We stayed at the Pineapple 25/7/08 - 01/08/08 and were a little worried about some of the adverse reviews but we needn't have worried at all.

We would agree whole-heartedly with the last 2 reviews in every respect and add our own comments as follows:-

Location and beach was fantastic. The views from all aspects of the resort were breathtaking. The beach great to sit on and the sea the most crystal blue and by mid afternoon like walking into a warm bath. Heaven.

Accommodation: We stayed in a beachfront room and although the decor could have been smarter the room was very clean and the bed exceptionally comfortable especially the fluffy pillows which we wanted to bring home. To fall to sleep to the lapping of the waves and to open your door early morning and step out on the beach was fantastic.

Food/Drink: During the week we sampled all the restaurants which were all open at some stage. Each restaurant was themed and we enjoyed the food at all of them and the menus were different each day at the Topaz. The breakfast buffet was plentiful and would agree about Jo Anne's egg station. How anyone can say that the variety was limited I can only wonder what they have at home! The snack bar by the pool was lovely, the food being freshly cooked, very tasty and the icecream and brownie's were to die for. Mary's - well what can I say. A hug from Mary herself when you arrived, to the cold beer, the delicious chicken and ribs, the ambience and the view - wow!.

Loved the cocktails - my favourite was the St Kitts. Great idea to put up a list with the ingredients. Agree that the plastic cups not great and not very eco-friendly.

Staff: They were great, always friendly, extremely polite and helpful. The activity team organised daily activities for those who wanted to join in but were never pushy. There was some beach vendors but they were also polite and never bothered you.

We went on a couple of tours - one on the 4X4 island trips to see other parts of the Island. Nelsons Dockyard is well worth a visit and if we go again we would want to spend more time there. St Johns shopping is also worth a couple of hours, especially to pick up cheap clinique products at Lipstick shop (got this tip from an earlier review - thought it was worth passing on)

Cant really comment on the evening entertainment as only heard it from the topaz restaurant. Out like a light by 10pm most nights. All that fresh air and relaxation, and drink and food.

We will most certainly go to Antigua again and would not hesitate to go to this resort.

PS I think it is irresponsible to review any resort after being there for 30 mins!!!!

We have just returned from Antigua and I would like to share our experience. Having read some of the previous reviews I was in a way dreading the stay at The Pineapple due to some very adverse comments and often wondered whether we should have booked elsewhere. However, our holiday was fabulous and I wouldn't have wanted to have stayed any where else. The hotel is tired around the edges, but has a very relaxed feel to it and very Caribbean. We stayed in one of the Oceanview Rooms which was fine. IHaving read some reviews I got the impression the rooms were awful, perhaps some of them are but we did'nt experience this at all. It is true you have to walk up a number of stairs, but we are fit and healthy so no problem for us. The best thing about the holiday for us was how much our two teenage children enjoyed it. The activity staff are great, getting shy children to join in etc. Our children aren't shy so didn't need much encourgement. We didn't see my youngest much after the first couple of days as she joined in every activity going. They also made a group of lovely friends, american and english. Another reason we didn't see them. There is no creche or kids club, so perhaps families with children under 6 would not get much of a break. The food was good in therestaurants, not top class but good enough. I can't understand some of the reviews, as both The Grill and Topaz was open whilst we were there (although the Grill is alternate nights) and the menus were changed. There is a snack bar which had burgers, sandwiches, ice cream, pizza etc. Which is good if you don't want a buffet lunch. Most of the staff were friendly, a couple were surly but I think you find this in most hotels. Birds not really a problem, but they are around so beware! The bar staff were fine, they seemd to mix drinks for people even if they weren't on the cocktail list, again I can't understand previous comments about not being prepared to do this. When reading this, I do wonder if we went on a different holiday to some of the reviewers or if they staff have changed! The beach is fabulous, I could see that shade would be a problem in high season and perhaps more could be introduced to overcome this. The swimming pools aren't great, but with a beach like this who wants to sit around a pool. We spoke to a number of people staying there and all said good things (like us, a bit run down but loads of character) a number of people were not first timers so this must say something about the place. As one american chap said as he was leaving, time to leave paradise which I suppose sums it up for us really. Overall, I would say that this hotel is great for people who don;t want a faceless hotel but be warned it is lacking in certain areas. My children had the time of their lives (and we have been to a lot of places) so thats all that counts for me.

We have just returned from our second visit to Grand Pineapple, having stayed there 2 years ago. We loved it the first time so decided to return, and loved it even more this time.

You could quite easily moan about the decor, the odd broken tile, peeling paintwork and odd leaf or two in the pool. But, it is the Caribbean for goodness sake! And if you happen to notice how many of the staff live i.e. in small wooden huts (or shacks) along the road on the drive to and from the airport, maybe you can appreciate the, by comparison, luxury accommodation. Arguably not luxury by English standards but certainly luxurious in comparison with many Antiguan residence.

We stayed in room 924 with our children in 925, fantastic views, clean light and airy rooms, the maid was fantastic especially having to clean up after two teenage children. We had steps to climb to get to our rooms but we are able bodied and appreciated the exercise after eating our evening meal. You have to stay high up to get the wonderful views of the bay.

The entertainment staff (Jules, Sasha and Duane) were very enthusiastic, rounding up the kids and keeping them thoroughly entertained.

Jo Anne, the 'egg' lady was wonderful, cooking delicious eggs and omelettes every morning, Goldine did her best every evening to get us a lovely table, (it is the best place we've been to for a wonderful view of the beach while dining). The waiters and waitresses were all extremely courteous and obliging, especially so if you bothered to give them the time of day.

If you want a very relaxed, easy going, not too formal hotel with good entertainment, lovely food, wonderful position and very friendly staff, then Grand Pineapple Antigua is for you. It is gradually undergoing renovation so we intend to re-visit in 2 years time, when hopefully the same staff will be there and we will enjoy as good a time as this time.

We have just returned from a great holiday at this hotel (25 July 08 to 1 August 08) and can't relate to some of the comments made by others - especially about the staff who were polite, courteous and warm in their dealings with us.

Key points:
- fabulous location - convenient but not in a flight path etc so peaceful
- beach stunning with the clearest, bluest water imaginable
- friendly staff keen to help out esp. sailing trips, borrowing equipment or cajoling our teenagers to join in the occasional organised activity
- Taxi drivers based just outside the main gates was handy - ours was very keen to share the horror felt by the locals at the tragic murder of the honeymoon couple
- rooms clean and never damp (we went with Kuoni's receommendation to opt for the Oceanview rooms and very glad we did as these have been refurbished recently, had stunning views etc)
- food fine for a week but I agree, if there for longer the breakfast buffet/lunch would start to look familiar. Restaurants were all open when we were there - good to have a choice and the food was of a high standard
- generous measures including spirits/cocktails (although the plastic cups served during the day are tacky - I suppose as the hotel and beach merge, it does avoid any broken glass dangers however)
- wonderful massage available
- very conscientious tour desk staff
- open restaurant so you hear the waves but only the odd bird (not some scene from a Hitchcock film as some of these reviews suggest!)

Overall, we had a fabulous time and felt this hotel offered good value for money. It is not a five star by any means but it is beautifully located and ideal if you want somewhere unpretentious that feels safe and comfortable and aren't after a top notch night life (Bontempi organ anyone!). It will be interesting to see what Sandals do with this hotel now they have bought it...