Curtain Bluff

We spent a pleasant week at Curtain Bluff, but this is another trip that really makes me question the ‘Travellers Choice Best of The Best’ that it seems to have won. Why does this place review so well on here? We really didn’t see it. The Location - Beautiful, set...

We spent a pleasant week at Curtain Bluff, but this is another trip that really makes me question the ‘Travellers Choice Best of The Best’ that it seems to have won. Why does this place review so well on here? We really didn’t see it. The Location - Beautiful, set on a bay with palm trees on the beach and forested hills behind it. The beach was extremely relaxing, seemed to be enough sun beds for everyone. No music, just very relaxing. The grounds were nice, albeit small, tropical plants, well kept etc. The beach was the highlight of our trip. The Room - Old but ‘fine’. A stunning view with the waves crashing on a beach a few metres from our balcony and an unblocked view of the seas. The room was however very tired. At this end of the market standards have changed a lot in the past ten years for the better and Curtain Bluff has failed to catch up. The bathroom felt old and dated. The Food - Not up to a modern hotel at this price range. There are two restaurants, we didn’t think either were great. Breakfast was ‘fine’ although a little boring. The lunch by the beach has both a la carte and buffet service, which were again ‘fine’ but nothing to get excited about. Dinner, again ‘fine’ but not great. An example - the steak is not a steak but is in fact a slice of beef. Why not charge people a few $ more and actually provide decent food? Service - Certainly very friendly, but at times slow. Eg getting drinks at the beach involved predicting you might want a drink in 45 mins and so ordering ahead. Gym - Again very small and not well equipped. Dumbbells up to 75lb and some basic machines but got very crowded before breakfast. Spa - Again, ‘fine’ nothing wrong with the massages but the treatment rooms etc not up to the standard of a modern luxury hotel. An annoyance - Breakfast finishes at 9. So impossible to sleep til 730, have some coffee, get a workout and then get breakfast. Meant our mornings were rushed, again not acceptable at this end of the market. Why does it review so well? We observed that most of the guests were older retired people who have returned multiple times - perhaps they don’t have anything to compare it too? As a couple in our 40s who travel regularly and have a lot of comparison points we had a decent trip but were not impressed and wouldn’t return - you can do a lot better in this price range. To top it all off, hotel car to the airport was late, airport a chaotic mess when we got there. Nearly missed our flight, had no time to get anything to eat before our flight. Sad way to end a vacation but very Curtain Bluff. At this price range you have to be better than ‘fine’.

This hotel is stunning. The staff and management are exceptional, the food and drink are exceptional, the water sports, tennis and pickleball facilities are fabulous. I have never been to a hotel before where absolutely nothing was too much trouble. Also, our fellow guests were absolutely lovely and we made...

This hotel is stunning. The staff and management are exceptional, the food and drink are exceptional, the water sports, tennis and pickleball facilities are fabulous. I have never been to a hotel before where absolutely nothing was too much trouble. Also, our fellow guests were absolutely lovely and we made some great friends. The majority of the guests we met had been visiting this resort for many years which demonstrates not only the quality of the resort but also the friendliness of the staff. I am sure we will be coming back.

Our second visit. A fabulous room on The Bluff, with great views and facilities. All inclusive except for an excellent high end wine list and taxi Airport transfers. The price reflects the quality of the room and facilities - and some!,, compounded by exorbitant taxes of 27% plus, and a...

Our second visit. A fabulous room on The Bluff, with great views and facilities. All inclusive except for an excellent high end wine list and taxi Airport transfers. The price reflects the quality of the room and facilities - and some!,, compounded by exorbitant taxes of 27% plus, and a flat rate service charge on the room rate which seems excessive given the increasing rates for the rooms. Food offering is generally excellent and varied, and another key positive is the excellence of a team of over 200 staff for guests in c 70 rooms. A concern for the future may be that if you are under 70 you may well lower the average guest age, but potentially a new ownership and joining Relaix and Chareaux my lead to improvements, so long as there is not a change in the general character of CB. The location is stunning and there is a very high return guest ratio.

Curtain Bluff sits on a promontory on Antigua's south coast in the St Mary's Parish. For many one might be forgiven in thinking that they were in Bermuda, given its white roofs and pink walls. There is so much to recommend this hotel with its laid-back atmosphere, beautiful views and...

