Hermitage Bay - All Inclusive
Two Michelin Keys
Hotel Details
Location
Hermitage Bay, St Mary's, Antigua and Barbuda
Antigua and Barbuda, Caribbean & Central America
Location
Hermitage Bay - All Inclusive · St. Mary's, Antigua and Barbuda
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Key Highlights
- ✓Service consistency: While generally excellent, a few recent reviews cited slow or less proactive service for basic beach amenities.
Expert Review: Hermitage Bay - All Inclusive
Hermitage Bay - All Inclusive, St. Mary's, Antigua and Barbuda, a distinguished Michelin Key Two-Keys property, consistently garners high praise for its serene luxury, exceptional dining, and attentive service, offering a unique take on the all-inclusive experience.
1. Overall Rating & Sentiment
Hermitage Bay is overwhelmingly perceived as a five-star, intimate, and sophisticated luxury boutique resort, often hailed as one of the best all-inclusive resorts globally. Guests frequently describe their stay as restorative, characterized by complete peace, quiet, and relaxation. While some recent feedback notes specific areas for improvement, the general sentiment remains highly positive, emphasizing a luxurious and pampered experience.
2. Key Highlights
Guests consistently laud Hermitage Bay for its impeccable service, gourmet food, and stunning secluded location. The resort's design is described as rustic-chic or Caribbean rustic, featuring an eco-friendly approach with indigenous materials and lush tropical gardens across its 140 acres. Privacy is a significant draw, with individual suites providing secluded spaces. Amenities include non-motorized watersports (kayaking, paddleboards, snorkeling), a Garden Spa offering organic treatments, yoga, meditation, and pilates classes, weekly cooking demonstrations, and live music in the evenings.
3. Room Quality
The resort features 30 individual suites, including beachfront, garden, and hillside villas, with hillside options often boasting private plunge pools and breathtaking views. The architecture incorporates charming rustic-style cabins built from sustainable Guyanese woods, blending seamlessly with the natural surroundings. Interiors are designed with a "Caribbean-chic vibe," using dark wood, white linen, and muslin-draped beds. Bathrooms are notably large, often including oversized bathtubs and private outdoor monsoon showers. Guests appreciate features like double vanities and luxury toiletries. However, some guests have noted concerns regarding the open-air design of bathrooms, with toilets sometimes lacking a separate door from the main bedroom area, potentially impacting privacy. Other criticisms include screens instead of glass windows, leading to noise from tree frogs at night, and occasional issues with bed comfort (hard beds, flat pillows, no blanket/topper). Some recent reviews also mention that rooms can appear dated or have minor maintenance issues like faulty light fixtures or doors that don't fully secure.
4. Dining Experience
The dining experience at Hermitage Bay is a major highlight, consistently praised for its gourmet quality, which defies typical all-inclusive expectations. The resort sources many ingredients from its large organic garden and locally, ensuring fresh, flavorful meals. Menus change daily, offering a sophisticated blend of modern European, Caribbean, and American classics. Meal options include breakfast (extensive menu), lunch, a popular sushi happy hour (4:30 PM and 5:30 PM seatings) with chefs trained by Nobu Barbuda, and dinner, often featuring rotating specials. Highlights mentioned by guests include grilled Caribbean lobster, fresh seafood, delicious desserts, and homemade ice creams. Cocktails are also highly rated, with some describing them as the best in the Caribbean. While most feedback is glowing, one recent review suggested some dishes were "off flavor wise," finding the food "fine" rather than exceptional.
5. Service & Staff
The service at Hermitage Bay generally receives exceptional reviews, described as impeccable, thoughtful, attentive, warm, friendly, and genuinely helpful. Guests frequently highlight staff members who go "above and beyond" to ensure a perfect stay, including VIP airport escorts for arrivals. Staff are noted for proactively remembering preferences and names. However, some more recent feedback indicates instances of service being generally slow and not proactive, requiring guests to request basic services like setting up beach umbrellas or ordering drinks.
6. Location & Accessibility
Hermitage Bay is situated in a secluded bay on the western shores of Antigua, offering a tranquil and private retreat. The resort is approximately 10 miles from V.C. Bird International Airport (ANU), with a drive of about 35 minutes. Complimentary airport transfers are provided for stays of three nights or more. A notable point is that the last 5-10 minutes of the drive to the resort involves a very bumpy, unpaved road, which can be uncomfortable. The beach is a beautiful white-sand stretch, though some parts can be shelly. The resort emphasizes peace and quiet, with limited boat traffic in the bay. It's important to note that many parts of the resort are not wheelchair accessible due to steps and unpaved paths.
7. Value & Pricing
Hermitage Bay is positioned as a high-end luxury property, reflected in its pricing. Cash rates typically range from around $1,800 per night during the low season to over $3,000 during peak season for two guests. The resort is also bookable with Hilton Honors points, with standard award nights starting at 190,000 points, though availability at this rate can be scarce, and some nights may exceed 1 million points. For Hilton Honors elite members, a fifth-night free benefit can provide significant value when redeeming points. Many guests consider the all-inclusive experience, where most meals and drinks are covered, to be "worth every penny" or even a "superb steal" given the quality. However, some recent opinions suggest it can be "overpriced and missing the mark on luxury" if paying full cash rates.
