Jolly Beach Antigua

thomasmX6830DF wrote a review July 2025

Great holiday.This hotel and its workers go out of its and their way to make your holiday a wonderful one,i will return.

From checking in to checking out it was a wonderful holiday the beach is beautiful the rooms comfortable and clean great AC .The staff helpful and joyful to the customers . i would suggest that if you are from England Scotland Wales or Ireland o anywhere in europe please give the hotel a chance to go too . As June July and August if seeking the sun great food and nice drinks of all kinds then its the place to go to the hotel is only three floors all rooms face the fabulous beach and watching the sun go down is superb, my wife and i went to relax and that is what we did . I know the Jolly Beachhotel is rated as a 3 star hotel but it goes way beyond any 3 star and even surpasses a lot of 4 star hotels i have been too. you can organise trips from the hotel to places around the Island for ok prices . then you can pay a little visit to mervin on the beach who is someone that takes you on trips around the island comes on times and returned you all fo a good price too . if i where to find a fault it would be with me that i didnt stay for 3 weeks or more . all those i met had nothing but goodto say about all the above .i had read before i went that there was construction going on well all i can say they must work with rubber hammers as we heard nothing and yet it was the rooms below our own room that was being renovated. honestly please give this hotel a chance you will not regret it but will do if you dont . the choice of breakfast is vast the choice of lunch if you can handle one after breakfast is grand then the evening meal well i never ate the same thing twice for evening meals as the selection was grand .i am a seasoned a traveller i have been to africa europe americaand lots of islands but this holiday has been the best off all

Date of Stay: July 2025

OliviaTravelocity2 wrote a review July 2025
New York City, New York

Still pleasant time at Jolly beach resort

In general, I had a good time at the Jolly Resort. Best things there are the beach, plenty of shadow and space in any part of resort. The resort beautifully kept. Staff is very friendly. All rooms have a sea view. I liked white stones walls interior in the room and buildings. I was a solo, so, not perfectly closing door in the room was not bothering me and size of the room with spacious balcony was also good. More important that AC was working great. Unfortunately, there was only one place where I could charge the phone located high on the wall. The all-electrical switches were in bad condition, so my small travel kettle was broken on 3rd day. I had it to have a coffee in the room since you need to go for coffee outside which is inconvenient as first things in the morning for me. By the way coffee they have is literally awful, the worst I have ever had. They also do not have any kind of sparkling wine. But still I would really complain only about the food - this need to be improved. Breakfast and bakery food was ok. All other food was very poor in choices, no meat, small, strange chicken cuts. Pizza Factory restaurant is also no good, in spite they were trying to serve better. I found the great solution with food getting this at Coconut Grill - it was very good. You can comfortably eat on the 2nd floor at the hut under shadow with a lot of space, looking at the blue sea - that was a pleasure. So, except of the food and coffee all other things were very good. There were also a lot of fun at night with dancing, live music and singing. People of all ages were dancing and having fun. It was not boring at all in the evenings. In general, I still can say I had a pleasant time, and I would recommend Jolly beach resort, especially considering very budget price.

Date of Stay: March 2025

grannyen wrote a review August 2025
Birmingham, West Midlands, England

Awesome value for money

Have had a wonderful 12 days here at the Jolley beach. Yes the hotel is dated but so am I. The rooms are basic and need an upgrade but the beds are comfy and all you need is somewhere to shower and sleep. The food has been great especially the breakfast and the lunch at the coconut grill was delicious. What really stands out with this hotel is the staff. I found that they were all so friendly and always ready to help. Special shout out to Joanne and Winsome for the omelettes and Patrick at the long bar for the drinks. Margaret at he tour desk was really helpful. From the moment I checked in and the staff realised I wouldn't be able to manage the stairs to the original room and they went above and beyond to get me a ground floor one I knew we had made the right choice and I can see why there is so much repeat business. Would return in a heartbeat.

