Hermitage Bay

Your revised version reads much stronger already. I made a few edits for flow, grammar, conciseness, and consistency while keeping your tone natural and balanced. Here’s a polished final version: ⸻ I just came back from my vacation at Hermitage Bay, and overall I would rate the experience 8.5/10. The resort has an incredible atmosphere and beautiful natural surroundings, but there were definitely some inconsistencies, especially with the service, that kept it from feeling like a true five-star luxury experience. The Villa & Room Experience The villa itself was probably a 9/10. The outdoor space and plunge pool were absolutely amazing for relaxation and blending into nature. Watching the sunset and twilight sky from the pool was one of the highlights of the trip. The plunge pool temperature was perfect, especially after spending time at the beach, and it seemed to be cleaned regularly because it was always spotless. One thing to note is that the resort is very nature-focused, so there are a lot of birds and wildlife around. If you leave food outside, birds may try to get into it. There were also definitely mosquitoes and bugs. Unfortunately, I got quite a few bug bites during the stay even though I brought bug spray, bracelets, and mosquito patches. The room itself felt relatively small, although the bed was comfortable. The bathroom was huge, but I found it odd that the toilet was not separated from the main bathroom area. It made it difficult for two people to comfortably use the space at the same time. The outdoor shower was beautiful and relaxing, although the water pressure could have been stronger after a long day out. The snack bar and drinks included in the room were nice touches, although we honestly didn’t use them much because there was already so much food throughout the stay. The resort also gifted us a bottle of champagne, which was thoughtful. Walking Around the Resort We stayed in the 30s, and getting from the main hotel area to the room involved quite a walk, around 1,200 steps round trip. Personally, I actually enjoyed it because it felt like a nice workout and a good way to appreciate the property and scenery. Food & Dining Breakfast was consistently great, and lunch at La Maison Petit pop-up was honestly one of the best dining experiences during the trip. The menu felt like a full dinner menu, and the combination of outdoor seating, great food, drinks, and live music made it special. Dinner, however, was more hit-or-miss. A few dishes, like the tuna steak, risotto, and apple tart, were very good, while others didn’t really impress me. The sushi social hour was excellent and one of the highlights of the resort experience. The food was great, and it created a fun atmosphere where couples could socialize and meet each other. Service This was probably the weakest part of the experience for me. While many staff members were friendly, the service overall felt more four-star than five-star luxury. Food service could be extremely slow at times, and there were moments when it seemed like orders were forgotten or the resort was understaffed. One specific thing that stood out was when I asked for fresh coconut water. Some staff members either made uncomfortable facial expressions or simply told me it wasn’t available, even though I had seen other guests receiving it at breakfast. Another disappointing moment happened on our last day. I asked if we could have an extra 30 minutes to an hour so we could finish packing and finish our food. One front desk staff member immediately responded rudely and said no. Another staff member tried to check with the duty manager, but the first person pulled her aside and shut the conversation down. I just didn’t think it was handled professionally. Also, on the last day, our bathroom amenities, such as the vanity kit, were never replenished, which I found strange for a luxury resort. Beach & Activities The beach itself is beautiful visually, although it’s not necessarily the best beach for swimming because of the wall structure in the middle of the water. It’s still nice for relaxing, quick dips, and enjoying the scenery. The water activities, however, were excellent. The Hobie Cat sailing was honestly 10/10. It was such a fun way to explore the bay and practice sailing. The clear kayak was also fantastic because you can see through to the ocean below, and it was a great workout paddling to nearby beaches. Spa & Atmosphere The spa was wonderful and exactly what you want on a relaxing vacation. We did a one-hour deep tissue massage, which helped relieve a lot of tension in my body. The overall atmosphere of the resort was beautiful. The live music every night really added to the experience, and the entire property had a peaceful, laid-back vibe that made it easy to disconnect and relax. Final Thoughts Overall, I had a really enjoyable stay at Hermitage Bay. The natural beauty, villa experience, spa, live music, and activities were all memorable highlights. However, the inconsistent service and some operational details prevented it from fully feeling like a true five-star luxury resort. I would still absolutely recommend it for couples looking for a peaceful and scenic Caribbean getaway, especially if you value privacy, nature, and a relaxed atmosphere more than ultra-polished luxury service.

