After some hashtag searching, our favorite way to search on Instagram, we found the tiny, but gorgeous, Cocobay Resort. We followed their every post on Instagram for a few months and when we were finally ready to book, we knew exactly where we’d be going.

We’ve compiled just about everything you need to know about Cocobay Resort in Antigua and all the reasons why this stunning place is the perfect honeymoon spot. And be sure to check out our honeymoon packing list & tips, too!

Stunning accommodations

We booked one of the two Chattel Houses, the Oleander to be exact, which was their top of the line offering. If you could dream up a perfectly romantic Caribbean honeymoon view, it wouldn’t even come close to the view these two rooms have. From the canopy over the bed, to the bathtub on the balcony, or Nespresso every morning, every single part of these little cottages will blow your mind.

Ultimate relaxation

At Cocobay, their motto is literally “Romance & Relaxation.” And they make sure you feel totally relaxed at all times.

Total seclusion

Most of the rooms (cottages really) have way more seclusion than any mega-resort or typical hotel. We stayed in one of the Chattel houses and we had COMPLETE seclusion. Other than the kayakers and jet skiers flying by our deck area, no one could see in, whatsoever! And even they were a good ways away.

Incredibly friendly staff

From the moment we arrived at Cocobay Resort the staff was wowing us! On our first morning, we had the Black Rocks breakfast and Kerry (who happened to have the exact same name as Thomas’ brother) was the ultimate rockstar. Each of our favorite bartenders had their own special drink that was delicious and kept us coming back for more! From Vincia’s “Vincia Special”, to Karissa’s take on a sangria, and to our favorite drink the Caribbean Daze made by Saskia we always had someone ready to help make us something delicious to drink! The front desk staff was the most helpful and informative staff we’ve ever encountered at a resort.

Perfect amenities

Yoga, exercise classes, bar bites, paninis… Do we need to keep going? Because we could go on for days. The amenities here are fabulous. We arrived to a bottle of Red Label Johnny Walker, a bottle of champagne, and tons of other drinks in our mini fridge. Needless to say, these treats, paired with plenty of drinks from the bar, were only the tip of the iceberg when it came to the amenities. On the beach, there were kayaks, paddle boards and kite surfing. We took part in (complimentary) yoga in the mornings (seriously, the best, most restorative yoga EVER), and managed to watch one of the fitness classes from the pool – we’re totally not the kind of people who are destined to get a workout in while on a vacation, but it looked like and AWESOME workout for those hoping to get a sweat in.

Fantastic food

The one thing we were worried about when booking a small resort was food and food options. We loved all the options. And Cocobay, despite its incredibly intimate size, had practically endless options when it came to dining. Breakfast and lunch are both buffets, but not once did we have the same thing. You’d be crazy to skip out on the omelettes from Sonia at breakfast! The woman makes some of the best omelettes we’ve ever had. Dinner was something different, every night! And, when you book directly through the resort, you have the option to upgrade your meal, at no extra charge!

And for those who need a little snack between meals, the paninis from the bar by the lower pool were always delicious! There was a meat option and veggie option each day… I’d say try them both if you can. Not every single one was to die for, but they were all pretty good and we never saw the same one twice! Occasionally, there was sorbet, here, too! You’re on vacation, don’t skip the sweets. There was also bar bite options in the afternoon at the main bar if you wanted to change it up.

5 things not to skip when looking for a romantic Caribbean honeymoon spot

Get a room with a plunge pool.

Don’t even question us on this one. We loved being able to come back after hanging at the resort pools or at night after dinner and just relax and stare at the stars!

Book the black rocks breakfast.

We booked this for our first morning there and it was perfection. You will have the entire pool to yourself, and no resort guests are allowed in that area for the entirety of the time you have it reserved. Your server(s) will be the only one you’ll interact with, but other than them checking on you every so often, you’ll be all alone. Make sure to stop by the front desk to make your selections for breakfast the night before!

Socialize with everyone at the bar & pool.

We met some of the most amazing people from all over the world and had tons of great conversations! Getting to know people, who just so happened to have selected the same tiny spot in the world as you, for the exact same dates, was such a cool feeling. Sending hugs to all of our friends we met from the different corners of the world!

Grab a panini (and maybe sorbet, too) from the bar by the lower pool.

There are two main pools, one where the main dining area is and one that we called the “lower pool.” The lower pool has the small bar. Though it may be small, it is mighty. This is where you can find the paninis, served with fresh, delicious, chips and sometimes sorbet! You’re on vacation, or your honeymoon, eat the food! You’ll thank us later!

Book directly with the resort.

This is probably the biggest thing we recommend. When you book directly through the resort’s website, you’re eligible for small extras that those who booked through an OTA or third party, aren’t. And, Cocobay is a small resort, nothing like the massive chains, book directly and support this stunning resort. It just makes sense!

Planning a honeymoon? Or maybe just a getaway with your girlfriends? We wanna know where you’re headed next!

The post Most Romantic Caribbean Honeymoon Spot: Antigua appeared first on Tastebud Travels.

Halfway through our honeymoon we were finally rested (a week long beach trip ending with a beach wedding extravaganza with our families is tiring, but so much fun) and ready to explore the island. Antigua is 108 square miles, which, when you really think about it, isn’t that big, but it was plenty big enough! We spent an entire day exploring Antigua and getting a true feel for everything that is this little island. We’re sharing the best way to explore the island like a local.