Curtain Bluff sits on a promontory on Antigua's south coast in the St Mary's Parish. For many one might be forgiven in thinking that they were in Bermuda, given its white roofs and pink walls. There is so much to recommend this hotel with its laid-back atmosphere, beautiful views and manicured gardens. The accommodation is very comfortable and the quality of food excellent with variable choices to offer each day. If I had to say one thing, I personally would prefer a buffet-style breakfast (as opposed to a la carte), but not something I think to make a major issue over. It is unrealistic when visiting any new hotel (our first visit) not to have a few issues that require action, however what is important is how they are resolved by the hotel in question. Here CB were outstanding; the issues were resolved quickly and enthusiastically and I have to add that Wendy, the manager there, was superb. She showed a genuine interest in our issues and checked with us later to ensure that all was well. For tennis enthusiasts there is a built-in tennis centre there with four hard courts, and an active tennis programme, with in-house coaches for those who need it. The friendliness of the staff, the ambience of the hotel and the feeling that one was "at home" there all contributed to a lovely stay, and if we can, we hope to revisit again the not-too-distant future. Staying there isn't cheap by any means, but in life you generally get what you pay for, and both my wife & I have no hesitation in highly recommending this lovely hotel. David & Caroline, Oxford, UK

We had a wonderful 10 day visit to CB. Our 19th annual visit, obviously we love CB. It continues to get better every yr. And will continue to do so with new ownership and the continued great management by Rob and Wendy. The staff is wonderful. Trevor, Carlos, Danny ,...

We had a wonderful 10 day visit to CB. Our 19th annual visit, obviously we love CB. It continues to get better every yr. And will continue to do so with new ownership and the continued great management by Rob and Wendy. The staff is wonderful. Trevor, Carlos, Danny , Glouster, and all others. Literally everyone is so nice and accommodating for anything we want. The other guests are so nice also, we have made many friends over the years. We have already booked for next January.

We have visited Antigua many times and each visit we are very lucky and privileged to choose two hotel resorts to stay at. No longer, we’ve found our perfect home from home at Curtain Bluff and have already booked our flights back to Antigua and will be staying at Curtain...

We have visited Antigua many times and each visit we are very lucky and privileged to choose two hotel resorts to stay at. No longer, we’ve found our perfect home from home at Curtain Bluff and have already booked our flights back to Antigua and will be staying at Curtain Bluff for our whole trip next year instead of visiting 2 resorts. The Bluff is a truly exceptional hotel that has been lovingly cared for and managed by Rob with each member of staff looked after. On arrival we were shown to our beachside room which was light and spacious with direct access over a small wall that you could climb over to the beach, incredible. A huge comfortable bed, walk in power shower and lovely room amenities. The rooms face the surf beach and whilst I wasn’t brave enough to swim on that side of the resort, I very much enjoyed the hammock by my room and a coffee in the porch terrace in the morning looking out at the bluff. We arrived during Thanksgiving and there was a lovely family vibe across the resort which has a large American clientele - we made quite a new friends from across the Atlantic. Our first evening was spent on the beach at a barbecue which we normally tend to avoid but it set the standard of food for the whole week, the food was exceptional and extremely varied, we enjoyed every meal..Our only niggle was having to book tables in advance at the beach restaurant, which we thought was slightly better and menus more to our taste . The drinks were also great, with signature cocktails and branded spirits. Both my partner and I love tennis, the court and tennis facilities are first rate, I don’t think I’ve ever played on a court with such fantastic views. The new adult spa pool was also amazing and perfect for a sundown glass of wine. We really enjoyed the free snorkelling trips and sailing with Ali, one of the highlights of the trip was the sail over to Carlisle bay on the hobbie cats. Whilst we there, there was much discussion about the new British owners as many guests are repeat visitors and each week are entertained in a cocktail party up in the bluff house which is such a lovely touch and something that the previous owners who sadly passed way started many years ago. I hope the new owners will continue the tradition with Rob and perhaps create some of their own! Can’t wait to see the resort develop and hope it will be in time for when we return next December. This is an exceptional all inclusive and the reason why so many people return.

An extraordinary resort. It is the definition of understated elegance and luxury. Nothing is showy but everything is as close to perfect as you can get in a beautiful Caribbean resort. The management and staff are always there and always helpful. The food and keep in mind you are not...

