Pineapple Beach Club
Pineapple Beach Club sits on Long Bay on Antigua's north-east coast, a quarter-mile of powdery white sand that ranks among the nicer beaches in the Eastern Caribbean. It is adults-only from age 16, it has been running as an all-inclusive for decades, and its reputation rests on warmth rather than gloss. Guests consistently name the staff as the highlight of the trip, and the snorkeling from shore is genuinely good, with gear included and reef life a short swim out.
Things to Know
Traveler Insights
Pros
- +The beach is a quarter-mile arc of powdery white sand on Long Bay, with one side sheltered for calm swimming and snorkeling and the other side breezier
- +Adults-only (16 and over) on Antigua's quieter north-east coast, well away from the cruise crowds and the St. John's tourist strip
- +Snorkeling straight off the beach is the standout: gear is included and free to use, guests regularly report reef fish, coral and the odd sea turtle close to shore, and guided snorkel trips run daily for a fee
- +Intimate scale, with 176 rooms spread across 30 beachfront acres, keeps the beach and pools from feeling crowded the way mega-resorts do
- +Staff warmth is the most-cited positive in traveler reviews, with specific staff members becoming trip highlights that repeat guests ask for by name
- +Five included dining venues: Topaz for buffets, Chef Pietro's for a la carte Italian, the air-conditioned Pineapple Grill, the poolside Pelican Snack Grill and The Outhouse for BBQ ribs and jerk chicken with an ocean view
- +A long included activity list: stand-up paddleboards, Hobie Cat catamarans, glass-bottom kayaks, pedal boats and floating water hammocks on the water, plus six pickleball courts, two tennis courts, croquet, beach volleyball, shuffleboard and a fitness center on land
Cons
- −Mandatory fees on top of the rate: a US$29 per room per night resort fee paid locally (it covers the Wi-Fi) and a US$5 per person per night government tourism levy, plus a US$350 card pre-authorization at check-in that is released at checkout
- −Housekeeping is every other day by policy, which the resort ties to its water and energy saving goals, so don't expect a daily room refresh
- −Some rooms sit up long flights of stairs (guests have counted as many as 56 steps), and the resort says fully adapted accessible rooms are not available, so ground-floor rooms have to be requested
- −Rooms vary in how recently they were updated, and the older categories can feel tired next to the refreshed waterfront rooms, so ask about the specific room when booking
- −Food is uneven: the a la carte venues draw the praise while the main buffet is often described as quantity over quality, and the kitchen will not prepare individual vegan, gluten-free or allergen-free meals
- −The east-coast location means a taxi, rental car or the resort's paid shuttle to reach St. John's, and English Harbour and Nelson's Dockyard are about 30 minutes away
- −Bar service draws mixed reviews, with cocktail variety and execution described as inconsistent compared with other Caribbean all-inclusives
The practical picture is a 176-room property on 30 acres with three freshwater pools and five included venues: buffets at Topaz, Italian at Chef Pietro's, the air-conditioned Pineapple Grill (long pants and closed-toe shoes for men at dinner), the poolside Pelican Snack Grill and The Outhouse for ribs and jerk chicken. Dinner reservations open 24 hours ahead at Guest Services, and menus go up the evening before. The a la carte venues get better reviews than the buffet. Wi-Fi reaches the whole resort and is covered by the US$29 per room nightly resort fee, and a US$5 per person nightly tourism levy is added on top. Rooms vary in how recently they were refreshed, housekeeping comes every other day, and some rooms involve a lot of stairs, so anyone with mobility concerns should request ground floor before arriving. The activity list is longer than most guests expect: six pickleball courts, two hard tennis courts (7am to 6pm, reservations required), Hobie Cats, glass-bottom kayaks, pedal boats and paddleboards, with steel bands, DJs, karaoke and local performers at night.
It suits adults who want a relaxed, uncrowded beach week with a social, laid-back crowd rather than a luxury escape, and it has a large base of loyal repeat guests. Compared with Sandals Grande Antigua on the west coast, Pineapple Beach Club is smaller, less polished and usually cheaper, which is exactly the tradeoff its fans prefer. For time off the property, the resort runs a paid daily shuttle to St. John's and a Sunday shuttle to the Shirley Heights party, English Harbour is about 30 minutes by car, and the tour desk books boat trips to Barbuda and Montserrat.
Common Questions
Is Wi-Fi free, and what fees should I expect at checkout?
How is the snorkeling compared to other Antigua resorts?
Is the resort a good choice for guests with mobility issues?
What activities are included besides the beach?
How far is Pineapple Beach Club from the airport and the island's sights?
How does this compare to Sandals Grande Antigua for an adults-only trip?
Restaurants (5)
| Type | Restaurants |
|---|---|
| Buffet | Topaz Restaurant |
| Italian | Chef Pietro's |
| Steakhouse | Orchids Restaurant (extra charge) |
| Caribbean & local | Pineapple Grill, The Outhouse |
From the resort's own dining pages. Only restaurants the resort lists are shown. Venues marked "extra charge" are not covered by the all-inclusive rate; the others are, per the resort.
What's nearby
Shirley Heights30 min drive · 14 mi
Devil's Bridge8 min drive · 1.1 mi
25 min drive · 13 mi
Galleon Beach25 min drive · 13 mi
Darkwood Beach30 min drive · 19 mi
9 min drive · 4.8 mi
More things to do (24)
- Long Bay Beach · beach4 min walk · 0.2 mi
- Stingray City snorkel trip · excursion9 min drive · 4.3 mi
- Ffryes Beach · beach30 min drive · 19 mi
- Deep Bay Beach · beach30 min drive · 16 mi
- Antigua's Donkey Sanctuary · wildlife12 min drive · 6.9 mi
- Wallings Nature Reserve · nature20 min drive · 12 mi
- Half Moon Bay · beach20 min drive · 10 mi
- St. John's · town20 min drive · 12 mi
- Government House Museum · museum20 min drive · 12 mi
- Antigua Rainforest Zip Line · adventure park20 min drive · 12 mi
- St. John's Cathedral · historic site20 min drive · 12 mi
- Museum of Antigua and Barbuda · museum20 min drive · 12 mi
- English Harbour · town20 min drive · 12 mi
- Falmouth Harbour Marina · marina20 min drive · 12 mi
- Barbuda day trip by ferry · excursion25 min drive · 12 mi
- Cedar Valley Golf Club · golf25 min drive · 13 mi
- Pigeon Point Beach · beach25 min drive · 13 mi
- Dow's Hill Interpretation Centre · museum25 min drive · 13 mi
- Dickinson Bay Beach · beach25 min drive · 15 mi
- Fort James · ruins30 min drive · 15 mi
- Jabberwock Beach · beach30 min drive · 14 mi
- Fort Barrington · ruins30 min drive · 16 mi
- Jolly Harbour Marina · marina30 min drive · 18 mi
- Turners Beach · beach30 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★ 4.3 · 1,107 reviews
“Awesome! My wife Kim and I just honeymooned at Pineapple Beach Club. The staff, facilities and food were fantastic. Very laid back and inviting atmosphere. What a gorgeous view of the ocean. There are plenty of things to do on the resort...sunbathe...”
“I knew when going to this resort that it was older and not quite what I am used to. The grounds were beautiful and that is exactly why we were there. We enjoyed the pool and the beautiful beach. The food was okay. We ordered lobster which would h...”
“The beach was amazing due to the bay and reef that keeps it calm. Great pool. Great view... Renovated clean rooms. Nice stuff. Food and drinks are not luxurious but satisfying. Overall had great time and will come again”
