Some resorts impress you the moment you arrive. Hermitage Bay does it more quietly: a road winds down through the hills of Antigua's west coast, the trees part and you find yourself in a cove that belongs to nobody else. There is a crescent of soft sand, a handful of wooden villas climbing the hillside, a bar wrapped around the trunk of an old tree and very little else. It is that restraint, combined with exceptional food and polished service, that has made it one of the most celebrated small hotels in the Caribbean.
Hermitage Bay is kid-free and offers an unusually generous all-inclusive plan, with Champagne, creative cocktails and a menu that changes daily. A multimillion-dollar renovation, completed in late 2024, brightened every villa, added more private pools, opened a beach club and introduced La Petite Maison Antigua to the dining lineup. Condé Nast Traveler has recognized it across its Hot List, Gold List and Readers' Choice Awards.
Highlights at a glance
- Secluded bay not shared with any other resort
- About 30 villa suites, many with private pools
- Generous all-inclusive plan with Champagne and sushi hour
- La Petite Maison Antigua and the Tree Bar
- Daily changing menus using produce from the resort's gardens
- Complimentary private airport transfers
A Cove to Yourselves
Hermitage Bay sits near the village of Jennings on Antigua's sheltered west coast, about a 35-minute drive from the airport. The bay is not shared with any other hotel, so the beach is calm, quiet and populated only by fellow guests. The water is typically gentle and clear, good for floating together in the late afternoon.
The west-facing position means sunsets are the nightly main event, best watched from your villa deck or with a rum punch at the Tree Bar. Behind the beach, the hillside rises in layers of tropical gardens and native trees, giving the resort a lush, sheltered feel. Days have an unhurried rhythm: swim, read, nap, eat, repeat.
Beachfront and Hillside Villa Suites
The resort has around 30 villa suites, all redesigned in the 2024 renovation with bright interiors, natural materials and an emphasis on outdoor living. Each has air conditioning, a ceiling fan and complimentary Wi-Fi.
- Beachfront Villa Suites, roughly 1,300 square feet, open onto decks with swings and day beds a few steps from the water. These are the dreamiest choice if you want to fall asleep to the sound of waves.
- Beach Pool Villas pair a private pool with a short stroll to the sand.
- Hillside Ocean Pool Villas sit high on the slope with the widest views and an unobstructed sunset over the bay.
- Hillside Garden Pool Villas are tucked among gardens for maximum privacy.
A three-bedroom Sanctuary villa with sauna, cold plunge and jacuzzi pavilion is ideal for celebrations.
The Restaurant, La Petite Maison and the Tree Bar
Food is a big part of Hermitage Bay's reputation. The Restaurant, refreshed during the renovation, serves breakfast, lunch and dinner from a seasonal menu that changes daily, blending Caribbean, Mediterranean and international influences with produce from the resort's own gardens. Live music sets the mood each evening.
La Petite Maison Antigua brings the relaxed, Niçoise-inspired spirit of the celebrated restaurant group to the Caribbean, with menus developed with input from a former La Petite Maison head chef. Down on the sand, the Tree Bar is built around the trunk of an ancient tree, with wicker chandeliers and sea glass streamers. It is the place to toast the sunset. A beach club and pool bar complete the picture. The resort can also arrange private dinners on the beach or in your villa.
Why guests fall for it
An All-Inclusive Plan Worth Choosing
Hermitage Bay offers bed-and-breakfast rates, but its all-inclusive plan is one of the most generous in the Caribbean and the choice most honeymooners make. It covers breakfast, lunch and dinner, afternoon snacks, canapés and fresh sushi at cocktail hour, premium drinks and house wines, unlimited cocktails, a choice of rosé or white Champagne and a minibar replenished daily to your preference.
Non-motorized water sports such as snorkeling, kayaking, paddleboarding and small-boat sailing are included. Room service, private dining, picnic lunches, deluxe-brand spirits and the full wine list cost extra. Every guest receives complimentary private airport transfers with meet-and-greet and fast-track service at V.C. Bird International.
The Garden Spa and Island Experiences
The Garden Spa offers open-air treatment rooms surrounded by greenery, with signature rituals and facials available at the spa or in the privacy of your villa. Guided yoga and Pilates take place in a pavilion, while a Technogym fitness center keeps you on track.
Beyond the bay, the resort has added guided farm tours, weekly cooking classes and new water excursions, including speedboat trips and sailing aboard a classic schooner. Antigua's highlights are easy to reach: Sunday sunset at Shirley Heights Lookout, the restored Nelson's Dockyard at English Harbour, snorkeling at Cades Reef and a day trip to the pink-tinged sands of Barbuda.
Why Guests Fall in Love
Couples describe Hermitage Bay as the kind of place where the outside world simply falls away. Reviewers consistently praise the seclusion of the bay and the intimate scale, noting that the staff learn names and preferences within a day.
The food comes up in almost every review, with guests surprised by how inventive and varied the daily menus are for an all-inclusive. The cocktail hour with sushi, the Champagne and the Tree Bar sunsets are recurring highlights. Many couples also love their villa's outdoor space, from a swing on a beachfront deck to a private pool with a hillside view. Plenty of guests return for anniversaries.
Good to Know
Hermitage Bay is kid-free in spirit, although teens over 14 are welcome with their parents; you will see very few young people. The resort is built on a hillside, so hillside villas involve steps and slopes. Staff can run you up and down in buggies, but beachfront villas are best if you want to avoid climbs.
The resort's seclusion is the appeal, but it is a drive from Antigua's restaurants and attractions, which is another reason the all-inclusive plan makes sense. Minimum stays apply during peak and holiday periods. With only about 30 villa suites, availability for December through April goes early. Rates sit firmly in the luxury range. 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
- Book a Hillside Ocean Pool Villa for the best sunset views, or a Beachfront Villa Suite if you want the sea at your doorstep.
- Choose the all-inclusive plan; the remote location and generous inclusions make it excellent value.
- Leave one evening free for Shirley Heights on a Sunday and ask the resort to arrange transport.
- Request an in-villa spa treatment at sunset for maximum privacy.
