the tranquility, simplicity and beauty of this resort is evident from the moment you arrive in the open air lobby surrounded by beautifully landscaped grounds and tropical blooms. we were greeted by the general manager and staff with cold towels, a cool fruity drink and a moment to ponder the week ahead. my husband and i exchanged a glance and knew this was paradise found and we were in for a vacation of a lifetime. no check in to speak of other than a quick tour of the grounds we were guided through to our room which was on the third floor set a few feet behind one of the most beautiful beaches i have ever seen.

and wow what a room. spaceous, elegant and comfortable with photographs of palms, tropical plants and flowers in black and white and grey adorning the walls. looking out beyond our balcony the greens and blues and honey colored sand exploding before us set between lush hills sporting palm trees right on the beach swaying was very very inviting and soothing. the bathroom set behind the wall of the bed had an oversized tub with a huge window concealed behind grey wooden slats. on either side of the bathtub behind frosted glass doors were the shower and bathroom stall with windows, all overlooking green mountains, a tropical farm and a shallow river with wildlife, trees and palms. scented lime and honey beauty products were plentiful. our ice was replenished three times a day and a phone call with quick service brought more if needed. we also had fresh tropical fruit every day. the mini bar was stocked with the usual and not so usual snacks and beverages. double sinks and plenty of closet space and shelving gave us plenty of room in this beauty of a bathroom. soft terry lined cotton robes and slippers were set out for us. also supplied were bug repellant candles and spray, large oversized cotton towels, even the hangers for your clothing were plush and plentiful. soaking in the tub overlooking the marsh was relaxation beyond belief....simple things set among beautiful surroundings echoed throughout our entire stay. the lighting in the room was sensual and the high, peaked ceilings were whitewashed in beige.

i have to say it was by far the most beautiful and inviting room i have ever stayed in. the balcony overlooked the beach, as all rooms do and had a day bed and a table with two grey wicker chairs. a light chiffon drape blew in the breeze and could be tied back if need be. we spent every morning on the balcony enjoying a light breakfast from a fully stocked menu which is complementary.

the staff were outrageous from the young men who delivered room service to the maids who visited two and three times a day, the concierge and room service staff....all of them courteous, friendly, helpful and always smiling...and those smiles made our day.....every day! one of the boys who took care of us on the beach noticed my music and was happy to go to st. johns and purchase the latest and the greatest soca for me, even showing me the "dance moves"....very very cute. i was also taught how to snare a lizard with a looped palm.....very warm and friendly and eager to make our stay very very memorable. he and others took care of us daily with scented ice cold towels, fresh fruit and cold bottled water with extra ice while we swam, snorkled, and enjoyed that heavenly beach.

and what a beach that is....the sand is honey almond making the water a beautiful dark blue and green....the beach itself is dotted with palms shadowing, swaying and singing while you feast your eyes on green hills surrounding and protecting this pristine beach. one end of the resort is for couples, and the other is for families and it works beautifully. the dive shop is located by the couples end of the beach and the young men who operate the snorkling trips and daily instruction on hobie's, kyaks and wind surfers were wonderful, friendly and courteous...and again, those smiles. a lovely woman opened up a small stand selling beautiful hand made jewelry and the usual t-shirts and trinkets daily and when i offered her a generous tip, she returned a few days later with a handmade anklet for myself....very nice lady.

the food at both of the restaurants was wonderful, the choices were abundant and the service was outstanding. the drinks were all delicious and the staff at the bar enjoyed our company as much as we enjoyed theirs. we tried twice to eat on the jetty, but in the evening we had a few downpours so we werent able to enjoy the beach in the evening but it really didnt matter, we witnessed a beautiful thunder and lightening storm while dining in the open air restaurant which was surrounded by beautiful landscaped grounds and opened onto the beach. cool breezes kept us comfortable and desserts to die for satisfied our sweet tooth. a buffet was set up daily for the children serving dinner by the pool in the late afternoon.

