Luxury Holidays in Galley Bay, Antigua

Accommodation

Suites

The first thing you'll notice about your Suite is the fabulous beachfront location. Then you'll quickly realise that our suite accommodations offer all the comforts and amenities you'd expect of an award-winning resort. We're especially proud of our 32 new Premium Suites, which offer a stylish departure in décor from our original Caribbean-style rooms. These suites have a luxurious feel, with gleaming granite, tropical photographs and dark acacia wood furnishings that are both understated and refined. Step down into the sunken living room and open the sliding, floor-to-ceiling doors, then perch on a stylish sofa to enjoy the sea breeze and stellar views. You'll also notice the opulent feel of 400-thread-count sheets and the cozy throws that grace our new king beds.

We know that many of our longstanding guests at Galley find our guestrooms mercifully free of technology, and we will continue to make those total-escape rooms available. On the other hand, for those of you who can't bear to part with your Blackberry and 24/7 access to the rest of the world, we've installed wireless Internet access as well as 32-inch, flat-screen, wall-mounted TVs, iPod alarm clocks and DVD players. You can opt for naturally air-cooled bliss with ceiling fans and sea breezes, or set the individually controlled air conditioning - it's up to you. The graciously appointed, spacious bathrooms are equipped with his-and-hers showers, a deep, corner-installed soaking tub for two, double sinks, a magnifying mirror for makeup and shaving, fluffy white towels and luxurious Gilchrist & Soames toiletries. Step outside onto your balcony or patio and you'll find a pair of comfy, all-weather rattan chaises to settle into, as well as a beach shower.

Cottages

Their Gauguin cottages reflect the artist's lifestyle in Tahiti, with privacy that represents a departure from many of the constraints of civilisation, along with the comfort you'd expect of a stay at Galley Bay. Settle in close to our peaceful lagoon, a sanctuary for beautiful native birds and wildlife, and enjoy the solitude amid the deep greenery that surrounds the cottages. As you approach, you'll see the peaked, thatched roofs poking above the foliage and a few hints of the thick, round walls of each unit - twin "rondoval" cottages joined by a sheltered breezeway. They're especially popular with newlyweds who wish to unplug from the world for awhile. In the bedroom, cool, whitewashed walls, woven bamboo ceilings, louvered windows and terra-cotta tile create a rustic, Tahitian ambiance, with bold splashes of bright colour that echo Gauguin's absorbing natural palette, and the deep cool provided by individually controlled air conditioning units.

Across the breezeway is a bath equipped with a shower and dressing area, with louvered windows providing fresh breezes and the refreshing sensation of a beach shower to complete the feeling of being immersed in nature. You can brew your morning coffee in your room, then step outside and relax on your concealed patio, with its adjoining private plunge pool the perfect spot for a romantic dip.

Guestrooms

Offering a touch of Old Caribbean warmth and hospitality, our Superior and Deluxe Beachfront rooms are comfortable, romantic hideaways set practically at the water's edge. Replete with colourful island artwork, rooms feature vibrant hued accents, muted greens and warm tones of wicker that play against the cool backdrop of the whitewashed walls and echo the gracious Caribbean tones of Galley Bay.

Here, you'll enjoy king beds, ceiling fans, satellite TV and mini-refrigerators, stocked with cool drinks. In-room amenities also include a wet bar, coffee / tea machine, a radio alarm clock and direct-dial phones. Step outside and you'll find a patio or balcony with a beach shower, and a pair of comfortable all-weather rattan chaises for lounging, reading, or an impromptu nap. The spacious bath includes a shower.

Restaurants & Bars

Restaurants

Part of the joy of staying at Galley Bay is dining in their two alfresco restaurants. Farm-fresh offerings are prepared with care under the direction of award-winning Executive Chef Andrew "Stan" Baxter, who carefully melds Caribbean with Continental into wonderfully original dishes. On the menu, you'll recognize his distinctive touch in dishes like the Blue Mountain Coffee-dusted beef tenderloin, served with a spiced mango Béarnaise, accompanied by sweet potato mille-feuille, or the cornmeal-crusted yellowfin tuna and cherry tomato confit, served with a basil aioli.

The Sea Grape restaurant is open for all three meals daily. Warm, friendly service by outstanding staff will make you feel right at home. Be sure to join in the festivities at their weekly Caribbean barbecue, when the gentle sound of the waves and live steel-drum music accompany your meal.

The romance continues at Gauguin. Here, you'll dine in a cabana for two by flickering candlelight among the palm trees, literally steps from the sea, with only a thatched roof between you and the evening sky. The varied menu, which changes daily, blends the cuisines of the West Indies, the Pacific Rim and Europe. Enjoy a variety of wines by the glass with your dinner, perhaps starting with the curry-scented spinach soup with roasted corn or peppered yellowfin tuna, followed by pan-fried fillet of butterfish with sweet chilli sauce and stir-fried vegetables. Top off your meal with fresh-brewed coffee and a sweet surprise, like the delightfully decadent crème brulee.

