Blue Waters Resort and Spa
Blue Waters Resort & Spa is a family-owned boutique resort in its own private bay at Soldier's Bay on Antigua's northwest coast, with 85 rooms, villas and suites spread across 17 acres of tropical gardens and three small beach coves. It is only about 15 to 20 minutes from VC Bird airport, yet it feels like a private hideaway, and the Cove Restaurant on its clifftop ranks among the most memorable dinner settings on the island. The property rewards guests who value quiet, good food and consistent service over size and spectacle.
Traveler Insights
Pros
- +Small enough at 85 rooms, villas and suites that staff get to know guests by name, and the family that has owned it for more than six decades still sets the tone
- +Three pools, one of them adults-only, plus private infinity pools for guests in the Cove Suites and the larger villas
- +The Cove Restaurant sits on a clifftop with flaming torches at the entrance and Caribbean-French dinners over the sea, one of the most dramatic dinner settings in Antigua
- +Food is a la carte at lunch and dinner rather than a buffet line, and travelers keep calling it one of Antigua's better resort kitchens
- +The Spa at Blue Waters works with ila, and its treatments and quiet setting earn repeat praise
- +17 acres of mature tropical gardens and three small beach coves make the property feel like a private estate rather than a hotel
- +The all-inclusive plan covers a daily restocked minibar, house wines by the glass and named spirits like Johnnie Walker Red and Stolichnaya, while kayaks, windsurfers, snorkel gear, tennis and the gym come with every meal plan
- +Genuinely works for families: a free Kids Club for ages 5 to 12, a shaded Secret Garden with tortoises for toddlers, and nanny or in-room babysitting on request
Cons
- −All-inclusive is an optional plan on top of a room rate, and it is not cheap; some travelers feel the spread should be broader for the price compared with larger resorts
- −Effectively two dinner venues: The Cove and The Palm open in the evening, while The Reef serves lunch and only opens for dinner occasionally, so a week-long stay gets repetitive
- −Every evening restaurant needs a reservation, and The Cove and The Palm enforce a smart-casual dinner dress code with no flip-flops
- −The beaches are small coves rather than one long strand, so anyone after a wide beach walk should look at Dickenson Bay next door or Half Moon Bay
- −Evening entertainment runs most nights, from live bands to pianists and dancers, but there is no nightclub or big show scene
- −No motorised water sports are based at the resort, water sports lessons cost extra, and the snorkel and island boat trips are paid private charters
- −Extras add up: room service carries a $15 tray charge per order even on all-inclusive, and spa, babysitting, top-shelf spirits, bottled wine and champagne are all billed
- −Rooms keep a traditional colonial look that some travelers find dated next to newer builds, and the resort says it is not designed for wheelchair users even though some ground-floor rooms work
The dining has a set rhythm: buffet-plus-a-la-carte breakfast and lunch at The Palm in the gardens, flatbreads and salads at The Reef by the beach pool from noon to 4pm, and dinner at either The Palm (with a weekly BBQ night) or The Cove, which serves Caribbean and French dishes from 6pm. Four bars spread around the grounds. All-inclusive is optional here: you can book bed and breakfast and upgrade once on property, and the plan adds lunch, dinner, a daily restocked minibar, house wines by the glass, selected spirits, beer and cocktails. Non-motorised water sports, tennis, the Cybex-equipped gym, Wi-Fi and the kids club come with every meal plan. There are three pools, one adults-only, and the ila spa is extra. Snorkelling, kayaking and windsurfing launch from the beach, while the resort's own boat runs paid private trips to Boons Reef and Great Bird Island.
Blue Waters suits couples who want an intimate, food-focused stay and families who want a calm resort with a real kids club rather than a waterpark. It sits in Antigua's premium tier but well below the price of Jumby Bay, and it is more relaxed and family-friendly than adults-focused Galley Bay. St. John's is about 15 minutes away by taxi for shopping and restaurants, and Dickenson Bay, the island's busiest beach strip, is the next bay over.
Common Questions
Is Blue Waters all-inclusive or are there added costs?
How is the beach at Blue Waters compared to other Antigua resorts?
What ages does the Kids Club cover and when is it open?
How many restaurants are there, and do I need reservations?
How does Blue Waters compare to Curtain Bluff or Galley Bay in Antigua?
What water sports are included?
Restaurants (3)
| Type | Restaurants |
|---|---|
| French | The Cove Restaurant |
| Caribbean & local | The Palm Restaurant |
| International & fusion | The Reef Restaurant |
From the resort's own dining pages. Only restaurants the resort lists are shown. All are covered by the all-inclusive rate, per the resort.
What's nearby
Shirley Heights40 min drive · 19 mi
Devil's Bridge35 min drive · 16 mi
Darkwood Beach25 min drive · 13 mi
35 min drive · 18 mi
Galleon Beach40 min drive · 18 mi
9 min drive · 3.2 mi
More things to do (24)
- Long Bay Beach · beach30 min drive · 16 mi
- Ffryes Beach · beach25 min drive · 12 mi
- Stingray City snorkel trip · excursion30 min drive · 13 mi
- Deep Bay Beach · beach20 min drive · 9.2 mi
- Dickinson Bay Beach · beach7 min drive · 2.4 mi
- Jabberwock Beach · beach7 min drive · 3.2 mi
- Cedar Valley Golf Club · golf8 min drive · 2.9 mi
- St. John's Cathedral · historic site10 min drive · 5.0 mi
- Government House Museum · museum10 min drive · 5.1 mi
- Museum of Antigua and Barbuda · museum11 min drive · 5.0 mi
- Barbuda day trip by ferry · excursion11 min drive · 5.0 mi
- St. John's · town12 min drive · 5.7 mi
- Fort Barrington · ruins20 min drive · 9.3 mi
- Jolly Harbour Marina · marina25 min drive · 11 mi
- Jolly Beach · beach25 min drive · 11 mi
- Turners Beach · beach25 min drive · 14 mi
- Betty's Hope · ruins25 min drive · 12 mi
- Wallings Nature Reserve · nature30 min drive · 15 mi
- Antigua Rainforest Zip Line · adventure park30 min drive · 15 mi
- Antigua's Donkey Sanctuary · wildlife30 min drive · 15 mi
- English Harbour · town35 min drive · 17 mi
- Falmouth Harbour Marina · marina35 min drive · 17 mi
- Half Moon Bay · beach40 min drive · 18 mi
- Pigeon Point Beach · beach40 min drive · 18 mi
Amenities
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Style & Rooms
Atmosphere
Room upgrades
Seaweed & sargassum
Antigua gets sargassum, typically worst May through August.See the month-by-month guide →Google Reviews★ 4.6 · 406 reviews
“Our expectations were exceeded at this magnificent resort! We have traveled all over the Carribean for 42 years and this was the best place we’ve ever been. Named Blue Waters for the most beautiful views of blue water. The entire staff are exceptiona...”
“A fantastic experience for our honeymoon. We are so glad we chose Blue Waters. We went during off season (September) so can only imagine how beautiful and lively the hotel is during peak season. We had fantastic service, particularly from Nathaneale...”
“My mother and I just traveled to Antigua for a week and were lucky enough to be able to stay at the Blue Waters Resort and Spa. This is a lovely resort with so much to offer, the rooms were beautifully maintained, the food and drinks are top notch fo...”
