Curtain Bluff - All Inclusive

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’.

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.

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 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

Quite superb. Not our 1st stay at this family owned resort however it is amazing that each stay is better than before and our 1st stay was already very good. Nothing is too much trouble with excellent and friendly service. Unlike other resorts, everything is included so that one can truly relax and enjoy the vibe.

The resort setting is so beautiful and peaceful. The weather was perfect — 80 ish degrees during the day, a beautiful breeze. I started every day with yoga or Pilates at 8am at the yoga pavilion overlooking the ocean. Then we moved onto the beach with a perfect thatched umbrella and super comfy chairs and service of popsicles, drinks, fruit. Lunch was at the beach and we loved the turkey club sandwich. Then back to the beach. I didn’t do any of the snorkeling trips but it was nice to know I had the option. We saw folks leaving and it looked like good fun. Dinner was elegant with live music every night. We played checkers every night after dinner. No tv in the room which is fine with me. Bathroom had a great shower and was big and gracious. The room was big and super nice. We stayed on the ground floor and walked out to the beach. That beach is a little rough and not recommended for swimming which was fine with me. No argument there! I came with my elderly mother and we both had an amazing time. We returned home rested and happy and looking forward to returning again. There are a lot of returning guests—one guest was on her 37th visit! A lot of British couples and families, some with young children. It’s a quiet family place for people who value peace and privacy. I understand the resort has a new owner (I believe the new owner also owns Jumby Bay) so of course changes are afoot. I hope they don’t change it too much. I thought it was very well priced for the value of the experience.