Location
Antigua - BeachProperty Information
{{title}}
Resort Details
Hotel Advisories
General Policies & Fine Print
Check-in Policy - Hotel requires a credit/debit card authorization or cash deposit upon check-in for incidentals; this will place a hold on your funds.
Transfer Policy - If your vacation includes transfer to your hotel. (does not apply)
General Information - Room taxes are included in vacation price. Minimum night stay restrictions may apply. Reservation changes may not be permitted unless authorized by the hotel.
Customer Ratings & Reviews
TripAdvisor Traveler Rating
5123 reviews
-
Dec 10, 2024Welcome to Paradise!
If you are looking for a resort that has everything - peace, quiet, tranquility, superb service, beautiful grounds and wonderful food you need to visit The Verandah in Antigua. This was our first visit to Antigua and we would definitely return to explore more of the island. The purpose of our trip was to relax, snorkel, learn how to play pickle ball and re-charge our body/mind/soul! I'll try to comment on all aspects of our vacation but the bottom line is that this resort exceeded our expectations. What took it over the top was the superb level of service from all staff we encountered. They were all willing and happy to assist us and seemed proud to be working at the resort. We travelled to Antigua in mid-November 2024 and were shocked to find out that the resort was at above 80% capacity and getting ready to head into a very busy late November/December. While walking around the resort, we saw very few people and literally had the Rasta Beach infinity pool to ourselves every day until 11:30am! It was refreshing NOT to have to play the beach/pool lounger game. We had no issues making reservations at the a la carte restaurants we wanted to visit and there was little to no wait at the various bars across the resort. The room (260) was ideally situated near the main pool, close to the a la carte restaurants and Lover's Beach. Our waterview suite was quite spacious and well appointed with a small fridge, coffee maker, kettle and small counter/sink area. There were areas within the room/closet that showed wear and tear but overall, the room was clean and the air conditioning was working well! The bathroom was large and spacious with nicely-sized, quality toiletries - shampoo, conditioner, soap and bath gel. Could we suggest the resort install dispensers on the shower walls containing bath gel, shampoo, etc. We realize this would be a huge investment but in the long-run, it would be a more environmentally friendly option. We were told upon check-in that housekeeping is done every other day which was fine with us. Though widely reported on Facebook, we did not encounter any issues getting beach towels. In fact, we re-used ours during our vacation which was not an issue. The resort sits on 30+ acres so it is quite large. If you have mobility issues, there are golf carts and drivers available to take you to your destination! During our week-long stay, it never failed that a driver would stop and ask us if we needed a lift somewhere. We only used the cart once as we preferred to walk and enjoy the beautiful, lush grounds! The beaches are man-made coves and weren't suitable for snorkelling. We used the kayaks and paddled between coves watching the diving pelicans and other seabirds nesting in the mangroves. We walked off-resort to Long Bay Beach which was a pleasant 5-minute walk down the main road. The snorkelling there was nice as we saw the usual variety of fish. Try to do your snorkelling in the morning as the winds pick up later in the day creating issues with visibility. Though tempting, please do not feed the fish bread or food from the buffet. It's not good for them! We wanted to visit the sister resort, Pineapple Beach Resort so we obtained a day pass from Guest Services. It was nice to walk over to see what the resort looked like. The vibe there was quite different and the beach was your quintessential Caribbean beach! We ate at the Outhouse (their ribs were disappointing), snorkelled and relaxed on a lounger on the beach. We enjoyed our visit but were happy to "go home" to The Verandah. Overall, we were very happy with the food (we are not foodies) at the buffet (breakfast, dinner), the grills, Papa Ricco's Pizza and the a la carte restaurants. The drinks were quite tasty and pretty consistent from bar to bar. We booked our vacation through COSTCO Travel and one of the perks was a complimentary dinner at Nicole's which normally costs extra. Another COSTCO perk was the private transfer (from the airport to the resort and back to the airport). It was a relief not to have to think about getting a taxi once we exited the airport. As I mentioned above, one of the outstanding features of The Verandah was the level of service provided by all we encountered during our vacation. We received professional, friendly, fast service from Josiah (Buffet, Beach Grill), Destiny (Buffet), Marina (omlette lady - Buffet), Nicole M. (Buffet), Nicole (Portofino), Adaina (Beach Grill), Rashea (Beach Grill), Karen (making the best wings/ribs at the Beach Grill), Quinell (Sails & Trails a la carte), Natasha (Portofino) and Andi (Pool Activities team). Even the gardeners were friendly and very hard working every day in the sweltering heat! No vacation is without it's negatives and we had a couple of issues while we were at the resort. We were looking forward to using the pickle ball courts throughout the week but we found out one morning that there was a "club" the used the courts every day from 8am - 12pm and from 4:00 - 5:30pm. We were limited to accessing the courts before 8am or after dinner. We didn't want to risk heat stroke by playing in the afternoon! It would have been nice to know upon check-in that this was the case. Also, the scheduled pickle ball lesson put on by the resort, was cancelled since the "club" had the courts that day. Another issue we had was a very noisy neighbour. They stayed up laughing and talking in the room beside us until after 1am. We did not