Luxury. What does that really mean? For some, it’s the feel of crisp hotel sheets and a champagne welcome. For others, it’s the adrenaline of a helicopter ride over an endless stretch of turquoise sea. Or maybe it’s the kind of quiet luxury where time slows down and the only decision you have to make all day is whether to swim before breakfast or after.

At Hermitage Bay in Antigua, it’s all of that. And somehow, more.

This boutique, all-inclusive resort, tucked away on the island’s southwest coast, is the kind of place that reshapes your idea of what a luxury holiday can be. It’s intimate without being stuffy, secluded without feeling cut off, and designed to let the island’s jaw-dropping natural beauty do all the talking.

Toby Mitchell/Courtesy of Hermitage Bay

The rooms at Hermitage Bay deserve a moment of their own, because honestly, mine was the highlight of my trip. There are 30 rooms and three kinds to choose from: Garden Suites, Beachfront Suites, and the ultra-private Hillside Pool Suites. I stayed in one of the hillside rooms, carved into the face of a lush green cliff, and I’m still not sure I’ve fully recovered. Think, your own private infinity pool spilling into endless ocean views, a huge wraparound terrace perfect for morning coffees and deep sunset thoughts, a canopy bed that could fit an entire friend group (not that I shared), his-and-hers sinks (mine and also mine, because solo trip luxury), an outdoor shower, and a freestanding bathtub you could disappear into. Plus, a mini-bar in the room that is restocked daily, aka my kind of luxury.