Reviews
Sugar Ridge - Antigua
19 March, 2011
Sugar Ridge Hotel - Antigua
Fitness Escape to Antigua
Nestled on the side of a hill on the beautiful west side of the island is a boutique resort named Sugar Ridge, which despite having only been open for business less than 18 months, is creating quite a stir.
The 60 rooms are scattered across the hillside in blocks of 4, each room making the best of its natural position with a balcony overlooking the Jolly Harbour area and the stunning Caribbean Sea. The grounds are wonderfully well manicured with some obvious attention to detail. The natural fauna, which at first sight might appear overgrown ensures a sympathetic respect for the natural habitat and ensures some privacy. For the more discerning traveller there is a choice of one of 32 rooms, which also boast a modest private plunge pool.
The rooms themselves have been created to an exceptionally high standard, most with 4 poster beds. The bathrooms are of a very high quality and finish, offering a generous portion of space and large showers. Each room also has some more modern comforts; LCD Flat screen TV and Ipod docking stations to name but a few. Special prizes for who can find the iron and ironing board which was ingeniously stowed away!
Carmichael’s Restaurant is a highlight of its own. It sits at the top of the hillside overlooking the resort below and providing panoramic views over the Caribbean Sea and enticing glimpses of neighbouring bays between the surrounding hills. There can be fewer better places to sit and enjoy the shear beauty of the Caribbean. Another extra special touch is the intimate infinity pool and decking next to the restaurant, which allows guests to relax whilst enjoying the magnificent view. The main pool is below, next to the gym and spa, and has a 180-degree view of the wooded slopes for sunbathers to lose themselves in.
At the heart of this resort lies three main pillars; health, wellbeing and relaxation. Sugar Ridge boasts one of the best, if not the best, gymnasiums on the island. Fully equipped 186 Sq Mtrs of gym space with the latest Cybex cardio equipment with personal TV monitors. One of the main features that helps this gym stand out against other resorts is the fact that it is always manned by a qualified trainer so there is someone there to offer advice and assistant.
Jackie (pictured above), one of the gym instructors at Sugar Ridge, trained to be an instructor in the UK and now spends her time at the gym, putting guests through their paces. She grins longingly at the thought of pushing a few of the more fit guests on hill reps during early morning training sessions. She clearly has a very balanced view to training, quick to point out that each programme is tailored to individual needs, but one is left with the impression that if she had to really push a few people to breaking point, she would! She runs a variety of classes often making use of the nature features she has at hand, such as trekking through the hills and runs along the nearby beaches. The resort also has a well-equipped studio where she instructs favourites such as Bums and Tums and Zumba and she utilises a separate section of the main pool, which has a 25m lap marked in it, for aqua aerobics.
Adjacent to the Gym is a state of the art Aveda Concept Spa offering a wide range of treatments. At the helm you will find Kafi, recently returned to her family home in Antigua from living in Canada and who could blame her. It is impossible not to find yourself relaxing the moment Kafi begins speaking with you, she is softly spoken and her huge amount of spa management knowledgeable is evident and reassuring. She has worked hard to create an air of calm and tranquillity and this envelops guests the moment they enter the reception area. Coupled with fantastic therapists, a first rate range of treatments, including deep tissue massage for the more active guests, and quality products (the first Aveda spa on the island), this facility is one to be proud of and well worth a visit.
Sugar Ridge is not a beach resort, due to it’s unique hillside location, but it has overcome this issue by providing regular shuttles to a number of local beaches. This way, you get the best of both world’s: the remarkable hills and to try out a number of beaches during your stay, ensuring a frequent change of scenery. The resort has teamed up with the most frequented beach bars so that all-inclusive guests can eat and drink under the same deal at these bars, ensuring no one misses out.
Vaughan, the shuttle bus driver (pictured below), takes enormous pride in being able to match a beach for every mood. He boasts that he can spot when guests need quiet time or party time and he will suggest a suitable location to meet their needs. Vaughan is also the man that organises local treks around the area. He has great knowledge of and pride for the island, which every local is proud to call “Paradise”.
Sugar Ridge presents a great escape for the fitness minded. The hotel is geared up to cater for every standard, so whether you just need to get a boost to your fitness or unwind with a range of spa treatments, its got to be one of the best places. The management have plans to offer bespoke fitness weeks, where they will create an intensive programme of activities and treatments, depending on your requirements. This is the perfect place to kick-start the training season or concentrate on pre-race preparations, or to go with a group of like-minded fitness lovers for a week of exercise, fun and relaxation in the sun. It also has plenty to offer those people who prefer to rest and recuperate on holiday and therefore is ideal for families and couples with differing needs.
Sugar Ridge presents a great escape for the fitness minded. The hotel is geared up to cater for every standard, so whether you just need to get a boost to your fitness or unwind with a range of spa treatments, its got to be one of the best places. The management have plans to offer bespoke fitness weeks, where they will create an intensive programme of activities and treatments, depending on your requirements. This is the perfect place to kick-start the training season or concentrate on pre-race preparations, or to go with a group of like-minded fitness lovers for a week of exercise, fun and relaxation in the sun.
Sugar Ridge also has plenty to offer those people who prefer to rest and recuperate on holiday and therefore is ideal for families and couples with differing needs. Antigua itself has a wide variety of attractions to satisfy it’s visitors. From shopping in the capital St Johns (although avoidance of peak cruise ship times is advised) to Betty’s Hope, a sugar plantation museum and other historic sights. The English Harbour and Nelson’s Dockyard are a particular highlight and they host the annual Antigua Sailing Week in April, which is a spectacular event.
The waters surrounding the island are rightfully the biggest attraction for the majority of tourists. The crystal clear turquoise water of the Caribbean Sea which is home to a variety of stingrays and turtles, including the Hawksbill and the wilder, deep blue Atlantic Ocean, where if you are lucky, a pod of dolphins or humpback whales may be spotted.
The best way of exploring the waters is to take part in one of the many sailing trips available. The most established company offering a wide range of tours is Adventure Antigua, run by a local gentlemen, Eli Fuller, who has extensive knowledge of his home island.
One of their trips on offer is the day long Eco Tour. The purpose built catamaran meets it’s guests at the St John’s marina or straight off the Dickenson Bay beach. The crew of three were personable, extremely hospitable, professional and very knowledgeable. The aim of the tour is to educate guests on the history and wildlife of the Antigua, whilst exploring some of the smaller islands, natural features (mangrove swamp and Hell’s Gate rock formation) and beautiful bays. Swimming and snorkelling play a large part in the day, along with short hikes at two stunning locations.
The crew provide a delicious lunch of pasta, salad, chicken and baked plantain, served with plenty of non-alcohol drinks. A much-welcomed afternoon snack of banana loaf and rum or fruit punch helped round off a wonderful, educational and relaxing day.
The more experienced sailor can take part in daily racing sessions from English Harbour or indeed charter a boat from Eli for the day.
The island also has horse-riding facilities and you can learn to kite-surf on some of the eastern beaches. For golf fans, there are a number of courses that will ensure their swing does not deteriorate whilst they are away
All in all, Antigua has something that should appeal to everyone and hopefully lead to a happy holiday – whatever individual requirements are!
If you are up for the challenge you can book a training programme stay with Sugar Ridge by visiting Health and fitness travel
For more information on Sugar Ridge Resort, Antigua visit Click Here
To visit Adventure Antigua Click Here