Galley Bay Resort and Spa and Barbados
Spend a few nights on Barbados' west coast before flying to Antigua for a relaxing week on a glorious beach at an all-inclusive resort.
What's Included:
3 nights Barbados, including breakfast; 7 nights Galley Bay, all-inclusive. Includes flights and transfers.
12 days from £3,900pp
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On the beach - 7 days
Galley Bay Resort and Spa
Set at the end of a long sweeping drive, Galley Bay overlooks a stunning stretch of white sand. The only property on the beach, it has a wonderfully secluded location making it a very romantic Caribbean hideaway.
This stylish but unpretentious all-inclusive resort is adults only and couples will love the relaxed atmosphere and spectacular sunsets here. Set in beautiful tropical gardens and surrounded by a bird sanctuary, it feels like you’re far from the bustle of everyday life. At the heart of the resort is a freeform pool with a rock water feature, therapeutic treatments are available in the lovely spa, and if you can muster up the energy, there's a range of non-motorised water sports available. The hotel has strong eco-friendly principles and produce for its restaurants comes from its own herb, fruit and vegetable garden. Dining here is a real delight with a choice of open-air, beachfront restaurants covering everything from casual grills to fine dining and intimate meals in a thatched cabana for two. And if you're here between July and October it may be possible to spot turtles on the beach.
The 98 air-conditioned cottages, rooms and suites here are tastefully decorated with dark woods and earthy colour schemes. Choose a delightful thatched cottage with private plunge pool or a spacious beachfront suite with sunken living area, huge windows and balconies.
Before the beach - 4 days
Barbados
Renowned for its glamorous hotels and restaurants, famous visitors and pristine beaches, Barbados is a justifiably popular place. But beyond the white sands and chilled cocktails you'll find the British colonial architecture of Bridgetown, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, gorgeous botanical gardens, and historic plantation houses. Explore caves, watch a cricket match, or learn to play polo, Barbados offers a multitude of things to do.
Equally good for couples and families, Tamarind is a stylish, contemporary hotel offering an extensive array of activities on a beautiful west coast beach. With bars and restaurants within easy reach, guests also have the option to enjoy local nightlife.
Galley Bay Resort and Spa
98 rooms, 4 restaurants, 1 pool
Description
Set along a long curve of white-sand, Galley Bay is an unpretentious, adult-only Caribbean hideaway. Surrounded by mature tropical gardens and backing onto a bird sanctuary and wetlands, it has a real sense of privacy that’s popular with honeymooners.
The resort sits secluded in its own bay, on a long beach that arcs round to a rocky headland. Overlooked by the ruins of an old sugar mill, the resort has been built in sympathy with the natural surroundings with low-rise bungalows and thatched umbrellas tucked between coconut palms and bougainvillea bushes.
With just 98 rooms and villas, this is much smaller than many other all-inclusive options through the Caribbean, but still has a huge range of activities and excursions to keep guests busy.
For families
All guests must be aged 16 years or above.
Location
Galley Bay is set on the west coast of Antigua, fronted by a sweep of pale gold sand that shelves gently into some of the clearest water in the Caribbean. It’s backed by thick palm forest that opens out onto a lagoon: and an onsite bird sanctuary where you might see egrets or sooty tern.
The location is very private as it’s the only resort on this stretch of beach and this feeling is enhanced by the long, sweeping drive between the main entrance and the resort. Please note that while the beach is beautiful, we have found that sea conditions can be rough or unsuitable for swimming more often than other bays on the island.
Although there aren't any local shops and restaurants within walking distance, the capital, St John’s, is only 15 minutes' drive away. It's also an easy 30 minutes’ drive from Antigua’s V.C. Bird International Airport.
Our opinion
We think that this unpretentious, all-inclusive resort offers great value for money for the quality of the accommodation, and its secluded location on a postcard- perfect stretch of Antiguan coastline is hard to beat. For honeymooners, we recommend the Gauguin Suites which are a little further from the beach, but are very private.
Rooms
The 98 air-conditioned rooms are bright and airy with whitewashed walls, polished wooden furniture and Antiguan-sourced rattan loungers and local artwork. Each one has a ceiling fan, a TV, mini-fridge and balcony or terrace. Spread across the resort, some are right on the beach whilst others are more tucked away, overlooking the lagoon.
Gaugin Suite
Set among the gardens, the Gauguin suites have two thatched rondovals containing the bedroom and bathroom (shower only). Each suite has its own plunge pool and garden with an outdoor shower.
Deluxe Beachfront Room
Located in one or two-story buildings on the beach, ground floor rooms have a large patio with direct access to the beach while rooms on the first floor boast views through the trees to the Caribbean Sea.
Premium Beachfront Suite
These luxurious suites have over 55 sq m (592 sq ft) of space with a large sunken living area and doors opening onto a large balcony with an ocean view, or onto a patio providing direct beach access.
Premium Beachfront Spa Suite
Offering the same accommodation as the premium beachfront suites, guests also receive five complimentary 45-minute spa treatments per person, per week.