complain about this until it happened again the following night. I reluctantly called the main desk asking if they would call the room and ask the guests to be quieter so we could sleep. The phone call was made after which someone left the room and banged on our door as they descended the stairs. Since it was again after 1am and the talking did not stop, I called the main desk again. This time they sent a security guard to the room to speak to the guests. They eventually quietened 10 minutes AFTER the security guard left. Luckily for us, the guests checked out the next day. I am happy with the way the resort personnel handled my situation and overall, this did not negatively affect our view of the resort. During the week we were there, there was construction at the neighbouring resort - Hammock Cove. As a local resident explained, opportunities to build and repair resorts must happen during their low season. It was a little annoying to hear the noise but after a few days, we learned to block it out! Suggestions to the resort to consider - due to a flight delay, we checked in the evening after all the day's activities were finished. We missed a garden tour which would have been very informative and interesting. Could the resort offer this activity a couple of times during the week so those of us who are interested could join in? Wall dispensers in the showers filled with shampoo, conditioner, bath gel would certainly be more environmentally friendly. We had a wonderful time at The Verandah and would not hesitate to return to their "paradise"!
-
Dec 10, 20248 Night Stay Solo
Just come back from my 8 night stay at the Verandah and on the whole was an enjoyable experience! Firstly greeted at reception warmly and offered a rum punch which is always required after a long flight, then escorted to my room with a small tour on cart via the porter. Room was a great size, as a solo it was more than plenty, with most people going for two the bed is plenty large enough and the air conditioning means it can stay nice and cool. I stayed in a Hillside view suite however even so I had a cracking view of one of the bays from my location which was a bit more central to the resort. Walking around the resort can either be a joy or a chore depending on who you are, I always elected to walk to catch some extra sun and get my steps in however there are plenty of staff always on the carts asking if you'd want a ride and all acknowledged me with a morning or a hi which was well received. For eating there is plenty, I ate at most restaurants during my stay, namely the buffet for dinners however deviated for lunch times as it was much easier to get a table if you wanted to turn up. Buffet dinners differ throughout the week and was never disappointed with the selection or taste, all went down nicely - have to say that Sunday being Asian night was the best in my opinion. I didn't eat at the Italian restaurant or Sophie's so unable to report. Breakfast was kind of what I'd expect, with an omelette station, and again a good selection around however no hash browns which made me a touch sad. Lunch time was a free for all of choice, with the Pizza place throwing out fantastic thin crust pizzas, Sea and Tails with a nice lunch offering as well & the Beach Grill with a great offering and Jerk chicken available which was fantastic for a lighter, protein based lunch. For lunches I could tell the Pizza place was the more popular location and well deserved. The coffee shop as well offers a nice selection of coffee, as well as iced variants, good selection of syrups as well as fantastic cakes and ham/turkey and cheese sandwiches if you are after a light lunch option which I did take, and again was good. Wavy Wicket Pub had a good atmosphere and great bar with a good selection, wanted to have a tickle at the food however didn't get the opportunity unfortunately, but options sounded tasty - especially the fish bites! The vibe is definitely what the US would classify as a pub rather than the UK. Staff overall were attentive, as mentioned prior on the walks that most will say hello as you make your way around the resort, dinner and lunch service can sometimes be a little slow with drinks however you can go the main pool bar and pickup a drink and take it into the restaurant if you prefer a shorter wait. I'd say there are some split personalities around the resort, some people having a more monotone attitude and some people incredibly upbeat. Particular shoutouts go to Andre at the main bar who was absolutely cracking, always a laugh, getting involved with the enterainment, someone you are able to have a conversation with, very attentive as well (lots of other guests around but had no drink and made me one and brought it to me without even asking). Another shoutout goes to Theodore who runs around as a waitor and can find him at most places, again incredibly upbeat attitude, attentive, willing to have a laugh and conversation as well. There were a few more cracking staff members however those two in my eyes made my stay feel so much better! Entertainment was great, planned activities throughout the day however depending on guest turnout some can be cancelled as you'd expect, water polo, beer pong, jewelery making and a couple others always had a turn out, the evening entertainment not too bad as well however karaoke night definitely had the largest turnout out of my stay. The managers cocktail party is also a great way for you to meet managing staff, and you'll frequently again see them throughout the resort, for example Brian always either helping out bar staff or doing other tasks all over the place. Overall, I'd say my experience did meet my expectations, being born in Antigua it had been a long while since I'd been back and wanted to make sure I chose a good locale as there is plenty to choose from on the island. That being said with a good level of activities, entertainment and choice when it comes to food and drink, I'd say this is one of the better choices on the island that won't completely explode your bank account.
