Coachman18
Google
Jumby Bay Island in Antigua offers an effortless escape from New York. The journey includes a 3-hour, 20-minute flight, a brief 4-minute drive, and a short 7-minute boat ride. From the plane to the resort, we arrived in about 30 minutes, thanks to their seamless fast-track immigration and luggage handling service.||Jumby Bay spans 300 acres and features about 40 suites, 20 villas, and several private residences, making it an exclusive, tranquil destination for discerning travelers. The island exudes luxury, with more staff than guests, ensuring every need is met. What sets Jumby Bay apart from other high-end resorts is the team. We have visited luxury destinations worldwide, but nowhere have we encountered staff as genuinely happy, caring, and enjoyable to be around. Their attention to detail and warm, can-do attitude elevated our experience, making it truly memorable.|||The Suite...||We stayed in a Beachfront Suite with a Plunge Pool at $3,400 per night, including tax. Unfortunately, this was not the ideal choice. The plunge pool was a disappointment: tiny, shallow, stained, unlit, rough-textured, and, worst of all, unheated—rendering it unusable during our stay.||The suite itself was comfortable, with spacious rooms, an excellent bathroom, and both indoor and outdoor showers. Outside, we had an umbrella, two lounge chairs, and two comfortable armchairs. However, when it rained, a roofed area over the lounge chairs would have made it easier to enjoy the outdoors. Our room was about 100 feet from the beach, but it didn’t offer direct private access. For that level of privacy, one of the villas or residences is necessary.|||The Beach and Sandbar Pool...||The beach and pool areas had their highlights and drawbacks. The attendants were attentive and eager to ensure our comfort, and the lounge chairs, huts, and coolers with water were plentiful. The sea was calm, smooth, and breathtaking, with sunsets that were absolutely spectacular. However, the water was murky rather than crystal clear, which was unexpected and disappointing.||The fixed, non-movable umbrellas (huts) created another issue. While aesthetically pleasing, they required us to constantly shift our lounge chairs to stay in the shade. During the last 90 minutes of daylight, shade was impossible, making regular, adjustable umbrellas a better option. The same problem extended to the Sandbar’s infinity-edge pool, which, although stunning, was difficult to enjoy due to the lack of flexible shading options.|||Fitness Room...||The fitness room was excellent. It had all the equipment we needed, and the air conditioning worked perfectly. We didn’t visit the spa, so we can’t comment on that.|||Dining...||The island has three restaurants, all served by the same talented culinary team. This was a standout part of our trip. With special dietary requirements, we had informed the resort in advance, and they went above and beyond to accommodate us. Chef Erick greeted us personally as we arrived, ensuring every meal met our needs. His care and attention rivaled that of a personal butler, (which is only provided at the suites and residences) and he was supported by equally wonderful chefs, Mario and Yousef. Dining here was truly exceptional, thanks to their efforts.|||Summary...||The suites, though slightly dated, were comfortable—aside from the disappointing plunge pool. When we return, we’ll book a villa to enjoy a heated pool and private beach access, as the suite pools are unheated and unusable for us. Despite this, we’ll gladly come back for the ease of travel from New York, the clean and beautiful surroundings, the secure environment, and above all, the incredibly friendly and attentive staff who made our stay unforgettable.