Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to our most common questions about travel, accommodations, dining, and more.
Travel & Documents
In the rare event of a hurricane/tropical storm, the safety of our guests is paramount.
Choosing to Depart Early Any guest vacationing at an Elite Island Resorts property, who chooses to leave early due to a pending storm, will be offered the opportunity to apply unused nights towards a future vacation with Elite Island Resorts.
Must Depart Early If an evacuation order is issued for your vacation destination based on a hurricane/tropical storm watch or warning, guest(s) will be offered the opportunity to apply unused nights towards a future vacation with Elite Island Resorts or a refund will be issued for the unused nights.
Due to Arrive If your vacation destination is under hurricane/tropical storm watch or warning for any date during your planned vacation at an Elite Island Resorts property, you will be allowed to change your dates or rebook the vacation for travel up to 1 year from the date your vacation was due to end. Elite Island Resorts will guarantee the room rate if you rebook for the same room category and period the following year. All change fees will be waived.
If your departure city is under a hurricane/tropical storm watch or warning for any date during your planned vacation at an Elite Island Resorts property, you will be allowed to change your dates or rebook the vacation for travel up to 1 year from the date your vacation was due to end. Elite Island Resorts will guarantee the room rate if you rebook for the same room category and period the following year. All change fees will be waived.
Relocation If your vacation destination is under hurricane/tropical storm watch or warning for any date during your planned vacation at an Elite Island Resorts property, you will be allowed to transfer to another Elite Island Resorts property, into an equivalent room category at no additional charge. An upgrade fee will be charged if you choose to book an upgraded room category. Airfare change fees and transfers are the guest’s responsibility.
Rebooking If you choose to rebook, Elite Island Resorts will guarantee the room rate if you rebook for the same room category and period the following year. If you choose to rebook for any other period, the difference in room rate will be applied.
Cancellations Cancellations are not allowed based on forecast tracks of storms or the possibility of a hurricane/ tropical storm approaching your vacation destination and/or departure city. Penalties will be applied.
Flight Changes Elite Island Resorts is not responsible for actions taken by airlines due a hurricane/tropical storm watch or warning. For air tickets booked via Elite Island Vacations, agents will be happy to discuss alternatives available to you, but cannot waive any change fees related to an airline ticket. For air travel changes and airfare refunds, please contact the individual airline for their policy under these circumstances.
A passport is required for all US, UK and Canadian citizens to travel to the Caribbean. We strongly recommend that all members of your party travel with a passport with a validity date of at least six months past the date of your departure from the island. You may not be allowed entry into Antigua or Barbados if your passport is not valid for at least 6 months after the day you are scheduled to arrive.
All travelers must have a valid passport. If you are not a US, UK, or Canadian citizen, please check with your country’s consulate for Visa requirements. US, UK, and Canadian visitors do not need a Visa to travel to Antigua & Barbuda. Guests heading to Antigua are encouraged to complete the form at ArriveAntigua.com for a faster, smoother travel experience. No app download is required – visitors simply scan their passport, answer a few questions within 72 hours of travel, and receive a QR code to fast-track Immigration and Customs.
All of our resorts are located approximately 30 minutes from the airport via car, with the exception of Los Establos Boutique Resort, which is an approximately 45-minute drive from the local airport.
At check-in, guests are required to present valid government-issued identification (passport, driver's license, ID card) along with a valid major credit card. This helps us confirm your arrival and helps protect our guests by assisting with our fraud prevention measures.
At check-in, a US$350 pre-authorization will be processed on your card to cover any incidental purchases or similar expenses. Incidental purchases may include things like tours, excursions and gift shop purchases. We understand that not all guests incur additional charges during their stay, but this process assists the resort with fraud prevention. The pre-authorization is released at check-out assuming you have not charged any purchases to your room.
