Galley Bay Resort & Spa

Antigua, Caribbean

Virgin rating

The hotel

Set on one of Antigua's many beautiful beaches, the Galley Bay Resort & Spa offers guests a fabulous combination of superior service, Caribbean cuisine and rustic luxury in a very natural setting. Much of the architecture here is inspired by the French artist Gauguin. The charming individual suites have their own splash pool and are surrounded by lush gardens and views of the lagoon. There are three excellent open-air restaurants, all beachfront, offering intimate, candlelit dining of excellent quality. Ismay's Restaurant offers a higher quality dining experience to be shared for that special occasion, whilst the more laid-back Barefoot Grill is a great place to enjoy a tasty quesadilla made with resort grown produce. At sunset, hors d'oeuvres are served at the bar which overlooks the sea from under its Tahitian-style roof. There are activities such as non-motorised water sports and a recently expanded gym, but reclining with a novel on the beachfront deck from the library is equally as popular.

Amenities

  • Bicycle Rental
  • Kayaking
  • Sailing
  • Snorkelling
  • Tennis
  • Wheelchair access
  • Honeymoon
  • Wedding
  • Bar
  • Evening Entertainment
  • Fitness Centre/Gym
  • Internet Access

Where is it

On a beautiful beach, adjacent to Hawsbill and Deep Bay. Transfer time from airport: 30 minutes.

Hotel information

98 rooms on 1 or 2 floors. All with balcony/terrace, air-conditioning, ceiling fan, TV, telephone, complimentary WiFi, coffee maker, safe, bathrobes and hairdryer. Deluxe Beachfront Rooms are on the upper floors, located right on the beach. Rooms are large and are well appointed with spacious bathrooms which have a walk-in double shower. Rooms sleep maximum 2 adults.

All Inclusive of: all meals, snacks and drinks by the glass (name-brand spirits, sparkling wine by the glass, Caribbean beers, tropical coolers and soft drinks, excludes bottled water). All activities and entertainment above unless otherwise stated. Restaurants open on rotation.

Superior Deluxe Beachfront Rooms are charming rooms on the ground floor, in the centre of the resort, with private patio located directly on the beach. Each with 1 king-size bed, sleeping maximum 2 adults.

Gauguin Suites are situated on the edge of the bird sanctuary lagoon, just 50 yards from the beach and consist of two wooden cedar shingle roof rondovals with an enclosed large air conditioned sitting area joining the two. The suites have cool and modern white tile flooring with stone accents, plus their own private plunge pool, sleeping maximum 2 adults.

Premium Beachfront Suites are in 2-storey buildings, these have a bedroom and sunken living room with wet bar, huge bathroom with twin sinks, large bath and double walk-in shower, plus ocean views from the balcony or terrace, making these the largest and most luxurious option with iPod docking station, slippers and WiFi access. With 1 king-size bed, sleeping maximum 3 adults. A full-size rollaway bed is provided for Premium Beachfront Suites to allow for triple occupancy. These rooms have direct beach access on the ground floor only.

3 restaurants and 1 beach grill: Sea Grape Restaurant (serves award-winning Euro-Caribbean cuisine; breakfast, lunch and dinner), Gauguin Restaurant (offers traditional local cuisine where you can dine in individual cabanas for romantic meals; lunch and dinner), Barefoot Grill (offers a relaxed and laid-back, beachside atmosphere, serving burgers and 'basket style' sandwiches such as the classic Cuban, all made using home-grown fruits, herbs and vegetables from the resort).For special occasions try Ismay's Restaurant* (International island flavours, open evenings only — a US$45 per person supplement applies, payable locally, subject to change). 4 bars: Teepee Bar, Lounge Bar, Gauguin Bar and Rum Shack Bar serving different rums from around the Caribbean and delicious curated rum cocktails. The coffee shop features specialty coffee, tea drinks and homemade pasties. All restaurants are beachfront. Restaurant hours and availability are subject to change. Restaurants open on a rotation basis due to season/occupancy.

Regular entertainment several nights a week. Weekly beach cinema.

Large freeform swimming pool with waterfall feature. 'Spa Indulge'* with open-air treatment cabanas, sun deck and splash pool. Fitness centre. Non-motorised water sports: Hobie cats, kayaks, paddle boarding and snorkelling. Bicycles. Tennis and table tennis. New yoga pavilion. Croquet lawn. Weekly cooking demo. Nature lovers will enjoy the garden tours (Tuesdays) to learn about the fresh grown herbs and spices onsite. On-site Diamonds international shop.

