Carlisle Bay broke the mould of Caribbean tourism when it opened, turning style and design in the area completely on its head. The traditional Caribbean, the bright tropical colours and gingerbread, and the generally over-easy atmosphere, were sidelined and in their place came something with more metropolitan sophistication.
It is situated on the magnificent undeveloped south coast of Antigua, set in a sweeping bay on a ravishing beach with a backdrop of rolling hills and lush tropical rainforest. Just thirty minutes drive from the airport and the tiny bustling capital of St Johns and twenty minutes from Nelson’s Dockyard and English Harbour.
Carlisle Bay is the creation of British hotelier Gordon Campbell Gray (of the stylish and fashionable One Aldwych in London) and it marks something new for the islands. It will appeal to a discerning and savvy traveller, partly for its newness to be sure, but also for the timelessness of its tropical setting, which is all about encouraging you to relax. Which Carlisle Bay is ideally designed to do – the hotel is exquisite and has a wonderful atmosphere of tropical cool and calm.
Like One Aldwych, Carlisle Bay is all about quiet drama, which designer Mary Fox Linton achieves by employing the same winning combination of style and subtlety. The 80 suites are large and airy: pale-grey shells stocked with contemporary dark-wood furniture and Asian-style accessories in muted oranges, greens and purples. The service is efficient, discreet and effortlessly low-key.
The hotel has a leather-seated screening room, a good gym, sizeable spa, nine tennis courts, and there is calm, clear water for snorkelling and sailing.
Carlisle Bay has two of Antigua’s most outstanding restaurants – Indigo on the Beach offering delicious healthy grills, barbeques, seafood and salads, and East restaurant serving exciting Asian food in a stunning contemporary setting.
The Blue Spa at Carlisle Bay at 17,000 square feet with a beautiful backdrop of rolling hills and rainforest is a perfect setting for inspiring peace, calm and contemplation – A fabulous environment for complete relaxation.
There are six luxurious treatment rooms, including one dedicated wet treatment room and a couple’s treatment room, all using Living Nature 100% pure and natural products. There is a sauna, plunge pools, a hair salon, juice bar, chill out zone and state-of-the-art gymnasium.
Health, wellbeing and feeling fantastic… all three fundamental to Carlisle Bay’s philosophy.
FACILITIES
2 restaurants, 3 bars, swimming pool, cinema, library, spa (at an additional charge), gymnasium, tennis courts, watersports including snorkeling, sailing, windsurfing and kayaking. Kite-surfing, deep-sea fishing and waterskiing available nearby at an additional charge.
Location : Carlisle Bay, 30 minutes drive from V.C. Bird International Airport.