Date of Stay: August 2025

jessietsoto62 wrote a review August 2025
South Plainfield, New Jersey

You get what you pay for, don't expect much

Real talk from an avid traveler. I have been all over the world and to many all inclusive destinations. I know we got a great deal on this last minute vacation getaway to Jolly Beach on what people would say a "beer budget". So my expectations weren't extremely high, I read the reviews, didn't see anything about bed bugs (super traumatized from past experiences), so I thought, let's try it. And we went with a group of family members.
The Pros:
The beach is absolutely phenomenal. It is that picture perfect, white sand beach with no seaweed anywhere and gorgeous sunsets. I could have lived on the beach every day. The food: It was decent for an all inclusive. I cannot complain about the food, it was pretty good. The Pool: Fantastic, I loved the swim up bar area and the music played at the pool every day. It was never crowded and you always got a seat, several seats for a family of 7.
The Cons:
You get what you pay for in the building condition. Jolly Beach is a very old building and it is really showing in the rooms. I felt like I was staying at a Super 8 motel or Roadway Inn. The handle to the bathroom sink fell off in my hand, the air-conditioning was broken and not working well (in 90 degree weather) so it made it very uncomfortable to sleep at night. They literally give you 2 towels and 2 pillows, barely a blanket to sleep with. It's bare bones on amenities in the room. You have a beautiful view from any room and a balcony, but don't expect much. Popcorn ceilings and walls if you see my picture.
The Service:
I always want to give people the benefit of the doubt. We tourists coming up in here taking all of the water resources of the island when locals have to rashion for water on the island. But it is not our fault that the government is run that way. People who worked at the resort were pretty nasty and uncomfortable to us. First day on arrival, I asked for pool towels when we arrived so that we could enjoy the pool. The woman at the front desk said "pool cabana is closed after 5pm", but the pool is open until 7pm. I had to beg for pool towels and she said that I should go to my room and use my own room towels (WTH). Luckily, a security guy opened up the cabana and brought me 4 towels. I shouldn't have to beg for towels at an all inclusive, especially when I have just arrived and the food was closed as well until 6:30pm (we checked in at 4pm). The people at the buffet also looked pissed off at you when you just walk up! The woman seating us looked as if we asked for her first born child when we asked to be seated at a table. I just don't understand the attitudes. If you don't want to work there, don't work there.
Restaurant Hours: This was very strange to me. There are about 3 restaurants on the premises that rotate breakfast, dinner and lunch hours. But it rotates every few days? Nothing is really open between 4-6:30pm (when most people check in) including the Beach Bar Grill with burgers and hot dogs and there is no room service option if you were starving for something after hours. Everything closes at 10pm. Only the Long bar was open until midnight.
Entertainment: It was almost non-existent on this resort. There is a band or a DJ that plays for a few hours from like 6-9pm at the long bar and that is it. It is 1 area and you are lucky to catch it after dinner.
Overall: I would recommend it to those seeking a vacation at minimal costs. College kids, families who just want a quick getaway, those on beer budgets. I would actually even consider coming back just for a quick time on the beach (because that beach was worth it). But I would set my expectations very low. Knowing what I am getting into. Jolly Beach, you have to spend money upgrading the resort buildings and infrastructure and fire your workers who are just angry at the world. Customer service is EVERYTHING at a resort and it is not the tourists fault for what the government is or isn't providing for you.

Date of Stay: July 2025

513slims wrote a review August 2025

Perfection Per Usual <3

My partner & I adore Jolly Beach Resort so much so we come twice a year; if life permitted, we'd come even more often...maybe in the future. We arrived at the end of July and stayed 19 days. Usually we stay 3 weeks because time here flies so easily & we can't seem to get enough of Jolly! Nothing beats the beach only steps away from the hotel! If you a beach bums like us, this is your place! The beach is impeccable & is the main reason we love coming here time after time. It's utter perfection unlike anywhere we've experienced in the world. You can also explore the other 364 beaches of Antigua while you're here, but we feel Jolly is #1!! It's like coming home to a second home when we come here that's how much we love it here, and we miss it so much when we leave. The staff overall are very nice & personable. Keon helped us upon arrival with our bags & rum punch that punched.. that was awesome!. The rooms all have an ocean view which is amazing because not a lot of resorts are like this at all if you've traveled around. Although a bit outdated, we don't come here for the decor. We always have a clean and extremely comfortable bed, clean shower with hot water & clean towels. The bathrooms are stocked with hand soap, body wash, shampoo & conditioner if you happen to forget yours. I make my own bed anyway whether I'm here or another place, so housekeeping not coming daily is not a big deal for us. I clean my own space, but do love when housekeeping tidies my room for me every week for a refresh. We enjoy spending time on the deck of the room when we awake in the morning and watching some sunsets in the evenings if we aren't still on the beach. The air conditioning is powerful for those hot days, and there's a screen on the door if you prefer the ocean breeze in your room. We just love the cozy, laid back vibe here! Meals here are delicious. There is a great variety. My partner is the biggest fan of the breakfast here as he gets his fresh omelettes made to his liking. I adore the salt fish mornings & baked beans daily with eggs & sausage or bacon. There's also an assortment of fruit, yogurt, cereals, bread & pastry along with hot teas & coffee. Lunch is my favorite for the freshly baked cookies for dessert: sugar, chocolate chip WOW! I asked to meet the baker because she deserved an applause & appreciation for those cookies. It was a pleasure to meet her! There's always salads, an array of dressings, a fish and chicken dish. You can also opt to eat at the grill by the pool on the beach & have any drink you desire. Dinner menus change daily & there is a schedule located at the front desk showing you what menu to expect each night. You can also go to the Italian restaurant on site & make a reservation for it. It's delicious! Our favorite servers are DelMarie, Dion, Donelle & Jason. Much love to them. I can't remember names of a few others, but the staff in the kitchen and dining areas here are absolutely wonderful! When you got to the beach, there are plenty of chairs & umbrellas, the only decision is where you want to plant your towel. The grounds are well maintained & the locals on the beach are all pretty friendly. We don't go in the pools because we prefer the beach, but can say they are clean and well maintained as we walk by them daily & can sit by them in the evenings. The resort has a spa on the beach where you can get a professional massage or other spa services from Yolanda who makes my body feel pain free & like brand new every time she gives me a hot stone massage. She is an asset for sure! Yes, Jolly is a 3 star resort. We know this & therefore don't have 5 star expectations although we feel we get that 5 star treatment when we come here because everything here suits our needs perfectly. We can't wait to return again & again & again!

