An Affordable Caribbean Gem To Enjoy Your Special Holiday On Antigua Reviews, Deals & Photos 2025

Q: Is An Affordable Caribbean Gem To Enjoy Your Special Holiday On Antigua pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

Q: Where is An Affordable Caribbean Gem To Enjoy Your Special Holiday On Antigua located?

Situated in a rural location, this cottage is within 1 mi (2 km) of St. John's Harbour, Deep Bay Beach, and Fort Barrington. Galley Bay and Hawksbill Beach are also within 2 mi (3 km).

10/10 Excellent

Gerald C.

9 March 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful Stay

We had a great stay at the Pinkshack Cottages.

Stayed 8 nights in Feb 2023

8/10 Good

Beverley

17 January 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication

Beautiful property but it's beginning to look tired and in need of a coat of paint. Would still highly recommend it for a touch of the authentic Caribbean.

6/10 Okay

Peter W.

27 March 2020

Liked: Cleanliness

Disliked: Location

Dog days

Sonja is very helpful and has lots of info . Our main concern were the dogs barking . Sonja has seven,and they are not to bad . It is her neighbors who have big dogs and when one barks they all bark. At times it is very hard to get any rest . The property is small,approximately 150' x 120' on which there are five cottages ,The owners house ,a work shed, a storage shed and an outside shower with a toilet . Not at all what it looks like in the pictures . The cottages are clean and well kept . A car is a must as the closest beach is at least a twenty five minute walk

Stayed 14 nights in Feb 2020

10/10 Excellent

thomas e.

22 February 2019

Ein sehr schöner Urlaub

Wir hatten das große Appartment auf dem Nachbargrundstück und waren sehr zufrieden.Sehr geräumig, nett eingerichtet und sehr ruhig. Wir hatten sehr schöne 4 Wochen auf Antigua.Sonja hat sich gut um uns gekümmert wenn wir Fragen hatten. Wir können es weiter empfehlen.

Stayed 28 nights in Jan 2019

10/10 Excellent

Edward R., BERTHOUD

29 November 2018

Amazing Property

Cindy and I stayed in Sonja's Pink Cottage for 1 week. We absolutely loved our time there and hope to make it back again. It did rain a lot but we always found an adventure to go on. Driving on left side of the rode was a challenge. Buzz and Cindy.

Stayed 7 nights in Nov 2018

10/10 Excellent

K J.

4 May 2018

Truly special

I had a fantastic stay in Sonja's little cabin. It's well built, well maintained and truly special, situated in a lush green garden away from it all, yet close to St. John's. There's a fifteen-minute walk to Deep Bay, and chances are you'll get the beach pretty much to yourself. The cabin has a well-equipped kitchen and a small, nice bathroom, it has a quiet AC system as well as a ceiling fan, keeping the indoor temperature comfortable. Sonja is a fantastic hostess, she's doing exactly what she's meant to do in life. She greeted me as an old friend, arranged transports and took me out sightseeing on several occasions. This cabin is highly recommended, and I’m planning to return soon.

Stayed 28 nights in Apr 2018

8/10 Good

Jan H., British

2 April 2018

Very friendly place to stay, Sonja makes this place, she is so helpful.

Stayed seven nights, Sonja gives you a tour of five island so you know where the beaches are and what's around the area, she is very approachable and will do anything to make your stay enjoyable.The shack we had was very comfortable and the free Wi-Fi was excellent,lovely hot water for the wonderful shower.We did have a jeep and do recommend as you are a little way out from St Johns, we did manage to walk it,took about 40 minutes,you can always get a taxi back. We spent an afternoon at deep bay which is beautiful,we walked there which was lovely as you get to see the sights around you, we also walked around five island village, the people there are so friendly.Sonja has lots of little dogs but to be honest they don't bother you but they love the attention if you want to give it.The tree's and plant's have matured making the shade if you want to be out of the sun,all in all a lovely stay 'thank You' Sonya for your friendship and hospitality.

Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2018

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Antje B.