Pictures of the rooms
Activities, diving & excursions
A lovely free form pool with a waterfall feature sits in the centre of the resort, surrounded by thatched umbrellas and pairs of loungers. Alternatively, enjoy a dip in the sea, an invigorating beach walk or relax on one of the loungers that sit under the palms on the fringe of the beach.
As the resort backs onto a nature reserve, you can join birdwatching tours where you might spot a pelican or frigate bird. On the second Monday of every month there’s a complimentary croquet tournament.
The resort also offers croquet, tennis, billiards, table tennis, garden tours and non-motorised watersports including kayaking, windsurfing, Hobie Cat and Sunfish Sailing and stand up paddle boarding. There’s a well-equipped fitness centre.
There’s no dive shop onsite, but the hotel can organise this for you with one of the many dive operators on the island.
Food & drink
The three open-air restaurants and a casual grill offer plenty of dining options, all with views across the Caribbean Sea. You also have the choice of three bars dotted around the resort. Menus are Euro-Caribbean; featuring fresh produce (some grown in gardens on-site) and lots of local seafood. The dishes can be quite creative, including coffee-dusted beef or cornmeal-crusted tuna.
The Seagrape is the resort's main restaurant; with a laid-back atmosphere and serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. It’s right alongside the beach so in the evening you can enjoy live music while the Caribbean waves lap on the shore.
The Gaugin restaurant has an intimate atmosphere as you dine in your own thatched cabana. This restaurant is open for lunch and dinner; offering dishes inspired by European and West Indian cuisine.
Ismay’s (named after Ismay Mason, the longest serving member of staff at Galley Bay) provides fine dining for special occasions with a refined menu served by candle light. Reservations are necessary and a supplement will be charged.
For a casual beachside atmosphere, The Barefoot Grill offers lunchtime snacks, and complimentary afternoon tea is served between 4pm and 5pm.
Please note gentlemen are required to wear long trousers at dinner. Not all the restaurants are open at the same time — this depends on the season and how busy the hotel is.
Spa Facilities
The Indulge Spa provides a range of therapeutic massage treatments, facials and body wraps. Enjoy these relaxing therapies in the comfort of a tree-top treatment cabana; which are set in the calming surroundings of the lagoon and bird sanctuary.
Barbados
Location: Barbados
Skirted by 97 kilometres of contrasting coastline, Barbados is an island that rewards exploration. Along the southern and eastern shores you can expect dramatic cliffs, crashing waves and stunning ocean views, while the north and west of the island are lapped by the more tranquil waters of the balmy Caribbean Sea.
Culturally Barbados is a blend of West African spice and British tradition giving it a unique flavour. Islanders and tourists alike come together on a Friday night in the south coast village of Oistins for the weekly fish fry, a quintessentially Bajan experience, while historic Bridgetown, the capital, is a diverting destination full of colonial character.
The topography of the island interior is markedly less dramatic than the neighbouring volcanic islands of Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent, though the countryside of gently rolling hills and sugar cane fields hides brightly coloured, traditional wooden houses, quaint little churches, colonial plantation houses and the natural wonders of Harrison’s Cave.
Tamarind by Elegant Hotels
Accommodation: Tamarind by Elegant Hotels
Tamarind sits on an enviable stretch of beachfront on the sought after west coast. This contemporary family-friendly resort is also great for couples, with plenty of places throughout the hotel to hide away and relax.
It's the little touches here which will add to your stay, like the beach and pool Ambassador service, providing scented cold towels, refreshments throughout the day, homemade sorbets and other surprise treats.
As part of the Elegant Hotels Group, guests can make use of the facilities at the sister properties Colony and Crystal Cove, which can also be reached by complimentary daytime water taxi.
Itinerary
Day by day
Day 1
Today you will fly to Barbados. On arrival you will be met by our representative and transferred to Tamarind where you will spend the next three nights.
Day 2
Today is at leisure. You might like to explore historic Bridgetown, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, or perhaps head across to the wild Atlantic beaches and quiet villages of the east coast.
Day 3
Another day at leisure for more exploring or simply relaxing on the beach.
Day 4
Today you will be picked up and transferred back to the airport for your short flight to Antigua. Upon your arrival you will be met and transferred to Galley Bay Resort & Spa where you will spend the next seven nights.
Day 5
Today is at leisure. You may wish to enjoy the complimentary watersports, or perhaps rent a bicycle to explore the local area.
Day 6
You might like to take a day trip over to the pristine pink sands of nearby Barbuda, Antigua's little sister, or perhaps explore historic Nelson's Dockyard and pretty English Harbour. Shirley Heights has great panoramic views and is well worth visiting for sunset on a Sunday.
Days 7 - 10
At leisure.
Day 11
Today you will return to the airport by private vehicle in time for your flight home.
Day 12
Arrive home.
Start planning your trip with Audley
Tailoring your trip
This itinerary is designed to give you a flavour of what is possible.
We can tailor this trip to suit your specific requirements
Any aspect of the itinerary can be altered, from excursions to accommodation
How to book
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