Curtain Bluff has been welcoming travelers to Antigua's south coast since 1962. It carries that history lightly. The resort spreads across a dramatic headland at Old Road, with a calm, palm-shaded beach on one side and a breezier stretch of sand on the other, so you can choose your mood each morning. Rooms and suites look straight out to sea, many from terraces with private plunge pools. The soundtrack is waves breaking against the bluff.
What makes Curtain Bluff unusual among luxury resorts is how much is included. Meals, drinks by the glass, waterskiing, sailing, snorkel trips, tennis on championship courts and fitness classes are all part of the rate, which means you can spend your honeymoon saying yes to everything. A member of Relais & Châteaux, the resort is known for its exceptional wine cellar, its tennis program and a staff whose loyalty is legendary. It welcomes families, but its suites on the bluff are among the most romantic retreats on the island. Travel + Leisure and Condé Nast Traveler readers regularly rank it among the Caribbean's best.
Highlights at a glance
- All-inclusive Relais & Châteaux resort, open since 1962
- Two beaches on either side of a dramatic bluff
- Plunge-pool suites with panoramic sea views
- Waterskiing, sailing and snorkel trips included
- Celebrated wine cellar and five-course dinners
- Four championship tennis courts
Two Beaches and a Bluff
The resort occupies a promontory on Antigua's southern shore, near the village of Old Road and about 30 minutes from the airport. The hills of the island's rainforest rise behind it. On either side of the bluff sits a beach with a distinct personality. One is sheltered and glassy, ideal for swimming and paddleboarding; the other catches the trade winds and a gentle surf, wonderful for long walks and for falling asleep to the sound of waves.
The grounds are planted with flowering shrubs and mature trees, including the tamarind tree that gives the main restaurant its name. It is a resort with a strong sense of place and tradition, the kind where returning guests are greeted like old friends.
Rooms on the Bluff and Pool Suites
Curtain Bluff has 72 rooms and suites in three broad categories, all with Wi-Fi and sea-facing outdoor space.
- Beach Front Rooms sit steps from the sand, with patios or balconies facing the water.
- Rooms on the Bluff climb the headland for high sea views.
- The suites are the honeymoon sweet spots. The Terrace Suite, at the top of the bluff, has a terrace of more than 500 square feet with an infinity-edge plunge pool and daybed. The resort itself notes it is a newlywed favorite. The Cliff Suite is built into the hillside with an infinity soaking pool and views over the beach. The Grace and Morris Bay Suites, nearly 2,000 square feet each, occupy the top floor of a beachfront villa with a broad veranda and private plunge pool.
Marble bathrooms, walk-in rainforest showers and generous terraces are recurring features.
The Tamarind, the Sea Grape and the Cellar
Dining is included and taken seriously. The Tamarind Restaurant, set beneath the resort's famous tamarind tree, serves breakfast and a five-course dinner menu built on local ingredients; it is the slightly dressier of the two venues. The Sea Grape, open-air and closer to the beach, offers a lunch buffet and an evening menu that blends Italian and Antiguan flavors. Dinner there is reserved for guests 13 and older, which keeps the mood relaxed and grown-up.
The wine cellar is one of the Caribbean's most celebrated, stocked by a resident sommelier with bottles from around the world. Drinks by the glass are included in the rate, while bottles from the cellar are charged separately. A private cellar dinner makes a memorable splurge for an anniversary or the last night of your honeymoon.
Why guests fall for it
Saying Yes to Everything
Curtain Bluff's inclusive approach to activities is generous. Waterskiing and wakeboarding with a boat and instructor, Hobie Cats, kayaks, windsurfers, paddleboats, snorkel equipment and two daily reef snorkel trips are part of the rate. A pool with two 75-foot lap lanes, aqua aerobics and fitness classes round out the active options.
Tennis is a resort signature, with four championship hard courts and accomplished pros on hand. Scuba diving is available through the resort, with PADI courses and dives charged to your room. The award-winning Spa offers massages and treatments for when you would rather do nothing at all.
Exploring Antigua
The south coast location puts you within easy reach of English Harbour and the restored Georgian buildings of Nelson's Dockyard, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. On Sunday evenings, the party at Shirley Heights Lookout, with steel drums, barbecue and a view over the harbor at sunset, is an Antiguan tradition. The rainforest just inland offers zip-lining and hiking. A scenic drive along Fig Tree Drive passes fruit stands and villages.
By sea, a day sail to Barbuda's long, pink-tinged beaches or to snorkel at Cades Reef off the southwest coast makes a fine excursion. The resort can arrange private drivers, including its own luxury car transfers.
Why Guests Fall in Love
Reviewers often describe Curtain Bluff as a resort with soul. Couples rave about the staff, many of whom have worked there for decades. They also love the warmth with which those staff welcome guests back year after year.
The all-inclusive value is another recurring theme, with guests delighted that waterskiing, sailing, snorkel trips and tennis are simply part of the stay. Diners praise the five-course dinners at the Tamarind and the depth of the wine list. Many single out the suites on the bluff, with their plunge pools and panoramic views, as among the most romantic rooms they have stayed in. The two beaches, each with its own character, are frequently cited as a pleasure.
Good to Know
Curtain Bluff is family-friendly, with a kids camp and programming for younger guests, so outside the suites it has a gentle mix of couples and families, especially during holidays. Honeymooners looking for peace should consider the bluff-top suites and dine at the Sea Grape, where evenings are for ages 13 and up.
The resort keeps a traditional dress code at dinner: long pants and a collared shirt for men at the Tamarind, with dress shorts acceptable at the Sea Grape. A sundress, jumpsuit or smart separates fit right in for women. It typically closes for part of the late summer and early fall each year, so check dates before planning a September or October trip. Rates are high, but the inclusions make them better value than they first appear. Mosquitoes appear at dusk, especially after rain, so pack repellent. If you're pregnant or hoping to be soon, check CDC travel health notices for this destination.
Insider tips
- Request the Terrace Suite at the top of the bluff, a long-standing honeymoon favorite with an infinity-edge plunge pool.
- Book a private cellar dinner for a special night; bottles are charged separately, so set a budget with the sommelier.
- Join the morning snorkel trip early in your stay to learn the best reef spots.
- Pack a pair of long pants and collared shirts for dinners at the Tamarind.