9 April 2017

A wonderful experience

We had a great time at the Pinkshacks Studio cottage which is beautifully situated in a luscious tropical garden. Our accomodation left nothing to be desired, and Sonja was an amazing hostess who gave us a great tour on our first day and supplied us with lots of information about the island that made our stay that much more fun and interesting. The adorable cats and dogs on the property were lovely to play with!

Stayed 14 nights in Mar 2017

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Sandra B., Canada

5 April 2017

Great Hostess at the Pink Shacks!

My husband & I really enjoyed our 1 week stay at the Pink Shacks! Sonja, the owner/hostess is so wonderful! She even gives you a free tour of the Five Islands area / St. John's the day after you arrive! She dedicated the day to us....took us out in her vehicle, showed us all the roads / trails to get to the best beaches! This is a rural area.....so the roads are NOT well marked. Be sure to take her up on this offer! She also rents out jeep like vehicles, if you're interested. So we took her up on that offer too. Good deal. If you plan on driving around / crossing from west to east side of Antigua...a little SUV , like hers, is very helpful. Some steep climbs, windy roads to get to the other side. Lots of potholes to avoid! lol Driving is on the left-hand side of the road (the opposite for us Canadians!), but we did well. I highly recommend the $40 Transfer from the airport to the Pink Shacks upon arrival. Sonja will offer it to you. She has a fellow pick up you at the airport ($40 total, NOT per person); he takes you to the police station and assists you in getting your $20 USD International Drivers' Licence. (required on Antigua). Be sure to have your real driver's license with you. Then he takes you through the city of St. John's (which is very busy and overwhelming, with narrow and tons of "one way" streets. He'll explain all the sites/share knowledge about the area with you. Then, he takes you to a local Supermarket.......and you have 30 minutes to pick up some supplies for the kitchen at your Pink Shack. This was so appreciated and so handy!!!! Although the PinkShacks have NO air conditioning, no worries. Not needed. Two big ceiling fans/screened windows keep it cool. The plants/trees/ foliage that you see in the photo here have GROWN A LOT! So, lots of shade to keep your cottage cool. Lots of privacy between other pink shacks. 3 in all, I think. The kitchen- well equipped. Full stove/ big fridge There's a little common courtyard area in middle of the property where you can relax or eat at a patio table - nice Gas BBQ provided ! We used it! Sonja has many cute, friendly dogs/cats she has rescued. If you love animals - this is the place to stay. All small dogs/ very well behaved...and only out in the common courtyard when she is there. (if you're allergic-this is not the place for you) This location is rural....fun to explore! Just bring bug spray for sunset hours/dining @beach restaurants. Hawksbill Beach area great

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Michael C., Pittsburgh

24 June 2016

Off-season escape

Pink Shacks was perfect for me: a roomy fully furnished cottage with porch set in a lush tropical garden. The place overflowed with country charm. And it was a few minutes drive from several lovely beaches (mostly empty--after all, it was the off season). Plus, no one could ask for a better hostess than Sonya Haynes. She took me on a half-day orientation tour, helped with laundry, provided beach towels, knew the best places to shop and dine, and had an encyclopedic knowledge of the island, its people, history, ecology and weather. Highly recommended to anyone looking for an off-the-beaten-path island getaway.--Mike

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

8/10 Good

14 March 2016

Avocado Cottage (just down from the Pink Shack)

My husband and I always prefer self catering options and the Avocado Cottage (just down from the Pink Shack) more than fit the bill. It is a two bedroom cottage with one bath, a big kitchen/dining area that is open to the living room and a lovely wrap around porch. The garden around the entire house attracted lots of birds including hummingbirds which delighted me. It is a very picturesque setting, nestled in a valley with ever changing views as the clouds travel over the surrounding hills/mountains. It was located further from town (St. John's - the capitol) than anticipated at about a 20 min. walk, but still VERY doable if you are fit. It is also close to two beautiful beaches "Deep Bay" and "Galley Bay" beach. None of the beaches on the island are crowded. Sonja the very helpful proprietor of the "Pink Shack" went out of her way on two occasions to tour us around parts of the island so we could learn about the history of the island, more about the layout and potential choices for places to visit on our own. We visited St. John's on several occasions and really loved the market day. Fresh turmeric and ginger was a treat. Everyone we met while walking about was very friendly and warm. We were surprised by how many were expat Canadians from Ontario! We had one of the best meals EVER at "Sun Ra" in Falmouth Harbour - surpassing Turks & Caicos and St. Lucia's best. Although we had excellent taxi service from the owner of "Magic Taxi" Mr. Egbert Cuffy, next time in order to see more of the island, we would rent a car. We are already anticipating a return to the island!