Date of Stay: August 2025

U1126OVmichaelp wrote a review September 2025
Manchester, New Hampshire

A Sad Shadow of Itself

This was our third trip to the Jolly Beach Resort but the first since Covid when the resort closed and was reopened when the property was purchased by the Pineapple Resorts.
I am sad to say that while the beach is still one of the best we have ever visited the resort itself is a shadow of its former self! Jolly Beach was never a five star resort with modern spacious rooms and fine dining but if you were looking for a reasonably priced vacation with a beautiful beach and good food then Jolly Beach was a great choice! That is no longer the case!
The buffet breakfast at the Palms restaurant was always good (see Miss Jo’ann for a delicious omelette to start your day).
Lunch at the Coconut Grill was usually good to excellent (ask for a fresh cooked burger not a precooked one) with a good variety of choices and hot crispy French fries (unfortunately they no longer serve nachos or cheesy fries). Kadie at the Pool Bar makes the best mixed drinks on the resort!
Dinner was the issue. The pre-Covid dinner choices included Mexican, Italian, Seafood and the Palms buffet. Today’s choices are the Italian restaurant on Saturdays, Mondays and Wednesdays. They serve what I would describe as frozen dishes you get at the supermarket (we ate there once, it was just ok). The Palms buffet is your only choice for four days of the week and while I am not a picky eater on a few occasions it was difficult to find something to eat! Mangroves restaurant is located at the south end of the resort but it was sold after the resort was purchased by the Pineapple Resorts. While you can dine at Mangroves it is not part of the all inclusive package so there is a cost and other than chicken wings the menu is almost identical as the buffet. We did not eat there so I cannot critique the food.
Be advised the rooms are small and antiquated (but we knew that when we booked) but every room has at least some view of the beach / ocean. Also if you want your room cleaned it costs $10 per cleaning! This is the first time in over 30 vacations that we would be charged for that service. To be honest we did not miss having our room cleaned everyday, clean towels were supplied on request and it was kind of nice to not have to tip the maid.
A thank you to Margaret who did triple duty as the excursion desk, the restaurant reservation taker and the fresh towel person. She was always willing to try to help us make our vacation better.
Also a thank you to the head housekeeper Maria who seemed to be the only person who had any idea how to take care of guests or how a resort should run.
I say this with a heavy heart but the bottom line is that unless the resort adds some more food choices it is highly unlikely we will return.

Date of Stay: August 2025

Tamma83 wrote a review September 2025
Guildford, Surrey, England

Our first Caribbean adventure

We went the first week of September and it was classed as out of season so had a very quiet resort. John and his team made us feel welcomed and looked after- we love Delicia and the lovely ladies who made us an omelette every morning. While the rooms are in need of a refresh, they are fine but you won’t be spending a lot of time on them as the beach is amazing. And a minute walk from reception. The beds were comfortable and the house keeping staff were more than happy to give us extra pillows etc. Everyone was friendly, food was decent- especially the Caribbean buffet with a steel band playing! While my husband loved the breakfast as it was a good start to the day.
We would come again

Date of Stay: September 2025

978heatherh wrote a review September 2025
Deputy, Indiana

Not the All-Inclusive we were used to to

American Airlines placed us here after a cancellation. This hotel needs major updates, although the staff was friendly service was less then desirable.

Date of Stay: September 2025

carolgZ9252XE wrote a review September 2025

Don't expect too much

The positives of this hotel has got to be the view from the room, the food and the cocktails. Shout out to ALL the staff at the long bar and June at the pool bar. Also a mention to the staff at the information desk where you could book trips and collect towels. The beach is gorgeous with plenty of sun loungers and little huts where you can buy gifts to take home. The swim up pool is very busy and loud, so we chose to stay at the other pool which was always quiet and we usually had it to ourselves, however, you did end up with blue feet which was really funny!!
The negatives are, the hotel has no lift and we were on the 4th floor. It has very narrow corridors too! Our room number was stuck on with tape and kept falling off.
I called the room the "elf house" with nowhere to put your clothes, apart from a small wardrobe and some flintstone looking shelves. The room was dated and the bathroom door kept falling off, as did the patio door. The shower is tiny and again nowhere in the bathroom for your toiletries. We had to ask for towel changes on day 5!! They did supply toiletries which were really lovely.
The reception staff were quite rude and never smiled and some of them were very unhelpful. You always felt like you were "bothering them" if you asked for information.
The WIFI is pretty rubbish too....Do not try and post photos on your social media as it takes so long.
They also need to try and sort the bird problem at the coconut grill. I refused to eat there as you had to guard your food, or they swooped on you.