-
Dec 05, 2024
Brilliant place to holiday
We have just done a 12 day stay here at the Verandah spa in Antigua and found arrival quick and professional. Room perfect lots of clothing space lovely comfortable bed fridge kettle coffee machine great air con and beautiful sea view with large verandah perfect cleaning done to high standard . Meals never had a bad meal in all our stay plenty of choice all well presented and service was good . Staff were so friendly and helpful and courteous at all times never negative. Good entertainment every night and plenty of activities during the day both young and older end . Fantastic holiday with a very professional group of staff looking after us and making sure we got the best holiday possible. Thank You Verandah 05/12/2024 room 224
-
Dec 04, 2024
Honeymoon/Birthday Trip
Went for our honeymoon/birthday trip and booked through Costco (highly recommend them). It was a very low-key trip! I believe the resort was about 25% capacity and it felt like a ghost town. The resort is huge, so prepare to walk but we stayed in the beach front villas so we were much closer to everything - which I would also recommend. The food was great but the staff was challenging. It felt like NO ONE wanted to be there and rarely did they even crack a smile. No mini bar in the room, no room service and no one walking around taking orders - just some things to be aware of! My husband and I had a great time, it was very relaxing and we enjoyed the food and that's what we were looking for. The hammocks in the ocean were amazing!
-
Dec 04, 2024Must do better
I don’t like to leave negative reviews but feel compelled to share my experience at The Verandah Resort. We have not been to the Caribbean for a number of years, but have visited most of the other islands and looked forward to Antigua, although The Verandah failed to meet our expectations, and lacked any wow factor. There is clear potential here, but a number of issues need attention. Staffing and Service The resort is severely understaffed. While the team do their best, they are often overworked, untrained, and understandably frustrated. This results in a lackluster guest experience. For example, we found ourselves often queuing for up to 20 minutes at both the main and sports bars, where only one person was serving, while others were idle or absent altogether. Similarly, at the Guest Relations desk, we had to queue daily just to make restaurant bookings due to a single staff member handling multiple guest requests. A dedicated booking system or app could resolve this issue overnight. Room Cleaning and Public Area Maintenance The "enhanced cleaning fee" of $24 per night was quite insulting, especially given that rooms were only cleaned every other day. The public areas, including poolside tables and bars, were often left dirty with sticky surfaces, and even ants were a common issue in our bathroom. Given the charge for "enhanced cleaning," we expected a higher standard, which was not met. Dining and Food Dining was a mixed experience, although the food was very good. We enjoyed the a la carte options at Sails & Tales and Portofino, though service could be slow. The staff struggled with busy periods, and one evening we waited an hour and a half for our starters at Sails & Tales. As a result, we began booking earlier slots to avoid the long delays. The food quality, especially at lunchtime at Sails & Tales, was generally very good, though on a couple of occasions the sweet potato fries were served cold. Pool Area The pool area was a particular disappointment. No staff were present to clean or maintain the area throughout the day. By late afternoon, there are lots of dirty plates, and glasses, with ants crawling over the debris. This gave the pool a neglected feel, which is frustrating when the resort charges extra for cleaning. I enjoy music being played, but repetitive tracks all day long, with the majority being cut short half way through to introduce another, no mixing involved. Accommodation While the rooms were spacious with great views, they were basic and showed signs of wear and tear, with the furniture being dated. They also need more storage space. We stayed for 11 nights and there was not enough storage, or hangers for our clothes. Overall Experience While Verandah Resort has potential, it falls short in several areas, particularly staffing, cleanliness, and guest service. The resort is under-resourced and the management appears to overlook the importance of staff training and maintaining a clean, guest-friendly environment. It’s clear that the resort needs investment in staff to meet the expectations of its guests. The $24 cleaning fee feels like a money grab rather than an enhancement, especially considering the lack of regular cleaning. I must point out that the we still enjoyed the resort, and the grounds are kept in immaculate condition. There are also a number of stand out staff, and Brittany at the Beach Grill deserves a special mention. She consistently provided excellent service with a warm smile, always going above and beyond. In conclusion, Verandah Resort has a great location and potential, but it’s not currently living up to its promises, and I wouldn’t recommend it for those seeking a truly 4-star experience. If you decide to stay, Island life can be generally slow but be prepared for longer waits.