Long Bay Hotel - Antigua

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Long Bay is relaxing and romantic. Visited: November 2007 Posted by susank My husband and I spent nine days at the Long Bay Hotel, and we loved it. The hotel is designed in traditional Caribbean style. It has been lovingly maintained, but has kept up with modern expectations - such as sparkling bathroom fixtures and plush towels. Our room was spacious and attractive. The four-poster king-sized bed was carved with banana leaves, and was very comfortable. Service was impeccable and friendly. The food was incredible. It was fresh, inventive, and world-class. They combined local specialties, such as black pineapple, grouper and conch, with treatments and ingredients familiar to US and European diners. Daily dinner menus were posted, and we checked them hours in advance to contemplate our choices (there were two options for each of the four courses, and the decisions were seldom easy). The most surprising to us were the daily offerings of cold soups, which we found to be refreshing and creative. Mosquitoes are the scourge of the tropics. The hotel provided mosquito coils and a good personal spray. Use them! Kill mosquitoes in your room before retiring. Consider this the price you must pay for enjoying paradise while friends and family back home are miserable. In the mornings, I went SCUBA diving with Aquanauts out of English Harbor, which was delightful. In the afternoons, I rejoined my diving widower husband. We enjoyed using the library and game room, but in nine days never got around to using the free kayaks and sailboats. Our favorite activity was to sit on our balcony, where we were thoroughly entertained by reading magazines and books from the library and letting ourselves be mesmerized by the waves crashing against the rocks where the bay meets the Atlantic. The big event each afternoon was the arrival of a smiling lady with a bucket of ice to re-chill our Cokes and water, and we had to decide if we were thereby inspired to go for a stroll. Walking was very enjoyable after the mid-day sun was at a lower angle. Our favorite destination was Devil’s Bridge, an archway cut by waves into the rocks at the mouth of the bay, where sea foam flies and the water boils dramatically. After dinner, we usually strolled the grounds and returned to our balcony to watch the moonlight sweep over the bay. As proof of the romantic charms of this lovely place, my dear husband was inspired to make a photograph in which he wrote my initial in moonlight. Stay at Long Bay Hotel for a relaxing, romantic Caribbean adventure, and you will be very happy. 6 users found this review helpful. 1 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? We loved Long Bay Hotel. Visited: May 2006 Posted by lauriema My husband and I took a getaway to Long Bay Hotel and I will look forward to the day we return. Long Bay was a wonderful, eclectic, beach-house type hotel. Nothing was too posh, yet it was pure relaxation from the moment we arrived. The beach itself was incredible. The sand literally fell off of us when we were ready to head in. We never felt that "sandy/dirty" feeling. Also, the snorkeling was great. Also, we would sneak bread from our meals and feed the small fish that lived in the shallow rocks right to the right of the beach. They were so beautiful! And it was fun to see them all race out from under the rocks to eat. Although our son wasn't with us he would have loved that. And actually, Long Bay would be a great place to bring kids. There were games, table tennis, etc. We enjoyed both of our outings through the hotel - the baracuda fishing and the snorkeling trip. We saw pelicans galore on the way to the snorkeling spot, which was a treat. The food was incredible. It was absolute fine dining in a comfortable environment. I fell in love with one of my meal's sauces, and had our waiter report this to the chef. To my surprise, she came out of the kitchen and handed me the sauce recipe! We had a wonderful experience at the Long Bay Hotel. The staff was wonderful. Our room was comfortable and cozy. We loved the bed more than our own at home! It was hard to leave! 8 users found this review helpful. 1 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? We will be back next year! Visited: January 2006 Posted by faisacke What a wonderful place. It reminded us of childhood holidays before the days of over-designed hotels whose public rooms feel so uninviting. Here, it was more like visiting new friends or cousins and being a house guest. The total lack of TV and radio was a blessing and, although we flicked through the internet versions of daily newspapers, we'd have been just as happy without them. It was fun to watch other guests playing table tennis, perhaps for the first time in ages, and others played cards, scrabble or read in the companionable space of the games room or lounge. The rooms were large and comfortable, and very well cleaned every day. We never heard the neighbors through the walls, but perhaps they, too, were soaking up the peace and quiet and enjoying undisturbed sleep. We did a bit of snoozing on the beach too, no doubt encouraged by the excellent planters' punch available at the bar. Lunches were simple, but beautifully prepared and served, and we found all the staff, most of whom have been at Long Bay for many years, to be friendly and genuinely charming. Long Bay has managed to remain informal, yet not slack, and while we felt totally relaxed, the little touches of old fashioned manners and standards meant we also felt like valued guests. There were water sports available. But if you want surface glitz and a program of frantic