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Blue Waters Hotel: Traveler Reviews


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87% Recommend
4.5 of 5 stars 341 reviews
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Dont believe the hype!

Blue Waters Hotel

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3 of 5 stars
Tillyfivestar 1 contribution
London
Dec 10, 2007 | Trip type: Couples
7/18 found this review helpful

We read most of the ‘very-highly rated’ reviews of Blue Waters and consequently booked a two week vacation here. But on a subconscious level, which we never shared until our arrival, we had concerns that the reviews could prove to be too good to be true - unfortunately, they were. They set an expectation of high quality with excellent levels of service and a discerning clientele, unfortunately again, it wasn’t.

I guess our expectations of ‘superior quality’ were a little too high, as we weren’t overly impressed with the Blue Waters Hotel Antigua. It isn’t a bad hotel, far from it, but in our opinion it’s an upmarket ‘all-inclusive’ and friendly ‘family run’ resort for clientele hoping for exactly that.

We’d definitely recommend doing your own research before booking, as it may not be for you either if you prefer your holiday expectation bubble not being burst by an aging and tired hotel with a unique and indifferent character-fuelled service. The public spaces are shabby around the edges and the individual rooms, whilst many of them have been ‘refurbished’, are average at best. We moved rooms twice because of the standard of finish and location in relation to the ‘beach front’. The staff’s marketed ‘warm service’ is best summarised as character-full or Caribbean-friendly which is just about befitting an all-inclusive resort, but don’t expect any well trained staff attending your every need with five-star training, sophistication or polish.

In retrospect, we should have followed our normal trusted route; staying at hotels / resorts with an accredited reputation for good service and quality endorsed by groups like Leading Small Hotels of the World [LSHW], Small Luxury Hotels or Relais & Chateaux; and having now travelled the length and breadth of the island, we would recommend booking the LSHW ‘Carlisle Bay’ on the remote south coast.

Most of the guests seemed to be either older cruise-shipers or seasoned all-inclusive-ers that relish the comfort of being told what, where – and even what clothes to wear - when they eat. You’ll find most guests discussing the ‘quality hot buffet’ plate [surely an oxymoron] over a watered down cocktail in the tired lounge afterwards and not many seasoned travellers revealing their gastronomic discoveries and experiences of the beautiful riches Antigua has to offer. Thankfully we didn’t stay on an all-inclusive basis.

But, if you want a reasonable base within a taxi ride of fine-dining and local restaurants’ and want to be based in a hotel that’s closest to most of the islands high-end shops – within 10mins of St.Johns – then you should stay here.

  • Liked — Location
  • Disliked — Service
  • My ratings for this hotel
    • 2 of 5 stars Value
    • 2 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 3 of 5 stars Location
    • 3 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 2 of 5 stars Check in / front desk
    • 2 of 5 stars Service
    • 1 of 5 stars Business service (e.g., internet access)
  • Date of stay November 2007
  • Visit was for Romantic getaway
  • Traveled with Spouse / significant other
  • Age group 35-49
  • Member since September 16, 2007
  • Would you recommend this hotel to a friend? No
  • I recommend this hotel for Girlfriend getaway, Older travelers, Tourists
  • I do not recommend this hotel for Young singles, An amazing honeymoon, A romantic getaway, People with disabilities, Great pool scene, Families with young children, Families with teenagers
  • I selected this hotel as a top choice for Beach / Sun, Museums / Cultural / Historical sites, Great food / Wine, Spa
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
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Average price*: $724 (year-round)
Call now to book: 1-800-45-HOTEL from hotels.com
Excellent Location and service

Blue Waters Hotel

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5 of 5 stars
AndrewLiv 1 contribution
London
Dec 7, 2007 | Trip type: Couples
3/4 found this review helpful

We have recently returned from Blue Waters Hotel and were so impressed that we wanted to write a quick review (partly as everybody there had read this site before booking!).

The location is absolutely stunning. I have travelled throughout the world including Australia, Mauritius, Thailand, Dubai etc and this has to be the most beautiful location that I have ever stayed in. Each day we marvelled at the view from wherever we were sat.

The service was, at all times, excellent (though a few times a little surly) but it is 'Antigua service' and not, for example 'The One and Only Royal Mirage' level of service (where we last went this year in Dubai). Don't therefore expect the service to be the same as a five star hotel. That said, the staff were always very helpful and only wanted to please.

There is only one small downside and that is that the rooms were, in our view, a little 'tired'. The bathrooms were big but just about four star in quality and lay-out. They do need upgrading as does some of the furniture in the bedroom. However it still did not stop us having a wonderful time.

To finish - not one person (and you will meet most of them as the hotel has only 77 rooms!) had a bad word to say about Blue Waters and ALL said they would return.

So, expect a very good four star and you will have a fantastic time. The location however, is very definitely six star!

