Hermitage Bay

In Depth

By Sara Macefield

Hermitage Bay has a delightful tranquil and romantic atmosphere in a setting of exceptional Caribbean beauty. And a truly magnificent Caribbean view - even from your bed. 

The rooms have a natural but visibly sophisticated contemporary tropical style, with subdued colours on extensive polished wood in the floors, hardwood furniture and louvered doors and windows.

The low key activity (many people spend their time in their rooms) centres on the spa building on the hillside and - on the sand - the large pool and open-sided fine dining room (which concentrates on fresh, organic fare form their own garden).

Beach & Swimming

The hotel's only beach is a sweeping wide arc of powder white sand stretching around the bay with no other buildings in sight. The area of beach in front of the hotel gently slopes into the sea and is dotted with a handful of parasols for hotel guests. There is a feeling of total seclusion as Hermitage Bay is the only building on this bay, bar the ruins of an old sugar factory that can be seen in the distance. In the next bay is a villa owned by fashion designer Georgio Armani who can sometimes be spotted walking along the sands when in residence. The top of the beach is lined by palms and sea grape trees plus turpentine trees, which are dotted among the beachside cottages and the hotel's main guest areas that abut the sands. Among them is the mid-sized infinity pool that blends effortlessly into its surroundings. It is surrounded by greenheart decking, that gives it a rustic air, and on one side is the pavilion-style bar and open-air lounge area. It is the main hub of this peaceful resort - and one that encourages guests to linger at leisure, day or night.

Sports & Recreation

The water sports centre is at the southern end of the beach and is open from 10am to 5pm. Non-motorised activities such as sailing, windsurfing, snorkelling and kayaking are offered. A popular option is a "desert island experience" where guests are taken to a nearby remote beach and left with a picnic lunch and sun umbrella before being collected at leisure.

On land, there are four floodlit tennis courts and a squash court at the Jolly Beach Resort, a 10-minute drive away, where play can be arranged. The Jolly Beach also has one of Antigua's two golf courses, the other being at the Cedar Valley, three miles north of St John's.

There is a hiking trail that starts from the beach and winds up through the hills and around the outskirts of Hermitage Bay's grounds. The hotel also organises a guided nature trail around the grounds with information about the flora and fauna of the locality.

Tours of a small nearby farm which supplies Hermitage Bay with fruit and vegetable are also organised, along with tours of the hotel's own organic kitchen garden and food demonstrations with the chef Dezi Banhan. It has also introduced clam fishing trips for guests who can accompany local fisherman to the nearby mangroves.

The hotel has its own Garden Spa and guests can book treatments here or in the privacy of their own pool suite or garden cottage between 10am and 7pm. A range of treatments are available using Dorissima products. These include the signature Siddhartha Couples Massage and Dorissima Colour Rituals where treatments are individually tailored to match each client.

Meditation, yoga and Pilates classes are also held twice a week on the hotel's spa deck.

Staff

There are about 100 staff at the hotel, led by general manager Rachel Browne. The executive chef is Dezi Banhan. The owner, Andy Thesen, can be seen in the video below talking to Sara Macefield at World Travel Market 2010 about fishing for cockles and the kitchens with its organic garden and cookery lessons.

The Rooms

The rooms at Hermitage Bay are spacious, stylish and comfortable with dark wood floors complemented by crisp white linens and cream furnishings. The impression is one of chic colonial with tall ceilings and large shuttered windows that, during the day, catch the sea breezes. However, there is air-conditioning along with other mod-cons such as a flat-screen TV, DVD player and iPod docking station plus wireless internet connection, mini-fridge, tea/coffee maker and even an English plug point.

The open-plan bathroom is lavishly equipped with stylish and expensive fittings, though it is separated from the bedrooms by just a small partition, which may not suit those who prefer more privacy. Outside is a very appealing outdoor shower.

There are three categories of rooms. There are eight Beach Cottages, set slightly back from the beach, but with an ocean view. Closer to the beach are eight Beachfront Cottages, with wide patios containing an outdoor dining area, double day beds and chairs. These cottages are closest to the hotel, while the 17 Hillside Pool Suites are set on the hill overlooking the resort with beautiful views of the bay, their own private sundecks and plunge pools.

Dining

Hermitage Bay's restaurant has been built in the style of a wooden pavilion, set on three tiers overlooking the beach. All meals, which are a la carte, are served here.

Menus are changed daily, with ingredients sourced locally and from the hotel's own kitchen garden.

Lunch and dinner menus contain a range of international and local dishes and always include a vegetarian dish. Afternoon snacks are also served, along with canapés each evening.

Weddings

The tranquil location of Hermitage Bay makes it an idyllic spot for weddings and the property has a number of beautiful spots where couples can marry. The property caters for small weddings of up to eight guests.

Hermitage Bay has a policy of hosting just one wedding a week and offers the service of a wedding co-ordinator to help with arrangements.

Its wedding package includes private wedding night dinner on the beach, bridal bouquet, wedding cake, complimentary upgrade from Beachfront Cottage Suite to Hillside Suite, plus legal requirements.

Locality

Hermitage Bay is situated on the west coast of Antigua, slightly south of St John's. It is set in a secluded and relatively remote bay, but if you feel the need to explore, it doesn't take too long to get to Jolly Harbour, a ten minute ride south, or in the other direction to St John's (about 20 minutes). Jolly Harbour is a sailing centre, with bars, restaurants and a golf course around an inlet with a marina. Beyond here the main west coast road winds south through fields until it reaches some of the island's loveliest beaches at the south-western tip of the island. These are Ffrye's, Darkwood and Crab's Hill beaches, where there are beach bars with an excellent sunset view.

St John's, the capital of Antigua, is a pleasant enough place to explore and in some streets you will see the pretty traditional wooden houses with their balconies and steeply pitched roofs. Some have been turned into bars and restaurants - try Hemingway's and George's. Sadly many of the old buildings are disappearing as the town is steadily redeveloped
in modern concrete. Others have been restored and moved to Redcliffe Quay, which has a pleasant feel.

Getting Around

Hermitage Bay is relatively isolated on the west coast and so if you want to explore the island you will need some transport. The options are an island tour with a taxi, which can be arranged through the hotel. Alternatively you can hire a car, which gives you the freedom to travel around independently. If you would like to rent a car in Antigua we recommend Thrifty Car Rentals, who are happy to deliver to the hotel.