Carlisle Bay
Carlisle Bay is a member of The Leading Hotels of the World tucked into a sheltered crescent bay on Antigua's southwest coast, and it pairs understated luxury with real activity. Calm water, Cades Reef a short boat ride away, a well-loved Kids Club and the modern Asian restaurant East are what keep families and couples coming back. It suits two very different guests at once: families who book the larger suites and use the full program, and couples who hide away in the six adults-only Bay Suites at the far end of the beach, which come with direct beach access and, for stays of four nights or more, a personal concierge, private airport transfers and an in-room spirits bar.
Things to Know
- Reopened Oct 2026 after summer renovation closure (phase two; final phase Nov 2027)
Traveler Insights
Pros
- +Freshly renovated rooms: the Garden, Ocean and Bay Suites, over half of the 87 suites, reopened in October 2025 with new interiors by London designer Miminat Shodeinde, and phase two (the Carlisle Suites and twenty Signature Beach Suites) was due to debut in October 2026
- +Six adults-only Bay Suites tucked at the far end of the crescent beach, with direct beach access, four-poster king beds, freestanding tubs and rainforest showers, plus a four-nights-or-more package that adds a personal concierge, private return airport transfers, an in-room spirits bar and 20% off spa treatments
- +Built for families and groups: the new two-bedroom Signature Beach Terrace and Beach Balcony Suites add a second bathroom, and the three-bedroom Carlisle Suites, each named for an Antigua landmark like Rendezvous Bay or Fig Tree Drive, suit multigenerational trips
- +A sheltered bay on the southwest coast with calm water and Cades Reef, one of Antigua's best reef systems, a short boat ride away for snorkeling and diving
- +East, the resort's modern Asian restaurant, is a genuine draw even for non-guests, and recent guests call the restaurants superb overall
- +A Kids Club with a full daily program of nature walks, sailing and tennis that parents rank among the best in the Caribbean, with babysitting available for evening dinners
- +Complimentary non-motorized water sports such as kayaks, paddleboards and Hobie cats, plus tennis with coaching, yoga and the CARA Organic Spa
Cons
- −The resort is mid-renovation and closes each year for construction phases. Phase two ran through the summer 2026 closure, and the entrance pavilion and bar plus Indigo on the Beach are not scheduled to finish until November 2027, so check what is complete for your dates
- −All-inclusive is an optional package (Simply All Inclusive), not the default rate: standard rates include breakfast and afternoon tea, and guests on them say food and drinks run expensive on top of the room
- −Rates sit at the premium end of the Caribbean market, and guests paying full rack rate sometimes feel the value does not hold up against similarly priced competitors
- −Mosquitoes at dusk are a real issue in this lush, sheltered bay; pack serious repellent and expect to need it in the evenings
- −Check-in delays have been flagged repeatedly, with rooms sometimes not ready until late afternoon and staff slow to update guests
- −The bay is tucked away from English Harbour and St. John's, so guests who want frequent off-property exploring face a meaningful drive
- −Not every suite looks straight out to sea: the Garden Suites are named for their garden setting, so book a beach or ocean category if the view matters
The resort is in the middle of a multimillion-dollar, multi-phase renovation carried out during its annual seasonal closures. Phase one reopened in October 2025 with redesigned Garden, Ocean and Bay Suites (over half of the 87 suites) by London designer Miminat Shodeinde. Phase two, announced in August 2026 for an October 2026 debut, brings twenty two-bedroom Signature Beach Suites with a second bathroom and four three-bedroom Carlisle Suites named after Rendezvous Bay, Signal Hill, Fig Tree Drive and Great Bird Island. The entrance pavilion and bar and Indigo on the Beach follow, with everything due by November 2027. Day to day, the practical notes from guests are check-in delays and mosquitoes at dusk, while the restaurants, complimentary non-motorized water sports, tennis, yoga and the CARA Organic Spa earn steady praise.
Know how you are booking before you go. Standard rates include breakfast and afternoon tea, and all-inclusive is an optional package called Simply All Inclusive; guests who skip it often find meals and drinks expensive. Carlisle Bay is a credible alternative to Jumby Bay for families who want an active, water-focused stay rather than pure seclusion, and to Curtain Bluff for travelers who want newer interiors. The location favors staying put, since English Harbour and St. John's are a drive away, but for guests planning to spend most days on the water that trade-off makes sense.
Common Questions
Is the renovation finished, and will it affect my stay?
Is Carlisle Bay all-inclusive?
What are the adults-only Bay Suites?
Is the Kids Club actually good?
Are water sports included?
Are mosquitoes really that bad?
What's nearby
Shirley Heights25 min drive · 10 mi
Devil's Bridge30 min drive · 15 mi
Darkwood Beach8 min drive · 5.1 mi
20 min drive · 9.2 mi
Galleon Beach20 min drive · 9.6 mi
Jolly Harbour Marina13 min drive · 7.5 mi
More things to do (24)
- Long Bay Beach · beach25 min drive · 14 mi
- Ffryes Beach · beach11 min drive · 6.2 mi
- Stingray City snorkel trip · excursion25 min drive · 12 mi
- Deep Bay Beach · beach30 min drive · 16 mi
- Antigua Rainforest Zip Line · adventure park4 min drive · 2.1 mi
- Wallings Nature Reserve · nature4 min drive · 2.4 mi
- Turners Beach · beach7 min drive · 4.3 mi
- Jolly Beach · beach14 min drive · 7.6 mi
- English Harbour · town20 min drive · 8.8 mi
- Falmouth Harbour Marina · marina20 min drive · 8.7 mi
- Betty's Hope · ruins20 min drive · 10 mi
- Pigeon Point Beach · beach20 min drive · 9.3 mi
- Dow's Hill Interpretation Centre · museum20 min drive · 9.4 mi
- St. John's · town20 min drive · 12 mi
- St. John's Cathedral · historic site20 min drive · 13 mi
- Museum of Antigua and Barbuda · museum20 min drive · 13 mi
- Government House Museum · museum20 min drive · 13 mi
- Barbuda day trip by ferry · excursion25 min drive · 13 mi
- Antigua's Donkey Sanctuary · wildlife25 min drive · 13 mi
- Dickinson Bay Beach · beach25 min drive · 16 mi
- Cedar Valley Golf Club · golf25 min drive · 13 mi
- Fort James · ruins30 min drive · 16 mi
- Fort Barrington · ruins30 min drive · 16 mi
- Jabberwock Beach · beach30 min drive · 14 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★ 4.5 · 411 reviews
“Stayed in one of the newly renovated ocean view rooms. Fabulous. Staff were wonderful. Breakfasts outstanding. The Jetty and Indigo were on the most part excellent. East and Ottimo were disappointing. The staff in East not up to the same standard as...”
“We spent a week at Carlisle Bay Resort and was blown away by the beauty, service, and attention to detail. From the moment we arrived, the staff made us feel like royalty—greeting us with chilled towels, tropical drinks, and warm smiles. The locatio...”
“We stayed for 6 days in this hotel in Antigua. We stayed at suite 12 - the suites are huge ! We will definitely come back; the rooms are huge , new , modern and clean. the staff are amazing , every each person is so kind to you and make you feel li...”