An extraordinary resort. It is the definition of understated elegance and luxury. Nothing is showy but everything is as close to perfect as you can get in a beautiful Caribbean resort. The management and staff are always there and always helpful. The food and keep in mind you are not in Paris or New York is really good. The fact that approximately 80% of the guest keep on coming back demonstrates how wonderful the hotel is. What is also interesting is the age mix of the guest is from 30 year olds to senior citizens. This is probably not a hotel for you if you are looking for exciting nightlife or glamour. It is just a wonderful place to relax and escape. We hope next year that we can be another couple that returns every year.

My boyfriend has been on a month long holiday in Antigua, exploring the beautiful island and meeting many kind locals and fellow travellers. I joined him for a week, and our driver recommended we have lunch/drinks at Curtain Bluff. On arrival, we were immediately told (in a rude manner) we...

My boyfriend has been on a month long holiday in Antigua, exploring the beautiful island and meeting many kind locals and fellow travellers. I joined him for a week, and our driver recommended we have lunch/drinks at Curtain Bluff. On arrival, we were immediately told (in a rude manner) we were not allowed to be there, that the hotel is for guests only. While we fully respect that (we wished we’d known in advance), the way that we were spoken to and then followed/escorted along the public beach was incredibly humiliating and made us feel as though we were petty criminals. We have stayed at / visited multiple luxury hotels/venues in Antigua (some much more premium than this hotel) and have never ever been made to feel this way. We asked if we could please get help calling a taxi so we could leave more easily, and was told no. I would suggest staff be trained how to speak to non-guests in a much more polite and kind manner. We will avoid this hotel on all future visits. It’s the only bad experience we’ve had visiting Antigua.

Clearly Curtain Bluff does a lot right as the high proportion of return guests testifies. The food is good and plentiful, if perhaps a little uninspired and monotonous. There is nightly entertainment which is good and would be even more enjoyable if there was a kids’ curfew as quite young...

Clearly Curtain Bluff does a lot right as the high proportion of return guests testifies. The food is good and plentiful, if perhaps a little uninspired and monotonous. There is nightly entertainment which is good and would be even more enjoyable if there was a kids’ curfew as quite young over-tired children don’t add to the experience in a positive way. In my opinion, the included selection of wines is significantly inferior to those included in other similar places I have stayed and the selection of wines on the wine list is impressive but the mark up compared with typical prices is huge. As the resort is all inclusive it irked me to pay an additional >$850 to have a good wine with my meal on just 7 nights of our 10 day stay. The rooms are comfortable and well equipped but due for a renovation. Sound proofing is non existent and the constantly wailing toddlers in the adjoining room disturbed us at all hours, as well as the child bouncing a ball on the floor of the room above. We booked a beach front room opening onto the beach expecting to be able to walk out to swim in the sea …. Sadly it is not advisable to swim on this beach so it was essential to pack a bag of beach necessities, books, etc and walk over to the other beach. We observed several guests reserving loungers both on the beach and by the pool for the day, clearly they can only be in one place at a time and as there are only a few loungers by the pool this is rather selfish behaviour. Pool etiquette : it is great to see children confident to play in the water but for their own preservation they should be taught basic pool safety. Blindly water bombing into the pool without first looking to see if anyone is below you is very dangerous and I’m afraid a quick perfunctory ‘sorry’ for a very near miss that could have resulted in life changing injury doesn’t cut it. There is a small adult-only pool but sadly very little shade to be had around it making it impractical to spend any length of time there. This was our 6th visit to Antigua and I’m sure we will return there.

This resort is not exactly what the reviews state it is. It is a lovely resort in a great location on a bluff. However the rooms face East where the sea is much rougher and far more windy. It is not pleasant to sunbath or swim in the sea. The...

