JOLLY BEACH RESORT, ANTIGUA
By guest writer Hillary Bloom, a New York City human resources professional who is also an avid diver and watersports fan.
Luck was on our side. We arrived on Antigua a week before the volcano in Montserrat spewed thick clouds of ash into the air. Vacationers who came after us never made it as the volcano caused cancellation of several flights into the surrounding islands. Antigua is located in the Eastern Caribbean in the middle of the Leeward Islands, roughly 17 degrees north of the equator. Montserrat and Guadaloupe are south and Nevis, St. Kitts, St. Barts, and St. Martin are to the north and west.
It's easy to get to Antigua with daily air service from the U.S. and Europe via American, British Airways, Continental, and Virgin airlines.
On this trip, we stayed at the Jolly Beach Resort located in the heart of Jolly Harbour. Just a twenty-minute taxi ride from the airport, Jolly Beach resort is a 462 room all-inclusive with four restaurants, pool-side grill, seven bars, two freshwater pools, one mile of white sand beach, tennis courts, a fitness center, and much more. Jolly Beach staffers welcomed us with rum punch to cool our thirst - a sweet start to a great week. 
©Hillary Bloom |
Jolly Beach Resort is Antigua's largest hotel, with 462 rooms. There are five room categories to choose from, starting with the Supersaver room for budget minded singles and couples, Standard, Superior (best suited for couples, three to four friends or families of four,) King Superior (best suited for romantic couples, newlyweds and honeymooners,) and Junior Suite which is also best suited for couples.
· Each room is air-conditioned, and is equipped with hairdryer, TV, direct dial telephone, and in-room pay safe.
· Supersaver offers one double bed and stall shower
· Standard offers a king size bed and stall shower
· Superior offers two queen size beds, shower and tub, coffee facilities, iron and ironing board, and mini refrigerator.
· King Superior rooms are situated in a separate and romantic enclave of the resort, these are spacious rooms with a small sitting area. All rooms have king size bed, shower and bath, balcony or patio. coffee facilities, iron and ironing board, and mini refrigerator
· All Junior Suites have a king size or two twin beds, separate living room, shower and balcony, coffee facilities and mini refrigerator
We got two adjacent standard rooms on the third floor. Our rooms had a nice view of the fantasy pool and beyond to the beach. Our room only had one American-type electrical outlet, which was located next to the bed. The bathroom, located at the corridor end of the room by the door, has only a screen for venting so anybody walking by can hear while you shower. We certainly heard some interesting things as we walked by other rooms.
Jolly Beach offers complimentary non-motorized water sports including snorkeling, windsurfing, Sunfish and Hobie Cat sailing and ocean kayaking, with free lessons as needed.
Jolly Beach Resort sits on a public beachfront that boasts soft white sand and wonderful tropical blue-green calm waters. The beach is also home to the local vendors, selling items such as t-shirts, sarongs, beach bags and jewelry. It's a good place to purchase souvenirs and gifts, if you don't feel like going to town and shopping at the straw market. 
©Hillary Bloom |
If you prefer to spend your time enjoying other outdoor activities, Jolly Beach has four tennis courts available day and evening. The tennis pro is available for lessons as well. If golf is more to your liking, the hotel will arrange tee times and pickup services for guests at the nearby Jolly Harbour or Cedar Valley courses. However, if you like to watch Cricket, Jolly Beach has a full, professional Caribbean cricket facility featuring scheduled cricket clinics.
Take a break from the sun but not from the action and enjoy playing pool, darts, table tennis and pinball in the cool, breezy atmosphere of the games room.
If that is not enough, the resort also has a full service gym, including daily exercise classes. Finally, if you need to keep in touch with home, there is a cyber center for all your Internet needs.
Experience a nightly entertainment lineup. Enjoy cultural dance in vivid costumes, limbo and fire eating floor shows. Local bands featuring calypso, steel rhythms, reggae and Top-40 tunes. Feel the vibes and dance the night away under the stars. When the show is over continue dancing the night away in the disco. Or take a walk to the casino (located nearby.)
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