There’s nothing like a Caribbean honeymoon: stunning beaches, days filled with a mix of relaxation and adventure, limitless natural beauty.
But when it comes to choosing the right destination, the decision can often come down to the right hotel — usually one where you can find that perfect blend of seclusion, intimacy and luxury (and, if you can, adults-only accommodations).
Because, let’s be honest — more so than any other vacation, you’re probably going to be spending a lot of time at your hotel.
But not all honeymoon hotels are the same.
That’s what has made one Caribbean destination an unparalleled location for island honeymoons: Antigua and Barbuda.
The twin-island destination has many things going for it, from its 365 beaches to its vibrant culture and dynamic culinary scene.
But it’s also home to an enviable collection of diverse hotels, with a particular emphasis on adults-only all-inclusive resorts of all price points, along with some charming boutique EP hotels, too.
Antigua and Barbuda, you see, is filled with resorts that are tailor-made for Caribbean honeymoons.
It all begins with the island’s crown jewel, the Hammock Cove resort, the 41-room stunner where every villa has its own private plunge pool and spectacular views of Antigua’s brand of blue sea.
Then you have rarefied, tropical oases like The Verandah, the new adults-only all-inclusive resort that’s part of the Elite Island Resorts portfolio; Galley Bay, the beachfront gem on its own peninsula on the northwest corner of the island.
On the south coast of the island, there are myriad honeymoon options: the legendary Curtain Bluff, which is reopening for the season in October; the tiny, lovely Keyonna Beach Resort. You can head west and find the essence of barefoot luxury; the Cocos Hotel, with charming, colorful cottages set along a cliffside; Cocobay, the adults-only resort that’s also the location of the island’s premier restaurant: Sheer Rocks, the waterfront eatery that is is the ultimate romantic dinner for any proper Antigua honeymoon; and the list goes on. Then there’s the sustainable, luxurious Hermitage Bay, a mix of hillside and toes-in-the-sand cottages.
You can spend your trip at historic hotels like the Admiral’s Inn or Copper and Lumber in English Harbour; or retreat to the hills and the plunge-pool rooms at the Escape at Nonsuch Bay; or go for a larger-resort option with the Sandals Grande on Dickenson Bay or head north to the modern luxury at the Hodges Bay resort.
And yes, Antigua even has overwater bungalows at its Royalton Antigua resort (with another Royalton on the way soon).
Or you can hop over to Barbuda for a Crusoe-chic, toes-in-the-sand escape at the Barbuda Belle Hotel (and jaunt over for lunch on the beach at the island’s Nobu Beach Club).
What makes the hotel product so unique is that in Antigua resorts, all-inclusive or otherwise, are not cookie-cutter, big-box experiences: Antiguan hospitality is all about authenticity, about character, about delivering the essence of the destination.
And when you venture out of the hotel, you’ll find a dynamic, robust, exciting destination, whether you’re zip-lining in the rainforest, tasting fine rums, beach-bar hopping or delving into fungee and pepperpot.
In other words, when it comes to a honeymoon in Antigua and Barbuda, there’s no wrong choice.
And that’s what makes this place the Caribbean honeymoon capital.
For more, visit Antigua and Barbuda.