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Deborah L.

9 March 2016

Pinkshacks

My friend and I stayed in two of the Pinkshack properties in Five Islands and would thoroughly recommend. All very compact and bijou but very well planned, spotlessly clean and all well screened from each other by beautiful tropical gardens. Hummingbirds just outside my window. Sonja was hugely helpful and organised pickup from the airport and a tour of the locality and introduced us to her network of local taxi drivers and the lovely Lionel who took us out snorkelling on the reef and then dropped us at a beach bar for the afternoon before picking us up for the return trip. Would definitely stay there again. A quiet location but not far from St Johns and the action. Huge fun.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Lewis C.

8 March 2016

Great location, lovely accommodation and the best host!

My partner and I stayed in the Pinkshackette for a 10 days. Sonja was the best host; from arranging pickup (the ever dependable Egburt) and a supermarket trip after landing, our amazing tour on the first day and our boat trip with Lionel around the west coast of the Island right through to providing invaluable help for me as I planned to propose to my now fiancée! The location itself is stunning; Five Islands is a rural part of Antigua with it's own style. The people are extremely friendly and Deep Bay, a brisk 20 mins walk from the Pinkshack, is probably the most beautiful beach we've ever been to. It's not for those who want 5 star all-inclusive luxury, there are plenty of boring hotels on the Island for that; this is the real Antigua! You will need a car, but Sonja can help with that too! Make sure you visit Sheer Rocks (best food on the island), Half Moon Bay, and Sunday night at Beachlimerz where the band Kuttin Edge provide a superb soundtrack to your meal. Best of all were the 13 fluffies who we played with every day. They are the cutest! Thanks again to Sonja, Egburt and Lionel for a holiday we will never forget.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Patricia J., Grimesland, NC, USA

4 March 2016

Tropical Oasis

My husband and I just spent 8 nights at the Pinkshack cottage. I loved the privacy of the property, especially the front porch on our cottage, the perfect place for morning coffee. We had everything we needed, including beach towels! We were surrounded by beautiful plants and flowers. Our vacation began with a tour of Five Islands, led by our hostess, Sonja. It was very helpful to get a feel for our location, as well as Antigua in general. We heard quite a history lesson from Sonja who is quite knowledgeable about the island. We ended our 1/2 day tour with a delicious lunch at a beachside restaurant. We also enjoyed a private boat charter on a nice-sized runabout...we were able to enjoy the island from the water, and also spent several hours on the beach at Jolly Harbour. We spent a lot of time on the beach near our cottages, but we did take a day trip to Falmouth Harbour, the location of Admiral Horatio Nelson's Dockyard. The historical buildings have been restored and it was like stepping back in time. We ended our stay with a "night on the town", at Holly Beach Marina, singing karaoke until midnight, then onto another local hangout for a little dancing! I particularly enjoyed spending time with Sonja's fur babies - she has rescued 13 small dogs and is in the process of offering them for adoption. Two of her dogs were adopted while we were there! I wanted to bring 2 of them home with me! Overall, we had a very relaxing vacation and I recommend this little tropical oasis. We plan to return for sure! Thank you, Sonja! Best personal regards, Tricia & Glenn

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Ellen A.

23 February 2016

Pinkshacks: Authentic Rural Antigua!

