Galley Bay Resort & Spa

INCREDIBLE! Absolutely STUNNING. The beach is perfect the service outstanding, the food just brilliant. We stayed in a Premium Beachfront Suite Beachfront these rooms are my favourite! You can request ground floor for beach walkout but I loved the 1st floor. They are huge rooms - with massive bathrooms. I would 1000000% return here. Ive seen some reviews mention that is very quiet - while it is a more tranquil place I think that its important to understand travelling 'off season' aug/sep will be quieter than November - April-June. Saying that they had some music in the evenings! GO! Visit Shirley Heights for some fun :)

As other reviews have already mentioned, this resort only had 50 guests when we arrived in August and first impressions were that it felt deserted (in fact Cedric will remember we bitterly complained to him and asked to be moved!) That same day as we looked from our Sunbeds out to Sea we wondered what on earth we had been complaining about, how wrong could we have been, we needed to embrace the beauty which Galley Bay offered; the Beach - totally stunning with crystal clear waters, the Pool - comfy sunbeds plentiful, waiter service of the most wonderful cocktails (and never getting up at silly o'clock to reserve!) No Music at the pool - at long last! how refreshing! No boom boom boom and finally time to sit back, relax, enjoy being with family, watch the hummingbirds, read a book, think and unwind.... Maybe not to everyone's taste but this was the Holiday we deserved. The Meals - not always an all inclusive buffet but a delightful array of mouthwatering menu-driven-selection of top quality foods instead, all cooked to absolute perfection, the Lobster was particularly unforgettable! Each and every person at Galley Bay were welcoming and friendly, nothing was too much trouble and their top priority was for us to enjoy our holiday. Guests have different expectations on holiday, but for us - this one was truly unforgettable, too many wonderfully kind and friendly people to recognise here in this review (and its always teamwork) but Special thanks have to go to Cedric and Alaska for making Galley Bay a truly wonderful holiday experience for us, hope you guys are well and you know we will be back very soon!

My husband and I spent 6 nights there for our honeymoon Aug 20-26 but we were pretty disappointed. When we arrived, it felt like a deserted island. It just ended up being way too quiet for us. Even no music at the pool. The food was fantastic. Probably the best I’ve had at an all inclusive. But the service lacked. Considering there were only 50 people at the resort at the time, you’d think getting a drink by the pool would be easy but the call button only worked once and there was no drink service at the beach, either. Some of the staff were super friendly and talkative but majority of the staff acted like they couldn’t be bothered which totally surprised us, considering their service is what they are so known for. I also didn’t realize every restaurant was open air so not only was it hot for every meal, there was no reprieve except in our room for AC. That also meant mosquitos none stop. Even with bug spray, we got annihilated. Not the resorts fault, but I was miserable because of it. We were ready to leave after night 3.

It’s a beautiful resort with great food. We didn’t like the fact that you can’t listen to music by the pool(earbuds only) and the only entertainment is a singer at night!

Resort Highlights Galley Bay is truly beautiful. All of the restaurants and bars are open-air, which keeps you connected to the ocean at all times. It’s a smaller resort, with only three restaurants and one bar located centrally. The staff were extremely attentive and kind throughout our stay. Tips weren’t expected—instead, there was a daily service charge that went toward staff gratuities, plus an optional tip box at the front desk for a lump-sum contribution at the end of your trip. One of the unique aspects of the resort is its on-site garden, where they grow much of the fruit and vegetables served in the restaurants. We toured it one day and even left with fresh, hand-picked mangos. The property also features a bike trail around the lagoon, which we enjoyed a couple of times. It’s a peaceful loop and home to many birds. Room Our room was one of the highlights of the trip. Most accommodations are beachfront, and ours had direct walk-out access to the sand. We loved this setup—no scrambling for chairs or packing a beach bag each morning. Our room included its own set of beach chairs, an umbrella, and even an outdoor shower for rinsing off after the ocean. Waking up to ocean views from bed, then stepping right onto the sand, was perfect. The room itself was spotless, and housekeeping did an excellent job tidying up daily. No complaints at all! Beach This is easily one of the nicest beaches we’ve ever visited—definitely in our top two. The water was crystal clear, with plenty of fish, making snorkeling a daily activity for us. Right offshore, there are coral reefs that are easy to swim to, and they’re perfect for snorkeling enthusiasts. The watersports team also offers trips to a nearby shipwreck for snorkeling, which was incredible and absolutely worth doing. Food The food at Galley Bay was some of the best we’ve had at a resort. There were daily specials, and we were rarely disappointed—steaks were consistently tender and flavorful, and the fish was always cooked perfectly. That said, with only three restaurants, the menus did start to feel a bit repetitive after several days. Breakfast, in particular, was underwhelming—basic eggs and bacon that felt more like a budget hotel offering. Still, if that’s the biggest downside, it’s not bad at all. We highly recommend Ismay’s and the private dinner on the beach. Both cost extra, but the food was outstanding and well worth it. Outside the Resort We ventured out a few times during our stay. -St. John’s (the capital): Fun to see and walk around, but unless you’re into shopping, you really only need about an hour there. -Shirley Heights: About a 45-minute drive from Galley Bay, this repurposed military outpost offers live music, barbecue, and breathtaking views. We highly recommend it! -Sailing with Captain John: This was one of our favorite experiences. Captain John took us on a peaceful sail around the island, sharing history along the way. We stopped to snorkel a coral reef, then enjoyed a delicious home-cooked lunch onboard—easily one of the best meals of our trip. A Couple of Side Notes Galley Bay is very laid-back. The atmosphere is romantic and calm, but there’s not much to do in the evenings beyond relaxing on the beach or in your room. Nightlife was basically limited to live music that few people attended, so after dinner things got pretty quiet around 8:00–8:30. If you are looking for things to do outside of the beach, this may not be the place for you. I was excited about the café, but it was hit or miss. Some staff there were excellent, while others struggled with the machines and made poor coffee. The service also wasn’t as friendly as elsewhere at the resort—though everywhere else, the staff were wonderful. Overall We loved our trip. Antigua is a beautiful island, and Galley Bay was a wonderful place to spend our honeymoon. Despite a few minor shortcomings, we left feeling relaxed, happy, and very glad we chose it.