Jumby Bay Island

Jumby Bay Island in Antigua, a distinguished Michelin Key Two-Keys property, consistently garners praise as a premier Caribbean luxury retreat, offering an experience that guests often describe as a "slice of paradise." While not always deemed "spectacular," it is widely regarded as a beautiful and first-class resort, with many guests expressing a desire to return. The overall sentiment is overwhelmingly positive, reflected in high ratings, including a 9.8 based on four reviews on KAYAK and 10.0/10 from verified travelers on Traveloka.

Key Highlights

Jumby Bay Island distinguishes itself through its exceptional location, attentive service, and comprehensive amenities.

• Location: The resort's private island setting is a major draw, offering seclusion, pristine white-powdered beaches, and crystal clear waters with no cars on the island. It's easily accessible via a 6 to 10-minute private boat ride from Antigua's V.C. Bird International Airport (ANU).
• Service: Guests frequently commend the "high-touch, friendly service" and describe staff as "very friendly and efficient everywhere," making guests feel "swaddled in attention & love" from arrival to departure. The concierge team is noted for being proactive.
• Design: The resort features a colonial-inspired design that harmonizes with the Caribbean surroundings, incorporating modernized bathrooms and tall ceilings. Interiors are often described as pastel, beautiful, and possessing a casual elegance with bright colors and airy decor.
• Amenities: Jumby Bay operates on an all-inclusive model, covering most meals, premium beverages, and a wide array of activities. Highlights include private pools in many suites and villas, an "Explorers Club" for children, and various water sports such as snorkeling, water skiing, and wakeboarding. The island also offers a spa, fitness facilities, tennis courts, and bicycles for guest transportation.

Room Quality

Accommodations at Jumby Bay Island are generally well-received, described as "great rooms" and "much better than I imagined." While one review noted them as "sufficiently fine" rather than "mindblowing," they offer a blend of colonial design and contemporary interiors. Guests can choose from 40 suites, 12-14 villas, and 21-22 private residences. Many suites feature spacious layouts with private pools and outdoor showers. However, some beach-facing rooms may offer less privacy, and occasional issues with loud air conditioning or weak shower pressure have been mentioned. Rooms do not use traditional keys, enhancing the secluded island feel.

Dining Experience

The dining experience at Jumby Bay is a core part of its all-inclusive offering, with menus providing good variety and generally high-quality food. The resort offers four distinct dining venues.

• Breakfast: Served at The Veranda, it includes a generous buffet of fruits, cereals, pastries, and meats, alongside à la carte options.
• Lunch: Options like The Veranda, Sand Bar, and the Beach Shack offer casual Caribbean-infused fare, including tacos and ceviche. One review noted lunch as sometimes "very average."
• Dinner: The Estate House, a fine-dining restaurant housed in a circa 1830 plantation house, stands out for its classic fare blended with modern island flavors. Other options include the casual-chic Veranda and the Caribbean-inspired Sand Bar, which serves dishes like sushi and ceviche. The newly opened "The Hut Little Jumby" offers brasserie-style seafood on a neighboring island.
• All-Inclusive Benefits: Unlimited premium and Black Label cocktails, wines, and champagne are included. However, room service may incur a delivery charge and can have a restrictive menu. Some guests have noted occasional inconsistencies in food quality and service speed, with birds sometimes attempting to share meals.

Service & Staff

The service at Jumby Bay is a consistent highlight, with staff described as "very friendly and efficient everywhere" and "well-trained, professional and seem[ing] to enjoy their jobs." Guests appreciate the "high-touch" and personalized attention, with concierges being proactive in managing guest schedules and needs. While generally excellent, some minor service inconsistencies have been reported, such as slow coffee service or extended waiting times for dinner courses. Automated services, like daily news updates via email and notifications regarding housekeeping entry attempts, are also noted.

Location & Accessibility

Jumby Bay Island is a private, 300-acre island located approximately two miles off the coast of mainland Antigua. Its exclusivity is reinforced by being accessible only by a short boat ride from the resort's private dock, which is minutes away from V.C. Bird International Airport. The resort provides fast-track airport arrival services to streamline the journey. Guests traverse the car-free island by bicycle, golf buggy, or on foot. The island boasts stunning white-sand beaches, including Jumby Bay Beach with its facilities and the more secluded Pasture Bay Beach, a nesting site for endangered Hawksbill sea turtles. While offering tranquility, some guests have noted the occasional sound of planes flying overhead due to the island's proximity to the airport.

Value & Pricing

Jumby Bay is considered a "reassuringly expensive" luxury destination. Room prices vary significantly, with the cheapest observed around USD $4,662.03 per night and an average nightly rate of approximately $4,437. Prices can range from as low as $3,251 to over $10,758 depending on room type and dates. Seven-night packages, including flights, start from around £8,250 per person. Despite the high cost, the all-inclusive nature, which covers gourmet dining, premium beverages, and a wide array of activities and services, leads many guests to feel it offers excellent value for a truly luxurious and carefree experience.

Common Complaints

While largely positive, some recurring criticisms and issues mentioned by guests include:

• Dining Inconsistencies: Some reviews cited lunch as "very average", and reported slow service for dinner courses. The room service menu was also described as restrictive.
• Room Issues: Occasional complaints about loud air conditioning and "feeble shower pressure" in some rooms have surfaced. Lack of privacy in certain beach-facing accommodations was also noted.
• Beach Crowding: Some guests have expressed frustration over having to "fight to get a beach seat" due to early towel placement by others.
• Service Lapses: While generally excellent, a few minor instances of less-than-competent service or coordination, such as housekeepers being unfamiliar with baby bottle cleaning or slow coffee service, have been mentioned.
• Limited Fruit Selection: One reviewer noted the fruit selection at breakfast was limited to items typically seen in the US.
• Snorkeling Quality: An older review mentioned disappointing offshore snorkeling due to water surge and poor visibility.

Sources

1. traveloka.com
2. dorsiatravel.com
3. kayak.com
4. visitantiguabarbuda.com
5. businessclass.com
6. oetkerhotels.com
7. forbestravelguide.com
8. diegotravel.com
9. reddit.com
10. youtube.com
11. youtube.com
12. oetkerhotels.com
13. wingedboots.co.uk
14. oetkerhotels.com
15. myirietime.com
16. oetkerhotels.com
17. thehutlittlejumby.com
18. momondo.com
19. fodors.com