Buccaneer Beach Club

The Buccaneer Beach Club has a perfectly pleasant charm that’s fitting for its Caribbean home on Dickenson Bay, one of the more popular beaches in Antigua. The walkway to the beach cuts across the small property, passing alongside a small, free-form pool shaded by spectacular bougainvillea trees, and a handful of two-story pastel colored buildings. Interiors are simple and homey throughout, from the home office-like lobby to the barbecue areas and compact lawns. A few guests can be seen throughout the property during the day, relaxing on their pool-facing balconies with a book or in conversation. However, the action generally seems centered on the beach.

Opening the wooden country gate to the beach reveals a scene that explains the area's widespread popularity. The sun sparkles on the stunning, crystal-clear water that seems to expand as far as the eye can see, and shines bright on groups of local kids chasing after a soccer ball on the sand. Older couples watch from the shady refuge of Coconut Grove, the casual restaurant that takes up prime beachfront real estate here. It has a laid-back bar that's popular with guests. On “cruise-ship days” this little beach and all the sandy stretches around it are swarmed with hordes of international day-trippers. While the small space can get crowded easily, it seems the young families and older couples who stay here -- most of them from the U.S. and Europe -- are perfectly content to respectfully share the beauty of their surroundings. 

The hotel is on the northwestern coast of Antigua, along Dickenson Bay and about an eight-minute drive from the capital city of St. John's. A casino and a number of restaurants are within the immediate area (aside from the hotel's own Coconut Grove, or Ana's on the Beach). There's casual Putter’s -- a two-minute walk away -- for basic burgers, fries, and fish. On some late nights Putter's hosts bingo or trivia. Attached to the nearby Trade Winds Hotel is Bay House Restaurant, a classy bar and lounge above the water -- about a five-minute drive from the hotel. Various other dining options include Hao Hao Chinese (a three-minute walk) and Warri Pier Restaurant (a 12-minute walk). Twice a week there's also a fish and chips stand next to the hotel -- it's popular with locals and tourists alike. The local grocery store, Epicurean, is just a 10-minute drive away, and also has an ATM. The V.C. Bird International Airport will take around 15 minutes to reach by car.

Decor is simple, but pleasant and bright. Low black pull-out couches with colorful throw pillows sit next to light- and mid-tone wood veneer furniture. Bright and more subdued ocean-inspired prints and paintings hang on white walls and tile floors keep everything cool. Fabrics -- like bright blue bedding and colorful window treatments -- help add a bit more life to the otherwise homey spaces. Bathrooms are quite large and bright, with massive showers that lack curtains, but have hot water and solid water pressure. There’s plenty of counter space too, but no windows.

The 16 pool-facing One-Bedroom Villas here feature kitchenettes with full-sized fridges, stove-tops, and coffeemakers, while two beachfront Two-Bedroom Cottages offer full kitchens. The kitchenettes and kitchens are stocked with just the right quantity and variety of cookware and utensils to cook a proper meal, which is helpful for the families who often stay here. Both the villas and cottages are spacious and equipped with flat-screen TVs, irons/ironing boards, safes, free Wi-Fi, and air-conditioning. 

Each room has a balcony or verandah, but they are frequently set close to each other and aren’t the most private. They do offer lovely views, either of the pool and grounds or the beach ahead. Slatted windows everywhere make it hard to keep the mosquitoes out, and they make their presence felt once the sun sets.  

The beach is small here, but it’s still got a wow-factor: a U-shaped rocky cove sparkles with turquoise water and soft, golden sand, with much-needed shade granted by a few palm trees nearby. To the left is another expansive sandy area that seems more popular with locals -- it leads to Runaway Beach. The shallow, calm water in front of the hotel, and location alongside the casual Coconut Grove Restaurant, make this beach a popular one on the island. While it’s certainly picturesque, Coconut Grove is overpriced, considering both the mediocre food and how long it takes to arrive at the table. The truly picturesque surroundings are a plus, though, and the mellow vibe at the bar lasts late into the night -- pros for many guests. Farther to the right is where the sand widens out again (at Sandal’s Resort), where there’s also a range of water sports available.

The small hotel pool is understandably less popular among guests, despite the pretty bougainvillea flowers that hang over one side and scattered lounge chairs. It’s next to a small rotunda, which houses a large table, chairs, and a barbecue grill that’s available for guests to use. There’s no business center here, but Wi-Fi is free and mostly functional (it works everywhere but the beach). Parking is also free, but spots are limited to a handful in front of the hotel. Free laundry services and bike rentals are also available here.