Hermitage Bay

VIP treatment started within moments of getting off the plane in Antigua. Shortly after crossing the jet bridge into the airport, someone holding up a Hemitage Bay sign whisked us away, escorting and providing us with a "skip the line" pass at immigration, directing us to our baggage carousel, & rejoining us again before customs, and placing us in another fast track queue. Ten minutes after deplaning we were walking out the front door of the airport with our bags, where we were again met by another Hermitage Bay representative who confirmed our names and directed us into a luxury 4 x 4 vehicle that transported us 35 minutes to the resort in style. Its my understanding that Hermitage Bay includes this "meet and greet" service and transport (both ways) for any guests staying at their resort for 3 nights or more. We were certainly off to a great start. Our plane had been delayed before leaving the USA and I feared that on our first day we might miss the popular afternoon Sushi service at the Tree Bar, that had such rave reviews on this site and in several videos we watched online. Upon arriving at the resort we were escorted to reception and presented with a welcome drink, awaiting our orientation...but, since I inquired at that time as to weather we missed sushi, we were told it was just starting and immediately sent to join the other guests at the Tree Bar, effectively postponing any check in formalities until after the daily afternoon gathering...Sushi disappointment completely averted. Still in the jeans & street clothes we traveled in, we were happy campers, at an outdoor open air bar built around a Tree, on the sands of a very beautiful beach situated in an equally beautiful bay, with tropical drinks in hand, & fresh sushi between our chopsticks. The timesaving VIP meet & greet at the airport, waiting transport, and the thoughtful hospitality shown at reception saved the day! I should mention that we stayed on an all inclusive package, as did most of the guests we spoke to during our time there. Included in that package is all food, drinks, entertainment, beach chairs, some wonderful hospitality, non motorized watersports, and a (motorized) boat tour. I believe that a tour of their gardens where many of their fresh ingredients are sourced from is included for those who schedule one. (We did not tour the gardens.) Its my understanding that there is also a different bed & breakfast rate where people pay for lunch & dinner a la cart, and probably their drinks. I don't know the details of that. Everything we did, consumed, or imbibed was included in our room rate. There are some excursions and spa treatments (not included in the all inclusive package) available for purchase at an additional charge, including some pretty upscale ones like a dinner on the nearby island of Barbuda, flown there & back by helicopter. (Maybe next time... :) After sushi, we were golf carted to a nearby set of stairs cemented into the hill where someone carried our bags up for us to our villa where more oooohs and ahhhhhs ensued. Our villa was huge. I think that they're all mostly the same size and far enough away from each other to afford a reasonable expectation of privacy in the lush greenery surrounding them on the hill. Our private porch alone, sporting a truly killer view of the bay, the nearby islands, and an amazing sunset a little later on, was spacious enough to hold for a party for 20 people with a comfy outdoor couch, wrap around cushioned seating, a swing seat, a couple chairs you can really sink into, a coffee table and a sizable "decked in" private plunge pool with the same view as the porch, infinity style. There were two entrances into the interior of the villa, a locking side door to which we were given a key and sliding doors that lock from the inside that open up to our front facing porch overlooking the bay. His & her closets are provided with ample space for each's wardrobe. Our large bed, surrounded by mosquito netting that is lowered during turndown service in the evening, is positioned with a view off the front porch, unless the curtains are drawn, or the large screen TV, which is usually retracted into a cabinet at the foot of the bed is raised into its ascended position with the touch of a button. There are other screened wooden louvered windows that provide darkness or daylight as needed. The bathroom is also very spacious with 2 sinks, lots of counter space, a full length mirror that can be set to any angle, a luxurious bathtub, more of those screened louvered windows that provide light and a view when opened with no fear of sacrificing any privacy. At the far end of the bathroom is a locking door that opens onto a deck on the far side of the villa where one takes an outdoor shower. This is a super nice touch. We're not usually ones to spend a great deal of time in our hotel room, but with digs like these its a pleasure to hang out here, especially at sunset. And the tree frogs & crickets!...did I mention the tree frogs & crickets?...making beautiful immersive natural music to relax and sleep to every night from dusk to dawn. Incredible! Every morning started with waking up in paradise in our private villa (they're all private) with an idyllic view. Breakfast was from 7:30 to 10:30 and was yummy with different freshly extracted juice(s) of the day with lots of menu food choices and a full selection a caffeinated liquid creations. There are at least 3 resident kitty cats who share the breakfast and dinner spaces with the guests and look very well provided for...probably with smoked salmon, shrimp, and filet mignon. I really enjoyed my juice, tea, fruit plate, and bay wrap each morning. My wife varied her breakfast choices a little more with something different every day. Lunch starts at 11:30 every morning at an on-site open air restaurant on the beach called "La Petite Maison" a little further beyond where breakfast & dinner are served. And lunch is not to be skipped. The menu is exciting, the service is attentive, the food is fresh & well prepared, the setting on the beach is to die for, the craft cocktails are yummy & refreshing, and the live band performing every noontime we spent there knocked our socks off. We loved the "lobster salad" as did several of our fellow guests who said it was their favorite....its not what you think when you think "lobster salad". We ordered it more than once, as we did the burrata & tomato selection. I repeat: don't skip lunch...not here....don't miss it. I think its best that you arrive at this resort famished and skinny, because you won't be when you leave. I have no idea where we put all the food. Spend some time on the beach between breakfast and lunch, and then again after lunch to let your tummy settle. Maybe enjoy a cocktail, mocktail, or two, or three, on the beach served to you at your beach chair by the staff of the TreeBar. If you want a break from alcohol, or abstain altogether, they do have some very tasty smoothie craft quality mocktails available that I can personally recommend. (I can also recommend the alcoholic libations as well). At 4:30, people gather around the Tree Bar for Sushi. This was one of my favorite rituals of each day. Most of the socializing between different couples or groups of guests we witnessed at the resort took place at afternoon sushi, or after dinner at the lobby bar. On Tuesday we had really good live music at the Tree Bar during sushi time. Arseni, the resorts' personable Sushi Chef, who trained at Nobu in Marbella, Spain aims to please and is masterful in his daily preparations. They go well with the Tree Bar's cocktail concoctions. The afternoon before our last day, Arseni asked us if we would have any special requests, and then surprised us the next day with very delicious personalized creations, which we appreciated greatly, and made us feel special. I enjoyed our time getting to know him a little and also my discovering the fun facts that he not only trained at the famed Nobu Restaurant at the very resort we visited in Spain last July, but also, that both resorts, this one and that one, are owned by the same gentleman. I've learned to pay attention to coincidence. (A third coincidence, that I cannot ignore, was that on our flight back to the US from Antigua, I found & watched a movie documentary that I didn't know existed all about Nobuyuki "Nobu" Matsuhisa himself, one of our airlines' current available movie titles to choose from inflight.) My general impression was that all those who partook in sushi time at Hermitage Bay Resort really enjoyed it. Dinner started every evening at 7:30 PM in the same roofed in open air location as breakfast, and was nothing short of superb, as was the service...Fine dining, where some dressed to the 9s and others came a bit more casual. Each night we followed it up with drinks at the lobby bar where a live band performed. The bar staff sang some songs with the bands one evening, and they could really sing! ...like they belonged in the band. They were also very good at getting us to come out of our shells & enjoy ourselves. Hermitage Bay has some really wonderful people. Lastly I want to mention the boat tour that was included in out stay. I'm not sure if its always separate couples or groups on the boat at any given time, but I can say that when we went out at 10:30 one morning it was just my wife & I and the captain of the boat...a nice boat and a nice captain at that. I think most people choose to snorkel but she gave us our choice and since it was a little choppy and windy for snorkeling (you have to "swim" harder so as not to drift when the currents are stronger) we chose to tour the nearby bays instead and were given a picturesque and very informative tour. Now had there been other people on the boat that morning, who wanted to snorkel, I'm not sure we would have had that option, but we enjoyed it immensely. Antigua is a beautiful place, especially from the water, at least any of the coast that we saw. All in all this is a relaxing tranquil paradise where we were pampered and wanted for nothing, except maybe to stay a little longer. Our vacation continued on in Florida for another week before completely returning ourselves to reality, and as wonderful as it was to spend time with family and friends there, its safe to say that Hermitage Bay was the highlight of our holiday and the memory of it will linger until we're able to return again.

