"..Can't Get Over It."Trip Report: Antigua and Jolly Beach ResortWhen someone says,"Caribbean Vacation," what images come to mind? White sandy beaches? Breathtaking views? Warm and friendly locals? Music? Tiny streets shared by people and livestock? Antigua is all this and much more. We arrived without trouble on AA through San Juan. After we found some blank Immigration forms, we breezed right through the lines. If more planes had arrived at the same time however, it could have been a longer wait. Our prepaid shuttle took the four of us directly to JBR. The drive was just long enough for us to get a good look at Antigua and to realize we were far from Connecticut. Rum punch was waiting at check-in and we were driven to the Hispaniola building on the far right side facing the sea. We were assigned to 222. There was a bottle of JBR rum waiting, along with a freshly sliced pineapple. A noisy fan in the A/C got our friends moved down one room to 220. Both rooms were clean and spacious, with vaulted ceilings, coffee makers, irons, refrigerators and tons of storage space. The view was excellent. It took us a day to figure out the shortest routes around the immaculate grounds. The landscaping is well done and diverse. The wedding Chapel is set above the fantasy pool and is stunning. The aesthetics of the resort are equal to or better than most Caribbean properties. We enjoyed the food at all three ala carte restaurants and especially enjoyed the brunch on Sunday at Lydia's. Breakfast was fine, with an egg station and either a pancake or french toast station along with bacon, sausage, beans, potato and scrambled eggs. Lunch at the pool grille and the buffet was good as well. Dinner buffets were not as extensive as at some Caribbean all-inclusives, but was always good and varied.Service was generally excellent, more like ala carte than self-service. Bartenders were the friendliest I have ever met and the drinks were good at all bars. Entertainment was fun each evening. There was a mix of local and popular styles with some good natured games thrown in. The casino nearby was open if you needed more to do after the nightly show. There was never a problem with biting insects. There were crabs of all shapes and sizes, along with green lizards and a few mongooses. Shirley Heights is breathtaking and worth a trip. Safari 4x4 Adventures was the most fun we ever had on a tour. Gareth was an incredible guide. Vendors were friendly and nonintrusive. See Claudia, near the pool and talk a while. Walk all the way to the Crab Hole and find the Massage Hut and Bernice. You will be glad you did. Try to catch a sunset. Talk to folks from all over the world. We are as alike as we are different. When someone says, "Caribbean Vacation," to me from now on, I will have a mental picture of Antigua, the wonderful people and Jolly Beach Resort. Walt

Yes the bedside tables, the dressing table, and the wardrobe are concrete, and painted a Caribbean green, but heck this is the Caribbean, and it makes sense. Had the same "furniture" and colour scheme in Barbados. Once that shock was over the hotel was excellent.
Good food, lots of choice and lots of it; excellent staff; very clean; enormous tropical garden grounds; excellent pool; fantastic beach in a pleasant green hilled bay with islands off shore, and very good value for money. We were there part a conference and part holiday.
International 150+ delegates conference arrangements and facilities were superb. Antigua is a great island. Our favourite of the 9 we have visited in the last 18 months.

We stayed at the Jolly beach in September after previously staying in both Barbados and Jamaica. On arrival at the hotel our rooms werent ready and we had to wait some time without an apology, this was the start of a continuing lack of courtesy and general rudeness of 99% of the staff at this resort.We booked a standard room and were really pleased that we didnt book a supersaver, our room was like a concrete prison cell, a supersaver must have been like solitary confinement.The beach at the resort if out of this world, however jellyfish were present so swimming in the sea wasnt a good idea. The food at all of the restaurants was pretty good, however the general ambience was poor, this was perhaps emphasised by the bad attitude of the staff. The majority of the resort needed a good lick of paint.The island as a whole was ok, but we wouldnt return to Antigua or Jolly Beach, there are too may far nicer places in this world to visit

Just got back from a 1 week vacation. Resort was wonderful. The Jolly Beach Resort is just below the mountain area. Very scenic. We thought it was the nicest side of the island. My husband and I were in a Standard room, a little small to what we are used to, but you are not in the Caribbean to stay in your room. Room was always very clean.
Matter of fact the whole resort was clean. Entertainment staff do a wonderful time of entertaining you. Lots of fun. All the staff were pleasant and very helpful when needed. Pools were great, specially the fantasy pool with the swim-up bar. Water sports equipment was also good. The beach was great. Very long with beautiful white sand. No shells to cut your feet on in the designated swim area. We thought it was one of the nicest beaches we saw in Antigua. Only problem, the water was a little milky so you couldn't snorkle. Food was very good.
Olives was closed, but some of the Greek meals were incorporated into the other restaurants. Lydia's has good seafood. The Lobster was delicious. Out favourite lunch was at the Coconut Grill. Great burgers/fries and the Jerk Chicken was to die for. Hemispheres always had a couple of different main entre's everynight. Never any problems.
Bocciolo's was very nice, but we thought the dress code was a little strict. Who wants to put dress sock and dress shoes on(for the men) when it's 90° out. Of course the bars were enjoyable. Plenty of Rum Punch. We wouldn't hesitate staying there again.