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nicola moreton
Last reviewed
Sep 14, 2008
Got married in Jolly Beach 2007, Couldn't have wished for anything better. The staff were fantastic, and the resort was lovely....Going back in May 2009....Cant wait!!!
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Patricia
Last reviewed
May 13, 2008
FABULOUS!
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john wadd
Last reviewed
Nov 23, 2003
The Jolly Beach resort is only a 3 star but shoud be a 4 star. The resort itself is absolutely spendid. The staff really make you feel welcome from the time you arrive at the hotel to receive a rum punch to the time you actually leave. Nothing is too much trouble for them.The food is excellent. We could not fault it in any way whatsover.The accommodation is basic but even so is no detrement to the resort at all.the only way to describe the resort is that you arrive and somehow your brain is taken out and washed out and replaced leaving you feeling totally relaxed and ready for anything.We cannot wait to go back againireturn
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Jennier
Last reviewed
Nov 16, 2003
My husband and I, who were just married in September chose the Jolly Beach Resort as the destination of our 2 week honeymoon. It came highly recommended by our travel agent as one of the best values in the Carribean. Never having been to the Carribean before, my husband and I were not sorry we chose Antigua as the island to break our proverbial virginity. It is serene and beautiful, and an especially good place for those that prefer exploring, to being confined to their resort. The people are typically friendly and the island itself is quite safe. I did much research before our vacation and found some of the best excursions on the island. I strongly recommend all of them: Eli's Eco tour, Jolly Roger Pirate Cruise, Sun-Fire stables horseback riding tours and Shirley Heights on Sunday night. The island can be expensive and taxi rides are $8.00 one way per person, so I recommend the buses which cost $1.00. You most likely will be the only tourist on the bus and may be packed very tight with many school children and workers but if you're more of a traveler than a tourist that's the best way to get around. We met many nice locals that way. The Resort was very nice in general, with a beautiful long sandy beach and a wonderful pool that was brimming with activities, good food, great drinks and a nice staff. We went in September which is the off season so if you're looking to party you may be happier during the peak season when the place is hopping. The evening entertainment was not show-stopping but was still a lot of fun, especially Karoke night and the dance shows. Being one of the few American couples at the resort, we were able to meet with many people from all over the world which was great.There is plenty to do on the resort; shopping at crab vilage, watersports, drinking in the water at the pool bar, and daily activities. The hotel also provides a tour desk for booking excursions. Don't let them scare you though. Some of the locals sell tours on the beach, which the hotel claims to be dangerous scams, but we took our chances and found the tours we booked from the locals to be of the best value and some of the best excursions we had on our honeymoon. If you do purchase a tour from a local just be sure they're liscensed. I recommend Wesley.We had one rainy day on our stay, which could've been a drag but the entertainment staff made sure everyone was having fun. We played darts, pool and had several delicious specialty drinks that made us forget it was raining. Most of the staff was professional and kind. We especially liked Charlie and Heidi from the Pool bar, Junior and Ann Marie from Activities and Kherry from the Pool Grille.The standard rooms are pretty small so we upgraded to a King Superior for $500.00 when we got there. It was clean spacious, had plenty of drawers and a nice big balcony. Only one problem.....the bats. I love most creatures and was delighted by the numerous crabs, lizards and mongoose that occupied the resort but I am terrified of bats. After 5 days of terror when having to pass the large swooping fruit bats in front of our room, I asked to move. The first move gave us a tiny room with a leaking a/c and it didn't solve the bat problem, but the hotel eventually made up for it by upgrading us to a junior suite in another building with a breathtaking panoramic view that I have missed ever since returning to New England. That goes to show that the resort isn't perfect but management does it's best to be sure their guests are happy. As for the dining experience, my Husband is a classically trained executive chef so we tend to be difficult to please but overall we were very satisfied. The breakfast buffets at Hemispheres were usually very good but were somewhat lacking in variety. The birds were a nuiscance but the whole experience was pretty funny, especially the obese one-legged bird who prayed on the sympathy of guests. I must say that after 14 days I was seriously craving a good cup of coffee, so if you're a coffee lover it may be a good idea to bring your own. Lunches were excellent, especially the chicken, burgers and fries at the pool grille. If you crave healthier food, the buffet always had fresh and delicious salads to choose from. For dinner, the A'la carte restaurants were all excellent and the ambiance was very nice in all three. Lydias especially was romantic and elegant, as it is on the beach and open to the elements, complete with ample candlelight and the sound of crashing waves. Olives, which I am sad to say is no more, was our favorite. They specialized in greek food which was authentic, fresh and delicious. There is now an Indian restaurant in it's place which I am sure is equally as good. Bocciolos, the only indoor restaurant was also excellent and had a wonderful antipasto bar that we never tired of. Hemispheres which serves buffets, was good for breakfast and lunch but was rather lacking in it's evening meals. Some of the Carribean dishes were rather good but most were bland and strange. It was still worth experiencing but I recommend you get the restaurant schedule and plan your evening meals ahead of time. Reserve 1 or 2 nights at both Lydias and the Indian restaurant, 2 to 3 nights at Bocciolos and eat once or twice at the Buffet. Lydias Sunday Brunch is a must-do. The variety is unbelievable, the presentation very nice and the steele band excellent. Other must do's are the Carribean grilled lobster at Lydias (worth the $15.00 surcharge), the pork dish at Bocciolos and the jerk chicken at the grille. Overall the dining was very good and based on the cost of our all-inclusive package, we found it an excellent value.To sum it up, let me say that just like in life, whether you enjoy yourself or not is strongly dependent on how you look at it. If you're looking for the bad things you will surely find them but if you look to the good things you won't be disappointed. In response to some of the previous reviews, I frankly, can't understand how someone can be miserable in paradise, but to each his own. My husband and I had an enjoyable experience and can say it was well worth the money spent.Jennifer
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Walt
Last reviewed
Aug 10, 2003
"..Can't Get Over It."From: Walt, wzw@aol.comTrip Report: Antigua and Jolly Beach ResortWhen someone says,"Caribbean Vacation," what images come to mind? White sandy beaches? Breathtaking views? Warm and friendly locals? Music? Tiny streets shared by people and livestock? Antigua is all this and much more.We arrived without trouble on AA through San Juan. After we found some blank Immigration forms, we breezed right through the lines. If more planes had arrived at the same time however, it could have been a longer wait.Our prepaid shuttle took the four of us directly to JBR. The drive was just long enough for us to get a good look at Antigua and to realize we were far from Connecticut.Rum punch was waiting at check-in and we were driven to the Hispaniola building on the far right side facing the sea. We were assigned to 222. There was a bottle of JBR rum waiting, along with a freshly sliced pineapple. A noisy fan in the A/C got our friends moved down one room to 220. Both rooms were clean and spacious, with vaulted ceilings, coffee makers, irons, refrigerators and tons of storage space. The view was excellent.It took us a day to figure out the shortest routes around the immaculate grounds. The landscaping is well done and diverse. The wedding Chapel is set above the fantasy pool and is stunning. The aesthetics of the resort are equal to or better than most Caribbean properties.We enjoyed the food at all three ala carte restaurants and especially enjoyed the brunch on Sunday at Lydia's. Breakfast was fine, with an egg station and either a pancake or french toast station along with bacon, sausage, beans, potato and scrambled eggs.Lunch at the pool grille and the buffet was good as well. Dinner buffets were not as extensive as at some Caribbean all-inclusives, but was always good and varied.Service was generally excellent, more like ala carte than self-service. Bartenders were the friendliest I have ever met and the drinks were good at all bars.Entertainment was fun each evening. There was a mix of local and popular styles with some good natured games thrown in. The casino nearby was open if you needed more to do after the nightly show. There was never a problem with biting insects. There were crabs of all shapes and sizes, along with green lizards and a few mongooses.Shirley Heights is breathtaking and worth a trip. Safari 4x4 Adventures was the most fun we ever had on a tour. Gareth was an incredible guide.Vendors were friendly and nonintrusive. See Claudia, near the pool and talk a while. Walk all the way to the Crab Hole and find the Massage Hut and Bernice. You will be glad you did. Try to catch a sunset. Talk to folks from all over the world. We are as alike as we are different.When someone says, "Caribbean Vacation," to me from now on, I will have a mental picture of Antigua, the wonderful people and Jolly Beach Resort.Walt
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danielle cali
Last reviewed
Jun 07, 2003
My fiancee and I decided to stay at the Jolly Beach Resort after reading great reviews about the resort on this website. I just returned from vacation yesterday and have a lot of pros and cons to share about this hotel. First, let me start with the good! The fantasy pool is beautiful and very large, and the resort, in my opinion is situated on the nicest beach on the island, the ocean is an aquamarine color and did not seem that cloudy at all, as other people might say that it is. As lovely as the pool was, I decided to stay on the beach and relax without the sound of the loud screaming and yelling children . As I settled down on the comfortable beach chairs that are provided by the resort, all hope of peace and tranquility went out the window, when the VERY ANNOYING beach vendors began to hustle us to buy there goods and services. One vendor was selling reggae cd's, and when my fiancee Greg kindly said no thank you,the vendor came back every day and would convince us to buy one. When we told him we did not bring money to the beach he replied," I will wait for you to go to the room and get some it is only fifteen dollars, and also bring me a Coke!" We finally figured out that if we buy a small item from each vendor such as a bracelet or a sarong that they would leave us alone for a day or two until they came back asking for donations for there childrens pre schools, selling beaded jewelry, foot masages, mangoes, hair braiding and even marijuana. The hotel offers non motorized water sports and so Greg decided to go wind sailing and had a great time. He rented a wave runner almost every day on the beach at thiry five dollars a ride. We had a superior pool view room on the ground level in the Barbuda block. Other than having a great central location, the room was horrible. There was barely enough room for the very uncomfortable king size bed, and there were no drawers for your clothes, so we had to live out of our luggage for the week. The bathroom had a very tiny mildew infested shower stall, and the bath towels were always rough and stained. There was an open window in the bathroom that was covered with a screen and bugs would get in constantly. One night there was a mosquito infestation in our room and we were chewed up while we were asleep, all Greg did while we were in the room was swat at bugs and chase after the crickets that would get under our door. On our fifth day we awakend to a toilet that refused to flush. When we called maintenence we were told that all the toilets were down at the resort, and so we crossed our legs and waited uncomfortably fo amost seven hours until they were fixed. The resteraunts were all outdoors except for Bocciolo which was indoors and air conditioned. We dined at the Greek, and thought the food was just alright but would not eat there again. We did not eat at the seafood because I am allergic to fish, so we tried Italian, which was an excellent meal. When we tried to go and reserve the Italian again we were told it would be closed for the next three nights and we would be gone by Friday night when it would re-open. So our only choice was buffet for the next three nights. Boy were we furious by now! Some of the items on the menu included, Goat water(goat meat stew), fungee, wierd fish dishes, rice,rice and more rice. So basically all I ate was salad bar and rice for dinner each night at the buffet. Plus we ate outdoors so you sweat profusely and swat flies off your plate while you eat. Breakfast was the same, outdoors, bugs on your food, birds flying everywhere stealing food from your plate when you look away. Twice a bird poopod on greg while he ate breakfast, but we'll consider that good luck! We ate omlettes every morning with flavorless un smoked bacon and banana bread, in which a few times I encountered a mouthfull of some sort of soapy tasting substance in the baked goods, which was enough to turn my stomach. So in a nutshell the dining experience was a flop! My worst expierience happened on my day prior to departure. Greg and I enjoyed a nice rainy/cloudy final day on the beach, we were being hounded from a tee shirt vendor . She told us that she ordered two hamburgers with no fries from the pool bar and that she could not leave her shop un attended to pick it up, so I delivered the food to her, and that is when it happened! I was being harassed by a JBR security guard telling me that I must come with him right away. He stated that what I did was wrong and I broke a resot rule and now would be penalized. I though he was joking so I returned to the beach. Soon enough the security guard comes to our beach chairs and tell us we must be removed from the beach at once, repremanding us in front of other hotel guests and humiliating us as people stared at us in wonder of what horrible crime we must have committed. As I responded to the guard that I was unaware of the policy and I was sorry, he demanded we must go to the front desk and deal with the manager. So we did, and she stated that whether or not we knew of the policy we must pay for the food that we thoght the vendor had payed for. She told us we must pay thirty dollars for the two hamburgers and that she could not waive the penalty, she would bill it to our credit card at once and we could not leave the resort until it was signed for. After that incident we went back to our rooms in a rage which totally ruined the vacation. I could not believe that as a paying guest at this resort we were treated like criminals and lectured in the managers office like two children on why we do not share food with the vendors. The following day we were snubbed, we called to have our bags brought to the lobby and were ignored, after calling twice and waiting over fourty minutes, we had to carry our four very heavy suitcases to the lobby ourselves. To sum it all up we wished we never went to the Jolly Beach rResort, the food was of poor selection, the rooms were terribly small, and the hotel was poorly managed. Antigua is a beautiful island but if you decide to go stay with the vacation experts and stay at Sandals which is where we usually stay and have a wonderful time.
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Sharon Thompson
Last reviewed
Apr 22, 2003
This is a resort that caters to married couples or families only. If you're single and want to relax and not be around kids your entire holiday,I suggest you stay at another resort. The beach vendors were a nuisance.The food was boring.I found I had to go into St.John's just to experience some good Caribbean food.
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Nancy Littler
Last reviewed
Jan 10, 2003
My family, including my husband and two adult children ages 18 and 20 recently spent a lovely two weeks at JBR over the Christmas and New Year's holidays. I don't usually write reviews but this newsgroup was so very helpful to planning our vacation I would like to share our experience.We are Canadian and have traveled to Jamaica several times, Grand Cayman, Turks and done a few cruises. We have usually stayed in all-inclusive resorts rated 5, including Beaches Resorts. While the food and the wine and beer are not 5 star at JBR the value is still great. We frequented the Jolly Harbor facilities where were able to find a very good selection of wine at excellent prices. We also ordered from the menu on occasion. The table wine in the Italian restaurant was much better than at the bars where I couldn't drink it. However, we enjoy good wine so this is certainly a personal opinion. The food was always good and sometimes very good. There was plenty of variety at breakfast and lunch. We almost exclusively ate at the a la carte restaurants at night. We never had any difficulty getting reservations and enjoyed the calmer atmosphere of a sit-down restaurant for evening meals. The Italian and the Greek were both very good. My family is not fussy and we all enjoy new experiences so that may have influenced our opinion. The servings were just right in size for us and our son is a football player with a good appetite. Remember you can order 4 or 5 courses! Lydia's, the seafood restaurant was also fine but our least favorite but then again we are from the east coast of Canada so are very used to the best of seafood. We ordered items that required a supplemental charge on several occasions and were never disappointed. We always found the staff very pleasant and eager to please. On only one occasion was the service not great but our waitress was training and her pleasing personality more than made up for the slower, less than accurate service. Remember, you are on vacation. As compared to other resorts the variety was somewhat less and the breads and pastries were a bit limited but overall I would say we were very satisfied.We stayed in rooms in the mid-category, Oceanfront standard. We were in St. Vincent block. The space was adequate for my husband and I. We had a king-size bed and lots of hot water and linens. The rooms very clean. Our kids had two single beds and they were less than a foot apart and couldn't be moved any further. They were fine but it wasn't the greatest arrangement. Maybe two supersaver rooms may have been better for them but they didn't complain and we enjoyed having them next door since it made it easier to arrange meals and things. The rooms were quiet during the day but during the evening entertainment it was quite noisy until about 11pm or sometimes later. You had to close your patio doors and run the air-conditioning if you wanted to cut down on the noise levels to sleep. We usually watched the evening entertainment so weren't too bothered with it but it may be a concern for some. In that case you might want to consider the other end of the resort near the Italian restaurant rather that near Lydia's where our rooms were located. The entertainment was mostly to our liking; Many local choirs and a children's dance group as well as the usual bands and some light comedy shows. We enjoyed the local talent and thought it was good that the resort was able to invite these groups to perform over the Holiday season. The entertainment staff worked very hard and was keen.Our fellow guests were mostly English, some Europeans, a few Canadians and very few Americans. The English were very pleasant travelers and we enjoyed sharing the facilities with them.My husband and son are certified scuba divers. My husband did one dive with Jolly Divers. It wasn't much to his liking-the dive master didn't give an orientation to the site and dive buddies weren't issued. He is used to a move organized level of scuba and the conditions weren't great either so he decided not to try again. The grounds were beautiful at JBR; we often saw the gardeners working early in the day to make everything just perfect. The pools were kept clean and the Fantasy pool is just beautiful. The bar, restaurant and entertainment staff was all very friendly. They work hard and we appreciated their service. There was never a problem getting a spot on the beach and the vendor's were no problem. A simple "no-thank-you" was all that was required. Security also kept a close eye on things. We did Eli's Tour and it was well worth it. We all had a great day. I highly recommend this tour. It isn't always easy to choose a destination when travelling with young adult children. However, both our kids had a great time at JBR. They met other young adults and found the resort to be safe and a lot of fun. The New Year's eve Party was especially great and we were pleased to see the staff getting to enjoy themselves too. Overall, JBR isn't a 5 star resort but we found it very much to our liking and wouldn't hesitate to return. The difference in price also meant that we were able to stay for two glorious weeks. Who can argue with that? We all had a simply wonderful time. Thank-you JBR.
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Syndy
Last reviewed
Jul 18, 2002
Date:July 9th to 15th HOTEL: The hotel is spread out over a large area, we were centrally located but there are rooms that stretch from Lydia’s Sea Food Restaurant to Bocciolo Italian Restaurant, the superior rooms are located near the Italian restaurant. All blocks of rooms are in buildings that are named after Caribbean countries, our rooms were in the Barbuda building and if you are looking at the hotel map it’s the green roofed building between 21 and 13, the Antigua building is next to that, Grenada is near Lydia’s and St. Croix is near the Bocciolo. All the rooms face the sea, but shrubs and buildings, depending on where you stay, block the lower floors. The higher floors have spectacular views but be prepared for the walk if you choose to stay on the fourth floor. We were on the third floor and at first the walk seemed like it was too much but after the second time up the stairs you get used to it. For those who are wondering about handicapped access, there are ramps all over the property and there are bathrooms with handicapped access. There are footpaths that take you all over the hotel and if you follow them you will not get lost, in addition there are signs with all the facilities in that area listed, look out for them. All the weekly activities and restaurant schedules/menus are listed on the notice board, which is on your right as you exit the lobby. There is another notice board upon entering Hemisphere Restaurant, which lists daily activities, and if you are at the fantasy pool they will also announce what’s on for the day. Guest service is also centrally located, near the games room, Olives and cyber room and you can get information on all tours; Mandy and Maureen are very well informed and will advise on tours that meet your specific needs or requirements. There is a Dollar Rental Car agency located at the hotel where you can rent a car. The rest rooms are near the disco and are very, very clean which was surprising considering this was the public restroom, no sand anywhere.If you want to go next door to Jolly Harbour there is a footpath as you exit the hotel that takes you there. At the Jolly Harbour are shops such as Epicurean Supermarket pharmacy, hairdresser, art galleries, jewelry store, and much more. If you are looking for some entertainment there is the Casino, BBR Sportive, Dogwatch Tavern and Zee Bar. In general the hotel was pretty quiet, there were around 200 guests. There were a lot of teenagers, very few kids and a conference group staying there. On two days there were a large group of people on a day pass, which entitled them to a room, breakfast, lunch and access to the Coconut Grill, bars and pool. I am not too sure how I feel about the people who came in on a day pass, I was out of the hotel on the days that they were there and I only met them at breakfast. They did hold up the breakfast line, which was the first time we had to wait for anything at the restaurant. When I got back at the hotel they were still there, making a lot of noise at the pool. Other days there were a few people on day pass but they were not rowdy as the large group. In my opinion, maybe the hotel should limit the day passes to small groups or individuals as the larger groups tended to encroach on the guests right to use the facilities. You will know the people on day pass as they wear a fluorescent green wristband as opposed to the purple ones we were given ROOM: Before I arrived at Jolly Beach I emailed reservations and requested a room near the fantasy pool, as I wanted a central location. We were given two rooms in the Barbuda building, I was in room 3305, which was on the third floor and had a great view of the beach, fantasy pool and gazebo.The standard room was much bigger than I expected, then again I was alone and did not have to share the space with anyone else so for me it was more than adequate. There were two twin beds, two bedside tables, and a small concrete top with adjoining shelf, which made up a dresser top. There was a mirror over the shelf and a padded bamboo stool so you could sit there and do your hair and make up. The cupboard has sliding doors, five shelves and about 18 to 20 inches of space for hanging clothes and the safety deposit box. There is a full-length mirror on the wall next to the dresser top, the floor is tiled and the air-condition unit is the new remote controlled unit. A television is mounted on the wall facing the bed and we got several channels including HBO, CNN and CINEMAX. The bathroom has a sliding door, toilet, small sink with a mirror and a triangular shower, which is small. The hotel provides a Conair hairdryer, towels, sample sized Vaseline Intensive lotion, Pantene two in one shampoo conditioner and soap. The porch is ample size with two chairs, a day bed and small table. Housekeeping did an excellent job, the rooms were always spotless, the bathrooms clean and NO mold. I had no complaints whatsoever; I even left her a gift for doing such a great job. RESTAURANTS: The main restaurant is Hemisphere, which is where you get buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner. I ate at Hemisphere for breakfast every day, but only had dinner and lunch twice. Breakfast had some staple items that you will see everyday; an omelet station, sausages, bacon, bread, croissants, cereal, fruit, pastries, yogurt and each day they would add something new such as pancakes, baked beans, potatoes or French toast. Lunch and Dinner you would get a choice of meats; there was chicken and fish everyday with steak, lamb or pork as the third choice. The salad bar had a good variety and they served lasagna and pasta on the days I ate there in addition to rice, potatoes etc.There are lots of desserts and you can always ask for ice cream if you get tired of the cakes and sweet pastries. They serve wine with lunch and dinner Lydia’s is the seafood restaurant, and I ate there for dinner and brunch on Sunday. Dinner was good. I had the lobster, which was served with vegetables, and it’s half of a lobster that was so big I could not finish it. The Sunday Brunch was fantastic; there were a good variety of salads at the antipasti bar and the buffet included chicken, pork, fish and conch. For desert I had the coconut chocolate pie, which was great. There was a live steel band at Brunch on Sunday, very entertaining. This was one of the best meals I had during my stay, the seaside setting and décor added to the ambience. Olive’s is the Greek restaurant, and if you like Greek food you will love this restaurant. The appetizer platter was interesting, for the main course I had the chicken kebabs (they were called by another name) and for desert we had banana ice cream…interesting. I was glad I ate there for the experience, but it did not merit a second visit.Bocciolo is hands down the best restaurant. The salad bar was fantastic, I like to have a variety of salads to choose from and this was great. I had the chicken parmigana for the main course, which was very good, and for dessert cheesecake. I think this was the only restaurant that served cheesecake for desert. For snacks, the Coconut Grill is where you will get your fries, jerk chicken, fish burgers, hamburgers, grilled cheese, hotdogs, grilled fish and any combination of these you desire.The jerk chicken is HOT but so tasty that you’ll be going back for more. They also serve tea next to Olive’s at 5pm and they always had sandwiches and cookies and/ or scones.Here are the restaurant schedules:Bocciolo – Opened for dinner Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday.Olive’s – Opened for dinner Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday.Lydia’s – Opened for dinner Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.Opened for lunch on Sundays.Hemisphere – Opened for breakfast, lunch and dinner everyday. Bocciolo’s Dress CodeMen are required to wear long trousers and shirt with a collar. No jeans wear, slippers, sandals or tennis shoes permitted. Ladies are encouraged to wear proper attire. Bocciolo is a non-smoking restaurant.BARS: The poolside bar is open from 10:30am to 5pm and you’ll get all the cocktails, rum and wadadli beer on tap, this is also the swim up bar at the fantasy pool. The entertainment bar, near Hemisphere, is opened from 11 am to 11pm (though I believe they went later than 11pm) and you can get the same variety of drinks as the poolside bar. The drinks are not premium brands; you can get those at the a la carte restaurants for a surcharge and the rum is Cavalier. I did try the famous Hummingbird and hated it, bit I did meet the inventor of this concoction, Charlie at the poolside bar. Be prepared top be served your drinks in plastic cups.The bars at Lydia’s, Olive’s and Bocciolo serve the best cocktails and I had Baileys at Bocciolo at no extra cost. Lydia’s opens from 11am to 11pm and Olives from 6:30pm to 11pm. The bar at the disco opens from Thursday to Saturday and is open from 11am to 12:30 am or until the disco closes.There are self serve machines where you can get water, soft drinks and frozen fruit drinks that you can add rum to and make your own daiquiri. The self-serve machine at Hemisphere had bees buzzing around even under the net that they put over the taps. This also happened once at the poolside bar but after that I never saw the bees again, I had no idea where they went to but I was very happy.ACTVITIES: The entertainment staff did a good job in trying to get people involved in the daily activities. Water aerobics, calypso dance and volleyball were favorite activities. They also had beach cricket, dialect classes, bocce ball and table tennis among other events, though sometimes not enough people participated and the event had to be cancelled. The pool tables at the games room were also popular; you could always find someone shooting pool. Most people made full use of the water sports; they went out kayaking, on water bikes, windsurfing and on the hobie cats. They give lessons if you want to take the hobie cat out on your own; I went out with one of the guys from the water sport department, and we went further than if you were sailing on your own. That day was very windy and I got a thrilling ride, especially when we almost tipped over and went up on one side, exciting!I did use the cyber room to check email; it’s $5.00 U.S. for ten minutes and fifty cents for each additional minute thereafter. ENTERTAINMENT: I think this is the only area where the guests were not satisfied. There was nightly entertainment, but it usually consisted of a steel band or live band not much variety there. I missed the Mr. Jolly Beach contest on Friday night so I can’t say how that went. The disco was opened on Thursday and I went to check it out, there were around twenty people there and that was at midnight. We left after half an hour or so. On Saturday I checked in again and there were even less people. Most people just hung out at the Hemisphere bar after the live entertainment was finished. POOL: The fantasy pool is huge; I like the swim up bar and the fact that the pool is no more than 4 feet deep. Also, the umbrellas and seats that are built in are a godsend, as the sun gets very hot. The pool is pretty popular, there were always people sunning and swimming, and because of the proximity to the bar there were always people around, however, it never felt crowded. There were a few women who were topless, and it was no big deal really, I didn’t see any breasts that didn’t deserve to be exposed.BEACH: Spectacular, the water is incredibly turquoise and the sand blindingly white. The beach stretches way past Jolly Harbour and you should take an early morning walk along the entire length. The sand never got hot during the day, and it was not so soft that it as difficult to walk in. The water is a bit cloudy, you will not be able to see your feet but it was still great. There are lots of shells, if you are into collecting them go closer to Lydia’s and near the rocks you will find lots. There are huts and beach chairs on the beach, and coconut trees also provide shade. You can find a deserted spot along the beach or be close to the action around the pool if you so desire. You will always be close to a bar, trust me.TOURS: I went into St. John’s with the hotel shuttle, it cost 8.00 U.S. and we left at 9 am and returned at 12:30pm. St. John’s was fun as there was a cruise ship in that day and lots of people. We were given a voucher for a gold pineapple pin on the plane and a voucher for a pair of diamond earrings from the hotel, which were both redeemable at Diamonds International. You did not need to make a purchase, just go in and collect your free gifts.I did the Eco Tour with Eli (adventureantigua.com), which took us almost half way around the island by sea. The tour went like this; we left Jolly Harbour with two stops to meet other guests, on our way around the coast Eli gave running commentary on the Islands that we passed, such as Long Island, and on points of interest on Antigua that we saw from sea. We did a first stop for snorkeling and then went on to Bird Island for lunch after which we hiked up to the top and got an amazing view of the Atlantic Ocean with nothing but endless seas that stretched to Africa. After lunch we visited Hell’s Gate where the more adventurous of us went out and explored the caves while the others stayed on the boat and took photos. We stopped again for snorkeling after which we went to Guiana Island and got a rather interesting and incredulous history of the Island. Our last stop before we were homeward bound was at an Island that shall remain unnamed for shelling, and not only were there millions of shells but also a lot of starfish!I now understand and can substantiate why Eli gets all good reviews. His tour is unique in that at the end of the tour you leave the boat sober, seriously though it was a learning experience. For first time snorkelers, like me, I got the opportunity to try it and surprised myself that I only panicked a few times, swallowed some water but despite that I really enjoyed it. If you do get a chance to do this tour do not hesitate, at the end of the day you leave slightly less ignorant and a bit more appreciative of the Island than when the day started.I also did the Jolly Roger party cruise on Saturday night. We left at 7:00 pm and returned at 11:00 pm. It was a great night out, but look out for the rum punch; the rum is 140 proof! Dinner was served onboard and the macaroni and cheese pie was great.We also hired a taxi that took us around the island, the tour lasted about 6 hours passing through Fig Tree Drive. And we stopped at Nelson’s Dockyard, Shirley’s Heights, The Interpretation Center, Devil’s Bridge, and Betty’s Hope. We also toured St. James Club, Pineapple Beach and made stops at villages along the way. The tour was very flexible and our driver was great, he was very knowledgeable on the history and current events of Antigua.THE STAFF: Everyone was helpful and very friendly. Ruby at reservations was very nice, great personality. Mandy and Maureen at the tour desk know their stuff. Alburn and all the entertainment staff are great. Charlie and Lanvon at the poolside bar, very friendly.Christophene at Hemispheres is a nice lady and the staff at Bocciolo were excellent, so too were the staff at Lydia’s.Overall I had a great time at Jolly Beach, the resort exceeded my expectations and I would have no problem returning or recommending the hotel to anyone.
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Jason Williams
Last reviewed
Jul 04, 2002
We recently stayed at the Jolly Beach back in May. The way the resort was advertised and what was deliverd was not close. We booked a Superior Ocean View Room (though all rooms are oceanview) that was "recently remodeled". The room they initially put us in almost cost me our marriage (w/o blame). The bed took 98% of the room up, the toilet was broken, seat and all, and the room was not clean. There was water in front of the door that the bell boy managed to drop the one bag we had in. There were no AC controls in the room, just a fan blower with 3 speeds. There was a shower stall and the sink was outside the bathroom on the wall as you walked in the room. I enquired about the room at the front desk (mind you the room booked was supposed to have 2 double beds) and that was what we had paid for and they would gladly upgrade us for $500 to another room. Not wanting to ruin a vacation we checked out the next category from what we booked and the difference was night and day. There were two beds, a much bigger room where you could walk around the room and it had a full bath. So we upgraded even questioning the big difference in rooms, but was assured the initial room was what we booked. The new room was maybe remodeled 4-5 years ago. The door on the patio looked like it had been broken into at least 5 times. Hair seemed to grow in the corner of the bathroom as we stayed, and that was scary since it was long black hair, and my wife is blond, and I have short hair. Its pretty bad when you have to wear sandals inside.The food was ok, the best way to describe it is consistent. You will consistently see rice, potatoes a fish. The food got repetive and old fast. Lunch was by far the best, though some of the restuarants were good as well. Nothing fancy, but we were not expecting anything fancy for the price we paid to stay. We were very disappointed in the fact that if you wanted steak, lobster or shrimp you had to pay a $15-20 US dollar charge as well as 25% in taxes on a resort that advertises as "All-Inclusive". If you want water you could not get a glass at any of the bars, they told you to go buy it at the Gift shop. Another all-inclusive false advertisement. The island is a very nice island and would love to go back, but would hesitate to stay at Jolly Beach. The beach is long and beautiful but the water is not clear anymore (and there are 365 beaches at Antigua). Jolly Harbor decided to put a cananl in to fill a swamp to make more boat slips and in the process has messed the eco-system up in the harbor area so the water as blue as it was, was not clear. You could not see your foot in the water at Jolly Harbor. On a boat trip and tour we saw other resorts and harbors and all were that clear water you expect and can see 20+ feet deep. We were expecting Club Med quality at Jolly beach, and were disappointed. The place could be great if they could change the attitude of some of the people and clean the place up. If you dont expect much you wont be disapointed, if you expect a clean good room you might be pushing it. We have stayed at several resorts in the carribean, and this was the worst. We have stayed at Club Meds and Sandals, as well as other resorts so we would say that this is not even in a Club Med class. Too bad Club Med does not exist in Antigua....Beautiful Island otherwise...
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Kelly
Last reviewed
Jan 29, 2002
Just returned from a wonderful week at JBR. Upon our arrival, we were greated as soon as we stepped out of the taxi with a nice welcome and a glass of Rum Punch - much needed. Check in was quick and we found the staff to be quite pleasant and helpful. They even kept the buffet restaurant open late so that we could have some dinner too (we had a later flight).We stayed in a Standard Room and we found it to be just that. We didn't expect it to be extravagant. We had a huge king size bed, television, lots of closet space, air conditioning and a balcony with a view over the fantasy pool. The rooms were very clean.The Fantasy Pool was awesome!!! That pool is humongous and the water fall is beautiful. We spent a lot of time by the pool as it was closest to the bar and snack bar and so we could get involved in some pool side activities (volleyball, bingo, rounders, etc.) Dwayne from the entertainment staff was great and we had a lot of fun talking with him every day. He did his best to ensure that we were having a great time. Charlie at the pool bar is also a riot.The beach is very long and beautiful. It is very well kept, clean and safe. There a few vendors on the beach who try to sell their items or day trips. If you're not interested, just say a "no thank you" and they will leave you alone. If you say "you'll think about it", or "maybe tomorrow", they'll remember you and will keep asking you until you say "no". The water was warm and a bit cloudy. Not very good for snorkling but there are tons of day trips that take you to the best snorkling spots.There are four restaurants and we found all of them to be very good. The service was surprisingly quick as we read reviews from other travelers who complained of it being very slow. We had no problems whatsoever with the staff being rude or unpleasant. We found them to be extremely nice and they went out of their way to talk to us and make sure that our food was okay.Entertainment at night was also good. They had local bands come and play some nights, they played musical chairs, had karoke, had an "ideal couple" night, Mr. Jolly Beach contest, and Mr. Moves is a must see - very entertaining. The disco is open on Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 11:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m. We found that it didn't really get started until 12:00 a.m. or so.Overall, we loved Jolly Beach and would recommend it to anyone looking to have a nice, relaxing and fun vacation. It's not a five star resort so don't go expecting to be waited on hand and foot. If you aren't picky about silly little things and don't let small mishaps bother you then you will have a perfect time. We really can't think of one thing to complain about except that the water trampoline was broken when we were there - and that's just because I'm a big kid and was so looking forward to playing on it. We can't wait to go back next year!!Any questions, please feel free to e-mail me.
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Emma
Last reviewed
Dec 30, 2001
We stayed here in December 2001. If I had to sum the resort up in one sentence it would be "a good value all inclusive". We have previously stayed at much more expensive resorts so tried hard not to unfairly compare jolly beach to these, after all it was a far more economical option. The following is what I beleive to be a fair and honest assessment:The FacilitiesThe hotel is very large although low level and very tastefully laid out. It is set on probably the prettiest beach in Antigua, location wise it is superb. There are three full waiter service restraunts to choose from (Greek, Seefood and Italian)as well as the buffet and a grill bar serving poolside snacks. The waterspoots equipment is ample and the sports staff friendly. There are shops, a games room, a gym, a cyber room and a weekend disco. The RoomWe had a minimum room which we found to be an economical option suitable particularly to singles and young couples like us who spend little time there in any event. The room was very small so those who like space may prefer to pay for an upgrade. Our only real problem was the severely limited closet space.The Food / Restraunts / BarsWe found the buffet choice to be limited (usually one carvery option, one meat option and one fish option)and found it fairly unimaginative and repetitive. As a result we ate mostly in the restraunts and found them all to be superb with regards to food quality and surroundings. They were all well worth a visit.The bars were well stocked and cocktails only limited by your imagination but for the less imaginative a cocktail list or daily specials would have been nice. In all but one bar you were given a plastic glass and we found this iritating, drinks never taste the same from these. The disco bar was small but fun but while we were there almost empty.The EntertainmentWe found the quality of this variable. On occassions it was superb (e.g. local folk dancers) on others it was truly appalling (e.g. musical chairs). They cancelled several of the better acts / events with little or no explanation. When we were there there was a freak period of extremely bad weather which caused the hotel to flood seriously in parts. The only bar they opened was the one on the beach (as you can imagine this was very wet!)and despite several requests that they open the indoor disco bar they refused. They seemed to have little or no 'wet weather programme' and made little effort to improvise. On the plus side however we found some of the entertainment staff (particularly Alex) very good, they we friendly without being aggressive in asking you to participate.The staff:Some were exceptional, others clearly did not like their jobs. The reception staff were rude and unhelpful ( I reported a fault on our telephone at least five times and they did not even bother to send someone to repair it). The phrase "can I help you" does not seem to be in the vocabulary of a single member of staff. In the restraunts/bars we found some good, some bad. For example when you were seated you would be given a glass of wine but after this if you wanted more you had to ask (often several times) and your request would be met with a look suggesting you were being greedy. We found it usually took several requests to get something (in one restraunt we asked four times for beer before we finally got it) and that the service was often very slow (on one memorable occassion the bread basket arrived around five minutes after the soup had been eaten). Although occassionally you would find a friendly, helpful and efficient member of staff this was the exception rather than the rule and we feel this is the main area the resort need to work on.Summary:The resort was very good value for money and if you can put up with the service we would recommend it. If you can afford to pay for a more expensive resort you will probably be rewarded with better service. We hope the new management try to encourage their staff to improve their attitude / service as if they could fix this the resort would have received a 4 star rating!
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BARB GOLONKA
Last reviewed
Nov 14, 2001
We have stayed at this resort for the second year. There have been quite a few major great changes.The new second pool is really greatwith a swim up bar. Even thoughthere were many people at the resort-it never seemed crowded. The buffet was always very good and the people who worked at the hotel were very friendly and helpful. There are also many things to do there. One week was not enough.(This review was originally submitted on March 6, 2001)
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BJ
Last reviewed
Oct 09, 2001
I have nothing but love for the Antiguans. I find the island to be very friendly. I enjoy my stay each time at Jolly Beach. The staff is very friendly and helpful. The rooms are clean and comfortable and the grounds are well maintained. The all-inclusive resorts offers enough variety for all, from activities to dining. The entertainment is most enjoyable. I have stayed there more than once and would go back in a heart beat. If you are looking for luxury standards, this property is not for you but if fun and relaxation is what you're needing, Jolly Beach Resort has accommodations with your name on it!
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Phil & Katherine
Last reviewed
Jul 05, 2001
Our first impressions were that the rooms were clean and comfortable. The food is excellent, but in particular the steak at Lydias [you have to pay a supplement but it is well worth it]
The Caribbean sea is a great place to take an early morning swim and when it is only 2 minutes from your room, where better?? The watersports staff were superb and taught us to sail and windsurf.
Be aware of sandflies and mosquitos. I got bitten over 50 times during the holiday and it was useful to have a nurse on the resort [free of charge] to see when my legs swelled up. Take plenty of insect repellent and ask reception to spray the room.
All in all a very good holiday. Will probably return to another Caribbean island.....
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john butcher
Last reviewed
Jun 04, 2000
Once we had sorted out our room - we were moved from above the resturant / overlooking the bar and entertainments area to a much quieter part of the complex - our vacation really took off! It was great. Sun, sea, sand .. you just had to be there! The food was what you would expect at this sort of holiday destination but the serving staff were, generally, very helpful. Evening entertainment was mixed - from poor to superb. But the free bar helped the evenings along. I enjoyed the use of the Sunfish dinghy every day whilst my wife stayed on the beach topping-up her tan. We did no set tours, just got the local bus into St Johns and then travelled further afield in other buses ... no problem. A great vacation - two weeks over Easter. And we might one day go back to the island.