Keyonna Beach

We enjoyed 10 wonderful nights at Keyonna Beach at the end of January. This was our third trip to Antigua although first at Keyonna, and we certainly plan to return. On arrival we were allocated a first floor room right next to the restaurant with a stunning direct view of the sunset. We were initially a little disappointed as from reading previous reviews we had requested a room in the new block at the far end of the property, but once familiarising ourselves with the layout we realised we would probably prefer to be closer to the centre of the resort and this is how it proved. There is very little noise from being so close to the central hub and having such a short walk back in the evening was a bonus. We were also disappointed to be allocated a bali bed in the second row on the beach but this was rectified for us on our second day, which was our first experience of the excellent customer service from the reception team. They are committed to ensuring you enjoy your stay, continually asking if everything is OK. Rooms are spacious, clean, and the outdoor showers are amazing, a real selling point. The fridge is stocked daily with your choices, along with fresh ice. The location on Turner's beach is stunning and you can enjoy lovely walks; we recommend climbing the steps at the south end (where the snorkelling is excellent) and walking round to a deserted beach, I think we went round as far as Johnson's point on one occasion, for which water shoes are ideal. Facing west to see the sunset each night is bliss, and another huge selling point of the resort. Beach service for drinks is fantastic and we used the beach grill a couple of times; the menu and service is OK rather than excellent, and one small area which could be improved. The pool is lovely and certainly (in our opinion) negates the need for a plunge pool room, although some of these do enjoy a lovely setting either set back amongst the gardens or at beachside. We did get bitten by bugs, but this certainly didn't spoil anything as long as you used the provided spray which was replenished by the room cleaners, without needing to ask, when needed. Food in the restaurant for all meals is very good, with a daily rotating lunch and dinner menu. We would have loved more fruit options available at breakfast and are still surprised a basket of fresh apples, bananas etc was not available for guests at any point during the day. We made a specific request for some apples, which was inevitably provided around half way through our stay. We definitely experienced some inconsistencies in the quality of food provided, especially at breakfast where for example poached eggs were often overcooked and the fruit parfait had not set properly. When breakfast is a limited a la carte menu it needs to be exceptional and although it was good, especially the omelettes, it did not ever wow us. But lunch and dinner were normally sublime, with plenty of choice from the daily menus. My wife is a vegetarian, and probably got a little bored of her options towards the end of our stay, but in general the choice was great and I highly recommend the specials some of which were exceptional. Desserts were also fantastic, and the cheese and biscuits (a favourite of ours) is easily the best we have been offered at any Antiguan resort. We thought the house red wine was good, as four different varieties are offered, but a different less dry rose option would be good. The evening entertainment provides a wonderful backdrop when dining and we were amazed how many guests seemed to return to their room as soon as they had finished eating rather than enjoying this to a finish around 9.30pm. Maybe this is because the reception, bar and restaurant all share the same large open plan area, or that lighting is poor, or you cannot actually sit at the bar, but all of these things result in a slightly sterile environment and atmosphere for evening chatting or socialising with other guests compared to what we have experienced at other resorts. Creating an outdoor seating area for the evenings, where you can still see/hear the entertainment, is the biggest single improvement the resort could make in our opinion. On leaving it's a difficult choice if and who to tip, as the service is exceptional from all staff and undoubtedly the biggest strength of the resort. We decided to leave something for the reception staff; Lydia, Rocky, Aurellius (and a special shout out to Daneesha who is a ray of sunshine at all times), Deshaun on the beach, our room cleaner, and also a few specific waiting/restaurant staff who served us the most (special shout out to Maria & Nicole but Ceon, Brian, Odeal, Deon, Sheldon, Leon & Aliyah are all also a credit to the resort). But thank you to all staff for making our stay so enjoyable.

If you are looking for a party in the Caribbean, don't go here! This is a wonderful escape from the typically over-crowded, noisy resorts. Just a great place to unwind and relax; the staff is consistently excellent.