Some places are beautiful. Hermitage Bay is something else entirely. From the moment we stepped onto the property, jaws literally dropped. A chilled towel snapped us back to reality, and that set the tone for five nights of effortless, genuine hospitality that never once felt like a chore for anyone working there. Rehanna and Solange were such warm hosts, with genuine tears as guests were checking out. Suite 31 on the hillside: private plunge pool, wraparound views, total privacy when you want it. But the magic of Hermitage Bay isn’t the room. It’s the people. Rehanna, Solange, Jillian, Patricia, Jamie, Anthony, Chelsey… they knew us before we arrived and felt like family by day two. This is not stiff luxury-hotel service. This is laughing at the bar, making jokes, FaceTiming our kids from across the property. 200 staff for roughly 60 guests. You feel the warmth from every single one of them. The food matched the setting. Most produce is grown on property, and you taste the difference: pastries, fresh fish, wood-fired pizza, steak, burgers, and Stony’s homemade hot sauce on everything. Do the garden tour with Waba. His passion for those grounds is infectious, and it completely reframes every bite you take afterward. Go to the Sushi on the beach at night. Go to the managers reception hosted by Rachel. She is the orchestrator of this magical place, and talking to her was such a joy. Snorkeling straight off the beach is free, easy, and genuinely spectacular. Peaceful blue water, fish everywhere, no crowds. Hermitage Bay has at most 60 guests at any time. You’ll recognize faces by day one. You’ll miss them by day five. We already do.

We were met at the airport by Hermitage Bay and transported to the resort, upon arrival we were warmly greeted by Shauna and Micheal. Our initial reaction to the resort was incredible, we loved the tropical setting and the beach was everything we were looking for (clear water, reefs, fish, etc). After we arrived and checked in we were taken to our villa, it was immaculate and thoughtfully setup, the beach was less than 100 steps to the ocean, we were very pleased in the first hour. But it got better, far better. The food, drinks and entertainment are all included, we didn't need money or tips for anything, in fact with a day it seemed all of the staff knew us by name. There are two resturants and several bars, each lunch and dinner we had live music. We did tip the staff members that we interacted with and never felt pressured to do so. When they said all inclusive, they meant it. After dinner we danced to the live music and I knew I was in a tropical paradise. The service was the best we have ever experienced and the food was prepared by professional chefs, it was all tasty and fresh. My favorite was the Caribbean night, authentic local food, and a steel drum band. It was very tropical. I was impressed by the quality of everything, the rooms were cleaned every day, the beach was cleaned every day, in fact everything was cleaned everyday. But for us we will always remember is the staff of Hermitage Bay, the staff were the most friendly and caring people we have ever met in any resort or hotel. I feel we met real people who happen to work in a resort, by the end of our 5 day stay we had made a lot of friends there and we felt the warmth, love and respect of the entire staff. The staff was the highlight for us We are a retired couple, 70+ years old and I honestly felt younger each day I was there. We were able to mesh with other couples of all ages and I have not experienced anything like that anywhere else. In closing the day of leaving was very emotional for us, we shared our tears of leaving with several of the staff, real tears. We already deeply miss Hermitage Bay and all of the people who work there. If you want a quality experience, and memories that will last a lifetime then you need not look any further. We are already working on our next visit there, to be honest nothing compares to the total package and experience both in value for the dollar and memories.

Our August stay at Hermitage Bay in Antigua was absolutely beautiful and relaxing. The private beach alone is a huge selling point and made the experience feel peaceful, intimate, and secluded in the best way. The highlight of the trip for us was definitely sushi hour, such a fun and unique touch that we looked forward to every day. Honestly, the best sushi day ended up being when the fill in chef was running it. Everything that day was especially fresh, flavorful, and memorable. The food overall was very good, but the jerk chicken was hands down our favorite meal during the stay. So flavorful and perfectly done. What really made the experience stand out was the staff. Everyone was incredibly friendly, welcoming, and attentive throughout our trip and made us feel genuinely cared for. One thing to keep in mind: transportation arranged through the hotel can be quite expensive. Also, the resort is a little far from the city, so we didn’t get to experience as much of the local culture as we would have liked. That said, we were there for rest, relaxation, and a reset, so for that purpose, it was honestly perfect. Overall, we had a wonderful experience and would absolutely return.

Everything was spectacular from the service to the quality of our hillside villa (with private pool) to the food and the drinks to the activities. Breathtaking! We especially enjoyed the French restarant in residence, which was open daily for lunch and for Saturday night dinner. Plus, sushi happy hour at the beach bar was a great experience. We loved the included beach activities, including snorkeling, paddle boarding, kayaking, and a guided hobie catamaran ride. Great cocktails and wine list (although for the dessert wine by the glass we would have preferred port wine as the dessert wine). Sunset from our hillside villa was a dream come true. We booked with 2 Hilton free night certificates and Hilton points for a 3rd night. no problem combining those 3 reservations, so we didn't have to change villas.