Try their newest beachfront restaurant Ismay's Restaurant & Bar - a stunning timber building situated at the southern end of their ¾ mile white sand beach adjacent to the beautiful shell bay. Menu offers guests the best of islands local flavours with everything ''from'' classic west indian "roti" to seafood gumbo and the classic rastafarian dish "ital". Open for dinner 7 days a week. (There is a  surcharge per person)

Dress Code : In the restaurants, shoes are worn and bathing suites are covered. After 6:30 p.m., men wear shirts with collars and short or long sleeves (no T-shirts or tank tops) and long pants or stylish jeans (no shorts, Capri or 3/4 pants); and women wear dresses, skirts, long pants or stylish jeans, or culottes.

Bars and Lounges

Enjoy a cooling break from the sun by day or a satisfying nightcap at any one of Galley Bay's three open-air lounges. All three serve a wonderful selection of cooling Caribbean cocktails, top-shelf liquor and wines by the glass, along with nonalcoholic beverages.

Make a point of stopping by the distinctive TeePee Bar, with its high peaked roof. It's famous for the Galley Bay Special, a delightful frozen mixture of Cavalier light rum, coconut cream, grenadine and fresh bananas. The TeePee Bar is a popular gathering spot where guests enjoy each other's company and spectacular sea views, both day and night. The Lounge Bar, which is open from lunchtime onward, is a fine place to enjoy cocktails and hors d'oeuvres in a comfortable, social setting, and enjoy live nightly entertainment. For the utmost in romance, the Gauguin Bar welcomes guests before and after lunch and dinner in a lovely setting with a very private atmosphere.

Features

Weddings

Caressing the edge of a stunning ¾ mile white-sand beach, Galley Bay is the ultimate romantic escape and the perfect choice for one-of-a-kind weddings that are limited only by your imagination. Reflecting an ambience of island-style luxury, such as its lovely, rustic beachfront gazebo and spectacular beach and garden settings ensure both a ceremony and a honeymoon to remember forever…

Swim & Snorkel

At Galley Bay, the beach is never far away. Just a few steps 'from' your room, their three-quarter-mile-long beach is the perfect place for a cooling swim or an invigorating beach walk. If you've always wanted to explore the under-sea world, this is the time. Snorkeling equipment and caring instruction is complimentary at Galley Bay.

If you prefer your water flat, not fizzy, the free-form pool and its distinctive waterfall provide ample space to practice your strokes, and plenty of deck space and chaise lounges for reclining, reading, and soaking up the sun. If you're staying in the Gauguin cottages, you also can enjoy private swims in your own plunge pool overlooking the lagoon, where you'll enjoy great views of spectacular native birds and wildlife.

Dive

Antigua and its sister island, Barbuda, both are surrounded by coral reefs, walls and shipwrecks, and sea life is plentiful, so adventurous spirits can make the most of their vacation by checking out the wide range of dive sites available here. Dive depths are relatively shallow, ranging from 25 to 80 feet, with some deeper sites around 180 feet.

Those who’d like to visit some of the 20 nearby dive sites or take a lesson can do so with Mamora Dive Center. The nearby dive shop picks up guests on site and can arrange one- or two-tank dives. Especially popular are excursions to Cades Reef, part of which is now protected by Antigua’s underwater park. With shallow depths of only 30 to 50 feet, and clear warm water, the reef supports a wide array of colorful sea life.

You’ll be fascinated by the wreck of the Andes, a three-masted merchant ship which sank bow-first after a dramatic onboard conflagration in June 1905. A popular shallow-water dive, the Andes sits at 30-foot depths in nearby Deep Bay. Kids 10 and up are welcome to come along, after being deemed seaworthy by the shop’s staff. Equipment rentals are included in the cost of any lesson or excursion.

The southern and eastern coasts of Antigua are considered to offer the most consistent diving. For more advanced divers, the ledge of Sunken Rock off the island’s southern coast is a popular site, with a ledge at 30 feet that plummets to 150 feet, occupied by a welcoming committee of stingrays and barracuda.

Nearby, the island of Barbuda offers diving among many relatively unexplored wrecks. Because dive facilities are more limited on Barbuda, it’s best to arrange in advance for transportation of diving gear by plane when planning a dive excursion from its shores.

Mamora Bay Divers - Dive Shop

The Mamora Bay Divers Dive Shop is a locally owned company of experienced PADI certified international divers located at the St. James’s Club providing a full service dive shop.

Our open water dive instructor, Linda Swann is our multilingual certified PADI Dive instructor, she offers over 15 years of experience with over 10,000 dives under her belt. Linda has been diving Antigua’s best dive sites and surrounding waters for over 5 years. Be sure to pick up a brochure for complete details and pricing.

• Full PADI certification
• Daily 2 tank dives
• 3 and 5 Day Packages
• Retail Outlet
• Dive Equipment Hire
• Tank Fills
• Fully Fitted Dive Boat
• Advanced Dive Courses
• Please note the Dive shop is closed on Saturdays.