This is a wonderfully relaxing place to stay. No noise from children, TVs or radios. Just the sound of the waves on the beach. We had a beachfront room which has a balcony and beautiful sunset views. It was lovely! We enjoyed all the meals and the evening entertainment. The team of people who work at Keyonna deserve a special mention. They are so warm and friendly and work very hard to make sure you are well looked after. There isn't much around the resort but there is a shuttle bus into the nearest town and regular activities and trips you can make from the hotel.

The hotel has a stunning beachside location on a wonderful tropical (and clean) beach. The hotel staff are amazing. Not just polite and helpful, but also charming and willing to share a joke. Can't praise them enough. Our room was inviting, but it's described as a "sunset suite", and facing South, we couldn't actually see the sunset. (Perhaps our room is the only one to face this way) In an all-inclusive deal, there is naturally less choice about food and drink. We felt the evening meals in particular suffered from slightly poor quality ingredients - but it was always well presented. The house wines were not great. There is evening entertainment in the form of a different band every night. This is a taste issue, but we found the music to be a bit on the dull and safe. Guests never danced. Every band performed "An Englishman in New York" We did have a great vacation. Keyonna it is a great place to come for a restful and romantic stay.

Trip to Keyonna Beach, Antigua January 2026 | 10-Night Stay Guest Experience Review and Recommendations Introduction In January 2026, we returned to Antigua for our fourth visit, choosing Keyonna Beach for the first time after several previous stays at Galley Bay. Based on consistently positive reviews and Keyonna’s reputation for intimate, romantic experiences, our expectations were high. This document is intended to provide balanced, honest feedback on our stay—highlighting both the strengths of the resort and areas where improvements could meaningfully enhance the guest experience. ________________________________________ Travel and Arrival Experience For this trip, we flew WestJet Business Class rather than our usual Air Canada service. WestJet provided attentive service, comfortable seating, and newer aircraft, which made for a very positive travel experience. Upon arrival at Keyonna Beach, we were escorted to our beachfront cottage featuring a private plunge pool and Bali bed. The room was clean, well-stocked with our preferred beverages, and attractively located near the dining and bar area. While functional, the cottage felt dated and would benefit from modernization to better align with guest expectations at this price point. ________________________________________ Accommodation and Resort Environment On our first evening, we noticed intermittent sewer gas odours in certain areas of the resort. While not overpowering, the issue recurred throughout our stay. The dining room is situated on a wooden deck that slopes toward the ocean. The deck noticeably bounced when staff walked by, which was distracting during meals. Additionally, our first cottage—located close to the main road—was affected by significant traffic noise and loud evening entertainment. The band’s volume and limited sound insulation made it difficult to rest. After reporting these concerns, management responded promptly and relocated us to a quieter cottage. This new location offered exceptional ocean views and improved tranquility, though the accommodation still showed signs of needing updates. ________________________________________ Dining Experience Keyonna Beach offers one primary restaurant and a small grill hut. While breakfast views were stunning, menus across all meals were limited and largely unchanged throughout our 10-night stay. Menu Accuracy and Food Quality A recurring issue was inconsistency between menu descriptions and the dishes served. Examples included: • Tomato and vegetable soup arriving as a plain vegetable soup • Pulled pork that was not shredded as described • Pan-fried fish that was inedible due to strong odour and visible bloodline Several meals—particularly dinners—were poorly executed, with overcooked proteins and unappealing sauces. Vegetarian options were especially limited, making it difficult for my wife to find satisfying choices. After several disappointing meals, we relied on a small number of breakfast items (Antigua French toast and banana bread), which were consistently good. ________________________________________ Engagement with Management and Culinary Improvements After sharing our concerns, both the Assistant Manager and Dining Manager met with us, listened carefully, and took notes. We suggested: • Using thermometers to ensure proper protein doneness • Tasting dishes before service • Improving consistency across plates The Executive Chef later