Overview
Occupying one of the finest addresses on the island, lapped by impossibly-clear waters and wrapped in lush tropical landscaping, once you’ve laid eyes on Carlisle Bay it’s sure to dominate your daydreams for the rest of your life. The forward-thinking Kids Club is a huge pull for parents of toddlers with, an almost unheard of in the Caribbean, entry age of 2 years old. Little ones will love getting stuck into scavenger hunts, seashell crafting, ‘turtle watch’ and afternoon movie screenings, while the older lot have football, hobie cat adventures and mocktail mixology classes to keep them grinning ear to ear. Easy-breezy amenities continue with the glistening central pool, complete with a shallow, splash-friendly shelf and genius early dinner service
A leading luxury 5* resort, the vibe here is upscale but far from fussy. The design details in the all-suite rooms are beautifully curated, playing homage to the beachfront locale and their positioning, sprinkled around the pristine horseshoe bay, means the daily bed:beach commute is one of utmost enjoyment
Food is taken very seriously here – from a marrying of Mediterranean and Caribbean cuisine, through to authentic Italian wood-fired dishes and Asian-influenced East – one of the most loved restaurants in the whole of Antigua. Adult treats further stretch to include a top-to-toe pampering spa, tennis & pickleball courts, yoga pavilion and raft of watersports
The real trump card though? The unflappable staff whose genuinely warm and welcoming spirit make guests feel instantly at home. Trust us, the urge to book a repeat trip before you even checked out is a big one!
Mama
Get in touch
Flight
8 hr 30 min flight from London to Antigua V.C Bird International Airport
Transfer
Approximately a 30 minute transfer from Antigua Airport. The hotel can arrange transfers with car seats, starting at US$110 one way for up to 4 people
Best time to visit
Carlisle Bay is open mid October to the end of August, and you’ll find our Antigua weather guide below. The dry season runs from November to Mid August, while the wet season starts in mid August and typically ends by mid October. Officially, hurricane season starts in July. It’s hard to beat the Caribbean over Christmas or Easter, but May-August getaways are smart choices for spend-savvy families
October: highs of 31 degrees
November: highs of 31 degrees
December: highs of 30 degrees
January: highs of 27 degrees
February: highs of 28 degrees
March: highs of 28 degrees
April: highs of 29 degrees
May: highs of 30 degrees
June: highs of 30 degrees
July: highs of 31 degrees
August: highs of 31 degrees
Favourite room
Families of three will want either a Garden or Ocean Suite, where the open plan living room can accommodate a third bed
Families of four will want either the Beach Terrace or Beach Balcony Suites, both of which have 2 bedrooms (the first with a King and the second with twin beds)
The Carlisle Suites are the largest, with 3 all en-suite bedrooms – perfect for larger families of up to 6. Two rooms have King Beds and one has twins. These suites also have a separate living area and kitchenette
Interconnecting rooms are available – with 2 pairs of Garden and Beach Suites and 10 pairs of Ocean Suites
Price & Special Offers
from £495 p/night in low season and £1,345 p/night in high season for a family of three
from £715 p/night in low season and £1,435 p/night in high season for a family of four
from £990 p/night in low season and £2,535 p/night in high season for a family of five
The hotel offers single occupancy rates for single parents, and a year-round eat free policy for children (one child per adult under 12 years old). Children also eat for free when choosing from the children’s menu
There’s also year round promotions including complimentary half board, kids stay & eat free and special discounts
FAQs
What family facilities are there, and how much do they cost?
Carlisle Bay offers 3 different complimentary Kids Club for guests; the Cool Kids Beginners (2-3), Cool Kids Club (4-7) and Crew Blue Club (8-12). These are open 7 days a week from 9am – 12pm and 1pm – 4pm
You’ll find a small shaded toddler pool in front of the Kids Club, which Tiny Travellers of all ages are welcome to use
Water babies will love the raft of free non-motorised watersports on site, including kayaking, sailing, windsurfing, paddle boarding, raft-building and snorkelling. All are suitable for beginners and expert tuition and equipment is provided. Motorised watersports are provided in a neighbouring cove, at a cost, and include water skiing, wakeboarding and tubing
Carlisle Bay is famous for its high-quality tennis facilities, with 5 courts and 2 pickleball courts. All equipment is provided as well as complimentary weekly clinics
Babysitters can be booked at an hourly rate of $20++ for a minimum of 3 hours
Which equipment is available to borrow for babies & children?
