When is an Apartment Hotel actually a luxury vacation Condo Hotel is a moot point, and perhaps both are the same. On the other hand one is surely apartments and the other villas and studios, but whatever, sitting on the beautiful Dickenson Bay in Antigua is the Owners Club Antigua Village, which is a privately owned development of some 98 villas sitting in lush tropical gardens.

There are Studio Apartments, 1 or 2 Bedroom Apartments, and 2,3, and 4 Bedroom Villas. They are reasonably priced allowing families and couples to make reservations for what will be a very affordable vacation. All prices incidentally include beach towels, laundry, kitchen and dining utensils and maid service.

What makes the Antigua Village different from other apartment hotels/ luxury condo hotels is the Owners Club concept. What this means is that taking a vacation at Antigua Village also automatically makes you a member. The Owners Club was set up to provide all the facilities of a luxury resort but without the restrictions that being in a hotel brings. By this is meant, that you are free to eat when you want, do what you want without timetable, which surely makes for a perfect holiday.

The Owners Club have ‘partners’ on Antigua featuring a couple of great restaurants where members get special privileges. Owners Club members, which means you enjoy golf, tennis, water sports, sailboat charter, your own desert island getaway, and even membership of your own wine club.

The restaurants featured are Hemmingways which is in St John’s about ten minutes by car. It opens for breakfast lunch and dinner, and a table is guaranteed if booked through guest services the previous day, and there is complimentary champagne and special members only meal plans. Le Bistro  in Hodges Bay is a legendary fine dining establishment again with guaranteed reservations for members.

For golf you have member ship of the Cedar Valley Golf Club, again 10 minutes drive away where no green fees are charged, and there is membership of the Halycon Cove Tennis Club, and again no fees are charged if courts are booked through the Antigua Village Guest Services. At Tony’s on Dickenson Bay members get special discounted rates for water sports, and there are other activity options that have similar pricing arrangements.

On the other hand you could just sit by the pool, or relax on the beach with glass in one hand, and a good book in the other. A short walk along the beach finds seven restaurants, even a casino, so you will not be short of things to do and places to eat, and with your fully equipped kitchen and nearby grocery outlets staying home and cooking is a breeze.

All in all the Antigua Village is a good choice for families, and you will find the accommodation more than adequate although some guests felt it was a bit dated. This seems to be a common feature throughout Antigua and is probably just a quirk in the Caribbean. There is a mosquito problem, again not uncommon, and the management staff will come and spray but it makes sense to come well armed with bug repellent. As apartment hotels go, or luxury vacation condo hotels if you prefer, Antigua Village will give you an affordable holiday in a very beautiful plac as Dickenson Bay remains most attractive.