Yes standout service from Simone and Zoe but also Kyle was great at the Tree bar/beach, even if he is an Arsenal supporter! All the service was good though, and the food superb, especially at La Petite Maison- proper Provençal restaurant in the Caribbean! Loved the cocktails and live music in the bar after dinner - shame it wasn’t better supported some evenings

Overall exceptional experience. Relaxing vibe and luxury without the pretentiousness. Thoroughly enjoyed the upper level hillside ocean pool room. Some minor service missteps, but nothing that detracted from the experience. Great value through Hilton FNC redemptions.

I felt like I just didn’t get Hermitage Bay. The hotel team are wonderful and the public areas are beautifully laid out but our room was underwhelming and very strange. The floors now have a natural coir style carpet running through the living area, bedroom and into the whole bathroom. This was badly marked in the lounge area and the bathroom. The strangest thing is the bathroom being open plan to the bedroom/living area. There is no glass or dividing door separating the toilet from the bedroom. I am exceptionally comfortable around my husband but no one wants to be relaxing in the same room as someone using the toilet! Coordination is needed if you want any privacy. We were staying on a bed and breakfast basis and even after lovely long lunches (La Petite Maison was wonderful), cocktails, wine and dinner, we didn’t get anywhere close to the all inclusive rate so I’m surprised anyone would choose this as an option. We had a morning flight on our last day which meant leaving the hotel at 7am. We asked if we could pre-order a picnic breakfast, or have room service breakfast before we left, or pick up some fruit and pastries but were advised breakfast started at 7.30am with muffins and coffee at the bar area from 7am but nothing else could be done. All with a smile but no solution was offered. Maybe Hermitage Bay just wasn’t for us.

We were here three years ago, it was great; this time it was exceptional. Subtle but wonderful upgrades. Meticulous maintenance and super service. I’m hesitant to be too glowing because I am not sure I want the whole world to find this amazing hideaway. Waba’s incredible tour of the natural beauty of the landscape was memorable, he’s a keeper! Simone and Zoe were service standouts.