Date of Stay: August 2025

hgleice wrote a review September 2025
London, England

Amazing

Really nice hotel by the stunning beach, good food and staff were very friendly. Room was spacious, sea view and quiet area.

Date of Stay: September 2025

mtc287 wrote a review September 2025

Lyndon lobster man

LYNDON lobster man, do not order anything from him. He is a hustler and will run away with your money. Lesson learned from us very trusting tourists. Th hotel was okay. We were not informed of the cleaning services where you are given complimentary cleaning in a weeks time from when you checked in. You have to pay additional fee if you want the room cleaned before the scheduled once a week cleaning. The beach and location was perfect though. Get a massage from Bernice.

Date of Stay: September 2025

Seaside25325 wrote a review September 2025

Good Holiday at Jolly Beach Hotel

Nice holiday spent at the Jolly Beach Hotel.
We had read all the previous reviews and agree that this beach is fabulous and the hotel is a 3 star so we had no expectations to expect 5 star rooms and services at the hotel and we were happy with the price we paid which we thought was good value.
We were satisfied with the room which was basic but clean and had a comfy bed and great shower.
Food is good and we particularly enjoyed the A La Carte menu which was on for 3 nights at the Pizza Restaurant whilst we were there.
Staff are generally really good, one or two could learn from the young staff who were enthusiastic and happy and always willingly offered to get drinks with a smile for us.
I would give a big warning to stay well away from LYNDON the Lobster man who offers to cook and bring you a lobster meal on the beach and he also has been doing this at Cocos the hotel next door. He took money from us and some of our friends and also other people at Cocos but didn’t appear at all with the lobster meals. It is apparently a scam he is doing and the Police are aware and have spoken to us about it. DO NOT TRUST this man.
Otherwise everyone else at the resort is great and we had a good time.
I visited Bernice who has a hut near Mangroves restaurant for a massage and enjoyed it.
All in all a good holiday on a fabulous beach with clear blue sea.

Date of Stay: September 2025

B6950SPkiml wrote a review September 2025

Read before going so you know what to expect

Arrival: I’d read that every guest was given a delicious rum punch on arrival. We were given nothing. We were then told the local tax charge per person would be charged to our credit card (which we were expecting) plus a $200 deposit incase of damages to the room (which we wasn’t expecting). We were given a leaflet re our welcome meeting with a rep the next morning which stated 9am.
We arrived at 9am next day only to find no-one was around. Later found out it had been moved to 10.30 but no-one told us!

Beach: Absolutely Stunning - oh my - crystal clear blue water, all sand & no seaweed - it was paradise & apparently the best on the island. Always cabanas & loungers available & spread well apart. The ocean has 50 shades of blue - this I will miss the most - the most beautiful view I’ve ever seen. There are vendors selling trips etc on the beach but we found them polite & courteous so didn’t have a problem with them at all.

Room: One word “Basic”. We were checked into room 2241 with partial sea view but the next day we were asked to move by Reception due to a serious water pipe leak downstairs. Although this cannot be helped, we asked to be upgraded as we’d spent hours unpacking upon arrival the day before & really didn’t want to re-pack & then unpack again without a little sweetener. After a bit of a battle with the Receptionist, the lovely DM got involved & he moved us to room 2013 - the view & closeness to the beach was WOW! Room was slightly better but nothing really amazing. It was brighter though.
Room was only cleaned once during our 2 weeks stay, 4 days before we were due to leave. We had to use one of our hand towels to keep the floor clean which we did every day as the floor gets dirty & sandy after a day on the beach. When our towels began to smell we phoned Reception & requested a fresh set which were promptly delivered to our room. If you need more toilet paper again, ring Reception! They do act promptly but so strange that you have to do this. iOur small bin was overflowing frequently so we emptied it ourselves every other day in one of the public bins outside our block of rooms.
This is very disappointing though - I’ve never stayed anywhere where the towels or bedding don’t get changed, or your room not cleaned.
No kettle or Fridge in room. The latter is essential to keep your water or snacks cold. The air con was ok but not cold enough. We complained 5 times to Reception where each time they called Maintenance but they never did turn up! Gave up in the end. There is an iron, ironing board & decent hairdryer.

