We were quite impressed with the resort. However there are due to be 250 rooms but as it isn't complete there were only 25 in use. When more rooms are in use it will not be so pleasant and some rooms will be a long walk to the pool/restaurants.

Breakfast was buffet style and we're not a fan of this but the food was ok.

The rooms were nice and spacious, with a small kitchenette which would be great for a family.

Probably ideal for a family but not a quiet place when it's completed I think.

I visited with my husband and son at the start of the month for a week's holiday. I knew that the resort was new and not quite finished but unless you actually go and look for the work being done on the last few units, there is very little impact and certainly you don't get any noise or other disruption. They are building more games and leisure facilities in another area of the resort which will probably make the hotel more suitable for people with families with older children too - at the moment it is probably best for people with younger kids or couples who just want to chill.

The resort is beautiful and the gardens are stunning - and will only get better I think. Lovely landscaping and lots of gardeners in evidence. The food was good at all the restaurants. I would recommend Nicoles - as it had a slight edge on the others - but all were good. The staff in the restaurants were all very friendly with none of the 'perfuntory' service attitude that I have unfortunately found in some hotels in the Caribbean. They all seemed very happy to be working in the hotel and were genuinely concerned to make sure you had a good holiday - it was a lovely atmosphere.

The spa was wonderful - highly recommended - I was told to go by lots of other guests who very also very positive. Great Thai Massage and lovely facials.

Good, large comfortable rooms, lovely kid's club with a great climbing frame, the watersports were fun (and the beach and bay very safe for children), a very nice gym and a great pool with bar service round the pool too - a wonderful holiday in all. Good bands in the evening and a magician one night who was surprisingly good. We'll definately be going back.

We only stayed a week but we really felt that we'd recharged the batteries and we'll definately go back. It's such a pleasure to be able to write a review without having a moan...the only minor complaint was the fact that the lovely cooling breeze (which was very welcome) meant that my husband didn't notice he was burning - but I can't blame the hotel for that! The bar staff did warn him!

I stayed here for a week March/April.

This seems like a budget young family hotel.

The resort is still being built so a third is still a building site. Personally I would say that 154-172 seemed like the nicest placed. The finished sections of garden/landscaping on the resort are beautifully planted and this was my favourite part of the hotel. The rooms are basic and spacious, but have great bathrooms and though they are advertised as sleeping four, this would feel quite Butlins-esque.

There is only really one usable beach which is small and good for children but could have been in Devon (UK) and does not feel like a caribbean beach. Next door to the resort is Long Bay which is beautiful but you will get charged to sit on it.

The food is OK, better on buffet nights, but maybe a bit synthetic (no real juice which seems crazy, only re-constituted syrup and concentrate). And while some of the staff are really great, particularly in the restaurant, many are just doing the minimum required and will happily let you resolve your own needs or find what you are looking for. I am not sure if this is part of the caribbean laid back ness, but if they want to build a good reputation should work on this.

There are also notably no comfortable communal areas - and as it was stormy while we were there, you end up sitting in your room rather than at a hard seat in the open air bar, especially when you don't want to drink or be in a bar atmosphere.
The spa was nice but the last appointment is at 3.30pm which seems strange and restricts its usability.

I think the resort needs more attention to detail, comfort and user friendliness - even the feed back form doesn't really want to know what you think (it has the tiniest space for suggestions). In it's current state it's basic and a bit harsh, and as it doesn't have the best natural resources really needs to work on finding it's unique selling point. It's advertised as a green resort, but this really wasn't apparent.

We stayed at the Verandah for 2 weeks from March 6-20. We were four people (36 & 38, 64 & 67). I'll break this review down into sections to make it more helpful:

ROOMS: Very large, and we were in a great location (176 & 177). Nicely furnished, if not extravagant. Comfortable sitting area. The bed is very large and comfortable, as are the pillows. The verandah on each room is fantastic - large and private with excellent views. Yes, the shower leaked onto the bathroom floor - it was unavoidable. Towels had to be laid down daily to soak up the water, which was a bit of a pain. Noise was only an issue in our room once in our room, while my parents had more difficulty with noise in their room. The rooms are not well soundproofed, so if you have noisy neighbours, you'll hear it! As long as the neighbours are quiet, all is fine.

FOOD: Seabreeze: Breakfast and lunch buffets. Food is always the same at breakfast, and was not always as hot as it should be. The egg station is the best! Dinner was sometimes buffet, sometimes not. Usually good/very good service and food.
Nicole's: More upscale, and plans to charge an additional fee in the future. Usually excellent service, except our last night when they seemed to forget us after the entree, and we never saw a server again... they never saw a tip that night either! Food was a bit mixed, and the menu stayed the same way too long. They only change it every 2 weeks, but after complaining, they moved to the next menu early and we got to sample the next menu a couple of times. They really should change this menu every week.
Desserts were average, sometimes great (blueberry cheesecake!) and sometimes disappointing ("homestyle" apple pie! - NOT!)
Beach Bar: Good basic burgers and fries, etc. Service is sometimes mixed and a bit unfriendly.
No room service is available.
Champagne is complimentary and recommended!
The dress code should be enforced more strongly, and people should respect the local traditions and expectations. Don't go to dinner wearing shorts and t-shirts, and don't let your kids do it, either!
Overall, food for an AI was at or somewhat above expectations.