The Pinkshacks owner, Sonja, is marvellously hospitable and accommodating and kind! She provided us with an orientation tour of local Antigua our first day there and this was just what's most helpful, before taking on a rental car and driving on the left while jetlagged! The accommodations are lovely: immaculately clean Caribbean cottages, well spaced for privacy, painted pink outside and inside lime greens and mauves, all set in a free-spirited tropical jungle of bougainvillea, palms and other tropical plants seething with hummingbirds and orchard orioles and bananaquits. We are keen birders, and Sonja provided many helpful suggestions of places to go and things to see tailored to our particular preferences. We loved the roosters crowing from neighbouring farms at dawn; the cattle wandering in fields with their accompanying cattle egrets, the goats and the horses and the donkeys. And we enjoyed shopping in local markets for our meals, in between visits to marvelous beaches all within close reach. Highly recommended: this is a hostess who is most genuinely hospitable and generous with her time and attention.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Stan S., Ontario, Canada

18 February 2016

Thank you Sonja!

I booked this trip to Antigua (Pinkshack Studio cottage) for two of us - me and my wife, but just before the flight I got injured in accident, nothing serious, but I had to stay at home... Still wanted my wife to go, but was very nervous how she will be able to survive without me ;) So. Sonja was very helpful and took good care of my wife - she met her at airport, brought to supermarket on they way to cottage, organized couple tours etc. My wife was very impressed, she liked cottages (very clean and well decorated), people around, wonderful Antigua beaches, cute Sonja's dogs, weather - everything! Thank you Sonja from Elena and me!

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

mark p., St George Canada

4 February 2016

lovely quaint cottage experience

The owner Sonja couldn't have been more accommodating. She arranged airport pickup, made dinner reservations, stocked the cottage on our arrival with refreshments and snacks, and took us on a local tour to orient us as to nearby beaches and directions. The cottage was well provisioned and comfortable. There are other cottages in the complex and we met and socialized with the other residents.

Stayed 10 nights in Jan 2016

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

26 May 2015

Fantastic Location, Great Service, Excellent Host!

We chose the PinkShacks because we wanted an authentic local, cultural, community experience in Antigua. We truly wanted to experience Antigua in it's fullest and you really need a place like the PinkShacks in order to feel like you have arrived :) Our stay at the PinkShacks went above our expectations. Honestly, the moment we arrived we were all smiles and really surprised at how fantastic the PinkShacks were in person and how friendly and helpful our host Sonja was. The PinkShacks are a beautiful set of four pink cottages located in the relaxing Five Islands area of Antigua. Much to our surprise it only takes minutes on foot, by bike or by car to any of the amazing beaches on Five Islands. Yepton beach is definitely our fave on the Five Islands. You could not have asked for a better host than Sonja! She is extremely welcoming, exceptionally helpful, and she knows Antigua better than most as she was formerly a tour guide there. Speaking of tours - Sonja included a fantastic tour of Antigua as part of our stay. The tour highlighted a short history of Antigua, some great site-seeing, basic cultural background, stops at notable sites, and drinks at the Beach Limerz Restaurant right on gorgeous Fort James beach next to Fort James. This tour really helped us get our bearings and gave us the information we needed to start our holiday on Antigua. Sonja is really helpful! We stayed in two of the cottages including "Pinkshacktoo" and the sweet little "Pinkshackette." The PinkShack cottages are very cute, comfortable, well-maintained, safe, and ready for any kind of stay. The property was full of luscious tropical greenery that reminded us of a Hawaiian garden, which included various fruits growing around the property. We liked that all cottages came with a full kitchen with everything we needed as we like to cook for ourselves most of the time. Sonja arranged our airport pickup and our rental car (car hire) with free drop-off and pick-up. We highly recommend going through Sonja for these items as they will save you time and money. In addition, we were really glad we did not hire a car right away as driving and finding your way in Antigua is quite a challenge if you have not been there before. After three days of getting oriented Sonja had our car delivered right to our door-step. Overall - we were impressed and the service was fantastic! THANK YOU SONJA! ** We Loved our stay at the PinkShacks! **

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

8/10 Good

Pamela L.