Food: The breakfast buffet in Palms Restaurant served fresh omelettes of your choice (which were nice), pre-cooked pancakes, french toast, toast (you do yourself), hard boiled eggs, baked beans, scrambled egg (which you could bounce off a wall!), breakfast potatoes, then we go on to spinach, leftovers from last nights dinner (yes really) curry, fish etc & a few random cereals. There were only 2 types of fresh fruit available (Watermelon & Pineapple) which was a real disappointment considering bananas, coconuts & mango’s are freely grown everywhere on the island & in abundance so I didn’t understand the lack of it. The Flies loved the 2 uncovered fruit bowls though. Nothing was covered so that wasn’t hygienic at all.

Palms Restaurant is in dire need of refurbishment - it’s old & tatty with a sticky floor. So much of the food (whether breakfast, lunch or dinner) is uncovered so flies are everywhere all over the food! Food covers are so cheap so this is not acceptable. Evening dinner in Palms is hit & miss, mostly miss - some days it’s “ok” & some days we struggled to find something appetising. Such strange concoctions.
Deserts are very sparse & strange (& again not covered) & not a scoop of ice-cream in sight in the entire complex - oh but you can purchase a lolly from the shop!!!! During our last week when the buffet was closed, we had 3 evenings of al la carte in The Pizza Factory Restaurant (which needs a much nicer Italian name) & this was both fabulous & delicious - what a treat. You were given a menu & you choose a starter, main & desert. The choices were brilliant. This was the best food we ate on the entire holiday & service impeccable. Really lovely. Wish that option was available every night. There was only 1 restaurant open at any one time so no choices available which was a shame. You had to go where what was open that night - mostly Palms buffet.
Mangroves Restaurant has a beautiful setting on the beach - we ate there twice. It’s open sided but roofed & we had a couple of themed nights in there which were enjoyable. The steel drum band were amazing. The view of the sunset & beach at Mangroves was very special.
Coconut Grill is on the beach & open for lunch. Again a lot of flies around the food. Everything is pre-cooked & re-heated on the grill. Not a huge amount of choice for lunch so you get bored by the second week. Options were Jerk Chicken (not much meat mostly bone), Cheeseburger (which was actually quite nice), Hot Dog, Chicken Wrap (yuk - looked like sick inside & tasted like it) or a Ham & Cheese Sub - that’s it - all served with chips! Their grill is impressive so there is no need to pre-cook. The young lady chef there was so miserable which was sad.

Please note - anytime you ask for anything ‘Chicken’ on the complex you get a boney piece of some part of a chicken with hardly any chicken - we called it ‘Chicken a la Bone’ & gave up having it. We wondered where all the chicken breasts went? Perhaps they sold them to Sandals on the other side of the island?

Children under 10 are not allowed at this hotel so if you take slightly older children that are fussy eaters they will starve! No chips or chicken nuggets served here at night so they couldn’t even rely on that!

Drinks: Water is safe to drink. Beer is decent as is the wine but the cocktails are the usual full glass of ice with a dash of this, a dash of that & they all ended up tasting the same. Very weak too. We’d read on a previous review to ask for a ‘Bob Marley’ which isn’t on the menu - now this was GOOD! Bar staff are lovely & if you ask for something off menu they will do their best to provide this - note: no branded alcohol on site at all.

Big shout-out to Anestine who works in the Long Bar in the evenings. A lovely, happy lady who works so hard - she made the best cocktails & made our evenings so much fun - I miss her already.

Swimming Pools: There are 2. The main one has a swim up bar & seating (in the pool) really nice BUT I felt the pool was very dirty & never saw it being cleaned once. The other pool is the original one but never saw anyone using it so you’d have it to yourself.

Entertainment: Not every night. Loved the Steel Band - very Caribbean. Daine Barnes was a good singer with a good selection of 80’s music. DJ Kurt was annoying - you’d just get in to a good song & he’d change it! Hot Sauce Duo were awful & kept putting the Mike in people’s faces - it was like karaoke but worse! Mr Wonderful no comment! That was it. Very poor. It repeats the second week. This is when you need lots of Bob Marleys to get you through the evenings!!!!

There is a decent supermarket a short walk up the road which stocks most things. Nice to take a walk up there to get some snacks (or a few packets of Lays) as there are no snacks available on the complex. Apparently our taxi driver told us on the way back to the airport that there is also a pharmacy just past the supermarket. Wish I’d of known this earlier as my husband was poorly the first week .

The Antigun Government have recently announced that they have invested money Into this hotel however, this won’t be completed for a good 2/3 years but so good to hear as the position of the hotel is perfect & could be 5*.

All in all would I go back - YES - the beach is the best I’ve ever been too & I can cope with the rest - just go expecting what I’ve said & you won’t be disappointed.

