Emma, Richard and family enjoyed accommodation that lay a mere 30 steps from the resort’s swimming pool
Emma spent most of the week napping, petting farm animals and partaking in cocktail hour
POS TCAR D
Jumby Bay is green in every sense of the word
from
JUMBY BAY EMMA FREUD, Richard Curtis and family head for a restorative break in the Caribbean THERE ARE TIMES WHEN I DREAM OF wild holidays filled with intrepid adventures. And then there are times when the only decision I want to make is where to nap. After a hectic few months, all we wanted was calm family time, minimal contact with other humans, and absolutely no one asking ‘Shall we visit the local glass-blowing factory?’ And so we found ourselves on a seven-hour flight to Antigua, followed by a five-minute boat ride straight into Jumby Bay’s hotel bar. Within 30 minutes, we were on the beach, ice-cold beers in hand. The 300-acre island’s only residents are guests of the beautiful 50-room hotel. Clinking bottles, we vowed to meaningfully bond with none of them. Jumby Bay is green in every sense of the word, which makes it very easy to feel good about staying there. There are no cars – every resident is given a bike for the duration of their stay – each house has a solar water heating system, indigenous animals are protected by a sustainability programme, all cuttings are composted, and all biproducts are recycled. There’s a little farm at the island’s centre where vegetables and herbs are grown, meanwhile chickens, sheep and tortoises
submit themselves to vigorous daily petting from younger guests – and me. Overlooking the golden bay, the colonialstyle rooms are unfussily luxurious, and fabulously well-considered for families. Our little house was 15 steps from the bar, 30 steps from the pool, and 45 steps from the beach (I had time to count) but that was as energetic as things got, for this holiday was defined by what didn’t happen. We didn’t leave the island. We didn’t talk to anyone else. We didn’t take part in any activities, and we certainly didn’t spend a single minute wondering ‘what shall we do today?’. However, we did enjoy lazy swims. We ate fresh poke bowls at the beach. We rode 20-minute circuits of the island. We indulged in spa bliss. We lay in hammocks, sipping beach nightcaps. And when the hotel set up a cinema screen on the beach, bedecking the sand with bean bags and candles, we watched Mulan, its thrilling battle scenes playing out in the twilit tide’s reflection. Quite enough excitement for one holiday, you’ll agree. L
The spacious colonialstyle villas and suites offer guests pared-back luxury
Richard enjoyed daily beachside lunches, including fresh poke bowls After sunset, the beach cinema is set up for family-friendly screenings
Turquoise Holidays offers seven nights at Jumby Bay from £4,119 with flights and transfers, turquoiseholidays.co.uk
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