21 May 2015

Piccola Oasi di Paradiso

Apro questa recensione prima di tutto ringraziando Sonja, la miglior host di sempre. il pinkshak è un piccolo cottage immerso nella vegetazione caraibica, estremamente curato e pulito. Per muoversi vi consiglio assolutamente di affittare la macchina, per potervi godere le molte spiaggie di Antigua. Il primo giorno Sonja vi farà fare un giro delle spiaggie più vicine e dei locali consigliati a Saint Johns, il resto dei giorni vi consiglierà ristornati e posti splendidi in cui passare le vostre giornate (vi consiglio il giro in Catamarano). Ps. La connessione wifi in casa permette di risparmiare moltissimi soldi in connessione e chiamate. Mille grazie ancora a Sonja per il bellissimo soggiorno. I would like to start this review by thanking Sonja, the best host ever. the pinkshak is a small cottage surrounded by lush Caribbean, extremely nice and clean. To move i absolutly raccomend to renting a car, to be able to enjoy the many beaches of Antigua. The first day Sonja will make a tour of the nearby beaches and place Recommended in Saint Johns, the rest of the days will recommend restaurants and wonderful places in which to spend your days (I recommend the Catamaran ride). Many thanks again to Sonja for a nice stay.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Eileen C.

16 May 2015

Amazing Holiday

We had an amazing week while staying at Pinkshack Cottages on Five Islands! Sonja was a great host, she was super friendly and knowledgeable. Sonja suggested using a car hire to pick us up from the airport and bring us to the cottage (which she arranged for us before our arrival), and we are very happy we did so, as it was a little confusing never having been to Antigua and it gave us a chance to acclimate to driving on the opposite side of the road! On our way to the cottage the car hire brought us to a small grocery store to get some food for the week, it was nice to get that out of the way so we could dive right in to enjoying the island. Sonja also arranged for a car rental to be delivered to the cottage, which we were able to return to the airport on our day of departure. Sonja also provided us with a cell phone for our visit and it came in handy more than a few times! Sonja provides all of her Pinkshackers with a complimentary tour of the Five Islands beaches, St. Johns and Dickinson Bay, we decided to not do the tour on our first day as we wanted to go out exploring ourselves, but after getting a little lost Sonja was gracious enough to show us around with another group of Pinkshackers on the morning of our second day. The tour is extremely informative and helpful, Sonja is very knowledgeable about Antigua’s history and knows all the secret entrances to some of the best beaches on Five Islands.  We were interested in experiencing Antiguan culture and Sonja suggested we attend a BBQ down in the Village of Five Islands and also the small “bar” there, both were fun experiences. We were also interested in doing some snorkeling tours, and after looking through the many informational booklets Sonja had available in the cottage we decided on Eli’s Extreme Tour and the Creole Cruise. Sonja offered to make all of the phone calls and booked both tours for us, she even went out of her way to drop us off at one of the pick up locations. Sonja was extremely laid back and really wanted us to fully enjoy our visit. There are four cottages on Sonja’s property, but because of the beautiful gardens each cottage has its own privacy. Sonja made our trip so much more relaxing by offering to take care of all of the details with the rental car and tours. Thank you so much Sonja! We hope to visit again!

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

8 May 2015

Excellent Stay

Had a great stay at the Pink Shack while visiting for the cricket. Sonja was very welcoming and was full of useful information. In a very nice setting which is very peaceful while not being too far outside of St Johns and its amenities. Have only positive things to say and would highly recommend it

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Colin@Suzy W.

