Beach Confusion - Facilities But No Vendors or Jet Skis?

[sandinmypants]

Is it possible to find a beach on Antigua that has some kind of facilities (chair/umbrella rental, restaurant, restrooms) but no jet skis (hate that noise!) and few vendors (hate being bugged to death!) We'll have a 9yo with us, and we'll want to actually go IN the water, so we don't want huge waves either.

 

Does a beach like this exist on Antigua? We don't really want to spend an arm & a leg (not looking for a resort day pass), just want to take a taxi to a place we can relax for the day.

 

Thanks for any help!

[allentownahoy]

try Sandhaven on Runaway Bay. Two chairs and one umbrella for $18 and only ten minutes from pier, much less crowded than nearby Dickenson Bay.

[tjschwalm]

I would go to Valley Church Beach if you are in port for a weekday ! You can search this thread for lot's of info .

[sandinmypants]

Aren't there jet ski's at Valley Church? Are they loud, annoying, intrusive? Any feedback would be appreciated.

 

And - Sandhaven - I looked at their website, and the pics make it look like a bit of a "party place" - we really don't want that kind of an atmosphere, does anyone have pics or feedback?

[allentownahoy]

I don't think Sandhaven is a party place during the day.

[steve ch]

Aren't there jet ski's at Valley Church? Are they loud, annoying, intrusive? Any feedback would be appreciated.

 

And - Sandhaven - I looked at their website, and the pics make it look like a bit of a "party place" - we really don't want that kind of an atmosphere, does anyone have pics or feedback?

 

 

The jet ski rentals are based at the next beach north, Jolly Beach, but they do cruise around touting for business, especially to Cocobay hotel, which is at the next beach south, so you will see (and hear them) at Valley Church. Of course, once someone has rented them they could be anywhere in that area. Darkwood is a couple of beaches further south, with Turners south of that again. They would be quieter, but still have beach bars.

[KarenandBruceG]

When we were in Antigua a couple of years ago we ran into a situation on Jolly Beach with a "vendor." To be completely fair, there are many vendors on the beaches who are honest and are licensed, but there are the others too.

 

One fellow came up to us with a handful of pamphlets describing a catamaran cruise around the island. Something about this guy just seemed wrong so I pointed him out to one of the wandering security people. They took one look at this man and escorted him away from the beach. It seems that he picked up the pamphlets at a counter somewhere and was selling reservations on the beach. He had no actual relationship with the tour. If you bought a tour from him and went to get on the boat you would find that you had been scammed. He would have moved on to another beach and would not return until after he knew you had gone home, then he would repeat the scam with the new batch of victims.

 

This may have been a bit off-topic but it's something you need to be aware of.

[Lister D]

Is it possible to find a beach on Antigua that has some kind of facilities (chair/umbrella rental, restaurant, restrooms) but no jet skis (hate that noise!) and few vendors (hate being bugged to death!) We'll have a 9yo with us, and we'll want to actually go IN the water, so we don't want huge waves either.

 

Does a beach like this exist on Antigua? We don't really want to spend an arm & a leg (not looking for a resort day pass), just want to take a taxi to a place we can relax for the day.

 

Thanks for any help!

 

Hi Sandy pants

I know what you mean abot jet skis I often dream of having one of those WW2 bazookas and picking off one or two of these guys as they zap past

 

There are some beaches on the Island that don't have jet skis to hire but you still sometimes get the odd jet man that takes a fancy to the beach you are on so there is no garuntee anywhere in the world I guess these days. Also if you go to half moon bay there are no jet skis for hire but there are also no facilities on the beach. The same thing applies to vendors.

However I can recomend Runaway bay. It is long eneough(about a mile) to get away from the main area of activity. there is a beach bar/restaurant

at one end of the beach called the Sandhaven you can hire chairs and shades and take them up the beach. The food is good and reasonable and the owner has children of about the same age as your child and I am sure it would not take long for them to hook up and have fun. The beach vendors are licenced and are have stalls near the restaurant and so there are not many that come onto the beach. The swimming there is good but at times as on any beach you can get a day when it would be dangerous

I have seen a woman break her leg when it was plain to see by any Idiot that 6ft waves are not for playing with also the life guards were flying the red flag and advising people not to go in the water!!!!!

However If you look up the Sanhaven Web site I there is a contact number and ifyou give them a call in the morning they will be honest with you and tell you the sea conditions. You should also be able to see for yourself because the good thing about Runaway Bay is it is only a ten min taxi ride from the port so it is not expencive to get there,you also do not have to leave until the last minute to get back to the ship so you can have a full relaxing day. You can see Runaway as you approach St Johns

on the port side as you approach.

 

Have a great time!!!!

[Lister D]

Aren't there jet ski's at Valley Church? Are they loud, annoying, intrusive? Any feedback would be appreciated.

 

And - Sandhaven - I looked at their website, and the pics make it look like a bit of a "party place" - we really don't want that kind of an atmosphere, does anyone have pics or feedback?

Hi Sandy pants (sory about your new name)

I have posted a longer reply further on and have only just noticed your comment on the Sandhaven Web site

I think the pictures you are refering to are the Sunday night disco or whatever they call it these days. During the day it is not at all like that

 

Have a great Time!!!