Jumby Bay Island
OVERVIEW
Jumby Bay Island is a ridiculously good-looking resort occupying a 300-acre private island just two miles off the coast of a one of the Caribbea’s favourite destinations, Antigua. In just a hop, skip and a speedboat ride you can be off the ‘mainland’ and stepping on to the immaculate white sands of a unique private island resort, home to just 40 rooms and suites and even fewer villas and estate homes.
Only hotel guests, staff and residents are allowed onto the island so there’ll be no day trippers pitching up to borrow a patch of sand. This ensures not only security but serenity so that you can enjoy the peace and quiet with just a handful of fellow guests. The island goes so far as to ban traffic, but getting around is a breeze thanks to the fleet of golf buggies, a selection of bikes and good old-fashioned foot power.
The hotel has evolved natural over the years, something which can be seen in its various architectural styles, hallmarks of its different generations: try and spot the old plantation style, Latin influences and modern Caribbean luxury. Accommodation is gracious, elegant and leaning towards the traditional, spread out across pretty cottages and a handful of private villas. The west-facing beach is completely private.
SUMMARY
Rooms: 40
Location: Jumby Bay Island, West Indies
Nearest Airport: V.C Bird International Airport, Antigua
Board Basis: All Inclusive
6 Reasons to visit Jumby Bay Island
- Finding your own bit of beach is a breeze with hammocks and thatched huts arranged across the islet
- No cars means you can truly set your watch by island time, yet you’re 10 minutes from Antigua
- The kids’ club, Rose Buds, runs an endangered hawksbill turtle adoption programme
- Personal nanny service provided to offer parents the chance to enjoy a night out
- Accessible only by boat, the resort is intensely private and secure
- Beautifully soft white beaches and landscaped gardens offer an arresting backdrop
If you see the gardeners shimmying up a palm to chop off the coconuts, make sure you ask to try one. You can’t get fresher than a just-sliced coconut, and the water inside is extremely refreshing.
Where to stay
Accommodation on Jumby Bay ranges from a series of cottagey rondavels and luxurious one-bedroom suites arranged around the resort’s grounds (privacy is paramount), to larger villas and estate homes available for those who crave more space and can be found scattered across the island. All suites benefit from sweeping views of the sea, while the estate homes are isolated and strung out along the coast. The décor could be described as traditional British colonial style – think an upmarket Hamptons tennis club transplanted in the Caribbean.
If you see the gardeners shimmying up a palm to chop off the coconuts, make sure you ask to try one. You can’t get fresher than a just-sliced coconut, and the water inside is extremely refreshing.
What to do
Relax, relax, relax. Low-key and laid-back, Jumby Bay is not somewhere to get your heart racing. However, there’s plenty of activities to keep you occupied when you’re not lazing on the beach. Play a few games on the tennis courts or a round of golf, swim in the spa, take a yoga class or try out a new watersport.
If you see the gardeners shimmying up a palm to chop off the coconuts, make sure you ask to try one. You can’t get fresher than a just-sliced coconut, and the water inside is extremely refreshing.
What and Where to Eat
From casual to fine-dining, Jumby Bay’s restaurants aim to showcase the best in fresh, Caribbean cuisine, using local and seasonal ingredients. The resort sources sustainably harvested and produced fruits, vegetable, seafood and meat from farming communities across Antigua and from the island’s own organic farm.
If you see the gardeners shimmying up a palm to chop off the coconuts, make sure you ask to try one. You can’t get fresher than a just-sliced coconut, and the water inside is extremely refreshing.
When to travel
| Month | Temp(C) |
Sun(hrs) |
Rain(mm) |
|---|---|---|---|
Jan |
25 | 9 | 21 |
Feb |
26 | 9 | 41 |
Mar |
26 | 19 | 30 |
Apr |
26 | 9 | 27 |
May |
27 | 9 | 56 |
Jun |
28 | 10 | 62 |
Jul |
28 | 9 | 72 |
Aug |
28 | 9 | 75 |
Sep |
28 | 9 | 87 |
Oct |
27 | 8 | 101 |
Nov |
27 | 9 | 88 |
Dec |
26 | 9 | 63 |