23 April 2015

A perfect week

We thought we would like the Pink Shack from the pictures and the enthusiastic reports we had seen, but it surpassed all our expectations! Before we had even arrived we had had a lot of helpful suggestions from Sonja, who arranged for us to be met at the airport, and after a stop at the supermarket brought to the enchanting cottage. No high rises, no crowded resorts, just an idyllic setting with tropical flowers and lovely green hills all around us. The cottage suited us perfectly - it was our own little part of paradise, with more space than we would have had in a hotel room, plus the convenience of a very well equipped kitchen, an extremely comfortable bed, a table and chairs inside the cottage and another to enjoy out on our very own porch , surrounded by brilliant bougainvillea . On our first morning Sonja took us on a tour, and we saw how near were stunning beaches and attractive seaside places to eat. During our week, we toured round the island and saw some wonderful sights, but we always felt that we were coming home to the very best place to be. (We also appreciated the welcome we got from Sonja's two kittens and her little dogs.) We loved the warmth and friendliness of the people of Antigua and the azure, warm sea and uncrowded talcum powder beaches, but most of all we loved staying with Sonja, for whom nothing was too much trouble to ensure that we had a wonderful time and would grow to love Antigua as much as she does. Amongst the outings we particularly enjoyed were the boat trip to Bird Island with a delicious lobster barbecue and exploring Nelson's Harbour. We feel so lucky that we stayed here, and look forward to coming back

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Naomi B.

11 April 2015

A taste of real Antigua - Amazing Stay!

We staying in the Pink Shack for just under 2 weeks and simply didn't want to leave! The cottage feels as though it is off the beaten track, however the location is perfect. We were within walking distance to 3 amazing bays (Deep bay was one of our favourites of about 15 that we visited) and a 10 minute drive in to the capital city, St John's. The cottage is as far from staying on a resort as you can get, which was exactly what we were looking for. If you are more of an independent traveller, then the Pink Shack is perfect. You can survive without car hire as walking and local buses are do-able, however as we were staying on the island for a while we chose to hire a car, so that we could explore the further points of Antigua. Sonja was a fantastic host who went over and beyond what she needed to. She gave us a tour around the local area when we first arrived, which was really useful and allowed us to get our bearings. Sonja was always available to give advice on where to go and what to see - it was clear that she was passionate about Antigua and really interested in the culture and history of the country. If you like animals then you are in for a treat - Sonja has a little family of dogs and cats who are all very friendly :-) The cottage was really well equipped and had everything that we could have possibly needed. Everything was in great condition. It was lovely eating breakfast out on the balcony in the morning and sitting out for an evening drink. The cottage was definitely a contributing factor to our holiday being perfect, we seriously didn't want to leave. It was excellent value for money and I couldn't recommend staying there enough. Thank you so much Sonja for everything - we will definitely be back to Antigua and stay at the Pink Shack again! Lots of Love, Naomi and Ivan

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

rebecca r.

31 March 2015

Fantastic Experience in the Pink Shack!

Our week long vacation in Antigua was just what we wanted - relaxing, sunny and beautiful! Our experience of staying at the Pink Shack was a huge part of making our experience what it was. Sonja was very kind, flexible and always available to help you whenever or however you needed it. The location of the Pink Shack, although off the beaten track, was perfect for those travelers who want a bit more adventure in their vacation. You were in walking distance to 4 beautiful beaches and with a short local bus ride (that was very frequent) you could be downtown St. Johns in 20 minutes (we walked once but it was too hot). The Shack itself was equipped with all you needed to make any and all meals, had a comfortable bed, fans and even a TV! We would definitely return to Antigua one day and stay at the Pink Shack. All in all it was an lovely experience, with a lovely and friendly host! Now that we're home and re-reading the other reviews we completely agree with the other 5/5 star ratings and are glad we went with our gut when we booked this trip. Thanks Sonja!

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Gemma C.

10 March 2015

Great stay at the Pinkshacks studio cottage.

We had a lovely week in Antigua, which was helped by our stay at Sonja's Pinkshacks. We were warmly welcomed by Sonja, who always made herself available for questions and information. She also took us on a complimentary tour to show us the area and its history, which was really interesting. The studios themselves were really well equipped, everything had been thought of. The room is very pretty and outside there is lush vegetation, it was lovely sitting outside at breakfast watching the humming birds. Overall it was a great place to stay in a lovely location, close to some fab beaches and St Johns.

An Affordable Caribbean Gem To Enjoy Your Special Holiday On Antigua

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