Rent a car 

We rented our car through Scrubo’s Pineapple Rentals located in Jolly Harbour, which was only a 5 minute drive from our resort. The day before we wanted to rent our car, the staff at the front desk of our resort, (Cocobay) called Scrubo’s to book our car for us. The next morning, someone from Scrubo’s brought our car to our resort and drove us to Jolly Harbour to fill out paperwork and to get our temporary Antigua & Barbuda drivers license (hello awesome souvenir), and then we were off! In Antigua, driving is done on the left side of the road and most cars have the steering wheel on the right side of the car similar to The UK – which is a big change for a US driver.

We’d definitely recommend the strongest (at home) driver be the one to take the wheel. Driving on the opposite side (for Americans) is a huge change, but an amazing experience, and not all that hard!

St. John’s 

Our first stop was St. John’s, the waterfront, capital of Antigua! This was definitely the most touristy area of the island. Filled with cruise ship passengers, souvenir shops and chain restaurants. Grab a souvenir to bring home and explore the fun stop in the city but we recommend not spending too much time here as there are other stops that are more unique to Antigua, but definitely a great place to stop once to say you’ve seen it.

Fred’s Belgian Waffles & Ice Cream

When we decided to explore the island we knew finding a good dessert spot was key to making the trip sweet and Fred’s did just that. Fred’s makes homemade Belgian waffles from scratch to go along with their homemade ice cream and they are DELICIOUS. You can choose from a made from scratch Belgian waffle cone or stick to the homemade waffles with ice cream on top. We decided on a waffle with marshmallow cream ice cream. The marshmallow flavor mixed with the flavorful waffle made for a tasty treat. Fred’s, alone made the stop in St. John’s worth it.

Nelson’s Dockyard 

Nelson’s Dockyard, located in English Harbour, is Antigua’s largest National Park and is still used as a dockyard for ships. Full of cultural heritage and history of the island, this is must stop for anyone who visits the island. A hotel, museum, restaurants, old English phone booth and souvenir shops are all situated within the national park. Unfortunately, when we visited they were doing construction so pretty much everything was closed for the slow season, which was a total bummer. It was still worth a visit while exploring Antigua, as we were able to learn a lot about Antigua and see some amazing views of the water.

Shirley Height’s Lookout 

You know how people say “don’t do the touristy things when visiting ____” well, if you don’t experience them once, how are you EVER going to know if they’re good or not? Shirley Heights in Antigua is that way! And listen, it really does live up to its hype. While we visited in the middle of the day, and it was super hot, the views were just as stunning as ever! We even grabbed lunch at the cafe. The fish burger and regular burger were both delicious! There’s also a huge party on Sunday nights, that we unfortunately missed. Nonetheless, don’t miss this spot. Whether you go once, or one hundred times, it’s worth the trip.

Explore the Rainforest 

You technically can’t explore Antigua without going through the rainforest. Now, understand, it’s not a stereotypical rainforest. The massive area lining the southwestern part of the country is an intense tree lined area with so much beauty! We took our time driving through the hills (we were driving on the other side of the road, after all) and really tried to take it all in.

Cade’s Bay Agricultural Station – Home of the Antiguan Black Pineapple

Antigua is home to what many consider the sweetest pineapple in the world – The Antiguan Black Pineapple or Antiguan Blacks for short. We had the pleasure of tasting these sweet Antiguan Blacks at Sheer Rocks and it surely lived up to the hype! More golden in color than a normal pineapple, these delicacies are less acidic packing an even sweeter punch than this already wonderful fruit. Right off of the main road you’ll find this adorable sign that leads you to fields of these sweet treats. But don’t blink, we almost missed it. We also encountered a man yelling at us from within the plantation… We couldn’t figure out if he was telling us to come in the gates or to leave (probably the first, knowing how friendly everyone in Antigua was), but nonetheless, we were both so excited to have found this sign, and pineapple plantation.

Snow Cone at Gina’s Shop

After leaving Shirley Height’s we had about a 30 minute drive back to Cocobay through the Antiguan Rainforest. We were really craving a snow cone and along the way we stumbled upon a little shop on the side of the road called Gina’s Shop and to our luck they had snow cones! We decided on a lime snow cone to enjoy on the last bit of drive we had left. What a perfect little treat on our little road trip around the island.

Rum Bus Beach Bar 

This super cool little bar is a must stop when exploring Antigua. We stumbled on it when we were almost back to Cocobay. We were actually just looking for a place to park to go down to the beach and when we saw the giant, double-decker buses, we knew we had to go in. Since it was the middle of the day, in the middle of the week, during slow season, there weren’t a ton of people there, but that made it all the more special. We got to stroll around the bar, got a private tour of the vacation rental they have (thats only $100/night) and so much more. Grab one of the delicious cocktails, sign your name on the bus and just relax!

If you’re even remotely thinking about visiting Antigua, stop thinking, and start booking! Antigua is the most beautiful country and there’s so much to do. After one visit, we’re hooked and dying to get back! If you do decide to jet off to this beautiful island, or even if you’re thinking about it, leave your comments or thoughts below!

The post Exploring Antigua appeared first on Tastebud Travels.