Sun, Rum & Royalton: Our All-Inclusive Beach Reset (and the Resort That Kept Running Out of Things)
ANTIGUA | JAN 2026 | FLY-IN TRIP
| 01. WHY WE WENT
Two people. Four nights. A resort that handled the agenda — and one last-minute boat tour that almost handled us.
It was my turn to plan, and after years of our vacation calendar being hijacked by club volleyball travel, I was overdue for an actual beach trip — the kind where the only itinerary is “be near water.” Al hadn’t done a real tropical vacation in ages either, so he was in the second I floated it.
The destination got decided the way a lot of good trips do: American Airlines sent a points deal we couldn’t ignore — 17,000 points plus $104 for a nonstop to Antigua. That’s the kind of email you don’t delete. We were booked within the week.
We landed on the Royalton CHIC Antigua — an adults-only, all-inclusive that split the difference between budget and Sandals-level splurge. A cousin had stayed the year before and gave it a solid “decent, you’ll have a good time,” which, in hindsight, was about right: not perfect, but exactly the reset we needed. Four nights, one flight, zero kids underfoot.
| Trip Score | 8.2/10 |
| Perfect For | Couples, beach lovers |
| Would We Go Again? | Probably – with a king bed |
| Biggest Surprise | The Xtreme Circumnavigation Tour |
| Getting There | EAsy – nonstop, no transfers needed |
| Trip Mood | Sun-tired and exactly right |
| We’d Skip Next Time | Pescari Overwater Restaurant |
| Pack This | Insulated tumbler, crisp cash for tips |
| 02. AN HONEST TAKE
he SAID
Getting there was easy — we’d arranged an airport pickup that fell through, but it didn’t matter. Antigua taxis run a standard, agreed-upon rate to the resort, so you’re not haggling or worrying about getting overcharged, same on the way back at the end of the trip. Lesson for next time: don’t bother pre-booking a transfer.
Check-in started strong — a welcome drink (champagne with what tasted like blue curaçao) while they held our bags, then someone carried them up to the room for us. Good first impression. Restaurant-wise: Vespa Trattoria was solid — good food, good house wine pairing — though my ossobuco came out looking pretty different from the version I’m used to. Still tasty, just not what I pictured ordering. Haven Grill, on the other hand, was a clear win for me — Caribbean-style plates, rice, shrimp, plantains, all squarely in my wheelhouse. If you’re picking one specialty restaurant to prioritize, that’s mine.
My favorite part of the resort itself, beyond the beach and water, was the nightly entertainment at the lounge in the middle of the property — real performers, not karaoke-night energy. One evening was a full Michael Jackson tribute with dancers that was genuinely well done. We also got pulled into a cornhole tournament one afternoon — didn’t place, but it was a good time.
The beaches were beautiful and the water was great — one day we watched a full rainbow stretch end to end over the ocean. But the real standout was the Xtreme Circumnavigation Tour — a three-man crew that kept things fun the whole day, even though the Atlantic side of the island gets genuinely rough. If you’re prone to seasickness, that’s worth knowing going in; a few people on our boat white-knuckled it the whole way instead of getting in the water. We stopped at Devil’s Bridge and Nelson’s Dockyard, where the harbor entrance has this carved rock formation called the Pillars of Hercules — 60-plus feet down, completely clear. Snorkeling there, you could see an old ship’s anchor resting on the bottom from the surface. One of the crew free-dove down to it on a single breath, touched it, and came back up — wild to watch. They fed us on board (chicken, salad, plantains, dessert) and made a stop at a private stretch of beach for a sweet rum drink to close it out. Best day of the trip, hands down.
One honest take on the resort: it showed more wear than I’d expect for a property that hasn’t been open that long — nothing ruinous, just noticeable. And heads up on a genuinely strange local policy: Antiguan banks won’t accept any bill with visible wear, even a minor corner tear — they refused worn cash at the shop and wouldn’t break bills for tips. Bring crisp money. Checkout was easy logistically but inflexible on time — late flight, no late checkout. We used Sapphire Reserve lounge access at the airport to wait it out, which helped.
SHE SAID
The flight and taxi over were painless — always a good sign. The room itself wasn’t ready when we arrived, so we killed time poolside after checking in. When we finally got up there, the room was clean and comfortable with a balcony over the quiet adult pool, which turned out to be a great perk.