This resort is not exactly what the reviews state it is. It is a lovely resort in a great location on a bluff. However the rooms face East where the sea is much rougher and far more windy. It is not pleasant to sunbath or swim in the sea. The beach the hotel use is on the west side and is nice and calm. The beach is lovely but the water is hard to get in and out because of the rocks on the shore line. I found this rather tedious each day and decided to use the beach further down the inlet as it was far better and the water much clearer, The staff at the resort are all very good and attentive although the service during meal times is very hit and miss. The food generally lets this place down (In my view) Breakfast was a little hit and miss when it came to the eggs as they were often served under cooked. I started ordering my eggs well done to be on the safe side. Lunch was absolutely disgraceful, they used the Bach restaurant which is set up like a prison canteen with food to match. I was outraged at the standard of the food served at lunch times and the service was again very very hit and miss. The evening meal was a lot better but with very limited options, the service was much better. All waiters tend to whip plates and cutlery away as soon as possible. On a number of accession of collected an empty plate for bones and shells only for it to be whipped away before I had even used it. We booked a 10 day stay and I was happy to go home at the end of our time. This is a lovely resort but the food and the hit and miss service lets it down. The lunch venue also lets this resort down massively. It will suite many but we will not use this resort again.

Excellent hotel. Had an amazing trip and would love to return. An expensive trip though so hope we can return. Had a fabulous suit on 1st floor. Lovely big bathroom. Good wifi. Lunch at Sea Grape is the best menu choice I felt for casual lunches. Tamarind for evening is...

Excellent hotel. Had an amazing trip and would love to return. An expensive trip though so hope we can return. Had a fabulous suit on 1st floor. Lovely big bathroom. Good wifi. Lunch at Sea Grape is the best menu choice I felt for casual lunches. Tamarind for evening is a very limited choice and heavy, old fashioned food and a very old fashioned looking restaurant. Would love to see more Mediterranean dishes on the evening menu and big salads etc rather than steak, lamb, pork or fish and winter vegetables. Delicious breakfast and a la carte which is a treat but I missed being able to pick and choose a few things from a breakfast buffet. Lovely staff all around the hotel. Great Watersports team. Can't believe waterskiing, tubing and snorkelling out on the reef is included. We didn't scuba which is also included. Lovely beach, lovely main pool. Spa pool is beautiful but quite small so we didn't use it. Good gym. Didn't use the spa so can't comment. A wonderful holiday and would love to return. They have just gone under new ownership and are closing from May 2025 for a few months for some refurbishments so I hope not too much changes, maybe just the evening menu! All small quibbles that wouldn't stop us returning but I feel would improve the overall dining experience.

Not really a lot to say but having visited Antigua and a number of hotels on the Island this is so far the best (not including JB as we have not tried it yet) and requires a revisit to confirm that ! Great location, great staff, good food and comfy...

Not really a lot to say but having visited Antigua and a number of hotels on the Island this is so far the best (not including JB as we have not tried it yet) and requires a revisit to confirm that ! Great location, great staff, good food and comfy well located accommodation combined to make our visit memorable - thank you to all at CB.

Our stay here was excellent. We were in the Terrace Suite, at the top of the Bluff, which has its own small infinity pool and a superb view over Grace Bay. Frigate birds, Pelicans and a couple of Ospreys flew over in the afternoons, and we had regular visits from...

Our stay here was excellent. We were in the Terrace Suite, at the top of the Bluff, which has its own small infinity pool and a superb view over Grace Bay. Frigate birds, Pelicans and a couple of Ospreys flew over in the afternoons, and we had regular visits from smaller birds too, including a cheeky bullfinch. There are quite a few steps up to this suite, but these helped to work off some of the effect of the excellent food. The room itself was sharply decorated and extremely comfortable. The two restaurants provided excellent meals - breakfast and dinner at the Tamarind Tree and lunch and dinner at Seagrape. We preferred Seagrape for its laid-back atmosphere, but all meals were beautifully cooked and served with friendly efficiency. Beach life was hugely enjoyable too, especially the cheerful greeting each morning from the beach crew. We learned at a cocktail party in Bluff House that Curtain Bluff has recently been sold - it is to be hoped that the new owner preserves all that is good about the place, in particular the excellent relationships built up with local residents, many of whom work at the property,

We’re a little late writing this review, so we can’t vouch for changes since we visited (May 2023). The headline is this is a good but in no way a top notch resort. We’ve vacationed at nearly twenty resorts over the years (Caneel Bay, Little Dix, Jumby Bay, etc.) We...