Date of Stay: September 2025

JamieDavidM wrote a review September 2025
London, England

First time at Jolly beach

Booked this holiday at Jolly beach as Pineapple beach club was closed for renovations, we had visited jolly beach previously and knew it was a stunning beach with a calm clear sea. We had also seen the hotel open previously and how it had reopened and was being renovated. As we knew that Ellite Islands resorts were managing the resort we were expecting great service from what we had experienced at st James club and pineapple.

On arrival at the hotel we waited in reception to check in, this was the slowest and unhappy checkin I have ever experienced in a hotel. After waiting 30 mins we were all told that we have to checkin online before getting to the receptionist. Unfortunately check in wasn’t happy and welcoming and focussed on pre charging for taxes and a §200 charge as insurance for any damages. Also no rum punch as a welcome which some guest reference.

We also asked at checkin if we could upgrade to a refurbished room, we had emailed in advance ask8ng if we could do this and have never had a response. The upgrade proved to be too difficult to accommodate so we gave up.

During our stay any interaction with reception felt like they didn’t want to be there and there were never any smiles. We reported a leak one day which was coming out of the ceiling on a walk way in front of some hotel rooms. We didn’t even get a thank you from the receptionist. Thes people are the face of the hotel and really aren’t helping to promote the hotel.

The room was clean and functional, good new air con but very data, with a shower that leaked over the floor each time it was used and pipes sticking out of the wall. No daily cleaning, new towels or rubbish collection. Only on day 7 of the holiday. Towels were rather used.by that stage, being white they really did look terrible.

The communal areas of the hotel are clean, beautiful gardens and 2 good pools. The beach is amazing and easy to find a bed. The biggest problem is some of the beach vendors constantly asking if you want to buy drugs or asking guests to get them free drink or food.

We did enjoy jolly beach resort and ai am sure that in the future as the hotel upgrades and developers it will improve and make the most of the location.

In terms of staff interactions were mixed, some staff who had worked in other elite resorts tended to be more approachable, accommodation and just nice to talk to and find out about them and the island. Others just didn’t seem to want to be there. People to really call our as being outstanding were: June at the poolside bar, Winsome for the egg station and snack bar, Joanne who was over from pineapple at the egg station, she welcomed us back to Antigua like a friend as we had met previously at Pineapple beach club. Margaret ar the tour desk, towels and restaurant booking was also amazing.

The resort has a buffet that is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. There are choices for all but the food becomes a bit repetitive after a few days. There are bootable restaurants but you have to be up and in a line before 8 to make sure you get a booking. The pizza factory is mainly Italian food most of the time open apart from on Saturday when it was just pizza. The food is ok but the pizzas are tiny, Mango is another beach restaurant which felt nicer and the food was good. The snack bar by the pool was good and the staff great.

Date of Stay: September 2025

938tilm wrote a review October 2025

Great holiday no frills but very good value v price bracket.

Firstly we had a great holiday but….Front desk experience not great Jaana in particular being almost no help and a very poor attitude considering the first face that greets you on arrival.On top any info requested was almost always answered with ‘No’.
The only other negative was the dated rooms (not dirty but tired) and non existent WIFI in the rooms away from the main reception.

June at the pool bar was amazingly good and super friendly the drinks were great full range of cocktails served at the pool bar along with spirits beer and wine.
Madison in the Italian restaurant was great also.
Buffet food hit and miss breakfast great a decent range and always eggs cooked fresh to order.
Sometimes lunch a bit same goat on the menu most days curried or stewed.
Poolside coco grill great for snacks all day burger hot dog jerk chicken wraps n fries no issues tasty and fresh.
The beach is amazing water clear and warm,local buses stop at the end of the road for a couple of dollars to St John’s verses 30 dollars each way for a taxi buses were fun safe and friendly.
Night time there is “entertainment” other than the steel band nothing really party-ish and no one getting the mood going.
This isn’t an issue as the heat sans sea pool and cocktails during the day are enough and by the time the sun goes down it’s nice to chill and listen to the ocean.
Would defo recommend this place keep an open mind and use the room
To sleep and shower and you’ll be fine.
This isn’t Sandals but is isn’t Sandals price either and it’s mush better than “you get what you pay for”
We would go back for sure.

Date of Stay: October 2025

Roving1314 wrote a review October 2025

It's ok but be aware of the not so good things!

