Antigua - Carlisle Bay
Spring 2006
Frank's view 
The 30 minute drive from the airport to Carlisle Bay feels much longer, as the car crashes into pot holes and twists its way through the tracks and lanes of Antigua. Not one for those susceptible to car sickness.
Carlisle Bay is certainly very isolated. It sits in a private bay which is a good 20 minutes from any other civilisation. Dining out is not an easy option so it’s just as well both restaurants in the resort are very good.
The web site shows the layout of the Carlisle Bay complex. The best location is one of the Beach suites to the right (as you look at the sea) of the Indigo restaurant. The Ocean suites at the other end of the beach sit behind the main sunbathing area of the beach and water sports centre, and do not have the privacy of the Beach suites.
The Beach Balcony Suite we stayed in was spacious and well furnished. Besides the large bedroom/sitting area and balcony, it had another room on the garden side which acted a study. One excellent touch was the proper coffee machine in the room instead of the usual cheap and nasty filter coffee maker.
The bathroom was a good size with separate walk in shower and bath. One lapse in attention to detail was lack of finishing in the bathroom. Whilst lying in the bath one had a perfect view of all the pipe work under the wash basins. It would not have taken much to conceal the mess. I guess this is something the management would not be aware of unless they happened to bathe in one of the rooms.
Carlisle Bay has two restaurants. Indigo, the more informal restaurant, is where breakfast and lunch are served. On our first day we were allocated the best table, directly in front of the sea. As the days progressed we were moved back in the restaurant. To give new arrivals one of the better positioned tables is a nice touch. East, the formal restaurant, is a clever contrast to Indigo as it has a completely different feel to the rest of the resort.
The food in both restaurants is excellent. The bar by Indigo was buzzy and where most guests seemed to congregate, although there was a corporate event in the resort during our visit which somewhat dominated the Indigo bar space.
Carlisle Bay has a very good pool set up which we found preferable to the busy beach. Unlike a number of pools where the loungers are lined around the edge, the interesting shape of the swimming pool allowed for guests to find their own space.
Water sports are promoted heavily. One amusing incident was when four aging male guests decided to take out two Hobie Cats on a windy afternoon. Their lack of experience became apparent to all on the beach as both capsized spectacularly and the resort rescue team, in true laid back Caribbean style, eventually mooched to their aid.
Much is made of the cinema at Carlisle Bay. I don’t really understand why someone would wish to spend their vacation in Antigua in a dark room watching movies. This camel prefers to make the most of the sun and save cinemas for rainy days. During our stay the guests weren’t exactly jostling for the best seats. It was more a case of private viewings for the odd movie buff.
The sports facilities are good. Carlisle Bay has nine tennis courts and an excellent spa.
The highlight of our visit to Carlisle Bay did not actually happen in Carlisle Bay. We took a helicopter flight over the nearby island of Montserrat whose capital, Plymouth, was destroyed by a volcano which began erupting in 1995. It was eerie to look down on a modern town buried under lava. Particularly bizarre, was the “Barclays Bank” sign partially visible above the volcanic ash.
If you are looking for a Caribbean vacation in an exclusive, remote resort, our preference would be Parrot Cay, Turks & Caicos.
Carlisle Bay is quite a compact resort which some might find a little claustrophobic, and getting around the island is not easy.
Carlisle Bay
Antigua
Be Frank: agree or disagree? What do you think?
