Royalton Antigua, an Autograph Assortment All-Inclusive Resort evaluation

The Caribbean has no scarcity of lovely, sunny island locations to flee the winter blues. The twin islands of Antigua & Barbuda had been on the prime of my record after listening to Antigua’s declare of boasting 365 seashores, one for on daily basis of the 12 months, and being the placement of a earlier season of Bravo’s ‘Below Deck.’

Following an affordable and cheerful keep on the Royalton Punta Cana Resort & Casino in the Dominican Republic a couple of years in the past, I used to be eager to strive the model on some of the picturesque islands conceivable. What higher technique to de-stress and take advantage of a tropical paradise than by not having to elevate a finger?

Here is my evaluation of the Royalton Antigua, An Autograph Collection All-Inclusive Resort — and what it is best to know earlier than reserving a keep there.

Associated: The best Marriott all-inclusive resorts for a perfect vacation

Since opening in 2019, friends can earn and redeem Marriott Bonvoy factors right here as a part of the Autograph Assortment.

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The property has an uncommon format on a protracted, skinny block of land as a result of restricted area in entrance of excessive elevation, that means every constructing and amenity is in roughly a straight line, fairly than being constructed round a central pool or social area.

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The good thing about that is that as you can’t see the entire property from any vantage level, everyone seems to be unfold out, there are not any bottlenecks and it would not really feel very massive and by no means felt crowded regardless of the workers advising me of a 97% occupancy fee throughout my keep.

Learn how to e book Royalton Antigua

Antigua isn’t a price range vacation spot (you may wish to think about Mexico or the Dominican Republic if you wish to save money in this region), and lodging costs mirror that. Staying in an all-inclusive property is a good way to make sure you know upfront how much your vacation will cost, as food and drinks costs can shortly add up exterior of the property.

All-inclusive charges with lodging, all meals, actions and most drinks (besides specialty wine and Champagne) for 2 friends sharing a base-level mountain view suite begin from $373 per evening within the off-season (the place heavy rain isn’t unusual), by to $742 per evening throughout the peak seasons, like many dates from December to April. The property is open year-round.

Diamond Membership VIP entry may be added for round $150 per room per evening, relying on the date.

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Bonvoy members can redeem 70,000 factors per evening on off-peak dates and as much as 115,000 factors per evening on peak dates, based mostly on double occupancy.

Listed below are the perfect playing cards for reserving Marriott Bonvoy properties, in addition to redeeming your factors at no cost nights:

• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: Earn 185,000 factors after you employ your new card to make $6,000 in purchases throughout the first six months of card membership. Supply ends Might 1. Annual price: $650 (see rates and fees)
• Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card: Earn 155,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus factors after utilizing your card to spend $5,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. Supply ends Might 1. Annual price: $250 (see rates and fees)
• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card: Earn three free evening awards (every evening valued as much as 50,000 factors) after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first three months out of your account opening. Sure motels have resort charges. Annual price: $95
• Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card: Earn three free evening awards after you employ your new card to make $6,000 in eligible purchases throughout the first six months of card membership. Redemption degree as much as 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors for every bonus free evening award, at motels collaborating in Marriott Bonvoy. Sure motels have resort charges. Annual price: $125 (see rates and fees)
• Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card: Earn 30,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus factors after utilizing your card to spend $1,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. Annual price: $0
• Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Credit Card: Earn 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first three months from account opening. Annual price: $250

The knowledge for the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.

Rooms are trendy, sensible and classy

I used to be assigned a spacious 452 sq. foot lagoon view suite on the highest ground for my two-night keep, and it had every little thing I wanted, together with a cushty king-size mattress, desk with chair, small couch and enormous flat-screen tv. Slippers and fluffy bathrobes within the closet added an opulent contact.

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There have been loads of shops to cost units and every little thing simply labored.

The lavatory featured a double self-importance, rain head bathe with wonderful water strain and temperature, and was stocked with Royalton-branded toiletries.

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A small balcony provided spectacular views, notably throughout dawn and sundown.

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The design type was impartial and wasn’t more likely to win any cutting-edge design awards, but it surely supplied a couple of nice pops of colours and nods to the native setting. Being an all-inclusive property, the minibar included native beer, gentle drinks, water, chips, chocolate and a Diamond Membership welcome present of a bottle of glowing wine and recent fruit.

