Jumby Bay, A Rosewood Resort

From the Hideaway Report

October 2011 Hideaway Report

We have been visiting Jumby Bay regularly since it opened in 1983. A 320-acre private island two miles north of Antigua — 15 minutes by speedboat — it has been widely regarded as one of the top resorts in the Caribbean for most of the past 28 years and has long enjoyed the affections of many Harper members. The hotel’s history has not been uneventful, however. Initial problems included weed on the main beach and noise from planes taking off at Antigua’s nearby international airport. Then, in the mid ’90s, a legal battle erupted that wasn’t settled until 1998, when residents bought out the island’s owners. The newly formed Jumby Bay Island Company announced that it intended to make the island a first-rank residential-resort community. To that end, it devised a master plan and, in 2002, hired Rosewood to manage the property. But although Jumby Bay continued to thrive, the world had moved on and the resort began to show its age.

In 2008, the company decided to close the hotel for a $28 million renovation. Actually, it was pretty much razed except for some of the original rondavels, and 28 new suites were built — for a total of 40 rooms — as well as two new restaurants and a spa, all of which debuted at the end of 2009.

We arrived in Antigua late, thanks to the dependably undependable schedule of LIAT, an airline whose chief purpose is to increase the revenue of Marquis Jet. But the frustration and annoyance were washed away by the exceptionally warm greeting we received after clearing immigration. This proved to be an intimation of the charming service throughout our stay. Whisked through customs, we were escorted to a dedicated stand, where a car awaited us for the three-minute drive to the resort’s dock.

The resort’s launch was already visible, and within moments, courteous crew members decked out in crisp whites were helping us aboard. The stretch of turquoise sea that separates Jumby Bay from the mainland is frequently referred to as “our moat” by the island’s homeowners, and on arrival, there is an unmistakable air of privilege and seclusion. Brief registration formalities took place in the new bar of The Verandah restaurant, and as disagreeable memories of LIAT began to fade, we sat for a few minutes in quiet contemplation of the sparkling white sand and aquamarine water.

We had opted for one of the new Courtyard Suites, which are housed within stucco cottages with tile roofs. Entering through an attractively landscaped courtyard, we found a spacious room with a vaulted ceiling, a sitting area and large four-poster bed. It was decorated in a muted palette and appointed with furniture that seemed vaguely Caribbean British Colonial, thanks to details such as pineapple finials on the bedposts. French doors opened onto a spacious terrace with ocean views. A large dressing area led to an expansive tiled bath with mosaic walls, and a captivating outdoor bathing courtyard came with a shower and soaking tub. Bliss.

Illustration ©Melissa Colson

Amenities