arranged a special dinner, which was excellent—one of the best meals we have had in Antigua. However, confusion around which chef prepared the meal and how credit was communicated felt misleading and undermined transparency. Two chefs stood out positively: • Chef TerryAnn, whose meals were exceptional and memorable • Chef Chappy, whose curry lamb stew and later a perfectly cooked linguine with garlic butter and vegetables were highlights Unfortunately, quality varied significantly depending on who was working, and one later “special” dinner featuring stuffed snapper was inedible, with poor texture and flavour. The interaction that followed—particularly comments minimizing Chef TerryAnn’s contribution—was disappointing and left us feeling unheard. ________________________________________ Service and Staff The staff at Keyonna Beach were consistently warm, attentive, and eager to help. In particular: • Tevin, our beach server, was outstanding—friendly, proactive, and attentive throughout our stay However, approximately 80% of servers were unable to accurately describe menu items, which contributed to mismatched expectations and guest frustration. ________________________________________ Beach Experience and Security While beaches in Antigua are public, the Bali beds and loungers at Keyonna are situated on private property. Despite this, we were repeatedly approached by individuals soliciting money for supposed children’s football initiatives, later confirmed by staff to be scams. We were not warned about this at check-in and unfortunately fell victim to one such scam. Although security was promised, it was never implemented, and the same individual returned days later. Ultimately, we had to intervene ourselves and warn other guests. ________________________________________ Safety Incidents During a tropical storm, water leaked from the ceiling into our bathroom. My wife slipped on the wet floor and injured her back. The resort responded appropriately by arranging a doctor visit the following day. She continues to experience ongoing pain and has scheduled follow-up care at home. A more serious safety concern involved the outdoor shower. The door locked from the outside, trapping us inside the shower area. Despite calling for help, no one responded. We were forced to break a glass panel to escape, creating a potentially dangerous situation. While staff handled the aftermath efficiently, the incident itself represents a significant safety risk that should be addressed urgently. ________________________________________ Bar Service and Beverage Quality When ordering drinks, guests must explicitly request top-shelf liquor; otherwise, standard brands are used. On several occasions, drinks ordered with Harbour 10 Rum did not taste consistent with the brand we regularly purchase and know well. Additionally, the bar lacked several common ingredients (e.g., Drambuie for a Rusty Nail, cherries for a Manhattan), which limited cocktail options. ________________________________________ Overall Impression While there were moments of excellence—particularly from individual staff members and select chefs—the overall experience did not meet expectations given Keyonna Beach’s reputation and price point. Over time, we became fatigued from raising concerns and chose to stop reporting additional issues. ________________________________________ Recommendations for Enhancing the Guest Experience We offer the following suggestions in the spirit of collaboration and improvement: Culinary Operations • Standardize recipes and plating to ensure consistency • Ensure menu descriptions accurately reflect dishes served • Improve vegetarian and rotating menu options for longer stays • Provide additional staff training so servers can confidently describe menu items Accommodation and Infrastructure • Address sewer odour issues proactively • Improve soundproofing in cottages near the road • Inspect and repair leaks promptly • Upgrade locking mechanisms on outdoor showers to prevent accidental confinement Safety and Security • Clearly brief guests at check-in about beach access and known solicitation scams • Provide visible beach security or regular staff presence • Conduct safety audits following severe weather Bar Service • Clearly communicate liquor brands used in cocktails • Ensure consistency when premium spirits are requested • Stock essential classic cocktail ingredients or adjust menus accordingly ________________________________________ Closing Keyonna Beach has many strengths: a beautiful setting, dedicated staff, and the potential for exceptional dining and relaxation. With greater consistency, improved communication, and attention to safety and infrastructure, we believe the guest experience could be significantly elevated. We appreciate the efforts of individual team members who went above and beyond and hope this feedback is received as an opportunity for continued growth. Bob & Wendy