We stayed for one week at the end of September 25. Check in was fine, we were offered a fruit drink/rum punch. No issues with check in. We were in a super saver room and this is where it went a bit downhill. The room itself (2245) was awful. Extremely tiny, no fridge, no coffee making facilities. Hardly anywhere to put your clothes, basically one wardrobe with two shelves. I lived out of my suitcase the entire week. The bathroom had to be the worst I have every experienced in a hotel, extremely small, the shower curtain was a dingy yellow and was hanging off one of the rings. The inside of the shower was really tired and I felt like I needed to wear those shoes you wear when going into the sea. The floor of the shower had a nasty yellow stain on. The water was hot and the shower itself was ok but honestly it was not nice.The bathroom door was on a rolly thing and kept coming off. The towels were not changed the whole week, there was zero room cleaning the whole week. Rubbish built up and ended up taking it to the bins ourselves. It was quite depressing. We could not sit out on our balcony as the mosquitos were a big problem so we may as well have not had a balcony!! The aircon was permanently on and was noisy and didn't work very well. We had to get maintenance to sort out the air con unit and the bathroom door. The room walls were like pebble dash. There were puddles of water outside some rooms where the aircon was dripping down, this then caused a build up of mosquitos. There was a part of the ceiling on one of the walkways that was not ceiled and exposed a good length of wiring. There was also rubbish bags outside rooms that people had just dumped outside. Next on to the food, when were were there there was only really the Palms buffet open mainly, although the Pizzeria doubled up as " a la carte " a couple of times. but it was cancelled one evening with no warning and we arrived and there was no one there to advise us so we had to find out the a la carte had been cancelled due to kitchen problems and so back to the buffet we went. The breakfast was probably the best of the food options, the omelettes were lovely, the fruit was fine and there was definitely something for everyone. The service was hit and miss, we even got told off for sitting on a table for 4 and got told to move even though it was empty when we got there. Some staff were pleasant but others were just plain miserable and maybe they were fed up but it wasn't the best. One day there was no orange juice at all. Coconut Grill for midday snacks was fine, burger and chips etc. Cant go wrong with that although we only had this once as we went out the hotel for the most part. Evening meals at the Palms, hit and miss, it was ok. Again service was hit and miss, some waiters niceothers miserable. On to the pools and beach. The pools are lovely and when we went pretty much empty. The beach is one of the best on the island. Calm warm waters. Plenty of sun loungers and shade. The all inclusive drinks, no premium brands and the soft drinks are local and not the best. the cocktails are nice. measures are strong. Beach towels easy to get and get changed as and when. Top tip, get one of those to have a shower with as they are nicer than the towels in the room! Margaret at the tours desk is lovely and we had a few great chats. Coffee shop - not really a shop more like a self service for teas and coffee. top tip bring your own coffee and a decent mug as they cups are really small. Mainly banana cake self serve but there was often none there. Overall, it's a budget hotel but not at a budget price coming up to the on season it does get fairly pricey. Top tip, you need to upgrade your room as the room can really make or break a good experience. i did speak to the manager about the room and he kind of smiled and he knew they were awful. The room spoiled it for us. We are Travel You Tubers and just want to let people know that the hotel is fine for the beach and the pools. The room, please upgrade you will be much happier. The food is ok, a bit samey and there are no premium drinks. If you want to have room cleaning you will need to pay extra and if you like clean fluffy towels changed daily this is not going to happen. jolly beach hotel is ok for a budget trip as long as you are aware of the not so good side.

Date of Stay: October 2025

Andyman1traveler wrote a review October 2025
Algonquin Highlands, Ontario

Vacation Value fantastic special spot.

The REAL STORY!!!

First off my wife and I have travelled to Caribbean extensively over the past 40!years. This is the true story of this hotel no surprise. Please ignore these bad reviews. For the price you pay for Jolly Beach Hotel compared to anywhere else on this island you are getting your moneys worth and more if you’re one of the people that complain about this hotel go ahead and spend $7000 and stay somewhere else on the island.

Shout out to our hotel Mom and the sweets lady on the Island Marylyn
In the front office always so welcoming and helpful we love her and her staff.

Bus ride from airport to hotel 30 min
You will arrive at the front desk or they are very helpful but a bit slow slow. No big deal relax have a drink and before you know it you’ll be at your room. Keon are at front of the house will arrange you stuff and get you to your room. Keon is also very helpful if you need information about leaving the hotel and travelling around the island. Island is very safe. I suggest you rent a car and cruise the island.

The really nice thing about this hotel is it small you’re only five minutes to the beach to the pool to dinner to the bar makes it very much like a boutique hotel.

When you arrive, your room will be clean. I suggest you ask for a fridge in your room. Other than that, you will pay for a cleaning service if you need it throughout the week maybe once. Towels are always available from the cleaning staff !!

We found The food plenty full from breakfast to lunch to dinner and the barbeque chicken at the pool during the lunch hour. You won’t starve on this trip. The food is very good.

There are two very clean pools on the property, a small quiet pool with plenty of chairs and a larger pool with the waterfall and the swim up bar plenty of chairs with an upstairs eating area above the bar. The pool drinks were outstanding they have everything Vanroy the man.

There is also the main bar after dinner it has a great vibe and relaxing atmosphere with live entertainment, and be sure to ask for Jay or Patric they make some mean drinks great bartenders super great guys!!!!

