PINEAPPLE BEACH CLUB

Pineapple Beach Club Antigua occupies thirty acres along Long Bay at Willikies, on the island's north-east coast. Its 180 rooms, across three floors, look onto some 400 metres of white sand sheltered by a reef. The resort welcomes travellers aged sixteen and over, runs on an all-inclusive plan with taxes and gratuities included, and has belonged to Elite Island Resorts since 2016.

Pineapple Beach Club at a glance

One hundred and eighty rooms, thirty acres, and a reef-sheltered beach on the north-east coast. It is the most affordable adults-only all-inclusive of the three Elite Island properties on Antigua, and it carries the largest review base of any hotel on this list: more than six thousand on TripAdvisor.

Four main restaurants, four bars, three pools, a spa, tennis and pickleball courts, a watersports centre. The plan covers taxes and gratuities, which simplifies the arithmetic more than you would think.

Long Bay: the reef-sheltered beach

The position deserves an explanation, because it surprises. Long Bay lies on the Atlantic side of the island, which sometimes worries travellers used to booking the Caribbean side. A reef closes the bay and cuts the swell: the water is calm, shallow and clear.

The direct consequence is snorkelling. Long Bay ranks among Antigua's best beaches for it, and the reef is reachable by swimming straight from the sand, with no boat. Few resorts on the island offer that. Our advisors can tell you what to expect by season. Call 1 866 628-6241.

Sixteen and over

The minimum age is sixteen. No kids' club, no facilities for younger children, and the atmosphere follows: the clientele is couples and groups of friends, often on stays of a week or more.

For a family with young children the address is out. For a family of teenagers aged sixteen or older it becomes, on the contrary, one of the most interesting value propositions on the island.

Which room to choose

Categories step up by view rather than by space: Pool or Terrace View, Garden View in king or double beds, Ocean View, Premium Ocean View, Beachfront and Waterfront. Floor areas run from about twenty-nine to thirty-seven square metres.

At the top sits the Chairman Suite, around a hundred square metres. The gap between a Garden View and a Beachfront costs money, and it is worth discussing with an advisor: on a beach of this quality, the front row justifies itself for many travellers.

Where you eat on site

Four restaurants form the core: Topaz handles the main buffet, Orchids runs the steakhouse as a premium reservation venue, Chef Pietro's Italian by the Beach does Italian at the water's edge, and the Pineapple Grill Caribbean cooking.

Beyond them are counters rather than restaurants: Café 17 61° for specialty coffee, the Pelican grill for snacks, and The Outhouse, a bar and grill set on the high ground. Some websites claim seven restaurants by counting those counters; we would rather say four restaurants plus cafés and grills.

Is it an all-inclusive?

Yes, and with no restaurant supplement, which sets the address apart from its neighbour Galley Bay. The plan covers unlimited meals and snacks, domestic drinks and a selection of international brands, along with taxes and gratuities.

Non-motorised water sports are included: kayaks, paddleboards and Hobie Cat catamarans. Add tennis, pickleball and an excursion desk. Our advisors confirm the detail before you book.

The pools, the spa and the activities

Three pools serve the property, including the Tickled Turtle. Some older documents claim two: the resort has three today.

The Tranquility Body and Soul spa, the same brand as at St. James's Club, offers its treatments in a garden setting. Tennis, pickleball and non-motorised water sports are included. No casino on site.

Who this resort suits

It fits couples and groups of friends who want a complete all-inclusive, with no restaurant supplement, at a reasonable price for Antigua. It fits snorkellers, since the reef is reachable by swimming. It fits stays of a week or more, where the quiet of the east coast eventually wins people over.

Families with young children cannot stay. Anyone wanting a true luxury address, recent décor or several fine-dining rooms will be better served elsewhere on the island. Our advisors will say so plainly.

What to know before you book

Allow thirty-five to forty minutes by road from V.C. Bird International Airport. The property lies on the island's east side, where the trade winds blow harder than on the west coast, cooling things pleasantly while masking how strong the sun is.

Antigua lies inside the hurricane belt, whose season runs from 1 June to 30 November, with a peak in August and September. The East Caribbean dollar is the official currency, though US dollars circulate everywhere, and driving is on the left. For entry requirements, consult travel.gc.ca before departure.

Booking Pineapple Beach Club with an advisor

On a beach of this quality, room category matters more than elsewhere, and the gap between a garden view and a front row deserves to be priced. An advisor who knows the house does that with you.

Reach a Voyages AquaTerra advisor at 1 866 628-6241, or explore our Antigua all-inclusive packages, our Antigua and Barbuda travel guide and the full range of southern all-inclusive vacations.