We went to the Jolly Beach for my friends wedding, and from the moment we got there, there was NOT 1 thing to complain about.

We had the time of our lives, the staff were so friendly, we missed them when we had returned. I can not fault this hotel, thank god we didn't read these reviews before we went. The whole island was perfect.
Our rooms were spacious with sea views, infact the steps beside our room lead straight onto the sand, the beach vendors were lovely, and we got to know them all by name during the stay.
All the hotel staff were fantastic and we had a great relationship with them all, they were all very polite, doing all they could for us. May i suggest if you wish to be treated with respect, then treat others with it, a please and thank you goes a long way
The kids club was located a bit away from the main area of the hotel, but i would rather that than them running around by the swimming pool, after all that is the idea, for the children to be taken away for the day and occupied we didnt notice any of the bad smells mentioned, and they even let me stay with my 18month old daughter for a while.
The food was fantastic every day, as was the entertainment and we especially liked tea and cakes in the afternoon.


All i can say is those people who complain about this hotel must be used to going to 5 * plus hotel, because they are snobs,
What do you expect in a third world country

May i suggest next time you stay at home in your own 5* luxury house

We returned from 11 nights stay in Sep. I have to say that after reading some of the reviews before, I was a bit apprehensive. I have to say that the ones I did read only stated the truth. i.e. Upon arrival at hotel had to queue for about 45 mins to an hour just to check-in. The hotel seems to have plenty of receptionists but not enough computers, and they did not seem to be very organised! You know what its like when you arrive at resort you just want to check-in asap and go to your room to get un-packed and freshen up before going out to check your resort out.

We had a standard room and I have to say it was just fine. No cockroaches, clean and enough room to store your belongings. At the end of the day you don't go on holiday to spend all your time in your room now! The view from our balcony was fantastic and we could watch the sunset each evening, before going out to dinner.

The Italian restaurant, well it has to be the unmost italian restaurant I have ever been to. The only Italian food on the menu you had to pay for! I think it should not be classed as Italian but perhaps Al Le Carte.

Lydias was by far the best but on par with the Indian. The service at both of these restaurants was excellent and the food lovely. At least it was Seafood or Indian!!

The Fantasy Pool was the best pool ever, not too cold and a fantasic size. We were swimming about 5 or 6 times a day. It did get a bit noisy sometimes with the entertainment team just across the other side but you got used to it.

The Entertainment was ok it wasn't too in your face, if you wanted to participate you could. I have to say that the area where they have the entertainment could do with a re-think, not ideal if it rained which it did on a couple of occasions.

All in all we have said that we would go back but just hope check-in has improved!!

I have been with my husband and my 4 children for a 2 weeks vacation at Jolly Beach Hotel resort In Antigua and with joy I have to say we will never return there.
We are a family that decided to have at least 2 trips per year, usually at March break and summer, giving up other pleasures because we think a vacation is the best break for everyone.

I would like to start from the kids club and the amenities of the resort while for the food is useless to express an opinion, because I concur with the worst reviews (one star) that you can find on trip advisor. I am fully surprise of some reviews decanting the food and listing every single items of the menu like the “amazing food resort”. I am not a picky or fussy eater. I usually eat everything but at Jolly Beach I went into a diet, most of all for the uncleanness, a very low quality products and low quality cooking.
The management and staff has low education and poor attitude with a cordiality of cougars.

The kids club was a very bitter surprise .
My Husband and I from the first day we felt very uncomfortable to leave our kids of 5-8-10 years old. We did it anyway just to try.
The first concern was where the Kids Club is located.
The Kids club is very far and is placed in an area that looks abandoned, just at the confinement of the resort. I found it a little bit scary and not secure for my children.
Another concern was the smell inside the kids club coming from the bathroom.
The first day I did not pay attention but the second day the smell was stronger, I asked to the only staff member that is running the kids club , about the smell.
I found out that there is no air conditioning, not water supplied directly and they don’t serve drinks either, only at lunch when the driver bring the meals for the kids.
I went into the bathroom and I cannot describe how disgusting.....…..,
how many kids in one day can go without flushing the toilet? I told to the staff member in charge for 12 kids (that day), Why They don’t correct this matter, she was enough “kind” to tell me that they come by every 2-3 days to load the water. I left my kids because I did not want to disappoint them, the day after I was happy because they preffered not to enjoy the kids club. I decided to avoid the kids club, with sadness because vacation should be a little bit vacation also for parents.

After 3 days, my kids asked me to see the kids club again and see if they could play there.
Of course I said yes and we took our shoes and we started to walk toward the kids club. Once Arrived the smell was the same but unsurprisingly there were no kids. Of course my kids didn't want to stay and I was happy about their decision, I didn't like the kids club in the first place.

Besides the above, the cleaning service was very lousy, rooms are very tired, (often not cleaned properly)
And we found those animals......
……cockroaches in the rooms and bathrooms.
The entertainment is very low profile, is usually performed from the waiters/waitress of the resort. You must pay for super alcohol.
Glass cups and plates are often dirty, ( I noticed that they don’t wash it properly)
bring wet wipes with you and Kleenex in case you have little ones with you.
I am not a clean maniac (with 4 kids would be impossible) but I like clean places and Jolly Beach is not.
However at the end we didn’t want to ruin also the feeling of our vacation and we adapted to the rude and unclean way Jolly Beach staff and facilities are running the resort.
One thing is sure you don’t pay for what you get. No value for the money you pay.

One star is an accurate rating.

I am sorry that I didn’t pay attention to some “bad reviews”, but “very true” on trip advisor. Initially I thought were too bitter and I thought was just a bad luck or picky people, then I followed the good reviews describing Jolly Beach amazing!!!paradise!!! best vacation ever!!!
and unfortunately I booked the vacation at Jolly Beach in Antigua.
I have been in a 4 and 5 stars resort only once and Jolly Beach is not close to the 2 stars.

How ever good luck and enjoy your vacation !!!!


Joanna Pitsburgh

My twelve year old son Aidan and I enjoyed our time at Jolly Beach Resort so much that I left the Island of Antigua with an application form to teach there for a year. I was overwhelmed with the care and attention given to the children at Jolly Beach by the entertainment staff to ensure they had an enjoyable holiday. The programme of daily activities were varied and aimed at all ages. I myself, though I am 39 years old, freely participated in all the activities in the games room with Aidan. We also played beach volleyball most days and although I am a nervous wreck I managed some water sports. The entertainment at the pool was great craic especially the bingo. I met the most beautiful people inside and out in the form of entertainment, bar,catering, cleaning,security and all the hotel staff. The management of this hotel should take note of the high professional staff that they employ and reflect this in their wage slips.

I would highly recommend this as the best holiday you may ever go on. I surely did check in andI fairly chilled out. Thank you Jolly Beach. Best Wishes Always Irene AND Wee Aidan.