The Verandah Resort & Spa

We recently stayed at this resort in Antigua, and unfortunately, it was one of the most disappointing vacations we've had. We travel frequently and rarely leave negative reviews, but this experience genuinely warranted one. The property itself is pretty, especially if you're lucky enough to have a bungalow near the pool and restaurants, which is by far the most convenient location. If you're not, you'll likely find yourself waiting for one of the employees driving the resort's golf cart shuttles to pick you up and take you where you want to go. I'm honestly not sure which is worse - being close enough to hear the pool's pounding music starting at 9:00 every morning, where we were, or spending a good chunk of time on your vacation waiting for transportation just to get to breakfast, the pool, or dinner. The bungalows themselves are also quite dated and could really benefit from renovations and updated furnishings. While the resort is all-inclusive, the food was a major letdown. Even the simplest dishes - burgers, fish tacos, ribs, and other basic fare - were surprisingly bad. To make matters worse, not all of the restaurants are open every evening. Each night there were only 2 options. One night, our only included dining option was a Tex-Mex buffet, which wasn't ideal since three of the five people in our group don't eat Mexican food. The only alternative was Nicole's, which required a $50 per person surcharge. After experiencing the quality of the food elsewhere on the property, there was no chance we were going to spend an additional $250 for dinner. We stayed for five nights, and by the end of the trip, we were genuinely happy to be heading home. That's not how you should feel after a Caribbean vacation. By the last evening, everyone in our group was actually dreading dinner because we knew it was unlikely to be enjoyable. We ended up eating at the Italian restaurant two nights in a row simply because it was essentially our only option besides the buffet. The limited restaurant availability became repetitive very quickly. To top it off, we didn't realize until we got home that my husband had a large oil stain on the seat of 2 separate pairs of shorts. The only explanation we can come up with is that it came from the chair he was sitting in at the Italian restaurant, as we were seated at the same table both nights. It was disappointing to discover that, in addition to everything else, the furniture apparently wasn't being properly maintained. The biggest disappointment, however, was the customer service, especially from many of the female staff members. While most of the male employees were friendly, polite, and welcoming, most of the women we encountered were noticeably rude and seemed to be bothered by guests. The hostess at the buffet was anything but welcoming, and the service there was consistently poor. On one evening, despite the restaurant being nearly empty, it took over 30 minutes before anyone even came to our table to offer drinks, which is essentially the only table service provided at the buffet. After returning home, I read other reviews and realized I wasn't the first person to mention the attitude of many of the female employees. If management is genuinely concerned about guest feedback and maintaining a four-star reputation, this is an issue they should address with their staff. Friendly service costs nothing, yet it has a tremendous impact on a guest's overall experience. Overall, this resort fell well short of the four-star rating it advertises. Between the disappointing food, inconsistent restaurant availability, dated accommodations, inconvenient layout, and poor customer service, we left feeling that this resort simply does not deliver the experience it promises. There are far better all-inclusive resorts where you'll find friendly staff, much better food, and greater value for your money. Save your money and book elsewhere. Unfortunately, I would not recommend staying here.

Stayed from 28th May to 11th June at this beautiful resort where you can truly relax and unwind. The hotel is located on the North Atlantic coast and would say that if you want to be totally chilled, this is a good location. Even though it's not on the Caribbean coastline, you still get crystal clear and calm seas. Our room was 181 with a sea view and the 5* Hamock Cove (who can share the same beach) across the way. You wake up to beautiful sunrises and the evening equally brings, beautiful sunsets! You can always do excursions or take a 40 mins taxi to St Johns or other areas on the island. There is also a beautiful local beach which is part of another hotel (Pineapple Beach Club). Again, crystal clear water and soft white sand with a few local vendors and you can hire loungers and an umbrella. It's just nice to go there and people watch as locals make it a family day out on Sunday's in particular. There are 3 pools which are located from one end of the resort to the other with the main big pool in the middle (bar and onsite gift/snack shop close by). The middle pool is lovely - not massive but a decent size and a little alcove and the other pool is a lovely size on another beach. My husband and I have stayed at many All-Inclusive, but have to say that the buffet food was excellent. Authentic and offering local cuisines such as saltfish and fried festivals for breakfast or hard food (boiled bananas) or you have your egg station or pancakes, sausages etc. We loved the fact that you're in the Caribbean and get to eat this at the hotel. There were 2 other restaurants you could book for dinner but have to say the buffet offers a great selection. The Pizza cafe and Beach Grill for lunch were the only let downs I would say. Otherwise, exceptional! In terms of the staff - would like to send a special thanks to Patricia. You are warm, engaging and a delight to speak with. Additionally, Ashah, Tanya in the coffee shop, Theodore, Gail, the lovely lady in Guest Services who travelling to the UK at the end of the month and young Tedre. You all made our stay a memorable one. I have to say that in general, the Antiguan people are so pleasant. On our room, would say it could with a few maintenance touch ups i.e. light under the sink wasn't working, door handle on the bathroom door kept falling off and the door to the balcony was very stiff but we didn't report these things as they weren't really a big deal. Thank you again for a wonderful stay!

