This was our first time to the Caribbean and I had been concerned over the bad reviews that Hawksbill was receiving after making our booking. So much so that we decided to spend only one week there and one at the Grand Pineapple Beach. Without repeating the comments in the recent good reviews, which I totally agree with, I would just like to say that we had the most perfect time at Hawksbill and spent only 1 night at the GPB before transfering back to Hawksbill! We will definitely be back.

We returned from a two week family holiday a week ago. We still miss every thing about it and are planning a return visit next year. We were slightly worried before we went because this was not the hotel we had booked a year previous, but had been relocated here by our holiday company, Virgin. We were concerned that the lack of television and activities would mean that our two sons would be bored by the end of the two weeks. How wrong we were! They did more and participated in more than they ever have on any other holiday(this was our ninth caribbean holiday, and by far the best in every way.)
Check In was the best we have encountered and set the tone for the rest of the two weeks. Having left our luggage where we got out of the taxi, we were taken to the reception area, given a choice of drink,a cold towel and a form to fill in.Whilst we were doing this we could take in the magnificent view of the resort at leisure. When we were ready we handed our form in at reception and were allocated our rooms. We were lucky enough to be upgraded from our two booked garden rooms to superior sea view rooms, and we were duly taken, with our luggage, in a buggy to our rooms.
Rooms: During our stay we looked at all the room categories, and decided that ours was the best. It had two queen size beds, and plenty of storage space. There were also two comfy chairs and a table. THere was always plenty of hot water whatever time of day we needed it, and the room was always kept spotlessly clean by Jackie. There was also a large patio (we were on the ground floor of the two story block) with a table and two chairs overlooking the beautiful gardens and the sea. The lack of air conditioner was not a problem.The louvres at the front and back of the room were fantastic natural air conditioning and gave the added bonus of being able to hear the sea and all the birds.
Grounds and beaches: Fantastic. The grounds were beautifully kept and Sylvia's garden tour was very interesting and informative. The beaches gave the option of being in with the action or completely isolated. they were all clean and the sea was clear and warm.
Food: There was always plenty of choice and the food was always well presented, consisting of more local produce than we have had before.Breakfast was buffet,lunch from the grill or sit down and dinner a mixture,3 nights buffet, four a la carte( our favourites)There was something different on the menu every night and enough choice to suit everyone's taste. The wine was delicious and plentiful, thanks to Adrian, David, William and Marlon and the service excellent, thanks to Sylvia, Beverley, Antillia and many more whose names I can't remember.
Staff: The staff were what made the holiday special. They were the best we have ever come across on our travels in the caribbean. They all knew you by name and made you feel special, but they were not patronising. The team were led by manager, Richard Michelin, who was always accessible when he was on duty and was always listening to guests views and trying to act on them. Everlie Simons (trainee manager) will made a superb manager. Again she was always talking to guests and going that extra mile to make your holiday special. Sandie and Agatha also did a wonderful job, as did Millie at the downstairs bar.Foster set up volleyball and cricket and was always cheerful. My youngest son had his twevlth birthday during our first week there, and
Sandie coordinated everything to make it a very special day for him. There are many more staff you deserve recognition for their work because to get something that right everyone has to work as a team, and you get the impression that at this resort,people enjoy working there and do work as a team.
Activities: these were low key, but there was plety to do, watersports, overseen very competently by Myron, volleyball, weekly cricket matches against the locals, table tennis, tennis, board games, and a library of books for the quieter moments.
We had a brilliant two weeks, and are planning to return. If you are looking for peaceful, serene, authentic caribbean, with unrivalled service from the best group of staff, this is the place for you. If you want loud, action packed, please stay away, and leave this piece of paradise just as it is.

when planning our 8th holiday at this hotel, over the last 15 years, I read the various reports and chose not to believe that the negative write-ups could be true. However, The hotel has changed ownership and changed management and most of the features we have valued and recommended to firends have gone or have deteriorated.
I write this report following receipt of apologies from the travel agent and holiday company plus a substantial valued voucher towards our next holiday and a refund of the upgrade cost which we were conned out of. The hotel has not acknowledged our complaints in any way.
As a regular visitor our requested room reservation had been ignored, we were offered a poor substitute being a room similar to reservation; unfortunately this room overlooked the rear of the beach restaurant, was dirty and the bedding had not been changed. Surprise, surprise the only alternative was an upgrade to a beach club room at $35 per night. After travelling all day we accepted reluctantly paying the upgrade fee. The Manager or duty Manager were not availableand did not respond to the message left for them.
The attraction to this hotel had been the other guests; they used to be quiet, mainly English and never embarassing. Since going all-inclusive they are attracting a less quiet clientelle and to quote a member of staff we have known for many years " this all inclusive brings guests who drink as much as possible and fill yer belly with food".
The food was never brilliant but has deteriorated to a level where we frequently left our paid for meal and paid for a taxi to take us to a restaurant. The evening dress code was enforced if you were quiet middle class non trouble makers whilst track suited vest wearers with flip flops were welcomed, particularly if they were large!
For the 3rd consecutive visit we received the invitation to the returning guest party the day we were leaving, for the following day. Fortunately we gate crashed the one being held as we arrived; all complaints to the manager were ignored apart from the appearance in our room of a cheap bottle of fizzy wine. Just so as you know I am not all negative, go see my review of Nebitt Plantation, Nevis.
Antigua is a fabulous place and we will return.

The Hawksbill has the most spectacular repeat business of any hotel in the Caribbean in which we have stayed. And its easy to see why. We couldn’t believe just how many people we met who had been (usually several times) before.

The staff at the Hawksbill are truly special. Its hard to imagine who else would go the extra mile like the wonderful staff there. Agatha, Sandy, Millie, David and so on.

I would describe it as six star service in a hotel which is technically only a three star. Quite unique!

The setting is spectacular - a wonderful mix of wild and gentle beaches set within grounds with just the right balance of attention and naturalness.

There is a charming attention to detail - the elegant signs naming the trees within the beautiful grounds, the effort that goes into the presentation of the buffets and food. Just little things that add to the overall experience in such a charming way. Don’t forget to check out Sylvia’s garden tour, its worth listening to whether gardens are your thing or not.

The food is all that you have hoped for (and probably not had) if you stay regularly in this kind of all inclusive. Simple, local ingredients done superbly well. The A la Carte restaurant provides a pleasant contrast to the standard fare if you are staying for longer, although there is decent variety in the main offering. For the sublime, treat yourself to a trip to Harmony Hall (use Colin from the hotel if you don’t fancy driving yourself).

The spec in the rooms could be described as a little tired but in the context of the excellent service and everything else, you feel more disposed to call it charming. And I guess that’s the point. It draws the right crowd of people for the right reasons, and long may it be so. If you demand the latest minimalist look in a room, high spec audio-visual or whatever, its not the place for you. The Hawksbill is a well kept secret by a bunch of people in the know.

And if scuba diving is your thing, Dive Antigua is THE dive centre in Antigua - except no substitutes - ‘Big John’ has been doing it for longer than almost anyone else, and with the most style. He brings more experience, knowledge and bad (but funny) jokes to it than anyone else could. Its less a ‘two tank dive’ and more a wonderful day out with diving thrown in. Book early as his numbers are wonderfully limited.