Just 25 minutes from the VC Bird International Airport, Carlisle Bay Antigua Resort Hotel is a tropical tennis paradise where all your troubles will melt away as you relax on the white sandy beach and take in the magnificent view. The crystal clear Caribbean water and lush tropical rainforest will have you wondering why you spent so much time stressing over your double faults 😉
Originally a private club, Carlisle Bay opened as a hotel in December 2003 after becoming part of the Campbell Gray Hotels management company. It has an urban boutique hotel vibe even though it’s located along a beautiful beach-lined cove on the south coast of Antigua, Barbados. Each of its 87 suites offers sweeping ocean views and is only footsteps away from the soft beach sands.
Personally, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more perfect tennis vacay destination for couples, families, and tennis teams.
First Up… Tennis
Carlisle Bay Antigua has nine hard courts, with four of them lit for nighttime play, and all are surrounded by lush tropical foliage one would expect to find in the Caribbean. With so many courts, your entire team could play at the same time, with more than enough courts left for the rest of the vacationers.
Besides fun match play, there are Cardio tennis programs, group lessons, and partner matching available if you need help finding someone to play with. Or, if you would like a custom ladies’ team tennis retreat package, they can do that for you as well. Tennis activities for the kiddos aren’t a problem either, as they offer a special “Youth Program” for one or more.
With the exception of the free tennis clinic on Wednesday mornings, the tennis packages do cost extra, but the prices are very reasonable. What’s more, you don’t even need to pack your racquets or balls, as they are provided at no additional charge to hotel guests – even the kids!
Other On-Site Activities
With an abundance of activities (outside of tennis), you’ll never need to step foot outside of the Carlisle Bay Antigua Resort to keep yourself entertained. This is, of course, if you can pull yourself away from the tennis courts 😉
- Cara Organic Beauty Spa – Luxurious facial treatments and deeply restorative massage therapies, as well as a variety of holistic offerings.
- Private Yoga/Pilates Instruction – Keep your fitness goals during your stay at paradise with a personal training session.
- Personal Training Sessions – Keep your fitness goals during your stay at paradise with a personal training session.
- Personalized Health Retreat – Make your health goals a reality while on vacay.
- Non-Motorized Water Sports – snorkeling, kayaking, sailing, windsurfing, paddle boarding, raft-building. All are complimentary for hotel guests.
- Skiing and Wakeboarding – I love these water sports!
- Private Movies – Free-to-watch movies for kids every afternoon and for adults every night (with optional babysitting).
- Yacht Excursions – Charter their luxury FJORD36 yacht and explore the underwater world of Cades Bay, a romantic sunset cruise, or a private half-day charter with a beach picnic.
- Sunset Cruise – As dusk settles, take a chilled-out sunset cruise with cocktails, a glass of champagne, and canapes.
- Bay Boutique – For the ladies who love to shop, there is also a luxury boutique showcasing swim and resort wear by select international designers.
Island Activities
If you have the time and would like to embark on even more awesome island adventures, we suggest the following:
- Stingray City – Swimming with stingrays and snorkeling while exploring Coral Gardens.
- Hiking – There are 4 tropical trails, ranging from easy to moderate/hard.
- Kite Surfing – And if you don’t know how they have instructors!
- Zip Line Tours – Choose from several different zip line packages
- Scuba Diving – Choose from a 1-time dive or 2 or more days of diving.
- Horseback Riding – Choose from 3 different packages where you ride, swim, or ride and swim.
- Helicopter Tours – Choose from 3 different tours.
Just For Kids
Another reason why Carlisle Bay Antigua is one of the best Caribbean resorts for babies is the Cool Kids Club, where kids between six months and six years old can spend their days. There are also the Crew Blue and Crush Programs for older children and early teens. A range of age-appropriate activities is available daily, including beach excursions, arts and crafts, or educational games.
The Suites
The 87 suites at Carlisle Bay Antigua are beautifully designed and offer sweeping ocean views through floor-to-ceiling windows. All feature a private balcony or covered terrace with comfortable day beds, perfect for a leisurely day enjoying the Caribbean sunshine.
Suite sizes range from 780 to 1,615 square feet, and all have open-plan sitting rooms. The decor is contemporary, with calming colors and understated luxurious furnishings. Spacious, uncluttered, and filled with light, the Caribbean hotel suites at Carlisle Bay perfectly reflect their stunning surroundings.
On-Site Restaurants and Bars
Dining at Carlisle Bay Antigua is an intricate and important part of this luxury resort experience. Choosing from abundant fresh local produce, the culinary team creates menus to entice and delight. The preparation and cooking of the food are subtle yet sophisticated. The dishes that are produced are bursting with flavor and taste without being fussy.
- Indigo on the Beach: Casual dining; open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner
- East: A sophisticated and stylish dining experience, open for dinner only. The food is a blend of Thai, Chinese, East Indian, and other delicious Asian cuisines.
- OTTIMO! A poolside Italian restaurant is open for lunch and dinner. It has an authentic wood-burning oven for its signature pizzas with homemade gelato for dessert.
- The Jetty Grill: Adult-only dining; open for lunch and dinner. Fresh seafood and steak served with
There are a handful of choices to grab a cocktail if you are so inclined:
- Pavilion Bar
- Indigo Bar
- The Coconut Grove
- The Jetty Bar
The Carlisle Bay Antigua Resort Hotel is officially on my bucket list of tennis vacation destinations. This is truly an amazing vacation experience if you are looking for a beach getaway but also looking to keep your game on point.
Have you vacationed here before? We’d love to hear your feedback!
Current rates and reservation information:
Carlisle Bay
Old Road, St. Mary’s, Antigua, West Indies
Other helpful travel information:
Open Seasons: Carlisle Bay is open from early October to late August, closing for six or seven weeks in late summer/early fall.
General Tourist Information: For general information about travel to Antigua, visit the Antigua and Barbuda Tourist Office website or contact them toll-free at 888-268-4227 in the U.S. or +44 (0) 20 7 031 8161 in the U.K. Citizens of the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. must have valid passports and return tickets but do not require visas. Residents of other countries should contact the Tourist Office for details about other requirements.
