On our extended Caribbean tour this was the only place, from which we got an informative mail in advance, the only one, which precharged us (50%) and the only one, where nobody was around, when we checked in (as everywhere we had given our flight arrival time and number). Luckily there was a customer there, who offered to make a call to the manager, who then gave me some information about the cottage, where we were staying. It was the only cottage anyway and with USD 140 per night quite a bit higher priced than the rooms in the Lodge itself (some without private bathroom).

On the compound is also the restaurant 'Island Fusion', which gets raving comments, but with an owner, whom we experienced during our stay as a very unfriendly person. The manager of 'The Lodge' we never saw until the end of our stay at a completely hidden office at the back of the restaurant. When I went to pay the lady asked me, what I wanted, not being aware that I had been staying with my wife at her only cottage for 3 nights. And when I asked for a taxi transfer to the airport I was told by her to get in touch with the lady from the restaurant.

The cottage, where we stayed, was big enough. It had a double-bed, a seating area, a kitchenette. The bathroom was quite good, with enough storage space and free toiletries. Some of the drawers were full of junk of previous owners and there were no extra blankets, when it got pretty cold on the last night. Room service we didn't expect and there was none.

Once I went for a swim in front of the compound, which is possible, but no place to hang around. For this one has to walk for half an hour to Pigeon Point Beach. After 3 days here we were happy to move to the far more expensive, but also far more enjoyable Copper and Lumber Store Inn in nearby Nelson's Dockyard.

I stayed here for a week in early February on the boat Feanor moored on the pontoon which is down some steps just a couple of minutes away from the restaurant. This was a comfy and good value option but you need to be reasonably agile. It’s a climb up onto the deck from the pontoon. The inside of the boat is accessed by a short ladder which leads down from the deck. There’s a double bed (narrowing into the pointy end). It has the advantage of a boat toilet (head), running water, a gas cooker and an ice box (ice available from the office). Clean towels and sheets are provided and it’s ok to use the shower room in the lodge. There’s a lounge area with plenty of space to sit or move around. The deck is a good place to sit and read or watch everything happening in Falmouth Harbour - anything from the arrival of a super-yacht to local children sailing dinghies. It would certainly be my first choice place to stay next time I’m on the island.

This is quite a difficult review to make, it depends what you are looking for accommodation wise.

The Lodge is part of the Antigua Sailing Academy and is well situated in Falmouth Harbour, it is a great place to go if you love your boats / yachts. It is about 10 minutes walk to the main centre of activities in English harbour where there are a number of decent bars / eating establishments. The harbour houses many very large and expensive yachts. Pigeon Beach (very beautiful and uncrowded) is around 25/30 minutes walk away which includes navigating a rather steep hill. The sailing academy does a splendid job of providing free tuition and activities for young disabled kids plus it is a good training centre for young and old alike.

I wasn't sure what to expect when selecting the lodge as my base for watching some cricket. All I required was a base, nothing too fancy and that's what I got. The accommodation is akin to a hostel experience, some rooms had en-suite showers others used the shared facility. My room to be frank looked a little tired, the walls were thin you could hear next door snoring / talking etc. there was a smell of damp in the kitchen / bathroom area, the sheets were changed once during my two week stay. There were a couple of cockroaches scuttling around the kitchen but I guess that is part and parcel of living in the Caribbean. The kitchen had a toaster, microwave and kettle. There were three friendly dogs on site but dogs do what dogs do i.e. leave mess so be careful where you tread. The air conditioning worked fine, the shower worked albeit rather weakly and the wifi worked well in (and nearby) the room.

Elizabeth is rather an eccentric lady, she clearly loves her sailing and I gather was very good at it in her time. Elizabeth (and her husband Peter) rent the whole facility (they live nearby) and sublet the bar / café. Any queries I had pre-booking were responded to efficiently. Elizabeth also has a car that can be rented on a daily basis for an EC$80 donation to the Sailing Academy. The car is suited to the pot-holed roads that abound throughout Antigua, it won't win awards for car of the year but it is functional. The café is run / managed by Sandra a lovely Jamaican lady who had been in Antigua for many years. The staff here are lovely and helpful, the café is clean and is a good place for the guests and many ex-pats to gather in the evening. I have to say the food here was excellent and great value. Curried goat was my favourite dish but every meal I had was authentic, well cooked and extremely good value. There is a bus service that runs past the Lodge, the number 17 runs regularly between St Johns and English Harbour. The drivers stop wherever and it is a great travel experience for EC$3.75 per journey.

So in essence the Lodge is a fine place to use as simply a no frills base with good food available. If you are looking for luxury accommodation then the Lodge will not be for you. If you have a love for all things boat then you will be heaven.