we have just returned from a two week stay at the verandah spa resort . we were quite anxious about our visit almost to the point of changing our travel arrangements having read the poor reviews that it had been getting since it opened in oct. we are so glad we did'nt.
we would like to say that we found the resort excellent, nothing seemed too much trouble, all the staff were friendly and always provided a good standard of service in the bars & restuarants.
the three restaurants served a good quality and variation of food,especially nicoles which was excellent for an all inclusive hotel, there had been initially a little difficulty securing a reservation to eat there but this seemed to be rectified quickly,
if we had to gripe about anything, it would be that the coffee option could be a lot better flask coffee at breakfast is ok but at other times it would nice to have more options of fresh coffee, and they should have a better selection of beers available, the wines served were good
the suite rooms were very spacious , well equiped and clean, most have a sea view and the ones occupied presently are convenient to all facilities. we had room 267 which was an excellent location for all amenities with a good beach & sea view for a standard bayview suite.
we found that there were plenty of sun loungers both at the beach & pool and plenty of shade at both beaches. the watersports facilities was v good and the beach staff exceptionally friendly & helpful.
the resort was not at full occupancy due to some accomodation still to complete, but you werent aware of any work going on, the resort was quite relaxed and low key, as was the evening entertainment although most nights v good,but don't go there if your a party animal.
we highly recommend this resort.

The Verandah Resort and Spa is a lovely resort and the staff are amazing.
The resort was clean and well managed with two good beaches and a big pool.
The 3 restaurants were lovely and the food excellent, however there was one fabulous extra, the chef would prepare anything you fancied!!
We are a well traveled family with a disabled child who usually have something to complain about on holiday, we were proved wrong on this resort.
Mr Samuel and Mr Peters ran the resturant and made you feel welcome and relaxed and would do anything for you.
Ronaldo the Chef and his team did not deliver one bad meal in 3 weeks!
Dayton the bar manager and his team were a pleasure to see everyday. They were friendly informative and never left a glass empty.
Myriam was fab!
House keeping and the waiting staff were exceptional, always on call and happy to help.
Lionel was great, any quiery any time he could fix it!
Overall a great place and a great holiday, we couldnt fault it. Five stars!
Looking forward to going again in the near future.

We needed somewhere to stay in Antigua for 3 nights en route to a week's sailing in the BVIs and the Verandah (despite the mixed reviews we'd read) did not disappoint.

The rooms were spacious, well appointed and spotlessly clean and the verandah was huge! Our suite was not right on the ocean but still had a great view and was centrally located for the pool, restaurants, beach, bars etc. The food was more than OK - especially the buffet where you could make yourself a caesar salad and eat delicious fresh fruit. As others have said, the egg station at breakfast was fantastic. Only one major grumble - the coffee is undrinkable. Take your own with some filters and use the coffee machine in your room.

It was the first time we'd done an all inclusive and we would definitely do it again. The quality of the alcoholic drinks was good and they were freely available - we even had bucks fizz at breakfast one day! Having said that no one seemed to abuse the system and we didn't see anyone worse for wear or drinking heavily. Without exception staff were friendly and helpful.

The beach facilities were good and we took out kayaks and hobie cats and never had to wait. It's true there could be more shade (more umbrellas would be good as well as preventing people bagging the shady spots with their towels at 6.30 in the morning!!). The beach bar is a lovely spot with a great view over the beach.

If you want a pamper while you're there the spa is also excellent and has a lovely shady verandah with squashy sofas to relax into.

Because of the situation (in the middle of nowhere) the resort is very quiet and peaceful - however if we'd been there longer than 3 days we would probably wanted to have explored further afield and taxis are extortionate. It might be worth hiring a car for a day or two?

PS due to the constant breeze didn't see a mosquito the whole time we were there!

Having booked our week at the Verandah back in July 2007, for our 30th wedding anniversary, we monitored the reviews with some trepidation, but were absolutely delighted with our stay. We had booked an Ocean Front room and having checked in and enjoyed our welcome drink, we were quickly whisked by shuttle to Room 179, which had a great combination of location and view. The room was very smart and comfortable, with all the facilities we needed. Unlike other reviewers, we never managed to create even the slightest flood in the bathroom!
Access around the resort was very easy, with frequently available shuttles, although we usually walked to the reception building when required -an easy 10 minute stroll from the main pool area at "resort pace". The spectacular Devil's Bridge is also a 10 minute stroll and well worth the effort, particularly when the waves are high. For variety, the other beach adjacent to reception is fine, with its own bar, and Long Bay Beach is only a five minute walk from reception. We enjoyed the food in all three restaurants and, unlike some other reviewers, felt that there was an excellent variety of both local and International cuisine. For example, one day in the Sea Breeze Restaurant I enjoyed a goat curry, while my wife had an excellent portion of roast beef. Nicole's is certainly worth visiting, with an even better menu and a special ambience.The service in all the restaurants for every meal was friendly and professional, with drinks arriving within a maximum of 2 or 3 minutes after ordering, and "top-ups" being offered without prompting.
The relatively small size of the resort meant that we were able to have a friendly drink and chat with the people who we frequently encountered. Drinks in the Pool bar were great, and entertainment, although low key, was very pleasant.
A visit to St John's via the hotel shuttle for $14 per person made a change, but the main shopping area is really just a means to extract cash from cruise ship passengers, rather than a great place to spend time.
Overall, our most lasting memory of the Verandah will probably be the genuinely friendly and helpful attitude of all the staff, and the other local people that we met. They made the time to ask about our day, and our plans for the rest of our stay. We would highly recommend the Verandah for a relaxing break in Antigua.