  • Liked — The View
  • Disliked — Poor quality bathroom
  • My ratings for this hotel
    • 4 of 5 stars Value
    • 3 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 2 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 5 of 5 stars Check in / front desk
    • 4 of 5 stars Service
  • Date of stay December 2007
  • Visit was for Quality time with friends
  • Traveled with Spouse / significant other
  • Age group 35-49
  • Member since December 07, 2007
  • Would you recommend this hotel to a friend? Yes
  • I recommend this hotel for An amazing honeymoon, A romantic getaway, Girlfriend getaway, People with disabilities, Older travelers, Great pool scene, Tourists
  • I do not recommend this hotel for Young singles, An amazing honeymoon, A romantic getaway, People with disabilities, Great pool scene, Families with young children, Families with teenagers
  • I selected this hotel as a top choice for Beach / Sun
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
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Average price*: $724 (year-round)
Call now to book: 1-800-45-HOTEL from hotels.com
Amazing wedding

Blue Waters Hotel

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5 of 5 stars
msganc 20 contributions
Basingstoke
Nov 21, 2007 | Trip type: Family
3/3 found this review helpful

We got married at Blue Waters in Dec 06. As all the previous reviews have stated it is a fantastic hotel. It is relatively small and so is quiet and peaceful (which may not be everybody's cup of tea). I can't really add much to earlier reviews and I have nothing negative to say about the hotel.

If you are thinking of getting married here I would highly recommend it and they only have 1 wedding per day unlike the conveyor belt at Sandals!!!

There is a restaurant just down the road called The Cove. It is beautifully furbished with very contemporary decor and the food is excellent.

I would also recommend booking a room in block 100 if possible as these have uninterrupted views of the ocean.

Overall, if you want a peaceful holiday in beautiful surroundings with great food and service then Blue waters is for you - they made it a very special wedding day/week for us!!!

  • Liked — Quiet and peaceful
  • Disliked — Nothing
  • My ratings for this hotel
    • 5 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 5 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 5 of 5 stars Check in / front desk
    • 5 of 5 stars Service
    • 5 of 5 stars Business service (e.g., internet access)
  • Date of stay December 2006
  • Visit was for Personal event (wedding, ...)
  • Traveled with Family (extended)
  • Age group 25-34
  • Member since April 25, 2006
  • Would you recommend this hotel to a friend? Yes
  • I recommend this hotel for An amazing honeymoon, A romantic getaway, Girlfriend getaway, Older travelers, Tourists
  • I do not recommend this hotel for Young singles, Great pool scene, Families with teenagers
  • I selected this hotel as a top choice for Beach / Sun, Great food / Wine
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
Check Rates
Average price*: $724 (year-round)
Call now to book: 1-800-45-HOTEL from hotels.com
Wonderful, unforgettable, and stress free wedding!!!

Blue Waters Hotel

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4 of 5 stars
NCarolinaTarheel 3 contributions
Charlotte, NC
Nov 21, 2007 | Trip type: Couples
8/8 found this review helpful

We just returned from our wedding vacation at Blue Waters and it was everything I was hoping for and more! I'll start from the beginning.... The ANU airport arrival went fairly smoothly and it was very easy to get a taxi to take us to Blue Waters. When we arrived, we were greeted by the manager of the hotel and Alicia, the wedding coordinator. We were checked in, served rum punch, and then given a welcome letter with a time to meet with Alicia to plan the wedding. We were traveling with three other guests (my parents and brother) who were sharing a junior hillside suite, which was very spacious! Our room was a beachfront room (116). The room was fairly small, as was the bathroom, but the view from the balcony was spectacular. I've never seen anything like it!

Over the next few days, we spent a lot of time at the restaurants, pools, beaches, and bars. The food at The Palm was great, especially the flank steak. The ribs on barbeque night were a favorite too. We went to Vivienne's one night for dinner and I would not recommend it unless you have a true taste for gourmet. It's a cozy quiet restaurant, but they charge a surcharge for some dishes (like beef tenderloin and lobster) for the All-inclusive guests. We were a little put off by that, so we just stuck with The Palm. The drinks were great, especially the ones made by Carolyn. The "Shake Me Up Joe" was a favorite of my husband and brother. Mom and dad enjoyed the strawberry dacquiris. Activities during the day are limited - this is a sit-in-your-beach-chair-with-a-book resort. My new husband loved the Hobie Catamarans, but got a little bored after a few days. My younger brother wished there was a more lively nightlife, so this is not a place for young party-goers. The pools were great, especially at night. You could stare up at the tall palms and full sky of stars. It was a sight I will never forget.