Sea Sports

On Galley Bay's beautiful, three-quarter-mile crescent of sand, the inviting sea is a fantastic natural playground for a host of non-motorized water sports. All lessons and equipment are included, just another luxurious reason to choose an all-inclusive stay at Galley Bay.

Try your hand at sailing a Sunfish for a remarkable view of the coast from offshore. You can ply the waters in a sea kayak and navigate the waves as you explore the extreme, rocky reaches of their beautiful cove. You'll enjoy the view - and you'll likely be viewed as you make your way up and down the shore - by the celebrity neighbours whose elaborate homes overlook Galley Bay.

For a real workout, you can make the most of the breezes with a windsurfing experience, and if you're new to the sport, their able staff is more than happy to help you find your feet and teach you the ins and outs of their equipment.

To truly take to the seas, there's nothing like sailing aboard a catamaran, and their Hobie - style boats are at your disposal during your stay at Galley Bay. You'll find that the azure waters off Galley Bay boast a wide range of indigenous sea life; more than 70 species of fish make their homes in the sea surrounding Antigua.

Fitness Centre

There's no reason to take a vacation from your exercise regime while you're at Galley Bay. Free weights and cardio equipment let you keep up your routine - or start a new one - in the comfort of their air-conditioned Fitness Centre. You can also maintain your aerobic conditioning with a run on their jogging track or along the three-quarter-mile beachfront.

Land Sports

On land, you can partake of a wide array of sports and pastimes. Galley Bay features an Astro-Turf tennis court for daytime play. To put a new spin on your game, join one of their clinics or ask them to arrange for personal instruction. You can also try your hand at table tennis, or borrow a bicycle for a spin around the property.

Starting in 2009, games of lawn croquet, horseshoes and shuffleboard will provide opportunities to flex your competitive muscles and socialize in a gorgeous tropical setting.

Excursions

Beyond the grounds of Galley Bay, a host of exciting adventures are all within easy reach. Join a Jeep adventure into the rainforest, play golf, or discover some of the island's 365 beautiful beaches. The island also has a fascinating history, revealed in several interesting sites around the island. You'll also want to stroll around the vibrant capital city of St. John's, stopping to dine and to shop for unusual souvenirs. Their experienced guest services staff can arrange everything you need to make your excursion complete, 'from' transportation and directions to suggestions for things to see along the way.

Car rental is available to explore the island's sightseeing historical sites. Savor the local Caribbean cuisine or shop in historic St. John's all only 30 minutes from the resort by car.

Indulge spa

For the utmost in relaxation and pampering, they invite guests to explore Indulge, their beautiful new spa, which made its debut in January 2008. Indulge is inspired by the distinctive look of their Gauguin cottages, and is centrally located, adjacent to the calming waters of their lagoon and surrounding bird sanctuary. The spacious, multi-level hideaway features three massage areas, two of which are rustic, open-air treatment "pods". The pods are rough-hewn, airy massage decks draped with sheer, white curtains for privacy, and both overlook the bird sanctuary and lagoon. The second, shaded treatment pod is designed to accommodate two massage tables, for romantic his-and-hers treatments, in keeping with Galley Bay's emphasis on couples.

While they can't guarantee that you'll manage to stay awake during your relaxing treatments, if you do, you'll enjoy the wonderful lagoon view, courtesy of mirrors strategically placed at the base of each massage bed for just this purpose. The spa also has a second couples room and a third, air-conditioned private massage room.

Before or after your treatment, you're welcome to unwind and enjoy the natural surroundings on our third, open-air relaxation pod. Here at Indulge, you'll also be able to enjoy the spa pool and surrounding deck, either pre or post-treatment.

A full range of facials, skincare and therapeutic massage treatments is available, and you'll be able to mix-and-match your favorites for a truly relaxing experience that's tailored just for you. Also new to the spa is a full line of world-class Pevonia Botanica skincare products, in keeping with the Indulge spa focus on nature.

Throughout the Indulge spa, they've also kept nature in mind by using beautiful, rustic materials that complement the colours and textures found in their Antiguan surroundings. Throughout the spa, guests enjoy the soothing beiges and browns of natural wood, the textures of rattan and wicker, the warm red of terra-cotta planters, and shimmering splashes of gold, brown and green in sumptuous fabrics, for a touch of elegance.

In-room treatments can also be provided for guests who desire the utmost in privacy combined with the best in spa-style pampering. You can take a bit of indulgence home with you, as beauty products used during your treatment are available for purchase, for a luxurious remembrance of Galley Bay

Salon

For a new look or a quick refresh while on the island, their new salon will provide you with everything from cuts, color and styling to blow-dry’s and up-dos for special occasions. They also offer manicures, pedicures and treatments so you can look your best during your stay at Galley Bay.

Entertainment

No Caribbean experience would be complete without the music of the islands. Galley Bay makes it a point to keep its guests entertained with the best local musicians, who bring island-inflected live music to the resort each night. Steel pan, reggae and island adaptations of classic popular music create a romantic milieu for unforgettably romantic evenings at Galley Bay.

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