activities, forget Long Bay. Chris and his team provide something much better:- home from home hospitality, a calm atmosphere and the time and space to forget your cares, unwind and recharge - not just your batteries but your sense of proportion. We will be back next year! 6 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? An oasis of calm can be found at Long Bay. Visited: August 2005 Posted by kennedylc Having just returned from a week-long stay in Long Bay Hotel, I have to say we loved it! We had friends staying in the Grand Pineapple Resort. Having spent a day up there for their wedding, we were happy to retreat back to the gentle confines of the undoubtably more tranquil Long Bay Hotel. On arrival, we were met by Sam (who made a mean Rum Punch!) who greeted us with a warm, friendly smile and showed us up to our room. The rooms were not the height of luxury, but are ample, had fantastic beds, and plenty of storage space. The balcony was a wonderful place to sit early in the morning, and the views of the cove were stunning. The bathroom was a bit tired and had holes in the mosquito panel. But the water pressure was good, and the towels were big and plentiful. We liked the traditional feel of the place and the fact that the room had original paintings and wall hangings of the local area. Food was great. We enjoyed the breakfasts, although I think because it was the last week of the season, the selection of food was more limited than it would be normally. Lunches in the Beach Hut were relaxed and tasty with the staff friendly and often anticipating our need for a drink. The evening meals were mostly wonderful, but with the odd overambitious dish which didn't quite work. Although overall, we really enjoyed the nights we ate in the hotel. The one big thing about this hotel was the staff. We have never been anywhere where the staff have been so friendly, helpful and generally felt like one of the family. Everyone introduced themselves and so we were often sat in the bar in the evenings chatting to Sam or Gary, or Stacey in the morning at breakfast time. I can't remember the names of the other staff we saw less frequently, but (apart from one grumpy sullen lady who served us our last two breakfasts) we couldn't fault any of the staff who were a pleasure to be around. Dave, the manager was really helpful, and went out of his way to make sure we had everything we needed to have as relaxing and good a time as possible. All in all, we enjoyed our holiday here because it was comfortable and personal. If you are a person who likes conformity and five-star corporate luxury, this place will not suit you. But for a laid back holiday with friendly service in a stunning setting, this is a top choice. 4 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? This is a wonderful and unique hotel. Visited: April 2005 Posted by etaylor We loved Long Bay Hotel so much we returned for a second holiday this April and will book again next year. If you want to get away from the rat race and have a no pressure, laid back break in beautiful surroundings, this is the place. The deluxe rooms were spacious with a ceiling fan, giant comfortable bed and balcony with a fantastic view of the peaceful bay. There were no modern conveniences, but we had everything we needed to be comfortable. Housekeeping standards were excellent wes were the meals. The beach was stunning, and the beach bar was quite the loveliest place to have lunch or relax with a drink when the sun got to be too much. Thanks to the wonderful staff, the hotel felt like home from home and would suit everyone of any age (other than those looking for lots of night-life). You can get marble, glitz and satellite TV anywhere. But what you will get at this unique hotel is charm, courtesy and good old-fashioned style. 3 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? Long Bay is a little piece of paradise. Visited: March 2005 Posted by simonand We spent ten days at the Long Bay Hotel over Easter, and stayed in the View House. It was simply perfect for us. The beach was exquisite, and the accommodation was spacious, clean and comfortable. It was not high-end luxury, and the bathrooms were pretty tired, but this did not matter to us. Everything worked fine. The food was lovely (although we would have like more Caribbean specialities), and the staff was incredibly nice (thank you Sandra, Sam, Chris and Sasha). Our children (three and five) had the time of their lives - and learned to swim. We also saw quite a lot of the island touring by taxi with Ken, a really interesting guy and great company. Holidaying with young children can be a challenge, but this ticked every single box and we are desperate to return! 2 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? It was small, simple and scrumptious! Visited: January 2005 Posted by sumal Long Bay Hotel was wonderfully positioned on a peninsula, so there was always sun, always shade, and always breeze. They had a very pretty dining room, innovative delicious menus, friendly and helpful staff. The rooms were a little tired, but had amazing and comfortable new beds which everybody commented on. There was as much or as little to do as we wished (including a huge library, and a games room). The beach was clean, with white sand, and guests could snorkel safely from there. For dinner, guests could sit alone, sit with friends, or sit in large group. Every evening was different, and exactly as you wished. We will return next year. It was a true gem. Thank you to everyone at Long Bay for a fabulous stay. 2 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? This was a very friendly and relaxing hotel. Visited: January 2005 Posted by dave3 This was a gem of a hotel and one that we will definitely be returning to. It was the most friendly and relaxing place that we have experienced in many trips to the Caribbean. Dave, the manager, was always available, very friendly and more than helpful throughout our stay. He even printed the Cricket test match scores from The Times Online website every morning to read at breakfast. The staff, such as Sam, Sandra and Gary in the bars, the waitresses, and the chambermaids, all helped to make us feel very much at home. The food couldn’t be better. From a good breakfast selection to a four-course dinner menu with lunchtime visits to the Beach Bar and Restaurant every meal was enjoyable. The standard room that we stayed in was comfortable and spacious without being luxurious. We enjoyed relaxing on the terrace and looking out onto the lagoon towards the Devils Bridge headland and watching the sunrise. The rooms enjoyed a comfortable through breeze that made air conditioning unnecessary. There was a generous amount of storage space for your clothes and travel bags. The bathroom was small, perhaps a bit dated, but everything worked well. Towels, including the beach towels, were changed daily. The excellent beach was shared with the large all-inclusive Pineapple Beach Resort Hotel, although the two hotels were at opposite ends. The beach furniture was modern and very comfortable. Being a small hotel, it was very easy to get to know other guests and enjoy a pre-dinner drink and even share a table for dinner. It was a lovely experience and next time we will stay for more than one week. 0 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? This is nearly the perfect resort! Visited: January 2005 Posted by williammic The Long Bay Hotel does all of the important things very, very well. Over the years, I have stayed at hundreds of hotels all over the world and this is the best experience I have ever had. The setting is hard to beat: on a narrow peninsula between two bays. You have beach on one side and a bay with water sports on the other. All of the rooms have unbeatable sea views. The food is outstanding. Menus are slightly ambitious and they invariably succeed. You have a choice of hot or cold soup, followed by an appetizer (usually seafood) or salad, main course and dessert. Portions are modest by American standards, but with four courses, it is sufficient. Breakfasts are excellent, and my eggs were perfectly cooked every day (a rarity among hotel breakfasts). Lunches are a la carte at the beach house, and once again, excellent. The one area that will initially disappoint is the actual physical plant. Buildings and rooms are more than twenty years old and, although they are well maintained, the hotel has not been refurbished and looks its age. Everything works and, as I said earlier, this hotel does the important things well. So the beds are new and outstandingly comfortable (upstairs rooms have six-foot wide beds). The rooms are large with excellent cross ventilation (there is no air conditioning but you don't need it). Also, housekeeping standards are high, and beds are turned down in the evening. You very quickly stop seeing how old the rooms are, because they work just fine. Do not be put off by the official hotel rating. This is a five-star hotel in every other way. In the end, a hotel experience depends upon the staff, and this is where Long Bay excels. The hotel is surprisingly small (about 25 rooms). But when we were here, guest numbers varied between 12 and 19. With 24 full time staff, the ratio is excellent. Most of the staff have been there for many years. They seem to love the hotel and genuinely want you to enjoy your stay and return. Chris (the owner) and Dave (the manager) live on site and take an active role in ensuring their guests are happy. But all of the staff seem to follow their lead and will do whatever they can for you. It is this spirit which permeates your experience at Long Bay and makes your stay memorable. No review of this hotel would be complete without a mention of the bartenders. Sam is an institution and I will remember him for years. Sandra is well on the way to stardom as well. I could go on for hours, so much did I enjoy my experience at Long Bay. Do yourself a favor and go there, too. 2 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? It was delightful, personal, relaxing, and fun. Visited: January 2005 Posted by davidwic We had a terrific stay at the Long Bay Hotel. It was small, quiet and very personal. It was set in a very secluded (almost private) bay which was great for sailing (there were three small boats), windsurfing, etc. The easterly wind refreshed the location, so there was no need for air conditioning. The staff seemed determined to look after guests and were very friendly and flexible. The BBQ on Thursdays was something to look forward to - with great steaks! If you want personal service, very good food, and do not want all the trimmings of the five-star hotel, this is great. 1 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? This was relaxation at its best. Visited: January 2005 Posted by dotr Long Bay was a small, family owned, carefully tended hotel on a beautiful bay of the same name. The food was wonderful and the staff was caring and helpful. The beach was white sand, and the hotel provided many lounges and umbrellas. We had many different views each day. There was just enough snorkeling for beginners on the beach that got us hungry for lunch. The dining settings were pretty. We especially loved the Beach House for lunch. We only left for a short tour of the island. We were content to stay put. There were lots of books in the library if you forget your own, and there were games to play. Our room faced the water and had a private balcony that got the morning sun. We could watch the sailors and water skiers. We had a special time. It was a lovely place. 