Upon your arrival at the VC Bird International Airport in Antigua, the Grantley Adams International Airport in Barbados or the Enrique Malek International Airport in David, Panama, you will exit Customs and see a line of governmentally approved taxis waiting to take you to the resort. Likewise, at the end of your stay, taxis assigned to the resort will transport you back to the airport. If you require anything else, please contact a Reservations Specialist at Elite Island Resorts at 800.858.4618 for further options.
Yes, a Resort Fee of US$29 per room, per night applies to all bookings. The resort fee is payable locally at the resort and includes wi-fi. A statutory tourism levy of US$5 per person, per night also applies to all bookings. These fees are paid at check-out.
Daily shuttles to the capital city St. John's are available for a small fee. Shuttles are also available on Sundays for visits to Shirley Heights for a small fee.
Car rentals are available from the resort and daily rates vary. You will need to purchase a temporary local driving permit to drive in Antigua.
We have a parking lot available for self-parking at the front of the resort.
Accommodations
Check-in is at 3 PM and check-out is 11 AM. If you arrive early or have special requests, our front desk team is happy to try to accommodate.
Yes, you can and we will do our best to honor your request.
Upgrade inquiries can be made at reception of the hotel upon arrival and are based on availability. There is an extra fee per night for room upgrades, payable locally.
Housekeeping services are provided every day during your stay.
Wi-Fi access is available throughout the resort and is included in your daily resort fee.
Find a complete listing of our accommodations with capacities and bed types at the Fact Sheets below:
Fully modified disabled rooms, such as you may find in the United States, are not available. Ground floor rooms are available. However, some areas, services, restaurants and facilities at the resort may not be accessible to disabled people or people with mobility issues.
All rooms are non-smoking. Smoking is only permitted in certain areas.
All guest rooms have direct-dial telephones with worldwide service. Complete telephone and fax services are available at the resort.
Yes, all rooms have ceiling fans.
The voltage is 110v as in the US. Guestrooms are equipped with North American outlets.
Yes, it is. The safe key and lock will be handed to you upon check-in.
Mini refrigerators are available in all rooms. All Villas have full-sized fridges.
No, pets including service animals are not permitted at the resort, in accordance with local law.
Dining
Yes – tap water, purified locally, is safe to drink. Bottled water is also available however it is not included.
Dinner reservations are only required at certain restaurants and are accepted no earlier than 24 hours in advance via the Guest Services Desk. Menus are posted both at Guest Services and in the Lobby the eve prior.
Yes, some of our restaurants require an extra fee:
- St. James's Club & Villas — US$50 per person (plus tax) surcharge at Piccolo Mondo
- The Verandah Antigua — US$50 per person (plus tax) surcharge at Nicole's Restaurant
- Pineapple Beach Club Antigua — US$50 per person (plus tax) surcharge at Orchids Restaurant
- Galley Bay Resort & Spa Antigua — US$50 per person (plus tax) surcharge at Ismay's Restaurant
Breakfast & Lunch: Holiday casual. Bathing suits must be dry and covered.
Dinner: Casually elegant (tailored shorts, collared shirts, sundresses, etc). Please no beachwear or gym wear. For our fine dining restaurants with a surcharge, we kindly ask that men wear long pants, collared shirts, and closed-toed shoes; and women wear pants, blouses, and dresses; T-shirts, cutoff shorts, flip-flops and beachwear are not permitted.
During peak season (December–April) gentlemen must wear long trousers. Outside of peak season, gentlemen may wear tailored shorts.
We offer a wide variety of menu and dining choices, which include some vegetable and vegetarian dishes. However, our vegetable and vegetarian dishes may include ingredients that are not vegan, as we do not cater specifically to a vegan diet. Due to the all-inclusive nature of the resort, we cannot arrange private meetings with the Chef, or create individualized menus or meal plans for our guests.
In an all-inclusive setting, we are unable to accommodate individually tailored meals for specific guests. We do offer a wide variety of meal choices, which includes salads, fresh fruits and vegetables, and vegetarian options. However, we do not cater to specific individual needs such as vegan, gluten free, allergen free, religious observance, or similar custom-made dishes.