Cots, highchairs, sterilisers and nappy bins can all be provided
What are the pools like?
The holy grail of family pools, the central, snaking swim spot at Carlisle Bay includes the highly coveted, toddler friendly, ‘splash shelf’. Curving around the bar and al fresco Ottimo! restaurant, there’s plenty of room to find a quiet or social sun lounging spot. The pool depth at the deepest point is 6ft.
There’s also a small shaded shallow pool at the Kids Club
Please note, none of these are heated
Is there evening entertainment?
In a word, yes! There’s a sundown Caribbean BBQ with live entertainment on Thursdays; Fire Pit Fridays; live entertainment on Tuesdays; a pianist on Saturdays; and, a live band on Saturdays
What’s the protocol for allergies?
Guests are asked to let the hotel know of any requirements at the time of booking and the service & kitchen team will be made aware accordingly. If in the case that special meals are required, guests can meet with the chef to plan dietary restricted meals
What’s the dining set up?
Carlisle Bay offers guests the choice of Bed & breakfast, Half Board (breakfast and a three-course dinner), Full Board (breakfast, three-course lunch and three-course dinner) or all inclusive. Daily afternoon tea is all provided for all
There’s a choice of 4 restaurants, all offering mouthwatering delicious menus
Indigo on the Beach is where you’ll find breakfast and Mediterranean style cuisine with a Caribbean twist, right on the beachfront
East, one of the island’s most renowned restaurants, dishes up Asian foodie fare in a sophisticated (yet family friendly) indoor setting
Ottimo! Is the authentic Italian poolside restaurant with a wood-burning pizza oven. This is where a high tea buffet is served for children from 6:30pm
Jetty Grill is the adults only offering at the far end of the beach. Expect Caribbean cooking at its finest, on the grill with fresh, locally sourced ingredients
Meet the family...
Frankie
Parent to Tiny Traveller 1 years old
We are BIG foodies, and the a la carte, all inclusive, dining at Carlisle Bay is seriously good. We didn’t leave the resort for the full 10 days we visited, but there was more than enough variety on the menus to keep our taste buds interested. Handily, the hotel puts on a children’s High Tea buffet in the early evening. We fed Oscar there and then walked him to sleep in his pram before having peaceful dinners ourselves. There’s a Kids Club 2+, but the whole resort is welcoming to children of all ages; from the shallow paddling shelf in the pool, to the safe, serene waters (complete with a resident turtle to befriend) and babysitters available. Utter fly-and-flop perfection
Worth waking the baby for
01
Laviscount Island Antigua
A pleasure of prehistoric proportions, mini dinosaur-lovers will be in their element at Laviscount Island. Antigua’s first and only private nature tour, this hidden gem sits a 3-minute boat ride off the main island’s coastline, and is home to the planet’s oldest living animal – the giant Aldabra Tortoises. With scenery that looks like it could have starred in Jurassic Park (think: vibrant red mangroves and crystal clear waters with dazzling displays of marine life), experienced guides help guests get up close and personally with these gentle giants
02
Private boat trip
Set sail for Antigua’s gleaming coastline on Carlisle Bay’s private luxury yacht. Expert captains will whisk you around secret spots, for snorkelling, swimming and beach-side snacking. Life jackets are provided and guests of all ages welcome onboard
03
Zip Line Tours
Scale the skies at Antigua’s Rainforest Zipline Tour – an eco-friendly look at the lush landscape you’ve been calling your holiday home. From adrenaline-filled canopy combos with ziplines, aerial walkways and suspension bridges (4+) to more sedate sightseeing navigating the mangroves on a kayak, each tour is thoughtfully designed for an unforgettable family adventure
