Galley Bay Resort & Spa

Five Islands Village, on Antigua's west coast, holds Galley Bay Resort & Spa between a three-quarter-mile stretch of white sand and a quiet lagoon. The 98 rooms sit across 40 acres of garden, most opening straight onto the beach so the sea is a short walk from the door. The Gauguin cottages stand apart, set among the greenery near the lagoon, each with its own plunge pool and sun deck for guests who want more distance from the main stretch of sand. Premium Beachfront Suites run to 645 square feet, with a sunken living room and wet bar; Superior Deluxe rooms open onto private patios with outside showers. Deluxe Beachfront Rooms sit on the upper level, giving a wider view over the water. Days run to Hobie Cat sailing, kayaking, paddle boarding and snorkelling over the reef just offshore, or a slower pace by the lagoon-style pool with its shaded loungers and small waterfall. You can hear the surf from Movie Night on the beach, watched under headsets so as not to disturb the next lounger. Evenings turn to steel drum and reggae, a weekly rum tasting at the Rum Shack, and dinner at Ismay's, where the kitchen draws on the Executive Chef's Michelin-starred background. It is a compact stretch of coast, but a generous one.