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Hotel & Resort Reviews:
Antigua & Barbuda
Jolly Harbour Resort and Marina 11/15/01
Reviewers Rating:  Good
Check-in was quick; the Front Office Staff was very friendly and helpful. We were advised that we had been "upgraded" to an ocean view room. Don't expect ocean"front", because there aren't any rooms on the actual beach. There was a boat waterway between our villa and the actual beach; yes, we could see the beach, barely. Be aware that most people who want an air-conditioned room will have to pay an additional $70.00 a week for it. We exchanged through Interval International, and after much frustration, were advised my Jolly Harbour management (through e-mail) and an eventual confirmation from II, that we would be booked into an air-conditioned room. RCI members, however, do not have to pay this extra fee. It was hot, and the $70.00 was worth it. Those without air, were leaving their windows and doors open at night, and believe me, the mosquitoes got quite a feast. We were eaten up by mosquitoes, just by having our patio door open before dusk. Take bug repellen! t. The room was nice; had a TV that worked well; nice patio; balcony off of the master bedroom. The bathrooms could stand some refurbushing. You will need to get bottled water, as there is a sign in the bathroom that they use cistrine water which is not safe to drink. The toilets didn't work all that great; and the water pressure in the shower was a bit on the "trickly" side. The pillows on the bed were flat, and the linens (blanket and comforter) needed cleaning. One night I took the sheet off of the bed in the 2nd bedroom, and found blood stains on the bottom sheet - it was disgusting. I left the bed un-made for two consecutive days, thinking the maid would surely see this and change the sheets....no, she simply made up the bed with the same sheets. Maid service was for the most part seriously lacking. I had to ask for wash cloths twice; and on two days they supposedly only have trash removal and linen service - of which on one of these days, the maid laid a dirty w! ash cloth back on my sink and did not empty the bathroom trash. For some reason they have a lock on the refrigerator. Even if you have a villa that is oceanview, you have to walk all the way around the waterway to get to the beach. Take a collapsable cooler with you to save you some trips back to the room for drinks. You will walk your legs off getting to the pool, the restaurants, and the shops. Alot of people rent golf carts (at about $120 a week) to get around the resort. If you are a member of the Jolly Harbour resort, your golf cart is free. Some people are nice enough to stop and offer you rides, but most have the attitude that "they paid for the cart, why should they offer you "free transportation to the pool". The walkways were lit in most places to see where you were going at night, but they were slowly repairing the decking around the marina, and you were subject to stepping in holes if you weren't careful. The resturant at the beach is overpriced (a hamburg! er costs $9.00). The absolute best restaurant choice at the resort is the Italian Restaurant run by Georgette, a very sweet sweedish lady. The pasta is to die for (mostly between $11.00 and $13.00, includes bread). My husband thought the fresh tuna pizza ($10.00 - about the size of a small/medium here in the U.S.) was fantastic. We tried Pete's Steakhouse for lunch one day, and the fish and chips weren't bad. Get bottled water at the Grocery store at the resort (Eupicarian) for about $1.50 per gallon. It is not any cheaper to go into town and get it. Get your rum and beer at the liquor store at the resort (the beer here is much cheaper than the grocery store). We were approached by a local named Pete at the beach to take an island tour, so we teamed up with another couple we met there to get an all day island tour in his taxi/minivan for $30 per person. That was the best deal on the island all week! Look for Pete at the Beach. On Tuesday night, they have the free ma! nager's cocktail party on board the Kokomo Cat catamaran - don't miss it...it is a blast. My husband and I won the dance contest and got $50 to spend at the resort. Don't look for any all-you-can-eat lobster fest on the beach here, as some other forums have indicated; it does not exist. If you walk all the way down the joggers path at the beach to the hill on the right, you will find a little path that leads you up the hill for watching beautiful sunsets. There is also a little private beach at the end of the joggers path, and some piles of sand and shells, were very good shelling can be found. There is a shuttle that goes around the resort (whenever they feel like it), and if you are lucky to see one, you can catch a ride with them to wherever you want to go at the resort. This shuttle does not run on any kind of schedule whatsoever. If you walk out to the road, just past the front entrance guard gate, you can catch the local bus and ride it to St. John for $1.00us; o! therwise, you can get ripped off by taking a taxi for $20.00. There is a local woman who sells bread and pastries in the parking lot in front of the sports center on Tuesdays and Fridays, I believe. Don't miss the "introductory" speech by the tour coordinator, the day after your arrival (they will tell you about it when you check in); it gives you alot of useful information and some coupons.(Review originally submitted on April 5, 2001)
Mouse
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