ROYALTON ANTIGUA RESORT AND SPA

Royalton Antigua occupies Deep Bay, on the Five Islands peninsula, with 294 suites across two nine-storey buildings and a row of overwater bungalows, still rare in the Caribbean. The resort runs on a full all-inclusive plan and has belonged to Marriott's Autograph Collection since October 2021. Three pools, an on-site casino, eight restaurants, a complimentary kids' club and a teen lounge complete the picture.

Royalton Antigua at a glance

Two hundred and ninety-four suites, two nine-storey buildings set at the head of Deep Bay, and a row of overwater bungalows reaching into the water. That last detail is enough to set the address apart: overwater bungalows remain rare in the Caribbean, and this resort offers them at nothing like Pacific prices.

The rest reads as a well-run large all-inclusive: eight restaurants, five bars, three pools, a spa, a complimentary kids' club, a teen lounge, and a casino, which is becoming rare on Antigua. The Marriott Autograph Collection flag, earned in October 2021, makes stays eligible for Marriott Bonvoy.

Is it an all-inclusive?

Yes, entirely, with no paid à la carte tier. The plan covers every meal in all eight restaurants with no coupons and no supplement, drinks, twenty-four-hour room service, taxes and gratuities.

This is the simple model, the one that suits travellers who want the question settled once. Antigua has few restaurants within walking distance of its resorts, unlike Aruba or Punta Cana, which makes the formula all the more relevant here. An AquaTerra advisor can confirm exactly what your package covers. Call 1 866 628-6241.

Deep Bay: what this beach is worth

Deep Bay is an enclosed horseshoe bay on the Five Islands peninsula, west of St. John's. The water is exceptionally calm, sheltered from swell by the shape of the bay itself, which makes it comfortable for average swimmers and for children.

One curiosity comes with it: the wreck of the Andes, a three-masted ship sunk in 1905, lies in shallow water in the bay and can be snorkelled straight from the beach. Few Caribbean resorts offer a wreck reachable without a boat. The hill alongside carries the ruins of Fort Barrington, a twenty-minute climb that yields one of the finest views on the island.

Which suite to choose

Every unit is a suite. Luxury Junior Suites form the entry level, with bay-view versions above them. Diamond Club adds butler service, a reserved beach, a separate lounge and pool, and upgraded spirits.

The Diamond Club Swim-Out categories open directly onto water from the terrace. At the top sit the overwater bungalows: this is what people come here for, and they book out months ahead in high season. An advisor can tell you honestly whether the step up is worth it for your stay.

Where you eat on site

Eight venues cover distinct registers. Gourmet Marché handles the international buffet, Hunter's Steakhouse the grill, Grazie Italian Trattoria the Italian, and C/X Culinary Experience the more worked cooking. The Caribbean Restaurant and Grill and the Beach Club Grill take care of meals near the water, SCORE Brewhouse runs the sports bar, and Scoops Gelato and Caffè Lounge settles the late-afternoon cravings.

Five bars fill things out, including the Chill pool bar, Martini Mix and the Diamond Club lounge. No venue requires a coupon or a paid reservation.

Travelling with children

The Clubhouse Kids Club takes four- to twelve-year-olds with daily supervision at no extra charge. Thirteen- to seventeen-year-olds get the Hangout Teens Lounge, with games consoles and screenings, which answers a question most resorts ignore.

A splash pad completes the three pools. The calm water of Deep Bay, with no waves and no strong current, leaves young swimmers a wide zone where they can still stand. This is one of the few Antigua resorts built squarely for families.

The pools, the spa and the casino

Three pools spread across the grounds: the main pool, the Diamond Club pool and an infinity pool, plus a whirlpool and the splash pad. The Royal Spa offers massages, treatments and a hydrothermal circuit, as paid extras.

The on-site casino is worth flagging, because Antigua has few of them and no other resort on this list offers one. It operates in the evening and sits in the main building, with no need to take the road.

Who this resort suits

It fits families who want a real all-inclusive with a kids' club and a teen lounge, which is rare on the island. It fits couples drawn to an overwater bungalow without crossing the Pacific. It fits Marriott Bonvoy members who want to earn or burn points on an all-inclusive.

Anyone looking for a sixty-room intimate address, or the service of a true luxury hotel, will be better served elsewhere on the island. Recent reviews do note wear and inconsistent service at times: our advisors will tell you rather than let you discover it on arrival.

What to know before you book

Allow about thirty minutes by road between V.C. Bird International Airport and Deep Bay, roughly fourteen kilometres. Antigua sits inside the hurricane belt, whose official season runs from 1 June to 30 November, with a statistical peak in August and September. High season runs December through April.

The East Caribbean dollar is the official currency, though US dollars circulate everywhere. Driving is on the left, a British inheritance that surprises Canadians renting a car. For entry requirements, consult travel.gc.ca before departure.

Booking Royalton Antigua with an advisor

Suite category, the Diamond Club tier and the availability of overwater bungalows change what this stay is worth entirely. An advisor who knows the house sorts all of it out in one conversation.

Reach a Voyages AquaTerra advisor at 1 866 628-6241, or explore our Antigua all-inclusive packages, our Antigua and Barbuda travel guide and the full range of southern all-inclusive vacations.