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Diamond Membership comes full of advantages

Diamond Membership members obtain loads of further advantages, essentially the most notable being:

Fairly than verify in on the most important reception space, I used to be taken instantly by golf buggy to the Diamond Membership Lounge, which is far nearer to the guestrooms for check-in. This area has further snacks out there all day for Diamond Membership friends and extra premium spirits than on the common bars, together with Don Julio tequila, Gray Goose vodka, Hendricks gin and Hennessy cognac.

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The butler service throughout my keep was terrific, with a morning and night butler checking in with me by way of WhatsApp a number of instances per day to see if there was something they may do to help, and the seashore butler service meant I by no means wanted to elevate a finger as I labored on my tan.

With the specialty eating places requiring reservations (and desire given to Diamond Membership friends), having the Diamond Membership butlers organize reservations for every meal was an amazing perk.

You need not journey to the Maldives for an overwater bungalow

Royalton’s finest lodging are the six Chairman’s Overwater Bungalows, a singular characteristic within the Caribbean and the primary of its type in Antigua.

A staggering 1,442 sq. toes every, these bungalows do not come low-cost, ranging from $2,600 per evening in off-season.

They had been booked stable throughout my peak time keep, however I bought to have a fast peek inside one between a checkout and check-in and was wowed by what I noticed.

The spacious bed room led to an enormous toilet with a scorching tub that includes dreamy ocean views.

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Beneath the lounge espresso desk was a glass ground to identify any native sea creatures coming to say howdy.

My favourite a part of the overwater bungalows was the personal deck with a plunge pool, solar loungers and a hammock to soak up the Caribbean sunshine.

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In the event you fancy the bucket record expertise of a luxurious overwater bungalow however do not wish to journey to the Maldives or Bora Bora, you possibly can expertise this on the island of Antigua.

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Loads of eating choices with various meals

The Royalton Antigua has a spread of eating choices from a dawn espresso to late evening snacks and cocktails. Here’s what I used to be capable of check out throughout my two-night keep:

Connoisseur Marche buffet

The resort’s most important buffet restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and doesn’t require reservations. There have been loads of seating choices, and sitting exterior was particularly pretty to benefit from the heat, tropical air.

I sampled the meals right here for breakfast, and there have been many choices with loads of American favorites like bacon, scrambled eggs, pancakes, donuts, bagels and egg stations the place the pleasant cooks cooked omelets to order. Every little thing was tasty, although not notably high-end — given the tropical location, I hoped to see extra unique fruit choices than simply watermelon, pineapple and oranges.

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Hunter steak home

Royalton Antigua featured the identical steak home because the Royalton I visited in the Dominican Republic, proper all the way down to the identical decor and menu. Reservations are required — it was simple to attain a reserving by my Diamond Membership concierge, and people with out Diamond Membership may safe a desk after only a quick wait.

Whereas I loved my blended grill within the Punta Cana location, my rib eye steak in Antigua regarded wonderful and was served with a smile however was sadly very overcooked and difficult regardless of ordering it medium uncommon.

Grazie Trattoria

One other acquainted sight from my Punta Cana keep was the Italian restaurant Grazie Trattoria. I wasn’t wowed by dinner there previously, so determined to make the most of the Diamond Membership perk of consuming breakfast on this lovely setting overlooking the water and the bungalows.

It was a stunning begin to the day with wonderful workers available providing espresso espresso, recent juices, smoothies and eggs how you want them.

I like to recommend breakfast right here over the principle buffet if in case you have Diamond Membership entry.

Caribbean restaurant and grill

Hidden away behind Grazie is a Carribean restaurant I did not even understand was there till my butler pointed it out. This was the perfect meal of my keep, with a scrumptious acapulco-style ceviche adopted by a hearty native curried lamb stew, although the coconut shrimp appetizer was a miss, tasting just like the shrimp had been cooked from frozen.

Rating Brewhouse

I used to be excited to see a beer corridor marketed as one of many hospitality venues providing a spread of craft beers. First impressions had been good, with half a dozen beer faucets put in on the bar, and loads of beer-themed art work selling totally different sorts of beer from the world over.

Searching for to quench my thirst within the tropical warmth, I excitedly requested what beers the bartender needed to supply. Think about my shock when he sheepishly knowledgeable me just one beer, Carib, was out there, this being the identical beer out there on the pool bar, within the eating places and stocked within the minibar.