1 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? You'll find an Antiguan gem at Long Bay Hotel. Visited: December 2004 Posted by jonb We recently took our two children to Long Bay for a week, and had a fantastic time. The hotel was beautiful, and the staff went out of their way to make us feel at home. Being a small hotel, the management and staff got to know the guests during the stay. The hotel had no radios, TV, phones (except in the office) and newspapers, so it was a great way to escape the worries of the world. What it did have included fantastic food (breakfast and dinner included), a great beach (and bar), a good game room and fun watersports. Some suggestions if you go: a. Take a trip to Green Island for snorkeling or scuba. You'll find stunning scenery, and great coral reef. On the way, you will see Devil's Bridge. Also, the hotel boat is a few steps away from the dining room. b. Take a cab driven by Kenneth. He will give you a good tour no matter the destination. c. Visit Sting Ray City, they will pick you up by boat right at the beach. d. Bring a book, and lounge on the beach. If you forget, the hotel has a good selection to choose from. If you need to unwind, Long Bay is the place to do it. I am hoping to visit again as soon as the opportunity presents itself. It is a true gem in Antigua. 1 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? Long Bay was the pefect retreat. Visited: June 2004 Posted by ayvazu We were looking for a beach location to spend our short one-week honeymoon where we could really relax and unwind on the sea front. We wanted to stay somewhere informal, small and quiet after we'd made the mistake of staying at a large complex for our holiday the year before. We knew we had made the right choice from the moment we arrived. All of the staff from the management down were polite, friendly and hospitable. We stayed in the View House which had a large four poster bed, separate living area and a generous private outdoor deck looking out onto the beautiful bay. There was no TV or phone - perfect when you want to get away from it all. There was also no air conditioning in our room but the fresh sea breeze did more than compensate for that. We felt that any of the usual modern conveniences were absolutely unnecessary and would have spoilt the quaint and charming character of the place. The food was always exceptional, with a different menu each night. It's also worth mentioning that every Thursday a fabulous barbeque is laid out for all the guests. Flaming torches lit our path to the dining area on the beach where there was live music, and once again, great food. All in all, it was a very enjoyable evening. There were always plenty of space along the white sandy beach which was never too busy. If you like a bit of activity, you can always snorkel in the shallow waters around the reef or go around to the dock and take out equipment for a wide selection of watersports. In general, all our expectations were far exeeded and we couldn't imagine a more perfect location. If we could sum up Long Bay in a word, it really would be 'Paradise'. 1 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? Long Bay was superb. Visited: June 2004 Posted by waber21 Our fiftieth wedding anniversary was approaching, and we wanted to find the right place for a two-week celebration. After a long Massachusetts winter, we knew we wanted somewhere warm and tropical, but we wanted more than that. We wanted a small, informal place with good food and without the glitz and hubub of big resorts. We wanted to be right on the water. We wanted friendly service and comfortable accommodations. With great good luck, on the Internet, we found Long Bay Hotel. It sounded promising, so that is where we went. What we experienced during our two weeks here far exceeded our best hopes. Our room, right on the water, had a big, breeze-swept balcony and a splendid view down the bay, and we could walk in the other direction and find the ocean and a beautiful white-sand beach. And, best of all, the service was exceptional. We would be happy to go again. 1 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? This is a charming inn at Long Bay. Visited: March 2004 Posted by peggy8898 The Long Bay Hotel is an intimate, friendly hotel and is a lovely place for a relaxing vacation. Chris, Dave, Sam, and the rest of the staff treat their guests with a warm hospitality that you don't find at your average resort hotel. We were very impressed by the gourmet meals and exceptional service. The hotel has a quiet bay on one side which is perfect for sailing and kayaking. On the other side (past the tennis court) there is a lovely beach for snorkeling, swimming and relaxing. We would recommend the Long Bay Hotel to any of our friends and are looking forward to returning some day. 1 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? This is a holiday break with a difference. Visited: February 2004 Posted by mjandbstewart Living in England's winter, we needed a “holiday break with a difference” in a sun and sand location new to us. We had never been to the Caribbean due to the constant bombardment of media advertisements and travel brochures selling the virtues of the " major resorts " in the islands - all of which put us off as they are no longer " our scene ". We were delighted to receive a very personal recommendation from new friends to try out Antigua - and stay in a really