✨ Introduction

There’s something about a Caribbean trip that just resets everything — and this one was exactly what we needed.

Bryan and I spent five nights in Antigua (pronounced “Antiga” the “u” is silent as I was corrected while we were there, lol) staying at Sandals Grande Antigua, and it ended up being the perfect mix of relaxation and exploring.

I’m sharing this day-by-day so you get the real experience — not just the highlight reel.

✈️ Day 1: Travel, Arrival & First Impressions

We started the day VERY early with a 5:00 AM flight. Anytime we travel we always try to get the very 1st flight out, no matter how early, it helps give us maximize our time at our destination, and delays tend to happen later in the day, so you have a better chance of an on time departure if you take the 1st flight out.

We did carry-on only (which I highly recommend), and that made a big difference once we landed. I’m officially a “Carry-On Queen”

Flight attendant photo bomb, see Bryan in the coach?

I ended up getting upgraded to first class on the flight to Antigua, and Bryan very graciously let me take it — no complaints from me 😄

As we were descending into Antigua, Bryan got some AMAZING aerial photos. That first view of the island — the blues, the coastline — it’s one of those moments where you immediately feel like you’ve arrived somewhere special.

🛬 Customs Reality Check

Our flight into Antigua ended up landing at the same time as a couple of others…

…and the customs line reflected that.

👉 It took about an hour to get through

I usually book Fast Track for arrivals like this, but I skipped it after reading in Facebook groups that it wasn’t necessary.

👉 Lesson learned: I will absolutely book it next time.

🚐 Arrival at the Resort

Once we made it through, we found our transportation easily and had about a 20-minute drive to the resort.

When we arrived at Sandals Grande Antigua, everything immediately felt easy:

Cold towels
Welcome drinks
Cookies (which hit just right after travel)

We checked in at the Club/concierge lounge and were then taken to our room.

🌴 Our Room (Caribbean Side – Walkout Beachfront)

We stayed on the Caribbean side in a Club Level walkout beachfront room (Room 110)…

…and honestly, it could not have been more perfect.

The location was perfection!

Being able to walk straight out onto the beach became one of our favorite parts of the entire trip.

🍽️ Dinner + Early Night

We had dinner at Bayside that night —

French onion soup
A beautifully plated tuna appetizer
Crème brûlée
A caramel dessert that looked almost too pretty to eat

☀️ Day 2: Beach Life, Pool Time

🛏️ Quick Bed Review

Bed: 10/10
Pillows: I loved them, Bryan gave them a 7/10

📊 Resort Overview:

If you’re someone who likes to understand the layout and feel of a resort before booking, here’s a quick breakdown of Sandals Grande Antigua:

🌴 Size & Layout

Approximately 27 acres
Split into two distinct sides:
- Caribbean Beachfront Village (more laid-back, beachfront, where we stayed)
- Mediterranean Oceanview Village (larger, more modern, hillside with bigger suites and villas)

👉 This split layout is important — it really feels like two different resort experiences in one.

🏨 Rooms & Categories

Around 370–380 rooms total (varies slightly by configuration)
Wide range of room types, including:
- Caribbean beachfront walkout rooms
- Club Level rooms (like ours)
- Butler-level suites
- Mediterranean-style villas with larger layouts

👉 If location matters to you, I personally loved being on the Caribbean side for direct beach access.

🛠️ Renovations & Updates

Sandals has been continuously updating and refreshing the property over the years rather than doing one massive overhaul.

What that means:

Some areas feel more modern (especially Mediterranean side)
Some rooms are more classic/simple in design
Overall, the property is very well maintained

👉 If having a newer, more updated room is important, I’d guide you toward specific categories on the Mediterranean side or newer renovated rooms.

We also noticed:

Green flags for ocean swimming every day
No seaweed (huge win)
Wide, beautiful beach

🌊 Beach Time (and Sunburn Lesson 😅)

We made our way back to our beach chairs right outside our room and stayed there for hours.

This became our rhythm:

Bryan working on his screenplay
Me relaxing and enjoying the view
Swimming in the ocean

And then…

👉 I got VERY sunburned.

🏖️ Pool + Afternoon Vibes

The pool is huge — one of the largest of any Sandals properties — with plenty of entertainment and, of course, a swim-up bar.

