Antigua Trip - Day 6 - Hammock Cove and Shirley Heights
Islands in the stream, that is what we are
No one in between, how can we be wrong? – Islands in the Stream (Bee Gees)
Today, I started my morning in the coffee shop at the resort. I finally got to try one of the caffeinated refreshers that I kept seeing advertised. I have to say, these were far more delicious than the ones you can get at Starbucks! After I was armed with caffeine, I met some of my co-agents for breakfast at the buffet. I was surprised how they had some variety. I went back on got an omelet, because like I’ve mentioned, I have a weakness for a customized omelets station.
After yesterday’s dinner experience, I was so excited to go back and tour Hammock Cove. I had a feeling it was going to be my favorite and immediately going to end up on my bucket list. Spoiler alert: I was not wrong. Hammock Cove is another, all-inclusive, adults-only resort. This one has a much different vibe than the resorts we have toured so far with Elite Island resorts. This resort is much more serene, and we were told that since each room has its own private plunge pool and bar, many people don’t leave the room unless it is to dine in the restaurant in the evening. Honestly, I don’t blame them, because these rooms are spacious, beautiful, and I could easily book a Waterview room and be content relaxing each day. Each room comes with an ambassador to help make your stay as comfortable as possible.
For lunch this day, we got to experience another culinary option, which was an in-kitchen cooking demonstration with Chef Marco. There was a row of chairs set up for us in the kitchen and the sommelier from the night prior was on hand and picked a wine appropriate for what we were being served later. The items on the menu were Tortellini Nicoise and Seared Yellow Fin Tuna. As I have spent over a decade of my life working in restaurants, I enjoyed watching the demonstration and spent so much time admiring how well their kitchen was maintained and cleaned. I don’t eat seafood, so Chef Marco made the seafood dish with steak for me, and it was SO good! I was pleasantly surprised by the extra step taken for me.
Prior to dinner, we got to tour our final Elite Island Resort property, St James Club. This property is family-friendly and all-inclusive. This property is situated on a peninsula, so you have two water types to enjoy!
While this property is family-friendly, they have an adults-only area with an adults-only pool and bar, so if you decide to go on a big family trip, adults have an option to stay in an area without children. This resort is pretty spread out, so they do have golf carts you can call. The highlight of this tour for me was the spa. It was so pretty, especially the outdoor treatment space.
After this tour, we journey to Shirley Heights, which I have heard SO much about from people who have travelled to Antigua before. Shirley Heights is a restored military lookout. It is known for its stunning views, especially at sunset. Currently, they have a big party with live music twice a week on Tuesdays and Sundays, but that apparently has changed a few times, so make sure to look it up before you go. They have two bars and lots of food options available for purchase. The highlight of my night besides the views and the company were watching all the cats who know to stalk the party for food. Yes, I did try to make friends with them. There were so many cute kittens!
We went back to the resort for a drink at the Wavy Wicket and then decided to do a night swim! During the tour, we were told that the pools were 24/7, which we found shocking. We did end up getting kicked out of the pool by an employee which was confusing, but we left. We asked the front desk the next day, they said the pools were 24/7. To this day, we are still unclear but are thinking it was a policy change to change to 24/7 and hadn’t been communicated all the way through the resort yet.
This day was a hot and activity-filled day, and I easily fell asleep as soon as I returned to my room.
If you went to check out Elite Island Resorts or anywhere else in the world, fill out this link for a quote: https://travefy.com/f/6ws9rqequmpara2uwxzesgnu3gdappcy4a