we enjoyed a light lunch everyday on the beach, cold fish, roti, wonderful salads, unique fruits and tropical drinks....again, simple things surrounded by outstanding service and beauty is what this resort is all about....pure heaven. burgers and fries were also on the menu as well as sandwiches and vegetables.....

the spa was simple, greys and whites with glass walls inviting the lush green tropical plants lining either side to peek in. i had several treatments and they were simply put: outstanding. and the gals who worked there were friendly and fun.

the pool by the bar in the lobby was uniquely shaped with a shower and lounge chairs, some sitting directly on a ledge built into the pool with water lapping underneath. the tiles around the pool were tricky.....very slippery whether or not you were barefoot??? maybe the one thing out of two that i found to be out of the norm.....the other is the lack of music by the pool/bar area during the day. i dont think that it would take away from the serenity of the resort, light raggae...many soft options out there....but not for one minute did it reflect our stay. there was a piano softly playing in the evening until ten...even a small band would be nice as the lobby is magnificent with the asian restaurant east nearby, but closed off with glass for air conditioning. the lobby was bliss.....white soft cushioned chairs, lounges, ottomans, dark wood tables, softly lit, open air, orchids and tropical arrangements scattered about. lovely in the evening, comfortable and inviting to sit with a drink before or after dinner. small birds and bats fluttering in and out with the sound of the frogs singing their tunes in the background. yes, this is the caribbean and the evenings become just as magical as daylight......we watched the moon set, full and sparkling from our balcony one late evening....very secluded and romantic.

we took a snorkling trip with the resort boat and the friendly team of shipmates...and had a beautful lunch aboard the boat...grilled salmon, fresh fruit, roti and veggies, and of course a couple of wadadli's, great tasting local beer......very nice. we stopped to snorkle on a reef but had to retreat because of the wall of jellyfish approaching us and the choppy sea....it would have been amazing...we were told that a previous hurricane picked up this particular reef and dropped it back in the sea. later on i was also told that right beyond that reef the sea level dropped over 500 feet, hoping i got my "stats" correct.....it was an incredible trip and im happy i didnt know about the drop at the time when i was floating about...the jellyfish were enough ! the beach we stopped at was white sand the blue turkoise water and we swam for awhile before heading back.

another trip we took was the circumnav/power boat tour....wow, we had a great day and i highly recommend this trip. we saw the entire island and had a wonderful time, save for the wall, this time a wall of water which jd, the captain had to pretty much go right into while speeding through the choppy waters of the caribbean sea.....when i turned my head and saw the captain of the boat duck, i knew we were in for it....slammed by a wave coming through the front of the boat, in the boat, over the boat..... right in our faces was not something i was expecting, but we did laugh the entire day and enjoyed the company of other vacationers. we had a great lunch on one of the most beautiful beaches i had ever visited, rocks, paths, blue green water, wildlife and trees with white sand was very inviting and i wouldve enjoyed the entire day there. and the crew were friendly and fun and gave us the facts of this beautiful island with great humor and charm.....the people of antigua are what is so enticing, but we have always enjoyed the culture and local people wherever we go in the caribbean.....making our vacations so much more memorable, returning some day.

we had dinner twice at abracadabra in english harbor and it was outrageous, pasta and lobster dinners were wonderful and the owners were graceous and friendly.

we also ate at a beautiful restaurant at the english inn....set upon the mountain overlooking this beautiful resort, dining outside was another gloreous evening....great staff, friendly and charming...as is the entire island.

we used the same gentleman for all of our taxi trips which was costly, but for us just part of the deal. he was wonderful and we liked and enjoyed james very much.

have i said enough? i think so. we have already made plans for next year bringing our three young adult children. we want them to experience another side of a caribbean vacation, no bling, no disco, no shows or games.......just another version of time spent away together, not often enough, introducing them to a place that is magical and tranquil and quiet.

i found a gem.