Boutique*. Complimentary WiFi available in public areas. Internet room. Library. Cabana rooms can be booked for use on your day of departure. Rooms offer a great place to store your bags and you have access to shower facilities before the flight home. The cost is $35 for 3 hours.

This hotel has a resort fee of USD $24 including tax per room, per night, (payable locally, subject to change). Please note: a room levy of USD $5 per guest, per night (payable locally, subject to change).

Wheelchair adapted rooms with partially accessible amenities or facilities available on request. Please note that these rooms are subject to availability and may be restricted to specific room categories and bedding arrangements. Rooms and facilities vary between hotels so please check at the time of booking. To discover all the special assistance services we offer please see additional information below.

7 nights between 21 Dec-2 Jan.

* Denotes local charge.

Please note: this hotel is adults-only - children under 16 years are not permitted at any time.

Dress code: breakfast/lunch: shoes must be worn at all times and bathing suits must be covered and dry. Dinner: men are required to wear collared shirts with long trousers or stylish jeans. T-shirts, shorts, caprise and ripped jeans are not accepted. Women are asked to wear dresses, skirts, long trousers or stylish tailored shorts or jeans. No short shorts, tank tops or beach flip-flops are allowed.

For all guests in June, July and August: dress shorts can be worn (no short shorts or cutoffs). Standard dress code applies for Ismays.

Please note: guests are required to present a valid form of ID (passport, driving license, ID card) along with a valid credit card at check-in. A USD$350 pre-authorisation will be processed on the credit card at check-in to cover for any incidental purchases or similar expenses. Incidental purchases may include tours, excursions, gift shop purchases or dining in the speciality restaurant. We understand that not all guests incur additional charges during their stay, but this process assists the resort with fraud prevention. Upon check-out, the pre-authorisation is released, assuming there are no charges made.

Rating summary

  • Location Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Sleep Quality Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Rooms Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Service Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Value Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Cleanliness Image of the Tripadvisor rating

Traveller rating

  • Excellent (3712)
  • Very good (655)
  • Average (183)
  • Poor (50)
  • Terrible (36)
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Wonderful relaxing holiday

Dec 21, 2024 harlequin110 London, United Kingdom

We had the most wonderful relaxing holiday at Galley Bay and would thoroughly recommend it. It was our first time to the Caribbean and we could not have chosen better. We arrived in the early evening and were welcomed with a drink. It didn't take long to check in and be shown to our room. The room was great, right on the beach with an amazing view… Read more
We had the most wonderful relaxing holiday at Galley Bay and would thoroughly recommend it. It was our first time to the Caribbean and we could not have chosen better. We arrived in the early evening and were welcomed with a drink. It didn't take long to check in and be shown to our room. The room was great, right on the beach with an amazing view of the sea. You could hear the waves crashing from the room. It was a large room with great facilities including a walk in wardrobe and large bathroom. All the hotel staff were so friendly - the reception team, guest services, all restaurants and bars, the garden and room teams. Everyone greeted us with a friendly smile. The food was great. Breakfast cooked as you wanted and then lunch either at a restaurant or the Barefoot Grill. We enjoyed dinner at all three restaurants and can recommend them all. I celebrated my birthday and we had a meal at Ismays - we were not disappointed. The team there even greeted me with a birthday song to make it a memorable evening. In my room on that day I was left champagne and a platter of fruit - a really lovely gesture. We spent most of our time at resort. The only disappointment was the sea was a little rough on several occasions which was a shame as when it was calmer it was incredible with many fish to see as you snorkelled. We did manage a trip out on the kayaks which we enjoyed. We also took part in the garden tour and went to see the hydroponics - you can see why the salads are so fresh as they grow them on site. We booked an island tour through the hotel and had a lovely time seeing the sites. There is entertainment every night - different bands - if you want a lively night life scene then this isn't the place for you. We liked to have a drink at the bar. One of the nice things is the coffee shop. We visited there throughout the day to pick up a cappuccino. The cakes looked delicious and there was ice cream too if you wanted. It would be good if the hotel had diet lemonade as well as the diet coke on offer as this would have opened up a greater selection of drinks for those that cannot have sugary drinks and don't like coke. The drink selection is one of the best that we have seen and the rum shake had many rums for you to try. The pool, gardens and beach were kept spotless. On rough days it could be hard to find a sun bed near the pool. The hotel should perhaps consider having a policy of not allowing beds to be reserved if the people are not there as I am sure there would have been enough during the day. You have guaranteed sunbeds on the beach so we used to sit there and then walk to the pool for a swim. The gardens were immaculate and the team do a great job keeping them tidy. The animals were great. The humming birds, lizards and frogs. Thank you Galley Bay team for such a great stay. An amazing holiday and lots of lovely memories. Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Another Wonderful Romantic Getaway

