Hermitage Bay

This was our second visit to Hermitage Bay, and we will never return. I feel sad to leave this review as the staff are so kind, friendly, and hardworking, but standards are well below what we expect for a hotel charging such high prices. Service was usually very slow. One breakfast we arrived at 7.30, but our order for cooked eggs was not taken until well past 8.00 because of a shortage of waiting staff. Taking an hour and a quarter over breakfast is a waste of our time. In the evening we often sat with empty wine glasses as they have no wine waiter like other five-star resorts. The dinner menu choice is limited. We got bored with the food very quickly. We asked to meet with the head chef, Desroy, to arrange some dinner alternatives, but it seemed that he had left the resort. The usual Beach Club menu, with some healthy sharing starters, was not available, because a pop-up restaurant, La Petite Maison, has taken it over. The French menu was fine dining, but rather heavy, oily, and more suited to evening than lunch. The lunch restaurant is also now open to non-residents. At weekends, well over half of the diners were non-residents, who noticeably received much more attention from Tariq, the manager, than did hotel residents. Shockingly, some non-residents were allowed to smoke cigars and cigarettes in the restaurant, despite the hotel’s strict non-smoking policy. The live lunch-time band was also much too loud. The only other place to eat lunch was next to the bar, which had a snack menu, but on several days the hotel did not bother to lay tables there. The quality of food served was very variable. Sometimes very good, other times inedible. At the Caribbean evening our prawn skewer was served half raw and had to be recooked. One lunch when we order a medium/well done burger, it arrived bright red inside, black outside. In the evening, tenderloin streak was often overdone and almost cremated. The chefs were clearly overstretched in the kitchen. One reason for that is that the owner had a large group of friends and employees from his Spanish hotels staying (for free) at the hotel. (Staff told us that this happens a lot.) Each evening, they had a special table set up for them and received much attention from the chefs, while paying guests were kept waiting and served badly cooked food. This large group of young people were also often noisy, talking on their mobile phones in restaurants and the bar despite a notice in all rooms requesting that guests do not use cell phones in restaurants, bar and beach. There were some other problems compared to our previous visit. This year they had only one Hobie (Wave) cat. The other Hobie got damaged several months ago and still has not been replaced. That is not acceptable, especially when the owner has bought several expensive jet skis solely for his own and friends' use. Another disappointment was that last year the resort offered free boat and snorkel trips along the coast. This year you had to pay. Thank you to the hardworking staff who tried to help us, despite all our problems, but I fear that under the new owner, Hermitage Bay is no longer the exclusive, peaceful, and sophisticated resort it once was.

Double 5 stars! Amazing food, drinks and people. What an awesome experience we had dining every lunch time at Hermitage Bay. Escargot, mahi mahi ceviche and rigatoni truffles. Tarik, the bramd ambassor made us feel special!

Perfect location, live band was amazing! Staff were very attentive & friendly. Food was great, would definitely recommend and hopefully stays longer!

Wow. What can I say? The LPM restaurant at hermitage bay is hands down the best place to eat on the island. The beach ambience , the cuisine.. everything was to die for. Tarik the manager took amazing care of us. Unmatched service. I’ve visited about 4 times during my 2 week stay. As a traveler who’s visited Lpm in Dubai, Miami and London - Antigua by far is my favorite location. Can’t wait to come back!

Overall, our entire stay was absolutely amazing and excellent. The only concern we had occurred on the last night of our stay, which we have already reported to management. The food was simply excellent, excellent, and excellent! We loved everything from the pop-up LPM and sunset sushi to dinner, Caribbean night, and even quick lunches from the main bar. The food was incredibly fresh, the atmosphere was wonderful, and it truly allowed us to enjoy every moment. We also ordered in-room breakfast one day, which was delivered on time, along with a lovely surprise of a bottle of champagne. Everything felt perfect, and everyone genuinely made us feel welcome and cared for. Our villa deserves special mention. It was breathtaking the moment we opened the door, the view looked like a postcard, with the hills, sunset, and water creating a scene that made time seem to stand still. You immediately want to sit down and relax. The room was spotless and fully equipped with everything you could need: a fully stocked minibar, Nespresso machine, champagne in an ice bucket, and snacks. Daily housekeeping and turndown service were exceptional, with the bed prepared each evening, a daily motivational card, and fresh water on the nightstands. Robes, slippers, and even flip-flops were thoughtfully provided in the closet. We truly appreciated how clean and well-maintained the villa was throughout our entire stay, it was outstanding. Regarding our concern: we noticed a drone flying over our villa a few times, which raised privacy concerns, especially considering the outdoor pools and outdoor showers. Guests come to this beautiful destination expecting intimacy and privacy. Management is aware of the situation and assured us they have a zero-tolerance policy for this. We have not yet received any follow-up, but we hope to hear back soon. We do appreciate that management is taking this matter seriously and would be happy to share any updates once received.