We’re a little late writing this review, so we can’t vouch for changes since we visited (May 2023). The headline is this is a good but in no way a top notch resort. We’ve vacationed at nearly twenty resorts over the years (Caneel Bay, Little Dix, Jumby Bay, etc.) We wanted to save a bit of money on this vacation, so we took a shot at Curtain Bluff. You do get what you pay for. The good: The staff is generally friendly and efficient. The junior suites are spacious, comfortable, quiet (take the ground and not upper floor suite and enjoy the hammock five steps away on the beach). The beachside restaurant (when open) is terrific. Creative cuisine, good service for a Caribbean resort, and gorgeous water views. Tip: book it before you travel. Incredibly, even though you are a guest you will not eat there if you try to make a same day reservation—and there are just two restaurants. The water sports equipment is free and up to date. We enjoyed the snorkeling trip by boat, though you don’t see much sea life. The beach drink and food service is friendly and efficient. The bad: Like many resorts, if you want a front row umbrella and chairs you have to wake up early and plant your stuff to claim a good spot. The beach itself is clean and the water pristine (unless there is a sargassum seaweed event). The regular restaurant is barely passable. Breakfast there is good and sort of efficient. Since we couldn’t get a dinner reservation on 2 nights at the beach restaurant we ate at the inside resort restaurant. Dinner there is a joke. Tired, mediocre food that reminds you of the uncreative 1950s. It was so depressing that we took a taxi to pay for dinner at the next door resort, Carlisle Bay. Overall we’re glad we spent a week at Curtain Bluff, but we will not be retuning.

This review says as much about me as about the resort. I had always trended toward big box type hotel rooms with two tvs and a ton of fanfare. This resort has everything one would want in a relaxed luxurious setting (except TVs but who needs TV these days with...

This review says as much about me as about the resort. I had always trended toward big box type hotel rooms with two tvs and a ton of fanfare. This resort has everything one would want in a relaxed luxurious setting (except TVs but who needs TV these days with WiFI which was good in the resort). The hotel caters to its guests in a manner that I had not experienced before. This was the first time in three years that I did not stay at the Four Seasons in Anguilla, as I wanted to try something different. While I would never insult the FS, I thought that I needed the active vibe vs the more laid-back vibe. Yes, they have all the water sports available, two pools (including an adult pool) and both have exceptional food, but at CB, you can almost feel your blood pressure lowering on vacation. They meet your every need. For example, at the adult pool, there is a smaller bar. I wanted a frozen drink which they could not make there. Within seconds of saying "ok", they reassured me that they will get it from another location. They anticipate your needs. The examples are too extensive to list. I think it can be summed up by the housekeeping person when I walked into her turning down my room in the evening. I told her that she didn't need to turn down the room. She actually asked me if I would give her the opportunity to just provide me with a few of the essentials before she leaves. They truly care about your enjoyment, rather than going through the motions. The resort is run by Rob and Wendy, two of the nicest people you will ever meet.

Having been recommended the hotel a few years ago and read so many good reviews on Curtain Bluff we had high expectations and we weren’t disappointed. The hotel is due for refurbishment and under new ownership so there is always anxiety that standards and the hotels ethos may have changed,...

Having been recommended the hotel a few years ago and read so many good reviews on Curtain Bluff we had high expectations and we weren’t disappointed. The hotel is due for refurbishment and under new ownership so there is always anxiety that standards and the hotels ethos may have changed, it hadn’t and I really hope that continues to be the case. There are so many returning guests that now take children and grandchildren and there is a genuine warmth and welcome for all the hotel guests. The hotel is relaxed, never feels crowded and the service, cleanliness and attention to detail excellent. A big part of the hotels success is the wonderful staff, ably managed by Wendy and Rob who go out of their way to make sure guests are happy and have everything they need. We were absolutely bowled over by the fantastic water sports/beach team who were always smiling, willing and professionally looked after the safety and enjoyment of every guest, they were all really fabulous! What a treat to be able to water ski, sail, paddle board, snorkel as often as you want to! The food choices were great in both restaurants and lunch a lovely informal affair in the Seagrape on the beach. I know future plans are to move it further inshore and to glaze and air condition it which in my opinion would be a real shame. I think the beauty of Curtain Bluff is that it doesn’t follow the rather clinical stereotype of some other luxury hotels who lose their identity and could be a hotel anywhere in the world. Please don’t change too much it was perfect! If I was to change anything it would be to have a better selection of all inclusive wines, I think for the cost of staying at the hotel there should be a greater selection included and better wine glasses, small changes but it would make a huge difference. Thank you for a lovely stay, we will be back!