There are also several smaller pools spread throughout the property, so you can always find a spot that matches your vibe, whether you’re looking for something more social or a little more quiet and relaxed.

✨ A Few Little Things That Made a Big Difference

There are a few small things we always bring that honestly make pool and beach days so much better:

Insulated cups → keep your drinks cold way longer (especially in the Caribbean heat)
Small battery-operated air pump → makes inflating floats super easy and packs perfectly in a carry-on
Floats from home → lightweight and worth it if you love lounging in the water

💡 One Thing We Loved About This Resort

👉 We never had to wake up early to “save” chairs.

There were plenty of chairs available both on the beach and by the pool throughout the day, which made everything feel so much more relaxed.

No stress. No rushing. Just show up and enjoy.

🚤 Day 3: Around the Island by Boat (Adventure Day + Honest Review)

Day 3 was our big excursion day, and one of the coolest parts?

👉 We were picked up by a speedboat right outside our room on the beach at Sandals Grande Antigua.

We booked this through Viator — the tour was called Adventure Antigua Extreme, and it takes you around the entire island.

🌊 First Impressions + Setting Off

We met the rest of the group on the beach, including a couple from Scotland — and while they were absolutely lovely…

👉 I’d be lying if I said I understood much of what she was saying 😅

Once everyone was on board, we were off.

The next 5–6 hours were spent cruising around the coastline of Antigua and Barbuda, stopping at different points of interest and getting a feel for just how many beaches this island really has (365, one for every day of the year).

⭐ First Stop (and the Best One): Stingray City

Our first stop ended up being my favorite of the entire day.

We visited Stingray City Antigua — and while there weren’t as many stingrays as I expected…

There was one very large female stingray who completely took a liking to me.

I got to hold her for quite a while
She stayed close the entire time
And even lifted up her little mouth (if that’s what it is 😄) like she was giving kisses

It was such a sweet and unexpected moment — definitely one of those experiences I’ll always remember.

🤿 Snorkeling + Shipwrecks

We made a couple of snorkeling stops, including over two shipwrecks, which was really cool to see.

We spotted:

A few sea turtles 🐢
Some fish (not as many as places like Bora Bora or Moorea, but still enjoyable)

🏝️ Cruising the Coastline

As we made our way around the island, we passed some really beautiful and historic areas:

Pillars of Hercules
Nelson’s Dockyard
English Harbour
Long Beach

It was a great way to see parts of Antigua you wouldn’t otherwise get to experience from the resort.

🍽️ Lunch Stop

We stopped for lunch at what I believe was Jolly Beach:

Pasta salad
BBQ chicken

Simple, casual, and exactly what you want after being out on the water.

🍹 Final Stop + Rum Punch

Toward the end of the tour, we stopped at another beach where they served rum punch.

It was… fine.

Not bad, but not the standout drink of the trip either.

⚖️ Honest Review

Overall, I’d rate this excursion a 7 out of 10.

And here’s my real take:

👍 What We Loved

Seeing so much of the island in one day
Stingray City (absolute highlight)
Snorkeling + sea turtles
Easy pickup directly from the resort

👎 What Could Be Better

The boat felt a little crowded and compact
The guides were kind, but:
- Hard to hear (talking while speeding across the water)
- A bit difficult to understand at times
No music → the vibe felt a little low energy
Sitting in the back on the Atlantic side = getting completely soaked 🌊😅

👉 None of this ruined the experience — but it’s helpful to know going in.

💡 Tips If You Book This Tour

Try to sit mid-boat if possible (less splash zone)
Go in expecting more of an adventure tour vs. luxury experience
Bring:
- Sunglasses with a strap
- Sunscreen (reapply!)
- A good attitude — it’s still a fun day

🌅 Back to the Resort

We got back to Sandals Grande Antigua around 4:00 PM, and after being out on the water all day…

👉 We were ready to relax.

We took some time to unwind, shower, and reset before heading into one of the most special evenings of the trip.

🕯️ Private Candlelight Dinner on the Beach

That night, we did something we’ve never done before…

A private candlelight dinner on the beach — and it was absolutely worth it.

Picture this:

Tiki torches glowing around us
A private table set up right in the sand
Our own waiter and sommelier
A beautiful bottle of red wine selected for us

Bryan said it was one of the best steaks he’s ever had, and the entire experience felt incredibly intimate and special.

