A Luxury Getaway to Antigua

Ease yourself into island time with a lazy morning relaxing by the pool or on the beautiful white sand beach. This afternoon you'll be driven up to Shirley Heights for a taste of true Caribbean culture. Each Sunday evening from 4 to 6pm, this old military fort transforms into an outdoor party for visitors and Antiguans alike, with a Creole barbeque, full-stocked bar and local steel band playing. It's the perfect way to get into the Caribbean spirit (quite literally if you opt for rum cocktails) and take in the beauty of Antigua with almost 360-degree views of the island.

Once you've worn out your dancing shoes, meet your driver and head back to the hotel where you can continue the fun in one of the hotel bars (we recommend The Coconut Grove where you can sit on the beach under the palm trees) or head straight to your divinely comfy bed.

Depending on your rum cocktail intake from the night before, you might want to attend sunrise Pilates or yoga on the jetty, led by a qualified instructor. Either way, today is your time to fully relax and enjoy all that the hotel has to offer. Take complimentary afternoon tea from your sunlounger, sip cocktails at the bar, swim in the warm Caribbean Sea, walk the length of the private beach... today is totally yours. To take the relaxation up a notch, you can book into Carlisle Bay's magnificent Blue Spa and indulge in one of their many treatments.

The five-star hotel is also home to some of Antigua's best restaurants - Indigo on the Beach for dinner with spectacular views of the ocean, and East for incredible pan-Asian cuisine - so make a reservation for a decadent dining experience.

Antigua is a dream destination for watersports, whether you're a complete beginner or seasoned diver. Take advantage of included activities such as stand up paddleboarding, snorkelling, kayaking, windsurfing and Hobie Cat sailing, with an experienced, knowledgeable and friendly team on hand to help you out. We can also book you a dive with the best local dive centre who can take you out to the reef near Carlisle Bay to explore the diverse marine life, or privately charter a boat for a day of exploring with one of the water sports team who can pack a picnic and snorkelling equipment for you. Back on dry land, hiking is a great way to explore the surrounding area. We can arrange an excursion where you will be driven up to the starting point and provided with a guide to walk the trail with you. Opt for the gentle trail through the hills and learn about flora, fauna and local wildlife along the way, or really challenge yourself with the ascent to Boggy Peak. Not for the faint hearted but worth the effort for the spectacular views.

Whether you simply enjoy a little friendly competition or class yourself as a full tennis aficionado wanting to hone your skills, you can take advantage of a total of nine courts on site at the hotel, with rackets and balls available to use free-of-charge and regular tennis clinics for all abilities.

Antigua is known for its beaches and boasts a total of 365 around the island, one for every day of the year. If you fancy a change of scenery from the sandy crescent beach of Carlisle Bay, the picturesque Ffryes Beach is a 15-minute drive away and Galleon Beach - famed for its snorkelling - is only a 30-minute journey in the car. While the Caribbean is made for relaxing and enjoying that winning combination of sun, sea and sand, for something a little more thrilling there's the option to book a zipline tour where adrenaline junkies of all ages can fly through the lush canopy of the Antiguan rainforest.

Another day trip you might want to consider is a visit to Stingray City. This unique experience allows you to interact with southern stingrays with the guidance of local experts, safe in the knowledge that the gentle rays can come and go as they please.

You'll be flying out of Antigua tonight, but the good news is that you've got almost a whole day to soak up the sunshine and enjoy the slow pace of island life. Make the most of the pool, beach and ocean, finish the final chapters of your book from a shady sunlounger and have one last glass of rum punch before you take your private transfer to Antigua Airport for the late evening direct overnight flight. The flight time to London is eight hours.