No. Find a complete listing of our dining venues at the Fact Sheets below:
Bottles of wine are available for a surcharge. Some of our resorts offer premium liquors for an upcharge. Please ask to see what is available on site.
Resort Services & Activities
Steel bands, DJs, Karaoke, local performers, guest participation contests and much more are available several nights per week.
Yes. Hours change seasonally, please stop by the gift shop for exact hours of operation during your stay. The gift shop offers souvenirs, logo items, snacks, beverages and other sundries for an additional charge.
Yes, laundry bags are provided in all guest rooms. This service is at an additional charge.
Yes, beach towels are provided for your convenience.
The snorkeling gear at the resort is included and you can snorkel free of charge. We also offer off-site snorkeling trips, available for a fee.
Golf is not included. There are two golf courses on the island of Antigua – Cedar Valley and Jolly Harbour.
Find a complete listing of our activities on property at the Fact Sheets below:
Yes, we have a Tour Desk or Guest Services at all resorts where you can book your excursions. The desk is open seven days a week. To view all Antigua tours, click here. To view included Panama tours, click here.
There are excursions and boat tours to neighboring islands such as Barbuda and Montserrat.
Our Guest Services staff will be happy to arrange this for you.
English Harbour is just 30 minutes away from our Antigua resorts. Bridgetown is about 20 minutes away from The Club Barbados.
For all your grocery, pharmacy, personal items, and provisioning needs in Antigua, stop by Epicurean Fine Foods & Pharmacy, the Caribbean's largest and most extensive supermarket. Epicurean's main store and pharmacy is conveniently located just outside the capital city of St. John's, and they also have a location in Jolly Harbour. Visit EpicureanAntigua.com for more info.
There is a great selection of restaurants in Antigua, in and around English Harbour, approximately 30 minutes from the resort. There are a number of high end dining options near The Club Barbados as well, whether you drive 5 minutes north to Holetown or 20 minutes south to Bridgetown.
Currency
US Dollars are accepted at the resort and everywhere in Antigua and Barbados. The official currency of Antigua is the Eastern Caribbean dollar which is fixed to the US Dollar. The official currency of Barbados is the Barbados Dollar, which is fixed to the US Dollar. Panama is home to the Balboa, otherwise known as the Panamanian Dollar. However, everything at Los Establos, and most surrounding businesses, can be paid for with United States Dollars.
US currency, travelers checks, and major credit cards (excluding AMEX) are widely accepted.
No. The closest ATM in Antigua is located in English Harbour, approximately 30 minutes by car. The ATM only accepts Visa cards.
Illness & Allergens
The Resort is located in a tropical environment. Although the Resort does employ a year-round pest control service, the Resort, its owners, employees, agents, insurers, and suppliers shall absolutely not be liable for any claim, injury or illness resulting from exposure to Zika virus, Chikungunya virus, or any other insect-borne virus or tropical illness whatsoever.
The Resort's food and beverage outlets use wholesome ingredients, which may include peanuts, tree nuts, seeds, shellfish, shrimp, seafood, soy, milk, wheat, and other potential allergens. Due to the large scale of the Resort's food and beverage operations, the Resort cannot guarantee that food items will not come in contact with potential allergens even if a particular food does not normally include such ingredients. Guests with food allergies or dietary restrictions should be advised accordingly and take precautions. The Resort is not able to accommodate individually tailored meals for specific guests based on their individual dietary needs. The Resort and its owners, employees, agents, insurers, and suppliers shall absolutely not be liable for any claim, injury or illness resulting from food allergies or specific dietary needs or requirements.
No. There are several general practitioners and specialists on the island as well as a hospital and a private clinic. If needed, recompression chambers are available by air ambulance at nearby Saba and in St. Thomas. Pharmaceutical services are also widely available.
Still Have Questions?
Our reservations team is happy to help you plan the perfect Caribbean escape.