👉 This was easily one of the highlights of the entire trip.

🎹 Ending the Night

After dinner, we made our way back into the resort and stopped at the piano bar.

Everyone gathers around the piano and sings along with the pianist — such a fun, relaxed atmosphere.

🚗 Day 4: Exploring the Real Antigua (Private Land Tour + Local Insight)

After a full adventure day on the water, Day 4 gave us something completely different — and honestly, something just as valuable.

👉 A deeper look at the island itself.

We were picked up from the lobby at Sandals Grande Antigua a little after 9:00 AM for what we thought would be a standard group tour…

…but ended up being a private experience, which made it even better.

🚙 A Private Tour (Unexpected Bonus)

We were greeted by our driver, Cyril, in a black, air-conditioned SUV, and for the next 3.5 hours, it was just the two of us.

👉 This made the entire experience feel:

More relaxed
More personal
And way more informative

We could ask questions, go at our own pace, and really take in what we were seeing.

🏝️ Learning About Antigua

As we drove through different parts of the island, Cyril shared so much local knowledge that we never would have gotten otherwise.

We learned about:

The Prime Minister’s home
The upcoming election and current political climate
The story of Allen Stanford — who once built a bank and cricket stadium on the island before being imprisoned, leading to his name being removed from everything

It was one of those moments where you realize there’s so much more to a destination than just the resort.

🌊 Stop #1: Devil’s Bridge

One of our first major stops was Devil’s Bridge — and it was incredible.

Formed over thousands of years by the force of the Atlantic Ocean, the limestone has been carved into a natural bridge that looks almost unreal.

Bryan immediately wanted to walk across it…

👉 I was absolutely not on board with that idea 😄

Thankfully, he listened.

Standing there, watching the waves crash through the rock formations, really puts into perspective how powerful the ocean is.

⚓ Nelson’s Dockyard

Next, we visited Nelson’s Dockyard, where we had time to walk around and take it all in.

This area is rich in history and gives you a glimpse into Antigua’s past as a British naval base.

Between this and what we had seen the day before from the water, it really helped connect the dots of the island’s history.

🌄 Stop #3: Shirley Heights (Don’t Miss This)

We then made our way up to Shirley Heights…

…and this was one of the best views of the entire trip.

Overlooking English Harbour, the view from the top is absolutely breathtaking.

We grabbed a rum punch here — and this one was actually really good — and spent some time just taking everything in.

👉 If you only do one scenic stop on a land tour, make it this.

🍃 What Makes Antigua Feel Different

On the drive, Cyril shared something that really stuck with us.

He talked about how:

There are very few guns on the island
Crime is extremely low
People genuinely trust each other

And honestly?

👉 You can feel it.

There’s a calmness and ease to Antigua that’s hard to explain, but very noticeable once you’re there.

⛪ Little Moments Along the Way

Some of my favorite parts of the day were the unexpected ones:

Passing a pink church — which Cyril said is the only one like it in the Caribbean
Seeing mango trees everywhere

And learning:

👉 Mango is actually a problem on the island because there’s so much of it.

There are five different types of mangoes, including one called a kidney mango.

📜 A Little History

Another interesting detail we learned:

Antigua was originally called Wadadli, named by the Arawak people who first inhabited the island.

Later, Christopher Columbus arrived in 1493 and renamed it Santa María la Antigua, which eventually became the Antigua we know today.

🚗 Heading Back to the Resort

After about 3.5 hours, we made our way back to Sandals Grande Antigua.

It felt like we had experienced a completely different side of the island — one you just don’t get from staying at a resort alone.

🌅 Afternoon Reset

Back at the resort, we kept things low-key.

👉 At this point, I was still very sunburned, so getting back in the sun or putting on a swimsuit was not happening 😅

We took time to:

Cool off
Relax in the room
Reset before the evening

🥂 Evening: Welcome Reception + Dinner

That evening, we got dressed and headed to the returning guest welcome reception, which was a nice, easy way to start the night.

After that, we had dinner at Mario’s, the Italian restaurant on property.

🏒 Ending the Night

We wrapped up the night back in our room, watching the Dallas Stars game.

Unfortunately…

👉 They lost 😅

But honestly, after a full day like that, it was kind of the perfect way to wind down.

