Has anyone been to Antigua?

[LGinPA]

Thanks so much, Linda, for your information about Jolly Beach Vacations. We're going there the week before X-mas this year staying also at the 2 bdr suites, just me and my husband, before going to St. Maarten for X-mas. There's been very little information about JBV on the Internet, seen lots of info about JBR though.

How was the pool area at the resort? In pictures it sure looks very beautiful. I'm really looking forward to this vacation, we just like to relax by the pool and beach, tour around the Island and maybe do some shopping. Did you rent a car? We've never rented a car in the Caribbean so don't know how easy it's to drive there. But don't want to spent a lot of money on taxis either. Are there any buses that go to the town (like in Aruba)?

I guess the next thing for us is to find a decent airfare from JFK to Antigua or St.Maarten which can be a bit of a problem since it's Christmas time...

Thanks again for your info, really appreciate it.

Elina

Elina,
What are the 2 of you going to do with an entire 2 br/2 ba apartment ?!?! If I were you, I'd ask to switch to the nicest 1 BR unit, number 201, which is the only one that directly faces the beach. It's on the second floor and directly under unit 301 where we stayed. My husband and I decided if it were just the 2 of us, we'd want 201. But that's up to you.

The pool is very nice, just as the pictures show. It's huge really. About 1/3 of it is set up for water sports, having a volleyball net. the swim up bar is on that side, but you can't buy anything there, so we stayed on the main side.

There is actually a second pool that we think is adults only. It's smaller and still quite nice. We usually found a place to sit (plenty of lounge chairs that can be moved anywhere you want) under a shade hut or palm trees on the beach but near the pool so we can go from one to the other. There are showers entering the pool area to wash off most of the sand.

Keep in mind that the JBR is about a 3 star resort, so there are signs of wear and tear. Don't expect the type of manicured perfection you get in many Marriotts or Westin timeshares. But none the less it is all very nice. I'd say the units at JBV rank way higher, closer to a 5 star than the JBR it sits on.

One thing to tell you so you're not disappointed is that the lobby area of the JBV is nothing much. It's just a double trailer converted into a lobby building. But that did not take away from the hospitality and help you will be given there. There are 2 computers with free internet access there, too.

Also, security is very high. Guards are strolling about everywhere day and night and are highly visible. That made us feel better since anyone can wander onto the property from the beach.

Also, head over to the JBR main desk area to get a weekly schedule of events and entertainment. I don't know why JBV doesn't provide that in their welcome pack. But it's nice to know what's on schedule for the week. We played BINGO for free and my college son won a bottle of rum! My daughter made a tye-dye T-shirt. We also went to a beach show that we would have never known about if we didn't get the schedule.

We didn't rent a car which is very unusual for us. We rent a car everywhere. But we decided we didn't want to run around on this vacation. There is so much to do in the Jolly beach/harbor area. And don't forget to relax. We had no desire to go to St Johns. But the front desk can arrange a taxi for you anywhere. They do have a shuttle to Shirley heights on Sunday from 4 - 8, but we didn't go. We were still at the beach with the teens and having too much fun to bother. That cost $22 pp.

We took one taxi to the Rainforest Canopy tour. For 5 of us it cost $75 round trip. Our cab driver waited for us. It cost $24 for up to 4 to go from/to VC Bird airport and Jolly Beach. It cost us $30 because of the 5th person. As you're approaching the Jolly Beach area, tell your driver you're at JBV, because there is a separate check in area for JBV/JBR.

We flew direct from Newark (EWR) to Antigua on Continental and the rate was great. I'd check for flights ASAP.

Let me know if you need any more info.

 

[elina]

Wow, thanks for your response Linda. Very usefull information indeed. The resort sounds wonderfull - can't wait for our trip.

Thanks so much!

Elina

 

[sbinoc]

I have been looking for information on Jolly Harbour Beach Resort (JHR). As far as I can tell it is no relation to Jolly Beach Vacations (JBV) or Jolly Beach Resort.
I'm trying to find anyone that has stayed there, that can give me information on Jolly Harbour Beach Resort (JHR). Thanks for your help

 

[shopgirl]

We exchanged into the St. James Club last year and it was not a good experience. We were moved twice because of mice in the villas. In the second unit we had cockroaches. There are only 3 restaurants at the resort, and they rotate which is open nightly. The casino--about 20 slot machines and a few tables. I couldn't wait to leave.

 

[RIMike]

Antigua an interesting Island

I found the comments very interesting. I guess it is in all that one is looking for. I have been to Aruba and I would NOT make a special trip back to that island. It was interesting ONCE...not worth more to me. From reading the comments though, people who like desert surrounded by water must be a majority for that is what Aruba is like. I actually like mountains, tropical landscapes, and beautiful water which Antigua has. Have not been to that resort, but the reviews seem ok.

 

[Larry]

I found the comments very interesting. I guess it is in all that one is looking for. I have been to Aruba and I would NOT make a special trip back to that island. It was interesting ONCE...not worth more to me. From reading the comments though, people who like desert surrounded by water must be a majority for that is what Aruba is like. I actually like mountains, tropical landscapes, and beautiful water which Antigua has. Have not been to that resort, but the reviews seem ok.

Loved Antigua and love Aruba for different reasons. We stayed at Halcyon Cove a couple of years ago during Thanksgiving weekend. Beach at Halcyon was great and resort was clean but funky and certainly not luxury. We had a great time mostly due to great beach, fun atmosphere and great weather. I didn't stay in a timeshare unit and hotel room they gave us had small fridge and tiny TV but they upgraded us to oceanfront so we were happy with the room. Loved walking up the beach past Sandals for dinner at two oceanfront restaurants that we went to except for our first night when we ate at the resort. Prices were better on the beach with much better food.

We would definently go back.

 

[Transit]

One of my favorate Islands. Only been there once and stayed at an all inclusive club a while back. Driving was a breeze .Lots of empty beaches .I remember a black sand beach there.

 

[gmarine]

We exchanged into the St. James Club last year and it was not a good experience. We were moved twice because of mice in the villas. In the second unit we had cockroaches. There are only 3 restaurants at the resort, and they rotate which is open nightly. The casino--about 20 slot machines and a few tables. I couldn't wait to leave.

The resort has 4 restaurants, 3 of which are open every night. They are the Rainbowroom, Docksider, Piccolo Mondo and Coco's.

I've been to Antigua 4 times and never have seen a mouse outside, let alone in a villa. The island is loaded with mongoose which make it nearly impossible to have a rodent problem.

The casino is small which is a problem only if you can play more than one table or 20 slots at a time.

The resort gets $7000 a week for those villas. You experience is obviously very unusual.

 

[bhodgson]

We loved our stay in the timeshare at jolly Beach- did the all inclusive because there are only two of us- condo has good set up for doing your own cooking. Antigua is one of our favorite islands because it not as touristy as some closer to the mainland. I would agree that the snorkeling and diving are not spectacular but oaky. We stayed at Trafalgar until they closed it - we miss going there because it is remote and tranquil. I guess everybody has different needs. I do agree that the roads are not user friendly espeically if you come in at night because the signs are not very good although they are bett than they used to be.
Word to the wise - never judge an island by what you see getting off of a cruise ship for a day. We have several islands that I stay on regularly and in the past year have seen them from a cruise ship - if that had been my first experience with the island I never would have stayed there- can't explain it but the day trips seem to be a bit skewed.
we love the beach at Jolly Beach and really enjoyed the units - Have fun!