8. Common Complaints
While largely positive, recurring criticisms include:
- Bed comfort: Some guests found beds hard, noted flat pillows, or lacked a blanket/topper.
- Bathroom privacy: The open-plan bathroom design in some villas, where the toilet area lacks a separate door from the bedroom, has been a point of discomfort for some.
- Noise/open windows: The use of screens and wooden slats instead of glass windows in some rooms can lead to noise from tree frogs at night.
- Insects: Mosquitoes and gnats, especially at dusk, are a common issue, although the resort provides bug spray.
- Maintenance: Some rooms have shown signs of being dated or having minor maintenance issues, such as doors that don't close securely or non-functioning lights.
- Service consistency: While generally excellent, a few recent reviews cited slow or less proactive service for basic beach amenities.
- Road condition: The bumpy, unpaved section of the road leading to the resort is a frequent complaint.
- Spa pricing: Spa treatments are considered very expensive by some guests.
- Beach quality: The beach can sometimes be shelly rather than soft, powder-white sand.
- Accessibility: The resort is not widely wheelchair accessible.
Sources
Points to Consider
- •While largely positive, recurring criticisms include:
- •Insects: Mosquitoes and gnats, especially at dusk, are a common issue, although the resort provides bug spray.
- •Maintenance: Some rooms have shown signs of being dated or having minor maintenance issues, such as doors that don't close securely or non-functioning lights.
- •Road condition: The bumpy, unpaved section of the road leading to the resort is a frequent complaint.
Google Reviews
384 reviews
Recent Guest Reviews
Ben Pfister
We just returned from our 25th Anniversary trip. It was our first trip and we were completely blown away. Everyone of the staff seemed genuinely happy and went out of their way to make us feel pampered. Incredible. Now we know why people go back year after year. We stayed in a hillside suite and had a great view of the bay and enjoyed watching the sunset from there before dinner. Highly reco...
Response from the owner
Dear Ben,<br><br>Happy 25th Anniversary! What a special milestone to celebrate with us, and we are so honored that you chose Hermitage Bay for your first trip. <br><br>Thank you for this lovely review...
Dawn Zaplac
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Our stay at Hermitage Bay was absolutely incredible from start to finish. The staff is truly exceptional—so warm, attentive, and genuine that it’s impossible to name everyone individually. Every single person made us feel welcomed, cared for, and completely at home. We loved everything: our villa, the breathtaking setting, and the relaxed yet luxurious atmosphere that makes Hermitage Bay so...
Response from the owner
Dear Dawn & Jimmy,<br><br>We are incredibly grateful you chose to share such an amazing review. Thank you for deciding to stay with us and for sharing so many special moments from your stay.<br><br>We...
Randelle W
Lovely place if you want to get away. Here are some observations if they are important to you: Beautiful beach! Many shells. Boaters come for dining and to hang around the property. So it makes it feel more crowded since only 32 rooms or so. It is a 45 minute and at times bumpy ride from airport. roads are under repair. Cats mill around the dining area hoping for food. Rooms - outdoor shower o...
Response from the owner
Dear Randelle,<br><br>Thank you for sharing all about the lovely time you had with us. We're so happy you enjoyed the beautiful beach, the sushi at the beach bar, and the stunning views on the hillsid...
Jill Ondo
I personally cannot recommend this hotel more. We used our Hilton points to stay here. This was a phenomenal use of Hilton redemption points. We stayed in the beachfront room, which was very large and had wonderful AC. The staff was so friendly and kind. It’s very slow paced and relaxing! The food is to die for. I was nervous about no menus but I was so impressed. We were able to have food such ...
Response from the owner
Dear Jill,<br><br>Thank you for sharing these stunning pictures and your high recommendation.<br><br>It was our genuine pleasure to have welcomed you and showcase all the things that make Hermitage Ba...
Sam Sorouri
We had a fantastic stay at this all-inclusive resort. The staff were warm, professional, and always ready to assist with anything we needed. The chef was especially kind, making sure our halal dietary requirements were fully accommodated. He personally checked in with us to ensure everything was prepared correctly and that we were comfortable, which we truly appreciated. The property itself is be...
Response from the owner
Dear Sam Sorouri,<br><br>It was such a pleasure to host you. Nothing ever beats hearing our guests say they had a time well spent and were well cared for by our Team.<br><br>Thank you for sharing your...
Angelika Jimenez Lz
This hotel truly exceeded all my expectations. The customer service was exceptional—warm, attentive, and genuinely caring from the moment I arrived. The food was absolutely delicious, every meal full of flavor and beautifully prepared. The views are simply breathtaking; the kind that makes you stop, breathe, and just take it all in. There’s also something very special about the energy of this plac...
Response from the owner
Dear Angelika Jimenez,<br><br>We are overwhelmed with gratitude for all the beautiful pictures you chose to share from your time with us!<br>It was truly our pleasure to have you with us, and we hope ...
About Two Michelin Keys
Two Michelin Keys recognize hotels that provide an excellent stay experience. These properties stand out for their remarkable quality, distinctive character, and superior service that goes above and beyond expectations.
