Just a few days ago I came back from having spent a wonderful week in this delightful little Hotel in Antigua, which provides an excellent idea of how tourism must have been like in the Caribbean 30 or 40 years ago, before the creation of gigantic structures that scarred what must have been a wonderful landscape. Although nobody is going to pamper you in the Long Bay Hotel, it will be very easy to feel yourself at home and lose in the beauty of the place: the Hotel and the Beach House staff was, with no exception, extremely friendly (including the house dog!) and attended to my requests (albeit limited) promptly and professionally. For those of you that might be put off by past negative reviews and by some of the hotel's features let me clarify a few points:
There is no air conditioning in the rooms, nor will you need it! The rooms in fact face the direction of the trade wind, which sometimes blows so hard that you will be forced instead to close the shutters to reduce ventilation;
In my lovely and very clean room (36) there was a very efficient mosquito net on the windows and around the bed, plus I was provided with insecticide. It is true that the island is full of bugs but with a little precaution you can reduce the risks of bites;
The bathroom was possibly refurbished many years ago, but it was very functional and the only minor problem I had was fixed within minutes of my reporting it;
I have seen in the rooms none of the zoo reported by previous guests: there are lizards everywhere outside the room – but in Antigua that is hardly a feature of the Long Bay Hotel.
The Beach House and the hotel beach are a three minutes walk away from the main structure and they very well integrate with the rest of the hotel. I had breakfast and dinner every day in the Beach House and was always satisfied by both the quality and quantity of food and the quality of the service.
My only suggestion to those who chose the Long Bay Hotel is to hire a car: the structure is located pretty far from all the other interesting points of the island so, unless you want to spend your days between the room and the Beach House (and I see nothing wrong with that) it is better to get a mean of transportation – a Jeep better than a car, given the road conditions.
I would recommend this hotel to everybody except:
Singles looking for wild entertainment (a tip – try Ibiza instead);
Honeymooners that need constant reminding that they are on a honeymoon (a tip – try a cruise instead);
People who are notoriously difficult/impossible to please (a tip – if you are feeling touchy reading my review that you most likely fall in this last category).
Will I ever go back to Antigua? I honestly do not know. But if I ever do, this is the place where I am going to be. In the meanwhile, I hope and pray that Chris and Dave will do their best not to change the true nature of this wonderful jewel.

Driving into the Long Bay Hotel you know something special is waiting for you. Catching a glimpse of the beach as you drive to reception ensures you’ll soon be walking back through the shady gardens as soon as the formalities are done.

Chris appears and welcomes you to his hotel, it’s a warm and friendly welcome, relaxed as it should be, we are taken to see the rooms which are charming. Reminiscent of a time when life was more simple the chalets provide all the comfort you need minus the electronic distractions you don’t.

Strolling back through the gardens, we pass the tennis courts and reach the beach. We sit in a grand gazebo for rum punch, served with style by David the hotel manager. He chats for a while and then leaves us to enjoy the view. Feeling relaxed we walk the few yards to the beachside restaurant where we are served a wonderful lunch by discreet and trained staff. The food is comparable to anything on the island, which is quite a compliment, and fairly priced.

A couple of drinks later and we are ready for the beach just six steps away. The whitest sand in Antigua greets us, warm crystal clear turquoise water, which is protected by an inshore coral reef, refreshes and cools. The sunbeds beckon and we obey. Partial shade induces a snooze and we wake as relaxed as we ever could be and feel obliged to try just one more rum punch.

Another perfect day in paradise. The amazing thing was that more people were not there to experience it, Long Bay is a great find which from a selfish point of view I hope stays a secret for another 40 years. Somehow though, I doubt it.

We had a LOVELY week at this small hotel. Our room and porch overlooked the bay and had delightful breezes that kept us cool. The complimentary breakfast was perfect; delicious Antiguan coffee served in a French press, a plate of fresh fruit, and toast and jam. Everything was set up to make us feel comfortable and at home: an honor bar for beverages day and night, good books in the library, a basket of sun hats, all kinds of boats and snorkel gear at our disposal, and lighted tennis court. The staff were incredibly friendly and warm and took great care of us. Dinner at the restaurant was delicious (so good that we ate there every night!)... great cold soups, freshly prepared fish and especially good vegetables.The beach had both sunny areas and shady spots and great chairs for lounging. What more could one ask for?!

We just completed our 4th trip to Long Bay and were as pleased as ever. The staff is so welcoming and accommodating. The food delicious and plentiful. We love the "old world" feel of the whole resort. Our room was spacious, clean and very comfortable. The low key, relaxing atmosphere is exactly what we enjoy for our holiday. Long Bay beach is a warm, clean swimming/snorkeling area. We are looking forward already to going back next year. (Thanks to Chris, Dave and the rest of the staff at Long Bay!)