Sugar Ridge

The clean room and helpful staff were highlights at Sugar Ridge. Since it’s on a mountainside, be prepared for stairs. I think the breakfast plan is worth it, but probably not the all-inclusive option. You can walk fairly easily to jolly beach or crows nest beach / bar, and several restaurants are also nearby. For rooms with a plunge pool, choose a lower number because the higher-numbered rooms don’t get enough sun to warm the pools. And the french fries are genuinely great.

The rooms, spa, courteous staff, and views across the mountainside and Caribbean sea were all amazing. There’s also a full gym, with daily hikes into town, daily trips to the beach, and a very nice upscale restaurant if that’s what you’re after. It’s quiet, serene, peaceful, and beautiful, but there are still plenty of things to do if you want them. The resort has all the amenities you could want. A++++

The hotel is beautiful and clean, with amazing views, and the food at both Sugar Club and Carmichael's was spectacular. It felt romantic and was perfect for us. Unfortunately, the service did not match the setting. From the beginning, reception and staff offered little or no help with small requests, such as information about nearby places or water bottles at midnight. I booked a spa day, and the manager was extremely rude. She didn’t ask how our treatment was, though she quickly asked another woman. I hope it wasn’t because she was Caucasian and we aren’t. The waiters and waitresses weren’t very friendly either. When we asked the hostess for a dinner table, she claimed the empty tables were reserved. After checking with her supervisor, suddenly we were given one. We later raised the issue with one of the restaurant managers, who agreed that the hotel had a problem with proper service. For a hotel described as luxury, customer service should be top notch. I travel often, and what stays with me in the Caribbean is how well guests are treated. I wouldn’t stay here again, although Antigua itself is a beautiful island with lots of culture.

The views are beautiful, the private pool is wonderful, and some staff members are absolutely lovely. The fashion show was also a blast, and the woman running the gift shop is a gem. I haven’t seen any guests using the big pool yet. The prices, however, are ridiculously high. They add 23% in taxes to everything, plus another 13% for resort guests. The airport shuttle costs $90, and although you might expect that service to be included, it isn’t. I wouldn’t choose the all-inclusive plan because the food simply isn’t that good. Take the short walk to Miracles for dinner instead, you won’t regret it.