Dec 21, 2024 c g Chicago, Illinois

My husband and I just returned from a wonderful week long stay at Galley Bay Resort, needless to say we cannot wait to return. When we first visited this gem in 2015, we declared that Galley Bay was and will be our special place where we go to escape life’s hassles and celebrate our relationship, just us. This remained the case when we visited in… Read more
My husband and I just returned from a wonderful week long stay at Galley Bay Resort, needless to say we cannot wait to return. When we first visited this gem in 2015, we declared that Galley Bay was and will be our special place where we go to escape life’s hassles and celebrate our relationship, just us. This remained the case when we visited in 2019 and we are pleased to reaffirm this declaration in 2024! Our stay was amazing! Of course the beach and the grounds and the rooms are top notch, but in my opinion what sets Galley Bay apart is their wonderful staff. The staff is a true team and family and as a guest you are welcomed into this family, whether it is your first stay or like us you’re a returning guest. The staff is warm, friendly, caters to your every need and gives you the space and privacy to enjoy each other’s company. I will take the time to acknowledge several members of the team who made our return stay so memorable. We were greeted warmly by Bri at check in who made sure to acknowledge our special milestone and checked in on us during our stay. Phonocio transported us to our room, highlighting points of interest along the way. When we arrived at our room (the one we requested by the way) we were greeted with a lovely welcome note and champagne. A special shout out to Bettina (our Elite Island booking agent who noted and communicated our special requests to the property). It was wonderful to see general manager Antoine and resident manager Cedric again. They remembered us and welcomed us “home” and would greet us and chat with us whenever we ran into them around the resort. It was a pleasure to meet and get to know manager Nadia in guest services this time around. Speaking of guest services, I also want to acknowledge Joan who helped with dinner reservations and any questions we had. Our room was attended daily by Dacia from housekeeping who also left us beautiful towel art and the always inspirational Galley Bay bed notes, which I like to collect to remember our trip. The food, the restaurants, and bar services at Galley Bay are in my opinion spectacular. It is true authentic Caribbean inspired food, well seasoned, and exceptionally tasty. (Definitely, pack the flowy dresses ladies, you’ll need the extra space.) Chef Nathaniel and his culinary staff are creative and talented. Their food and menus are well conceived and very delicious. Chef is also very present and we often saw and chatted with him in the restaurants as well as with other guests. The service in all the restaurants is wonderful. The seaviews and intimate setting of Gauguin Restaurant where each party gets their own gazebo is so special. The Seagrape Restaurant also has a beautiful beachfront setting. I want to acknowledge some of the staff, Samantha, Vaughn, and Sadi, but please note that the whole team is wonderful. At the Teepee bar, special shout outs to Aaliyah and Liyah who made the best GBCs with rum, our go to drink on this trip. The resort feels intimate and private, the beach is beautiful, and the pool is cool and refreshing. The resort allows you to be as active and relaxed as you wish, this trip we did both. We rode bikes, played tennis, we even found time for the Spa, and my husband fished. I want to share that this third trip was the charm for my husband, he caught an elusive tarpon in the lagoon as well as a snook. Thank you again Galley Bay family, we can’t wait to see you again. Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Not For Solos

Dec 20, 2024 Tour11789536410

I returned from Galley Bay a few days ago and I’ve got nothing but praise for the resort and the staff. All the staff looked after me so well especially Joan and the other Guest Service managers who were there to answer my constant queries and always with a smile. How patient they were! My deluxe upper floor room was all I needed and huge for a… Read more
I returned from Galley Bay a few days ago and I’ve got nothing but praise for the resort and the staff. All the staff looked after me so well especially Joan and the other Guest Service managers who were there to answer my constant queries and always with a smile. How patient they were! My deluxe upper floor room was all I needed and huge for a solo traveller. I couldn’t fault housekeeping and my mini fridge was stocked with everything I requested. I saw the “beach cleaners” out at first light and I had no problem with the state of the beach or the loungers. The food was excellent and I was looked after promptly at every meal. BUT, and for me a big but, the resort is so beautiful that I desperately wanted to share it with someone special. I wouldn’t recommend it as a resort for “solos”. The sea was mostly yellow flagged and I didn’t want to make the dash through huge waves to calmer waters on my own and with no-one looking out for me. So if you are super self confident and don’t mind eating on your own that’s fine. But I would say that it’s definitely not a resort for solos. Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Good but could have some improvements