This place is about as exciting as a trip to the dentist. NO SWIM UP BAR, pool bar is 30 yards from the main pool and they had no wait staff the entire time we were there. We had to eat at the buffet every dinner cause they were canceling reservations and closing restaurants. Kept saying this is their slow season and didn't have enough help. Bar closed at 9:30-10:00 each night and had no drinks in the room, alcohol or otherwise until the last day. Been all over the Caribbean at resorts and this ranks at the bottom in atmosphere and service

All has been wonderful except for one problem. Many of the female bartenders are very rude and miserable. Example: We are right now sitting a the main bar (June 19, 12:30 pm) and tried to order a drink. The bartender told us, after she poked her head around the corner from the excursions desk and asked (rudely) if we wanted something,that we had to come to her to order a drink. I said no asked her to come to us and she gave me a very dirty look. Photo of bartender attached. My opinion is that if anyone wants to work in the hospitality business, they should be hospitable. Having said that, the majority of the bartending staff are very friendly. Especially Leon. He’s fantastic. If anyone in management would like to discuss this with me. (Room 152) we will be here until the 28th of June

Visited with friends to play pickleball. The resort features four lighted pickleball courts and one tennis court, all of which are in excellent shape. Trees surround on 3 sides to protect from wind. A cabana beside the courts conveniently provides towels and a water dispenser. Pickleball paddles and balls are available and are surprisingly good quality. However, if you play tennis, you should definitely bring your own racquet and balls; the resort's tennis racquets and balls were extremely worn and resembled low-end discount store quality. The villas are good size, featuring a sitting area, a bar sink, and plenty of electrical outlets, including USB-A and USB-C ports at both nightstands. Unfortunately, I found the mattress worn and in need of replacement; the springs had lost their support, leaving me sleeping on a surface of "hills and valleys." As a minor suggestion, the bathroom could really use a couple of clothing hooks and a proper ventilation fan, as it gets quite humid and misty after a shower. While the staff were generally friendly, there were exceptions. Service at the restaurants was slow and inefficient, largely due to understaffing (both in food prep and front-of-house) and a visible lack of training. Except for the buffet restaurant, dinner reservations are required at à la carte restaurants. Booking well in advance is recommended as seating is very limited, and not all venues are open every night. On the plus side, there was a good variety of food options—though a few dishes could have used a little less salt—and a solid selection of alcoholic drinks. I particularly enjoyed their house-brewed beer. The biggest issue for me was the total lack of responsiveness to pre-arrival inquiries. I asked on three separate occasions about the availability of distilled water for a medical device, and even had my travel agent reach out. We received absolute silence. I simply needed a straightforward answer so I could plan my packing and travel logistics accordingly. It left me with the impression that once they have your money, guest accommodation is no longer a priority. This front-of-house friction unfortunately continued at the resort; people noted that the reception staff could be quite curt and required a degree of persuasion to address an issue. Finally, as this is a pool and beach resort, it offers the usual water amenities. Because we visited during the latter part of the shoulder season, access to equipment was adequate, though it made me wonder how limited availability might become during peak high season when the resort is at full capacity.