Whereas Carib was a suitable lager, and I acknowledge craft beers may be troublesome to supply on a tropical island (although I did discover a genuine craft brewery on the island), this appeared like an enormous missed alternative for a premium all-inclusive resort to solely inventory one sort of beer in its purpose-built brewhouse.

The pool and seashore rejoice the perfect of antigua

The resort is situated on Deep Bay, and whereas Antigua boasts 365 seashores (one for on daily basis of the 12 months), Deep Bay was among the many finest I noticed on the island. The image-perfect, white-crystal sand and heat, turquoise-blue waters had been heavenly and absolutely why individuals journey to this area.

All seashores in Antigua are public, and some instances a day, a ship tour would pull into the bay to point out some cruise ship daytrippers simply how lovely it was.

You understand your resort is on an impressive seashore when its a vacationer attraction for somebody with only some hours to see the island.

The pool setup behind the seashore was substantial, with loads of solar loungers out there regardless of the excessive occupancy throughout my peak-time keep.

I appreciated the vary of seating choices, from proper on the sand to subsequent to the pool to the personal cabanas that might be rented for an extra value.

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The swim-up bar blended cocktails till sundown for the thirsty crowd, with Diamond Membership friends provided sunlounger food and drinks service. Do not count on bespoke, artisan cocktails, however the frozen strawberry daiquiri hit the spot on a scorching day.

The vibe bought fairly merry late afternoon, however I’d not describe this as a celebration resort. Whereas households are welcome right here (and there may be even a youngsters membership), I’d say 90% of the friends had been within the 30-60-year age bracket.

Nightly leisure is surprisingly good

I’ve witnessed loads of nighttime leisure at all-inclusive resorts, from low-budget superstar impersonators to a formidable acrobatic present within the foyer at Zoetry Punta Cana.

On the primary evening of my keep was a “Carnival present” at 9 p.m. with an area dance troupe introduced in for the event. This was a well-produced and enjoyable celebration of Antiguan music, conventional gown and tradition, full with some compulsory viewers participation.

Whereas I did not don a headdress, it created an amazing ambiance and was a enjoyable technique to be taught extra in regards to the island’s historical past in an entertaining format.

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Service went above and past

This was the eighth Caribbean island I’ve visited and the perfect service I’ve skilled within the area. Everybody I interacted with had a broad smile and a welcoming demeanor and excelled at hospitality. There have been loads of mild jokes about how my two-night keep on the property was far too quick to take pleasure in the perfect of the Caribbean.

I appreciated how personalised the Diamond Membership expertise was, with my butler typically coming to seek out me within the public areas just like the pool and seashore to verify how I used to be doing, have a well mannered chat and see if there was something they may do to enhance my keep.

Although the meals was not faultless, the service at every meal was. I additionally famous how proactive the workers could be — I by no means needed to ask for something, which was not my expertise at different Caribbean locations.

Accessibility

Royalton Antigua’s lengthy, skinny format means you may get loads of steps in shifting from one finish of the property to the opposite. For these with mobility points, vast, flat paths linking each constructing and facility had been by no means crowded and supplied picturesque views throughout the seashore and lagoon.

Elevators can transport friends between flooring of guestrooms although with solely two elevators for 300 rooms, there have been some delays.

As all the time, we suggest calling to substantiate accessible room varieties and accessibility options of any resort or resort earlier than reserving and earlier than arrival.

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I totally loved my time at Royalton Antigua and located it a considerably extra luxurious expertise than the Royalton Punta Cana. The gorgeous property and the distinctive format cleverly made a 300-room, at-capacity resort by no means really feel busy.

Deep Bay is among the most lovely seashores on some of the lovely islands I’ve visited. Royalton must be recommended for securing this location, which was undoubtedly a difficult design and constructed because of the form of the out there land.

The terrific workers appeared to genuinely take pleasure in their jobs, balancing heat with initiative, and I immediately felt at house. Whereas Diamond Membership is an upcharge to what can already be an expensive vacation spot, particularly in peak season, the perks are simple, and having a Whatsapp service day and evening to arrange something for you was actually helpful.

Meals might be improved with extra funding in high quality produce and chef coaching — it was the one actual grumble I heard from different friends, however I’d suggest Royalton Antigua as one of many higher all-inclusive resorts I’ve stayed in.

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