special " no frills ", " time warped ", hotel with a fantastic beach & warm, clear, shallow water for swimming inside the protecting reef. The Long Bay Hotel fully lived up to their description. It was totally “laid back ", and provided slow, friendly service. The oldish bedroom / bathroom had a wonderful balcony over the lagoon where the hotel's boats were kept. There was no mini-bar, no in-room phone, radio or TV -- and no noise except the light trade winds, the sea, and the occasional rain shower. A few yards from the superb fine pink/ silver sand beach and hotel chairs and parasols, was its own open sided beach-bar restaurant for lunch and drinks. It was the same routine - slow and laid back - just what one needs if one wants to step back in time and enjoy a real old fashioned holiday "away from it all". Don't expect Capital City Haute Cuisine - but do enjoy individually cooked and served breakfasts, beachside simple lunches, and unusual mixtures of plain Caribbean food at dinner - especially the locally caught fresh fish. This was a great, relaxing holiday experience, in a too fast modern world, of excessive, instant communication and demands. We'll be back. 1 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? This was a heavenly place to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary. Visited: January 2004 Posted by d2bein We snorkled here 30 years ago, and enjoyed the wonderful hospitality. For a couple of octogenarians we couldn't have returned to a lovlier place. 1 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? Long Bay was simply magical. Visited: January 2004 Posted by jensolano We stayed with Long Bay for our honeymoon in January 2004, and could not have planned a more relaxed and enjoyable vacation, especially for our honeymoon! During our stay at Long Bay, we were treated like family. We wished we never had to leave. But the week we spent here felt like it was much longer. The pace was casual and relaxed, the staff was more than friendly and always there to help us if we needed something. Our breakfasts and dinners were delicious, we especially enjoyed the Thursday evening barbeque on the beach with the other guests. One evening Dave took my husband and me into English Harbor for a couple of hours to see and experience the area. Everything was perfect, we will recommend Long Bay to everyone we know, and will always stay here when we visit Antigua! We hope to see you again next year, we're already looking at flights to return. 1 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? This is where saints go when they die. Visited: May 2003 Posted by lifeisgood3 Yes, we've all read the raving reviews about places we are thinking of traveling to when going on vacation, but Long Bay Hotel is one that delivers. My husband found the place on the internet and though I was skeptical at first, I am so glad we went! We chose this destination as our honeymoon spot, and if anyone is looking for a little "R and R", this is the place. We looked at several places in the Caribbean, and decided that we didn't want to fight with crowds of tourists. The tranquility of Long Bay offered exactly what we were looking for: seclusion, privacy and top rate service with the most beautiful views of the ocean as the background. When we arrived, Chris (the owner and manager) took our bags and led the way to our room. We stayed in the beautiful Harbor House overlooking the bay. We even took off snorkeling from there. The staff made sure that we were very comfortable our entire stay. When was the last time your bed was turned down while you were at dinner? I can't even begin to tell you about the food that the Turtle Restaurant offered inside the hotel, and the lunch specials at the Beach House. At breakfast, we were visited by small finches looking for crumbs, and for dinner we were relaxed by the ebb and flow of the tide outside. Oh, and they had this beach barbeque every week. The torches were lit and there was live music. It was very romantic. Anytime we needed to move around the island, Chris was more than happy to grab a taxi for us. Mind you, the surroundings were so nice we didn't really want to go anywhere! As a matter of fact, Chris was more than happy to get anything we needed to make our stay more pleasant. We weren't really into the touristy side of things, but mainly stayed at the hotel and did some daily snorkeling (glad we brought our water camera!). We didn't have to fight for space on their beach, and there were no loud vehicles to destroy the serenity. We wanted a place where we could recharge and relax and we found it. 1 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? Our most relaxing vacation ever! Visited: July 2002 Posted by ejcrowe42 My partner and I chose Long Bay Hotel after reading about it in Houghton Mifflin's "Best Places to Stay in the Caribbean." From the moment we arrived and were greeted by name, we knew it was a special place. The staff was outstanding, the beach was beautiful and quiet, and the food was way above average. The folks at Long Bay were eager to show off Antigua to its best and recommended a terrific guide to take us around the island for two half-day tours. And even though they knew their food was outstanding, they were more than pleased to recommend other restaurants so that we could sample local cuisine. The intimate and fully laid-back atmosphere of the hotel won us over on a daily basis. In short, we had such a great time that we're going back next year with all of our family and close friends to get married at Long Bay! 1 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful?

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