STAFF: Generally fantastic, especially in restaurants and pool bar (Monique and Vera). Porters/shuttle drivers tend to be sullen and non-communicative.. Walking is a nice alternative. Front desk seems friendly, but failed repeatedly to have shuttles at the room, or taxi's waiting when requested. This was an ongoing problem. We ended up befriending a taxi driver (Desmore Francis) and hired him repeatedly. Other taxi drivers were absolutely rude and unacceptable (especially Farrel - who is the WORST taxi driver we've ever encountered!!!!!) Very few taxi's service this hotel, and that should be changed.
Guest services staff are very nice. Tour desk offers everything you could want. We recommend the Xtreme Circumnavigation and Eco Tour, as well as the Excellence Catamaran to Barbuda - heaven on a beach!
Computer service is only available in guest services from 9-11pm on one computer. Wireless is available if you bring your laptop. They should have more computers available, and throughout the day, to help their guests.
A small library is available at guest services.

Beach equipment is varied and of good quality. Kayaking was especially enjoyable on the bay, and good snorkeling is in Dian Bay, you just have to get away from the resort area and closer to the reef.

BEACH & WATER: The beaches (2) are small, but fine. The smaller of the two (the 'left' one) is less used, but features a volleyball net and a small bar. Many loungers and palapas, but the water has more weeds than the 'right' beach. They're fine - not exceptional. The water in Dian Bay was perfectly clear for most of our 2 weeks, but stormy weather and higher waves stirred up the silt and sand and made the water quite cloudy (even muddy) the last 2 days we were there. Usually it's lovely water.

Very close by is Long Bay Beach (a 2 minute walk from the front of the resort) - very nice, some more good snorkeling (right side) and the enjoyable "Chill-Out Bar". Can see the Pineapple Beach Resort looking a bit tired and motel-like from the beach. The Dian Bay Resort never showed a sign of life the 2 weeks we were at Verandah - it looks deserted and closed - an eye-sore, really, without any beach - just a rock sea-wall!

Devil's Bridge is also a short walk away - 10 mins - with amazing views. Must be seen! Wadadli hut is on the way, as are a couple of coves with more very enjoyable snorkeling. All the water was a comfortable temperature.

POOLS: The big one looked lovely, but with all the children using it I was leery of taking the plunge. The smaller pool was only just open, but offered a lovely little oasis which was undiscovered by the other guests. Enjoy it while you can, before the kids get to it!

GUESTS: UK, US, Canadian, some Italian. Mostly friendly, some were outstanding. Overall, not a problem. HOWEVER, as 2 adult couples on a relaxing resort vacation, there was a MAJOR problem here with the huge numbers of children. Countless infants, toddlers, small, medium and large children, often badly behaved... screaming, whining, running and disrupting the stay of others. It was like vacationing in a daycare! I'm not kidding - it really was intolerable. Sorry people - if your child is acting up and screaming during a meal, remove them from the restaurant. Don't just sit there expecting the rest of us to listen to your wailing brat. Two weeks of screaming children 3 meals a day and at frequent intervals in between did much to fray the nerves and offset the tranquility that might otherwise have been enjoyed.

However, the Verandah is billing itself as "Family Friendly" - and they mean it. If you're looking for romance, peace and quiet, etc... I'd suggest a different resort.

Next time we go to Antigua (and we will return - Fabulous island & people!) - we're going to stay at Galley Bay, which is Adults Only!

Nightly entertainment: Much improvement could be made, but some were perfectly fine and entertaining.

Housekeeping could also improve a good deal. Shampoos and soaps and skin cream were not replenished when empty. Dishes weren't washed thoroughly, and I question the cleanliness of some of the sheets and towels - our last set of sheets had blatant dried blood on it, while towels seemed sometimes to have dirty patches before being touched. More care and attention is required.

Overall, a mixed bag: great people (generally), outstanding location, a lovely constant breeze which keeps the insects away and moderates the temperature, good food and drinks, good beaches, nice pools, but dragged down by the overabundant children, questionable housekeeping, surly porters and poor taxi availability and some rude drivers (beware of Farrel!!!), lack of computer access and noise problems between units.

It is the fabulous location, incredible island, great shopping and excursion opportunities, and great people which make me give this resort a 4**** rating, but I actually only feel the Verandah itself is worthy of 3***'s.

Antigua is phenomenal and we will be back! We will also return to Barbuda and spend a week in utter beach bliss.