🌴 Day 5: Soaking It All In (Our Last Full Day)

By Day 5, we had fully settled into the rhythm of the trip…

👉 No alarms, no agenda — just enjoying where we were.

Our last full day in Antigua and Barbuda was exactly what it should be: slow, easy, and all about soaking up the final moments.

☀️ A Slow Start

We slept in (always a win on vacation) and made our way to breakfast at Eleanor’s.

This was a nice change from the buffet the previous days — à la carte and made-to-order, and everything we had was really good.

It felt a little more relaxed, a little quieter… the perfect start to our last full day.

🏖️ Our Favorite Spot on Repeat

After breakfast, we headed back to what had officially become our spot…

The beach chairs right outside our room at Sandals Grande Antigua.

By this point, it felt like second nature:

Same chairs
Same view
Same routine

And honestly, those are always my favorite parts of a trip — when you’re no longer figuring things out, you’re just in it.

💻 A Mix of Work & Relaxation

This part of the day was exactly how we like to travel:

Bryan working on his screenplay
Me catching up on content and travel advisor work
Both of us relaxing, swimming, and enjoying the view

It’s that perfect balance of being productive just enough while still feeling like you’re on vacation.

🥪 Lunch at the Bistro

For lunch, we switched it up and went to the Bistro:

Tuna melt
Cuban sandwich (both were so good)
Bryan had a chicken wrap

One of those simple meals that just hits perfectly after a morning in the sun.

🌊 Exploring Dickenson Bay

We also took some time to walk along Dickenson Bay, and it really gave us a chance to appreciate just how beautiful this beach is.

Along the way, we found:

The iconic red phone booth 📞
A floating bar 🍹

It’s little details like this that make a destination feel unique and memorable.

🌮 Final Dinner + Real Life Moment

For our last dinner, we went to the OK Corral, which is Antigua’s version of Tex-Mex…

…and as Texans, we couldn’t help but laugh a little 😄

After dinner, there were plenty of things going on around the resort:

Piano sing-along
Silent disco (which is always so fun)

But honestly?

👉 I hit a wall.

I was tired, a little off, and just didn’t have it in me to rally for one more night out.

And instead of forcing it, we did what felt right:

Headed back to the room
I went to sleep
Bryan stayed up watching basketball

✈️ Departure Day: A Slow Goodbye (and One Last Lesson)

There’s always something bittersweet about the last day of a trip…

But we’ve learned over time how to make departure days feel a little less rushed — and a lot more enjoyable.

☀️ A Relaxed Morning (Highly Recommend This)

One thing we always try to do:

👉 Book early afternoon flights

It makes such a difference.

Instead of waking up stressed and rushing out the door, we had time to:

Sleep in just a bit
Pack at a relaxed pace
Take one last walk around Sandals Grande Antigua

Those final moments — walking the beach, seeing the water one last time — are something I never like to skip.

📸 One Last Splurge

Before leaving, we decided to purchase some of the professional photos taken of us throughout the trip.

Not something we always do…

…but I’m really glad we did this time.

It’s such an easy way to take a little piece of the trip home with you.

🍹 Final Moments at the Resort

Before our transfer arrived, we grabbed one last cocktail and just sat for a bit…

Not rushing, not overthinking — just enjoying the last few minutes.

🚐 Transfer + Airport

We were picked up and taken to the airport, and overall, the departure process was smooth.

And then came our next decision…

🛫 Executive Lounge Review (Honest Take)

We decided to try the executive lounge at the airport…

👉 And honestly, this is one thing I would skip next time.

It was $65 per person, and for that price:

Food options were very limited
Not buffet-style (everything was tableside service)
The service felt a little… off

It almost felt like we were inconveniencing them by ordering anything, which is not the vibe you want before a flight.

✈️ Flight Home (A Nice Ending)

One highlight of the trip home:

👉 We flew first class from Antigua to Miami

And after a full week of travel, that made the journey home feel just a little easier:

More comfortable seating
Extra space
A more relaxed experience overall

Always a nice way to end a trip if you can make it happen.

✨ Final Travel Tips

Book early afternoon departures whenever possible
Skip the airport lounge — not worth it here
Take your time leaving the resort (don’t rush it)
Consider upgrading your return flight if it fits your budget

Beaches 2 Broadway Travel Guide

Travel Stories & Trip Inspiration

🌴 Our Antigua Getaway at Sandals Grande Antigua: