This 62-year-old Antigua Resort Is One of the Best in the Caribbean — With Private Beaches, Peaceful Rooms, and … – Travel + Leisure

If you were to ask me what’s one thing about Antigua’s Curtain Bluff resort that makes it special, I must admit this is no easy feat. It could be their two picturesque and totally private beaches, warm and inviting staff, or delicious restaurants where everything is made from local and fresh ingredients. But then, it could also be their intimate wine cellar that their sommeliers travel worldwide to source. As I think it over, all of these things are just the icing. The cake is the tradition, the memories, and the respect for the resort’s history that brings its guests back year after year.

The resort’s late founder, Howard Hulford, found the 20-acre plot of land that is now Curtain Bluff while working as a private pilot for Texaco. He originally wanted to build a house on the uninhabited land but was told he’d be more likely to get a permit for a hotel since the island was heavily pursuing tourism. Curtain Bluff opened its doors in 1962, and for the rest of their lives, Howard and his wife Chelle took pride in making it a home away from home for their guests. That welcoming ethos is still felt to this day. The walls are bursting with memories as I’m given a tour of The Bluff House — Howard and Chelle’s clifftop home on the property — by resident manager Wendy Eardley. She points to a photo of the couple with Sophia Loren. “[Sophia and Michael Winner] did a movie called Firepower in the ‘70s, and the crew stayed here,” she explains. 

That’s how it is at Curtain Bluff: Every picture, piece of furniture, and room has a story that makes you feel more connected to the place. It’s no wonder that more than 65 percent of guests return, and most key staff members have worked there for years or even decades. Returning guests are greeted like long-lost friends when they arrive and encouraged to return when they leave — which they do.

The service is nothing short of spectacular, too. They’re attentive and anticipate your needs without being intrusive. “Guests come back because they like the consistency of the people that work here,” says Eardley. “[Our staff stays with us] anywhere from 20 to 40 years.” In 2023, Curtain Bluff unveiled a multi-million dollar renovation that includes a new state-of-the-art wellness center, an adults-only pool, and marble finishes to most of the suites’ bathrooms. The revamp instilled modern finishes while maintaining its effortless and classic Caribbean aesthetic.

As I sat under my cabana, watching the cotton candy-colored sunset cast over the gentle waves of the beach, I felt a calm that was hard to verbalize. In the respite of Curtain Bluff’s mostly unpopulated beach, I could quiet my thoughts in an uninterrupted zen that is all too rare. And it finally clicked — this is their special sauce.

Read on for Travel + Leisure‘s full review of Curtain Bluff.

The Rooms

In terms of variety, Curtain Bluff has plenty of accommodations to offer. The rooms are categorized into tiers: beachfront rooms, rooms on the bluff, and the ultra-exclusive Hulford Collection suites. A delightful perk is that all 72 of these breezy, coastal-style rooms have an unobstructed ocean view, so you certainly won’t miss out on Instagrammable sunsets no matter which one you choose (something not every resort can say.)

The beachfront rooms are perfect for couples or solo travelers who want easy access to the beach or those looking to keep their budget modest. Ground-level junior suites (which account for 40 of the 72 rooms) have patios that lead just a few steps from the sandy shores of the property. Travel just a floor higher, and you’ll find upper-level suites with similar layouts and sea-facing balconies.

If you’re up for a bit of cardio, the blufftop rooms located uphill offer more spacious options for larger groups and families with kids six and older; you’ll find one and two-bedroom suites complete with garden patios and a breakfast nook that makes this idyllic Caribbean flat feel a bit more like home. For your most luxurious option, the Hulford Collection suites offer the most space and private amenities, like a plunge pool on your terrace and open living rooms that feel more apartment-like. The rooms intentionally lack televisions, and you’ll hardly miss them. But if you’re eager to catch the game or the news, there’s a TV room behind reception.

Our Grace Bay suite (part of the Hulford Collection) made quite a first impression. The open-air entrance of the suite leads you directly into a coastal-style living room, which connects to the Morris Bay suite next door. Straight ahead, a glass sliding door leads to a massive veranda with a plunge pool — which we most enjoyed for late-night swims after the resort’s pools closed for the evening.

The Grace Bay bedroom had plenty of square footage, closet space, and overall comfort. But the newly renovated bathroom, with its rainforest shower and large marble soaking tub, was the cherry on top. Each night, we fell asleep to the lush sounds of the waves gently crashing against the shores and awakened to the golden island sunset peeking in through our floor-to-ceiling windows. And in these moments, we were reminded all over again what true peace feels like.

Food And Drink

Curtain Bluff adopts a “less is more” philosophy regarding its food and drink offerings, yet somehow managed to keep surprising us with delectable dishes that made each meal something to look forward to. The resort has just two restaurants: Tamarind — the central restaurant offering locally sourced and house-made Caribbean-influenced eats for breakfast, lunch, and dinner — and Sea Grape, an open-air concept that serves lunch and Italian-Antiguan fare on select nights of the week. Dishes like Sea Grape’s potato and leek soup and Tamarind’s plum crumble dessert were undeniable home runs for us.

For drinks, you’d be remiss not to visit Curtain Bluff’s coveted wine cellar, where you’ll find unique, globally sourced vintages dating back to the ‘70s. The cellars’ keen and friendly sommeliers will walk you through a curated wine tasting with food pairings to heighten the experience. If you want higher proof, head to the main bar adjacent to Tamarind and order your favorite cocktail. If you care to roll up your sleeves and add some new tricks to your culinary arsenal, book a cooking class with head chef Christophe Blatz. 

Activities

One thing you won’t be at Curtain Bluff is bored.

For starters, the property is situated on a rocky peninsula and sandwiched between two beaches: one with a stronger surf and one that is calmer and ideal for relaxing. The latter beach is where you can go to set up shop at one of the cabanas and sip on an icy drink or two, or you can hitch a five-minute boat ride to Cade’s Reef for snorkeling. You can also try waterskiing, wakeboarding, kayaking, or windsurfing, and Hobie Cat rentals are available.

You also find two pools: a family-friendly one and a newly built adults-only option in the wellness area. There are also many land-based options to get your body moving: tennis, squash, bocce, shuffleboard, basketball, and guided yoga and pilates classes.

Because Curtain Bluff offers an assortment of sports compounds, water activities, and relaxing hideouts, guests can enjoy the amenities in a way that feels leisurely and undisturbed.

From breakfast, you’ll see tables of guests disperse to explore their respective interests: couples dressed in athletic wear will head to one of the four tennis courts for morning lessons, families with children will head to the pool, and other groups will head to the spa for a mid-afternoon massage.

There’s so much to do that you’ll feel recharged and exhilarated without ever stepping off the resort. Best of all, there’s no upcharge. Most of these activities are included in the price of your stay.

Location

Curtain Bluff is located on Old Road, on the island’s southern end, and about a 30-minute ride from V.C. Bird International Airport. It is a secluded area where you won’t find any remnants of party-goers — precisely why this property is so beloved by its guests. What it does have are ultra-scenic views of neighboring islands. If you’re on the balcony of the spa, for instance, you can see clear views of St. Kitts, Nevis, Montserrat, and Redonda. The concierge will happily arrange a cab if you want to venture off-property.

The Spa

If you want to go full-on DND mode, you’ll feel at peace in Curtain Bluff’s two-story waterfront spa, next to the resort’s newly updated wellness area. The spa offers a menu of treatments like massages and body scrubs. After your service, you can retreat to the upper balcony to hydrate with an ice-cold drink and then dip in its cliffside jacuzzi. Come back to your senses while taking in the wondrous views.

Accessibility 

Besides the ground-level rooms, most other areas or not accessible — even the second and third-floor suites, as well as the bluff rooms and Hulford suites, are not elevator accessible and would not be ideal for every guest. According to Curtain Bluff, guests with mobility issues would be most comfortable in their ground-floor deluxe rooms or junior suites.

How to Get the Most Value Out of Your Stay

Though the property’s rates are quite high compared to most other resorts on the island, consider traveling during the off-season (April-July) to find a better deal. Junior suites, generally around $2,000 per night during peak season, can drop to $1,200.

If you can stay longer, Curtain Bluff offers length of stay discounts (excluding high season periods like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter), where you can get 25 percent off for a week stay and 30 percent off for a 10-day or longer stay. Curtain Bluff usually closes from mid-July through late October each year.

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