some of Antigua’s famous “365 beaches”, and enjoyed a traditional Caribbean lunch amongst an old sugar plantation. It was the perfect mix of scenery, history and local flavour.

Back at Blue Waters in the evening, we dressed up for dinner at The Cove restaurant. This was a real highlight: beautiful setting and fantastic food. One of those evenings where you really have to pinch yourself and think, “I’m actually here.”

Blue Waters: A Peek Behind the Scenes

On our final morning at Blue Waters, we squeezed in one last breakfast followed by a site inspection of the Cove Suites and villas. These were absolutely stunning and perfect for multi‑generational families or groups of friends who want more space and privacy.

My personal favourite was Turtle Cottage: a four‑bedroom residence with its own private pool and direct beach access. I could instantly picture families or groups of friends spending lazy days there, moving between pool, beach and terrace without a care in the world.

Carlisle Bay: A Postcard‑Perfect Cove

After leaving Blue Waters, we travelled down the coast to our next hotel: Carlisle Bay.

On the way, we stopped for lunch at OJ’s Beach Bar and Restaurant, which sits on an utterly “postcard” beach. The setting is exactly what you imagine when you think of the Caribbean: turquoise water, soft sand and a laid‑back vibe. The food was fantastic and I would absolutely recommend this as a great spot for cruise passengers who want to escape the hustle and bustle of St John’s. It is only around a 20–30 minute drive from the cruise port but feels a world away.

Arriving at Carlisle Bay, my first thought was simply: wow. The resort is set on a stunning cove, backed by lush green rainforest, with the sand and sea directly in front. We were allocated beachfront two‑bedroom suites and from bed to sea was no more than about 30 metres. You literally wake up, slide open the doors and there is the Caribbean right in front of you.

We had a full site inspection here too, seeing the refurbished rooms and hearing about future plans. The whole place has a very understated, barefoot‑luxury feel. It is ideal for couples, families or friends who want to relax in style with that dramatic rainforest backdrop.

Beaches, BBQs and Shirley Heights

One of the things I love about Antigua is that every beach feels slightly different, yet they are all beautiful. During our stay at Carlisle Bay we spent a day at Fryes Beach, which is another classic white‑sand, turquoise‑water beauty.

We had lunch at Dennis Beach Bar, right on the edge of the water. It serves lots of local flavours, with the most incredible views. After lunch we simply sank into the sand and soaked up the afternoon.

That evening we made our way up to Shirley Heights for the famous Sunday afternoon barbecue. The views from here are some of the best on the island, looking back over English Harbour and out to sea. We arrived to the sound of a steel band, which instantly put everyone in a party mood, then tucked into a proper local BBQ followed by live music as the evening went on. The sunset was a little muted thanks to cloud, but you could tell that on a clear night it would be spectacular.

Rum, Restaurants and Local Flavours

Another standout day was our visit to English Harbour and the Antigua Rum Academy. This was so much more than a simple tasting. We learned about the distilling process, sampled different styles, and even distilled our own bottle of rum to take home. It was great fun and such a memorable experience. I would highly recommend this for couples, friends or groups looking for something a bit different.

We also tried some brilliant local restaurants around the south of the island:

Catherine’s Café: Yet another beautiful beach setting with a relaxed, chic vibe. Perfect for seafood lovers and known for its live music at weekends. It has that effortless French‑Caribbean feel that is very easy to fall in love with.

Trappas Bar and Restaurant: A local favourite with great value and a friendly atmosphere. It is the sort of place you can imagine returning to several times in one trip.

Cooking, Hodges Bay and More Hotel Inspo

On our last few days we moved across to the north coast and checked into Hodges Bay Resort, but not before one more special experience.

We took part in a Caribbean cooking class and lunch at Nicole’s Table. I will be honest: this is not something I would usually choose to do on my own holidays, but I absolutely loved it. Cooking as a group, learning about local ingredients and flavours, then sitting down together to enjoy the three‑course meal we had created was such a fun, sociable way to spend a day. It felt very authentic and personal, and I would definitely recommend it.

At Hodges Bay, we were thoroughly spoilt with the four‑bedroom penthouse suite and rooftop pool. It was incredible and would be absolutely ideal for a group of friends or a larger family wanting that “wow” factor. Breakfast here was a relaxed, leisurely affair, and the resort has a contemporary feel with plenty of facilities.

From Hodges Bay we did a couple more important site inspections:

Galley Bay Resort: This is a property I already sell a lot, so I was really keen to see it in person. It completely exceeded my expectations. The resort sits on a truly beautiful beach and has a very romantic, Maldivian‑style vibe. The beachfront rooms are stunning, but my absolute favourites were the Gauguin Cottages with their private plunge pools. They feel secluded and special, perfect for honeymooners or couples wanting privacy with all the comforts of a high‑end resort.

Pineapple Beach Club: A four‑star, larger property with a livelier atmosphere and plenty going on. We had lunch here and did a full walk‑through. It suits guests who like a sociable, activity‑rich environment but still want those Caribbean views and beach time.

We rounded off our stay at Hodges Bay by squeezing in some time to relax and even caught the England World Cup game before a final farewell dinner at the hotel.

Homeward Bound

On our final day we had a relaxed morning making the most of Hodges Bay’s facilities, then it was back to the airport for our return Virgin Atlantic flight home, again with a touchdown in Barbados.

As the plane took off and Antigua slipped away beneath us, I knew this wouldn’t be my last time on the island.

Why Antigua Stole My Heart

Over the course of the week I saw just how diverse Antigua is as a destination: from intimate boutique hideaways to larger, livelier resorts; from rugged lookouts and historic harbours to the kind of beaches you normally only see on screensavers.

Highlights for me included:

Waking up and stepping straight from my bedroom onto a white‑sand beach.

Exploring the island by jeep and getting under the skin of the history and landscapes.

Those unforgettable views from Shirley Heights, steel band and rum punch in hand.

Distilling my own bottle of rum at the Antigua Rum Academy.

Discovering local food spots like OJ’s, Dennis Beach Bar, Trappas and Beach Limerz, all offering authentic flavours and a warm welcome.

Touring some outstanding hotels, from Blue Waters and Carlisle Bay to Hodges Bay, Galley Bay and Pineapple Beach Club, and imagining which of my clients would love each one.

I went to Antigua to learn more for my clients, and I came back totally smitten. The island has a way of getting under your skin: the colours, the warmth of the people, the variety of beaches, and that relaxed, happy energy everywhere you go.

I absolutely fell in love with Antigua and I will definitely be back for my own holiday.

If Antigua takes your fancy and you would like to chat through which resort or area might suit you best, or you are curious about the Virgin Atlantic flights, island experiences or any of the hotels I visited, then please get in touch. I would love to share more from my trip and help you plan your own Caribbean escape.