There’s special restaurant Italian you need to book with Margret at your desk early in the morning. Lerenzo is the maître D and runs a tight ship. There is always the buffet dinner which has plenty of food. Lots to choose from and a pizza bar.

The beach is most spectacular. One of the best on the island plenty of chairs plenty of Palapas very clean nobody bothering you on the beach. The turquoise water is clear and calm fantastic swimming beach fantastic walking beach.

The Jolly Beach Hotel was undergoing some renovations on the far end of the property. No big deal. The grounds were very clean and grounds crew always work very hard, beautiful flowers beds.

If you’re looking for Rent-A-Car or to book your excursions, you’ll see Margaret at the desk located in the middle of the courtyard. She’s very helpful wonderful lady. It was not expensive to rent a car and it’s well worth taking a few excursions to see this spectacular island.

Overall this is a special little place.
This is a true Caribbean 8/10 but once the rooms are renovated 10/10
The beach and staff 10plus.

Enjoy your vacation I hope info helps you relax
Andyman1 the traveller
Canada !!!

Date of Stay: May 2025

fionaa905 wrote a review October 2025

Five star experience

Just returned from 9 wonderful days at JollyBeach.
The whole experience was fantastic
The staff were so friendly, very helpful and always smiling.
Food was always lovely, for breakfast, lunch and dinner with lots of choice every time.
Rooms are nice , very clean and comfortable with excellent air con and a fan.
Bathroom is compact and had a good selection of toiletries, perfect for your stay.
Couldn’t fault anything- we were sad to leave and will definitely be back

Date of Stay: October 2025

L8206ZCalanc wrote a review October 2025

You get what you pay for!!!

After reading reviews we were concerned but also prepared for the worse… check in was straight forward, the room was very basic but clean, out shower floor was v slippery so we put a towel down, the floor on entry got wet so we put a towel down ( beach towel) the bath towels were very clean and soft and there was plenty of toiletry products, 2 spare toilet rolls and a box of tissues. The meals were always served freshly made in covered containers with plenty of choice ( I hate when people move the serving spoon and use it for something else, there’s a serving spoon at each container, use it, put it back) the staff are , on the whole very pleasant and attentive with drinks, water, tea, coffee, wine etc in the evening. We had a bad storm ( thank you Maria for your help) which affected the drains and resulted in the warmer and electricity being off for a while, unfortunately where we were it didn’t come back on but Clinton made sure we were moved to another block which had power and water. The quiet pool was closed and having repairs done so it was the large pool with the bar and snack bar, food there is good, cooked as you order it, the music is loud but go near the huts selling goods for a quieter place to relax. Coffee bar and seating area is nice, get your beach towels from Tourist info. The Long bar is open from early pm to 10/11pm Anastina is very efficient and knows her way around the bar making cocktails without any effort and multi tasking. The beach is beutiful and amazing sunsets. On the whole a not unpleasant stay but an eventful stay due to weather etc. nothing to do with the service provided. A heads up take a small kettle and plenty of mosquito repellent and after bite cream. The staff I mentioned were excellent in their fields especially Maria( cleaner).
😟 Negative slippery floor in shower so put towel down, also put a towel down if floor is wet near entrance( beach towel) it is what it is and you cannot control the weather.

Date of Stay: October 2025

karenbJ7368FW wrote a review October 2025

Think Very Carefully Before Booking – Honest Review

We spent one week out of a planned two-week stay at Jolly Beach, Antigua, but had to move to another hotel because it was that bad. We had read the mixed reviews beforehand and went with very low expectations — but even those were not met.

During our stay, so many people were complaining. Some guests even cut their week-long holidays short and went home early because things were so bad. The rooms are extremely basic — no fridge, no drinks facilities, and they do not clean the rooms while you’re there. There’s no towel or sheet change unless you go to reception and specifically ask for it, then they charge $10 or you change the sheets yourself you also have to request toilet paper It honestly felt like being in a prison at times.

The electricity and water cut out constantly, often at the same time, and usually during peak hours. When it rained, the place completely flooded — the dining room, the grounds, everywhere. We couldn’t even get out for two days because of the flooding, which turned the place into mosquito heaven. I’ve been to the Caribbean many times and have never been bitten like this before. The bites were so bad that other guests were asking me what had happened to my legs, and my arm was almost deformed from the swelling.

The food was pretty abysmal, and the entertainment was very poor. Some of the staff were pleasant, but many seemed as though they didn’t want to be there — and frankly, neither did we by the end.

We are still in Antigua, now at another hotel (at our own expense), and it’s a completely different experience. I’m writing this as a very honest, live review. Please think very carefully before booking Jolly Beach. The reviews online do not reflect the reality we experienced.

Date of Stay: October 2025