Island Route Tours

Island Routes is a Caribbean Tour operator and a member of the Sandals Group of Companies.  It was founded by a group ofCaribbeanpeople whose mission is to showcase the culture, beauty and natural resources that define each unique island destination.  Currently, Island Routes operates over 140 tours inJamaica,St. Lucia, Antigua, theBahamas, Turks and Caicos, andBarbados.  Island Routes recently received the 2010 World Travel Award for “World’s Leading Caribbean Attraction Company” and has set the tour industry standard by becoming the only tour company to receive a prestigious Six Star Diamond Award from the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences.

 Islands Routes has tour desks in all of the Sandals and Beaches properties as well as the Grand Pineapple locations; however, guests staying anywhere on the islands (or cruise passengers visiting the islands) can book tours with Island Routes.

The Grand Pineapple Beach Resort Antigua

The Grand Pineapple Beach Resort Antigua is located on a secluded 500-meter stretch of white-sand beach (Long Bay) approximately 30 minutes from VC International Airport and 30 minutes from the capital, St. John’s.

The resort boasts vibrant Caribbean colors with a unique tropical flair. The guest accommodations are in one, two and three-story buildings, each replicating classic Caribbean architecture. The resort is moderately priced and will host singles, couples, families and small groups. The atmosphere here is quiet, casual, relaxed and unhurried.

There are 180 rooms in 5 categories. All rooms have air-conditioning; king, double or queen-size beds; ceiling fans, hair dryers, telephones, iron and ironing board, private bath or shower, safe, cable television, and coffee/tea makers. Some rooms have private balconies or patios and others have communal verandahs.

There are 5 restaurants and 3 bars at this resort. Nightly entertainment is provided along with a wide variety of land and water sports. There are two freshwater pools, one of which is a quiet pool reserved for adults only.

Much of this resort is situated on a hill, which can make walking difficult for some. The ocean-view rooms are located on the hillside and are the largest rooms of the resort. I would not recommend this resort for anyone with mobility issues. The walkways are at times uneven and getting up to the hillside can be a challenge. There are no elevators on property.

Sandals Grande Antigua

Sandals Grande Antigua is situated on the most beautiful and longest white-sand beach in Antigua, Dickenson Bay. It is 15 minutes away from the VC Bird International Airport and 10 minutes from Antigua’s capital, St. John’s.

There are 373 rooms and suites in 25 categories in this beautiful 27-acre resort. Accommodations range from one-story buildings with patios to Honeymoon Rondavels with private plunge pools, to exotic Mediterranean Honeymoon Penthouse One-Bedroom Suites and Luxury Ocean Villas with private pools!

The resort comprises two distinct sections: the Caribbean Grove (the original resort) and the new Mediterranean Village.

All accommodations in the Caribbean Grove have air-conditioning, king-size mahogany four-poster beds, ceiling fans, amenity kits, hairdryers, private bath and shower, safe, clock radios, cable television, coffee/tea maker, iron and ironing board.

Accommodations in the Mediterranean Village offer concierge service, air-conditioning, king-size mahogany four-poster beds, ceiling fan, amenity kits, hairdryer, telephone, private bath and shower, safe, CD clock radio, cable television, coffee/tea maker, iron and ironing board. These suites have Italian floor tiles, large flat-screen televisions, custom-designed mahogany furniture with leather trunks and fabrics from Turkey, Italy and India. The bathrooms feature Italian Giallo marble, custom his-and-her washbasins, the latest Kohler Purist bath-and-shower fixtures, whirlpools and overhead walk-in rain showers.

There are 11 restaurants and 7 bars throughout the resort. Theme nights, weekly events and nightly entertainment is also provided. There are six freshwater pools and six whirlpools, including two swim-up pool bars. This resort also offers volleyball, aerobics, table tennis, day/night tennis, darts, bocce ball, pool tables, snorkeling, aqua cycle, Hobie Cats, Sunfish sailing, kayaks, pedalos, windsurfing and scuba diving.

This resort is fairly large and may require a lot of walking from one area to another. Guests with limited mobility would probably be more comfortable in the Mediterranean Village, as it is more compact and elevators are available.