The one letdown: they’d assigned us two double beds instead of a king. Al is not a small guy, and a full-size bed is rough for him under normal circumstances — let alone for a week. There was no room to switch, so we made it work, but if you’re traveling with a partner who needs more real estate, push hard at booking (or check-in) for a king
We downloaded the resort app to book dinner reservations, and quickly learned the popular spots fill up fast — book the second you land, not “later this week.” We did splurge on Pescari, the overwater restaurant, mostly for the setting. The food, though, was the same as what you’d get at the on-site restaurants, just with a view tax. Not worth it.
There was also a running joke among guests that “we’re out of that” should be Antigua’s official tagline — no mint for mojitos, no bananas for daiquiris, more than a few menu items unavailable depending on the day. Manage your expectations accordingly.
What absolutely delivered: the bartenders. Friendly, attentive, and somehow remembered our usual order by day two — plus they kept water coming, which matters more than you think in that heat. Insomnia, the on-site patisserie, was a genuine highlight too — good coffee, good coffee cocktails, good pastries, worth a stop any time of day.
We had two fun kayaking outings: tandem on day 1, solo the next after learning we both like to drive. The sports shack offers various water sports – you uust have to plan around the water sports shack closing at 3pm.
Entertainment-wise, the resort showed up: evening shows, daytime pool games, a DJ keeping the poolside energy going, and a completely unhinged bubble party where staff paddled a kayak around a bubble-filled pool handing out drinks. It was a hoot.
A last minute addition via TripAdvisor, our one real excursion — Adventure Antigua’s Xtreme Circumnavigation Tour — ended up being the best thing we did all trip. A full day zipping around the island, snorkeling, swimming with stingrays, a stop at a private beach with some delicious lunch and rum punch, history along the way, and getting absolutely smashed by waves more than once.
What was Al’s feedback?
| 03. THE ITINERARY – DAY BY DAY
8:40 AM
Nonstop AA flight → ANU (scored a good points deal on this)
Immigration lines were pretty long, but the immigration process smooth enough.
3:00 PM
Check in to Royalton CHIC and straight to pool bar for refreshments and a snack from the food truck while we waited for our room to be ready.
Got oriented to the resort and relaxed after the morning of travel.
8:00 PM
First dinner at Vespa Trattoria and evening entertainment at Taboo Lounge.
9:00 AM
Enjoyed the extensive hotel breakfast buffet before heading to the pool to settle in: adult pool, swim-up bar, cornhole competitions, great bartenders, first taste of the “we’re out of that” island reality.
2:15 PM
Tandem kayak in the afternoon (water sports shack closes at 3pm, so go early).
6:00 PM
Dinner at Pescari Overwater Restaurant (see Can Skip)
10:00 PM
Late dessert/coffee cocktail stop at Insomnia Patisserie (a trip fave) and entertainment by the Taboo Lounge
10:00 AM
More recharging poolside before the bubble party broke out at the RoyaltonCHIC – great music, coconut cocktails, new vacation friends and a pool full of bubbles with a bartender kayaking around the pool handing out more beverages, what more could you need?
6:00 PM
Dinner at Haven Grill before hitting the “Michael Jackson” tribute show and the Taboo Lounge again.
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Adventure Antigua – The Xtreme Circumnavigation Tour: snorkeling, stingrays, Devil’s Bridge, Pillars of Hercules, a private beach with rum punch, island history and a face full of waves on their “EXTREME” trip around the island. The highlight of our visit to Antigua.
6:00 PM
Dinner at Hunter Steakhouse — our best meal of the week.
8:00 PM
Last evening at Taboo Lounge with our favorite bartender. Met a lovely, newlywed couple from Whales who taught us a new card game, Kings in the Corners.
| 04. WORTH IT?
MUST DO
- Adventure Antigua — The Xtreme Circumnavigation Tour — full-day excursion, hands down the best day of the trip. Book through TripAdvisor; the reviews are accurate.
- Hunter Steakhouse — our best meal at the resort, no contest.
CAN SKIP
- Pescari, the overwater restaurant — beautiful spot, but the food doesn’t outpace the on-site restaurants. Pay the premium for the view only if that’s specifically what you’re after.
TOP TIPS
- Bring an insulated cup or tumbler to keep drinks cold poolside — nearly everyone around us had one.
- Download the resort app and book dinner reservations the moment you check in — popular restaurants fill up within days.
- If you need a king bed, confirm it before you book — double-bed rooms are common and hard to change once you’re there.
- Plan water activities around the 3pm shack closure — kayaks and other gear aren’t available after that.
- Bring crisp, undamaged cash for tipping — local banks won’t accept bills with any visible wear, even minor tears.
- Book excursions through TripAdvisor — our go-to for sourcing tours, and it delivered again.
- Don’t bother pre-booking an airport transfer — standard-rate taxis are readily available in both directions at an agreed price.