We planned the wedding with Alicia on Monday, went to St. John's on Tuesday for our license, and got married on Wednesday. Alicia was great and planned everything with ease. On the morning of the wedding, I went to the spa and had the bridal spa package. The seaweed wrap made my skin so soft and the facial made me glow. She did my nails, hair, and makeup and I thought she did a very good job. Then I went to the suite where my parents and brother were staying to get dressed. Alicia brought me my bouquet and I was astonished at how beautiful it was; orchids, antheriums, and birds-of-paradise with baby's breath. Gorgeous bouquet! My dad walked me down the stone steps "aisle" to the wedding gazebo. We had a steel drum playing Canon in D and I thought it was lovely. The officiant, Ulrich Matthews, introduced himself to us and led a beautiful and meaningful ceremony. We hung on to every word. He had such a powerful presence. Then we ate our chocolate wedding cake and Champagne, which was very good. The videographer was recording the whole thing and the photographer was taking photos. The band played "One Love" and we had our first dance. Afterwards, the photographer took us around the resort for about 45 minutes to take pictures - he took about 175 pictures and we bought the large photo package. We went out on the beach and everyone was congratulating and clapping for us. After a freshen up break, we boarded the Wadadli Cat private sunset cruise at around 4:30. I would highly recommend this! It was hilarious trying to beat the tide to the boat in my wedding dress. We danced and drank rum punch (more rum than punch!) and enjoyed a beautiful sunset. We went into the harbor and sailed by Carnival Cuise ship where everyone was cheering us. We sailed back to Blue Waters and then had a nice dinner on the balcony in The Palm. It was the most amazing day of our lives and I can't stop thinking about it. The only criticism that I have at all is that the gazebo wasn't decorated as much as I wanted and they had hung paper wedding bells which I could have done without. However, Alicia told us that the flowers were not very plentiful during this time of year. But the sea and the greenery and the natural backdrop was really enough. So beautiful.

We received our video and photos two days after our wedding. The video was very nice and captured the ceremony perfectly - the sound was great. They added some advertising at the end, but generally it is a great keepsake for us to watch on our anniversaries. The photos were really great, but the photo album didn't impress us too much. The pages were the peel-back sticker type, not matted or professional looking. But he got some excellent photos and we are very pleased with them. The next day champagne breakfast was wonderful! We ordered almost everything on the menu and sat on the balcony in our robes looking out at the gorgeous view.

During our trip, we took a taxi to Shirley Heights, which didn't really impress us. It took 40 minutes to get there and it was very crowded and the food was very expensive. Seemed like a tourist trap. We did get some good pictures, though. FYI, the taxi trips really add up if you do a lot of excursions. We absolutely LOVED the Rainforest Canopy Tour. We went on 9 zip lines and a challenge course, which was a blast! I would do this if you like a thrill and make sure to bring tennis shoes/sneakers (I had to buy some in St. John's in order to go).

This was an unforgettable vacation. I would highly recommend it for a stress free wedding, a honeymoon, a second honeymoon, or a quiet romantic escape. I would not recommend it for singles, families with boisterous kids, or party-goers. We feel so refreshed and rejuvenated, which is such a great way to start out as newlyweds. We will return, for certain, to spend an anniversary in this truly special place.

  • Liked — The location and views
  • Disliked — Surchage for best dishes at Vivienne's restaurant for All-Inclusive guests
  • My ratings for this hotel
    • 4 of 5 stars Value
    • 4 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 4 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 5 of 5 stars Check in / front desk
    • 4 of 5 stars Service
  • Date of stay November 2007
  • Visit was for Personal event (wedding, ...)
  • Traveled with Spouse / significant other
  • Age group 25-34
  • Member since February 05, 2007
  • Would you recommend this hotel to a friend? Yes
  • I recommend this hotel for An amazing honeymoon, A romantic getaway, Older travelers, Tourists
  • I do not recommend this hotel for Young singles, Girlfriend getaway, People with disabilities, Great pool scene, Pet owners, Families with young children, Families with teenagers
  • I selected this hotel as a top choice for Beach / Sun, Outdoor / Adventure, Great food / Wine, Spa
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
Check Rates
Average price*: $724 (year-round)
Call now to book: 1-800-45-HOTEL from hotels.com
PARADISE

Blue Waters Hotel

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5 of 5 stars
codsals 3 contributions
salisbury,wilts
Nov 20, 2007 | Trip type: Couples
2/2 found this review helpful

We have just arrived back from the blue waters and I must say it was paradise on earth.
It was the most fantastic holiday and I just wish that I could have stayed for a 3rd week.
The food was out of this world and please try vivyans it was wonderful.
I don't think there is one thing that I could fault.
the rooms, the staff, the location. were all wonderful.
I will defianatly be going back.

  • Liked — everything
  • Disliked — nothing
  • My ratings for this hotel
    • 5 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 5 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 5 of 5 stars Check in / front desk
    • 5 of 5 stars Service
  • Date of stay November 2007
  • Visit was for Quality time with family
  • Traveled with Spouse / significant other
  • Age group 35-49
  • Member since April 28, 2007
  • Would you recommend this hotel to a friend? Yes
  • I recommend this hotel for An amazing honeymoon, A romantic getaway, Older travelers, Great pool scene
  • I do not recommend this hotel for Young singles, Girlfriend getaway, People with disabilities, Great pool scene, Pet owners, Families with young children, Families with teenagers
  • I selected this hotel as a top choice for Beach / Sun, Great food / Wine
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
Check Rates
Average price*: $724 (year-round)
Call now to book: 1-800-45-HOTEL from hotels.com
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Blue Waters Hotel Also Known As

Address: Soldier's Bay, St. John's, Antigua