Dec 19, 2024 richardregatta Twickenham, United Kingdom

Just back from 7 night BA holiday and overall loved the resort for all the reasons given by others and had a great break. The grounds, the staff , the wine and cocktails and the evening bands and of course the setting make this a great resort However a few things can be improved. Arriving in the early evening in the dark is a bumpy ride… Read more
Just back from 7 night BA holiday and overall loved the resort for all the reasons given by others and had a great break. The grounds, the staff , the wine and cocktails and the evening bands and of course the setting make this a great resort However a few things can be improved. Arriving in the early evening in the dark is a bumpy ride through terrible congestion to find Reception unoccupied and eventually served by a sleepy person with no welcome. We we were sent off to our room with no welcome drink and little explanation of everything. We were given room 50, great location but desperately needs work. The plastic wood floor is breaking up and the bathroom was quite dangerous in bare feet. A little decoration would be good as plain white walls everywhere are boring at night. Restaurants are good but the breakfast buffet can definitely be improved. A better offer of coffee would be easy to provide as not everyone wants to queue at the little cafe to get a European coffee and could easily be helped by some high quality self service machines serving European coffees. Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Beautiful resort! Great stay

Dec 19, 2024 smoothbdallas willow grove, pa

Let me start off by saying I travel to the Caribbean twice a year for a week to 10 days and try different resorts and different islands. I have high standards and I am picky. I don’t mind pay premium price for Premium value. This resort is up there with one of my favorites. The property is lush with Caribbean landscape and palm trees. Everywhere… Read more
Let me start off by saying I travel to the Caribbean twice a year for a week to 10 days and try different resorts and different islands. I have high standards and I am picky. I don’t mind pay premium price for Premium value. This resort is up there with one of my favorites. The property is lush with Caribbean landscape and palm trees. Everywhere looks clean and tidy and new. We stayed in the premium oceanfront Suite No. 27 and might be one of the nicest rooms we stayed in. The walkout room is the way to go so convenient. I love that your chairs and Palapala are assigned to you. Three restaurants on site one of them $50 charge per person extra but well worth it. You definitely see the higher quality in ismays. Not crazy about the breakfast. Love that there is a coffee shop to get cookies and pastries and drinks whenever you want during the day and night. there’s a nice little grill. You can order stuff from if you don’t want to sit at the restaurant.gaugins restaurant is a unique setting where there are only 13 tables which are all spaced out and private under your own hut. Right at water. Reservations are a must. You are seated in the order in which you check in at night the earlier you are the better seats you get. I have to point out three staff members that really really stood out and represents what every resort would want their employees to be. They are as follows. Alfred first met at check-in brought me to the room very informative all through the week knew your name and asked you if you needed anything and if you did, it was taken care of right away. Awesome guy .second person Afhique this gentleman worked the beach, getting us drinks and food, remembered our name right away, which was very surprising and pleasant always had a smile on his face always made sure you were taken care of and we always saw him walking back-and-forth and lastly, our housekeeper Veronica such a pleasant woman, always smiling always enjoy chatting with her every day. I made sure I tipped these three people well as they really made my stay enjoyable if somebody does that for your stay, take care of them. It goes a long way. I love that they give you aluminum bottles to keep your drinks cold in all day. They really work. great little perk. The water is very rough right at the beach line where the waves crash if you can time it and get past that 20 feet out your in smooth water, apparently it is rough at this time of the year. Beach is a bit uneven. Another good thing they have here is bikes to use. We’re further down the property so it really came in handy to get to the middle where everything is. The only couple hiccups some days beach towels were not available in the morning, but there were plenty in the dirty bin from the night before which I don’t understand why they’re not cleaned every night and readily available in in the morning when we need them. And the only other negative for me is we were there seven days and only saw guys fixing the chairs and raking the beach one day and that was after I had said something I feel like the beach should be tidied up at the end of the night, so it looks nice in the morning. Plenty of days towels are just left on chairs cups and plates left at the tables. I would rate this resort a 9.5 out of 10 it’s not cheap but you get what you pay for. if you want quiet and relaxation you come to the right place if you want entertainment after dinner they have that as well every night. Read less