Hodges Bay Resort & Spa

Rooms and decor

Picture a 5-star resort that is just a 15-minute drive from the airport — that is Hodges Bay Resort & Spa, a contemporary all-inclusive resort with 79 rooms and villas on the north coast of Antigua. It opened in 2016 after a major renovation of an earlier resort on the site, and that airport-close location makes it the first choice for anyone who would rather not lose time getting there after landing — especially travelers from Asia, who fly nearly 30 hours and want to reach their room fast. Rooms start with a 45 sqm Studio Suite in a fresh blue-and-white contemporary Caribbean style; open the balcony door and the sea breeze is right there. They run up to 2-to-4-bedroom villas for larger families, with a private pool and a full kitchen. Every room has a comfortable king bed, free Wi-Fi for the whole trip, a minibar restocked daily and a decent-sized bathroom. Plenty of reviews praise the rooms as clean and modern — not as plush as a Jumby Bay or Curtain Bluff, but with the feel of a recently renovated resort where everything looks new and lightly used.

Food and amenities

What sets Hodges Bay apart from other resorts on Antigua is Prickly Pear Island, a private island just 1 km offshore — a 5-minute ride on the resort boat that runs every 30 minutes. It is fine white sand with a bar serving cocktails, a restaurant with fresh seafood and salads, and a snorkeling spot where you can see coral and small fish close to shore without diving deep. Many guests spend the whole day there because it feels like a genuinely private island with no other tourists around — and it is included in the all-inclusive, no extra charge. Back at the main resort there are three restaurants: Indigo on the Beach for Caribbean-fusion food by the water, The Verandah for buffet breakfast and lunch, and La Lanterna, an Italian room for a smarter dinner. All are included, drinks all day too. Soul Spa has 5 treatment rooms with holistic treatments blending Caribbean and modern techniques, and the Sandcastle Kids Club for ages 4-12 runs daily with arts and crafts, baking, beginner snorkeling and beach activities. There are 2 pools (adult and kids), and the watersports kit — snorkeling, kayaking, paddleboarding and hobie cat sailing — is free to use.

Location and getting there

Hodges Bay sits on the north coast of Antigua, about 15 minutes by car from V.C. Bird International Airport (ANU) and roughly 20 minutes from the capital, St John's, where you can shop and explore the local markets. Close by is Cedar Grove, with local restaurants and a supermarket, and a bit further out is Devil's Bridge, a national park with a striking natural rock bridge and Atlantic Ocean views — the resort runs trips there in about half a day. The airport-close spot has more than one upside: beyond saving travel time, the northern position makes a good base if you want to get out and explore several parts of the island. The other thing that makes Hodges Bay worth booking is how family-friendly it is at a more affordable price than other luxury resorts. The Sandcastle Kids Club looks after children well, the staff are easygoing, and the whole place feels relaxed. Many parents say it lets them actually spend time as a family without worrying about an extra charge at every meal or activity, because the all-inclusive really does cover it. Staff speak mainly English and Spanish, and remember guests' names over a longer stay.

Things to know before booking

Straight talk to help you decide. First, the resort beach: Hodges Bay itself is narrow and not as wide as the beaches on the south of the island. The water really is shallow, but the sand is not as fine as Carlisle Bay's Strand Beach — which is exactly why having the private Prickly Pear Island to head to matters when you want a bigger beach. Second, the level of luxury: the design is modern and clean, but it does not reach Carlisle Bay, Jumby Bay or Hermitage Bay, and some reviews say it feels more like a mid-range resort upgraded to 5-star than an original luxury property. Anyone expecting the very top of the luxury scale may find it a little ordinary. Third, plane noise: the north coast near the airport means you hear planes passing at certain times of day — not often, and by most reviews not loud enough to disturb sleep, but worth noting. Last, getting here from Asia means 1-2 connections via London, Miami or New York and nearly 30 hours total, so plan a longer stay of at least 6 nights.

Our take

After reading through real reviews and working out what makes this place tick, Hodges Bay Resort & Spa nails one thing better than anyone: airport convenience combined with a private island and affordable all-inclusive. If your idea of the trip is landing and being in your room within half an hour, taking the boat to a private island to eat seafood and snorkel all day, coming back for dinner at the Italian room, and parking the kids at the Sandcastle Kids Club while you head to the spa, this is the most complete answer on the island. And from about $400 a night with everything included, it works for families who want a 5-star resort without going all out. But if you are expecting the very top of the luxury scale like Jumby Bay, the wide white-sand beaches of the south coast, or total quiet with no plane noise at all, this one is modern without being the last word in luxury. Overall we give it 8.7/10 — best for mid-to-high-budget luxury families, couples who plan to spend most of their time at the resort, and travelers from Asia who want to save time after a long flight.