I arrived at reception to be greeted with a glass of champagne. Kwame carried my very heavy suitcase down a flight of stairs and into the main block. Good choice, as some of the clubrooms were far away from the main building.
My room overlooked the garden and had a wonderful view of the sea. The room was spacious. The balcony was larger than other hotels. The bathroom was small, but as I was there alone it didn't matter. It did seem very hot, but once the ceiling fan kicked in, it was perfect. Also, the rooms have louvres (front & back), so you can get a perfect through breeze. The mozzie nets make sure nothing gets through. There was a fridge, and iron/board. The safe cost extra, but they did have some small safes at reception which you could use for free. I was quite worried at not having a tv/telephone, but it made my holiday all the more special, as I had no excuse to sit in the room all night. Had to go out and do stuff.
It was explained to me that the main restaurant served breakfast and dinner, and the beach restaurant served lunch and afternoon tea. I thought " no choice then ". I was wrong. Breakfast was the usual, lunch offered a much better selection. Afternoon tea offered a good selection of s/w and cake, but dinner was so much better than expected. The night I arrived it was buffet, and I thought " Great - A week of boring luke warm food ". It wasn't the case. The food was very good. Buffet on 2 days, beach bbq on Wednesday and 4 courses for the other nights. Waiters constantly re-filling your glass, and the wine was decent stuff.
The bar closed at midnight, but on 2 nights I was alone by 11pm. I guess everyone was worn out.
This is my 3rd holiday to the Caribbean this year, and its the only hotel where i can honestly say that the staff actually seem to enjoy their jobs. I did not meet 1 rude staff member. (The same cannot be said of my many trips to Jamaica).
I usually skip the managers cocktail party, but it surprised me. You should go.
I was suprised by the amount of free watersports on offer, and tried my hand at windsurfing for the 1st time. There isn't much to see if you snorkel at the beach, so its best to pay for a boat trip, and snorkel further out.
The beaches - 4 beautiful golden sandy beaches. In my opinion, the nude beach is the best. I stayed for a week, and for 3 days there was only myself and 1 other couple on a long secluded beach. Locals do use the beach, mainly in the afternoon, and it did come as a shock to see a man running back & forth along the beach naked - can't see the logic! But I was alone, and didn't get harrassed.
The hotel has just been taken over by Rex Resorts. Hopefully they won't change the place too much.
Special mentions to the following staff: Eddie - The tennis pro, Jimmy - Plays a mean game of Warri, David - A barman with interesting conversation, Adrian - A barman with a beautiful smile, Renee - One of the many waitresses, Devon - The assistant manager, and others whose names I can't quite remember (due to the large amounts of rum).
I've been back in England for 4 days now, and can't take it anymore. I've booked to go back from 17th October. Can't wait, Antigua here I come :-)

I booked this resort for our first wedding anniversary, as I read on Tripdavisor that a lot of people had been back year after year - that seemed as good an endorsement as any. Then the more I read the more I worried as some reviews said the place was terrible etc etc. This was the first time either of us (aged 29 and 34) had ever been anywhere other than a European beach holiday, and I booked it as a total one-off luxury trip. Having read everything written about it I'll give you a novices opinion.

Hawksbill is on the west side of Antigua, next to Galley Bay. This is important as all through the week (18-25 September 2004) there were storm clouds inland, but our bit was bright, sunny and hot all week, apart from half an hour's rain one lunchtime. According to locals the mountainous parts of the island attract the rain so if you stay along a north-south axis you have a higher chance of getting wet. Anyway, it was fab weather all week.

Accommodation: we stayed in a Garden View Superior Room, with a balcony looking out over the sea, not a/c. It was hot at night and humid but we did sleep a bit. To be honest the locals were saying it was too sticky as well, but our ceiling fan did the trick pretty much. We thought about upgrading but didn't bother in the end

Resort: beautifully looked after grounds (go on the garden tour on a Thursday morning - well worth it), four beaches were clean and well beach-like! We spent the week laid on sunloungers - there was never a problem getting hold of one either. Mind you we were still on UK time so awake at 5am every morning!

Food: I booked this place because it was quiet and secluded, not because I thought I would get gourmet food. That said it was lovely, breakfast of fruit, cereals, cooked breakfast, toast etc,; lunch either grill (local catch of the day or burgers) or off the menu, always soup as well and ice cream; dinner again good, with a couple of buffet nights as well. We enjoyed it put it that way, there was certainly nothing to complain about but if you're used to The Savoy you'll be disappointed!

Drinks: lovely, unlimited. Be warned though - an Antiguan measure of Rum is a bit stronger than a UK one!! Water bottles for your room (we had a fridge for the week at extra charge) at $3 worth doing for when you're thirsty in the night. Other than that - why moan when you can sit on the beach sipping cocktails from 10am to 11pm?!

Activities: we did dinghy sailing and kayaking. Good fun, saw a turtle when we were sailing. We took our own snorkels and goggles as we'd heard stories of getting infections from unclean equipment, but they may be just that - stories.

Weather: hot hot hot and humid at night I'm afraid but it's better than being cold and wet at home! Sunshine 5am to 6pm, and there's no twilight to speak of really. But it's warm enough to be out in just a pair of shorts 24 hours a day.

Staff: Antiguan!! That means just relax, they're people too and if you were treated like an imbecile you'd react like one as well. No complaints, they're all very friendly and good fun, always polite with a "you're welcome" whenever you say thank you.

Wildlife etc: Having read some reviews I thought I was going to a jungle - not at all. I heard one guy say he woke in the night to find a tarantula on his floor but I never saw a spider all week, not through lack of trying either! Lots of lizards everywhere, we had bats roosting in the roof space above our room and they do like to chatter all night, there are ants as well but no more than in your garden. Overall there isn't an issue apart from....mosquitos. Every day they "fog" the resort with insect repellant - we never minded as we were on the beach but apparently some guests don't like it. Fine, except the two days they didn't fog we woke up looking like we had the measles. Not nice. The little darlings will get everywhere , but if you go on the graden tour the head gardener will tell you to leave a clump of Neame leaves next to your bed as mozzies don't like them - it works to a certian degree. Also use the local Aloe Vera plants gel to treat the bites. They were the only downside to the week, and even then only a minor one. Tip - buy suntan lotion and aftersun with insect repellant in - it does work!

Overall: Loved it. We wanted a week off doing nothing and it was fab. The place really grows on you and if you accept that this is Antigua not the UK then you'll love it. If you want a clubbing holiday please book somewhere else as this place is all about unwinding, relaxing and enjoying the Caribbean sun!

A True romantic spot....where everyone from management on down made our stay... one of the best vacation we have gone on....Accomodating to a "T". From Millie, David, Andy, and everyone else... I felt as if I had not just friends...but a family....A place to get-a-away and relax...enjoy, and celebrate. Great food, drinks, and activities to get away from the business world and kick back to what life should always be.....surreal
I cant wait to begin my next trip...and continue where I left off.

a great couples escape... honeymoon beach was the best... never crowded
..a/c rooms are very nice away from the rest....great staff good food ..
a true island feel... for the more adventures
the nude beach is a have to!!!!!
very private and never crowded