only one thing to say about this resort and this is to check with your travel agent / direct with hotel before you go as it is regularly over booked and you end up staying else where. This happened to me and two other couples on our arrival and three more couples at the end of our stay(info from our rep at the hawksbill where we had to stay)

I did a lot of research before booking an hotel in Antigua. Cocobay seemed to be what I was looking for and most of it came up to scratch. The welcome at reception was charming and efficient, the room (No. 10) was cool and welcoming yes it is shabby chic but I think this adds to the appeal. The bathroom was a bit tired and the shower fairly weak but it was nice to open the doors and look out onto the sea whilst showering. The plunge pools was pretty but too cold for me, my husband braved it a couple of times, the problem is the sun does not shine on them long enough and they are deep so the water never warms up but later in the year this would not be a problem. Although promised air conditioning when we booked we were told when we asked how to activate that we had to pay a supplement which was not in our agreement. We decided not to make a fuss as it was our last night there and up until then the fan was OK. The grounds and pool are very pretty although I do agree with some of the previous writers that the bar was sometimes not manned and one bar man meant long waits at times. Also the small, cheap glasses annoyed me it was as if because we were AI that they did not want us to have a decent size drink, it did remind me of an outside event bar at times. The beaches are lovely but yes more parasols are needed but this was not an huge problem. The nature walk with Vorm was a must we went on two we enjoyed it so much. He is very informative and it made our trip to Antigua.
The only real problem is the food. I know other writers have said it is only the 'burger and chips' people who do not like the food this I object to as I have a wide experience of different cultural foods but this is the problem, the evening meals are awful, pompous descriptions of food that is so poor and in such tiny amounts that some nights all I ate was the soup and ice cream (not home made). We would have liked local food but in the 7 days we were there it was mostly Antiguans trying to cook American/European food not very well. Breakfast was OK but fruit ran out very quickly and was not replaced, the egg chef was great and very helpful, breads and pastries were not brilliant . Lunch the salads were OK but again if you did not get there quickly they ran out and staff seemed slow to replace them. Fish and chicken cooked in the same sauce day in day out became boring and the desserts were sad, mostly frozen bought in or a blob of ice cream. This is not a cheap hotel, and I thought the cost cutting in the kitchen was appalling, we felt ripped off by this and sadly let down the experience of the complete hotel. Yes I did complain to O'Neil who I believe is the GM, very charming all smiles and yes we did see an improvement for a day on the replenishment of the dishes but all he could suggest was to the evening problem was for us to take our meals at Sheers, their other restaurant but at £150 a couple this seemed a bit rich. I did ask to meet with his 'executive chef' to discuss one dish I was served which was described as Baked Avacodo but was a plate of vinegary red cabbage (not allowed to cook long enough) with a piece of puff pastry popped on the top, not an avacodo in sight. Unfortunately the chef would not meet with me. I think too much emphasis is being put on Sheers to the detriment of the AI paying guests who cannot show their dislike of the food by walking as they have already paid, and sadly British people cannot/will not complain, even though all we heard around the pool and the bar was complaints about the food.
Sorry Cocobay, great location, great pool, nice ethos of peace and quiet, but poor food and drinks will not bring guests in. Best meal we had in Antigua was in the take away up the road

My husband and I booked to stay at the Cocobay on 13.4.07 so you imagine what a shock it was on arival at Antigua on 12.03.08 to be told by Thomas cook rep we were not going to the Cocobay but the Hawksbill beacuse it was double booked.Apparentley this is something that happens quite often at this hotel so please be aware. A honeymoon couple had the same thing happen they also booked a year ahead and even e mailed the hotel in December and were told they were booked. They also ended up at the Hawksbill.
I must say the manager at the Hawksbill was very nice unlike Cocobay who could not be contacted by ourselves or the Thomas Cook rep so please be aware if you have booked this hotel.

We have just returned from a 10 day stay at cocobay. All I can say is this place is amazing - stunning fews, amazing staff and very clean.

I had read a few reviews on here and was worried about our stay due to some of the negative comments - I should not have worried.

We were greeted by the manager on arrival which was a lovely touch. Reception staff were very friendly and we were checked in and taken to our room very quickley.

We paid for an upgrade to a seafront room and it was well worth the money. We had a full sea view that took your breath away. The room was basic but very clean and had everything we needed. Bed was very comfy. We had air con but never used it - the ceiling fan is more than enough to keep you cool and we oftern woke up cold and had to turn the fan off.

The pool is very clean and there was always sun beds available. You can get beach towels from reception daily so you always have a clean towel.

Breakfast was lovely - they have an egg chef and I recommend the omelettes!

Luch was pleasant - salads, fish and a hot dish such as meatballs, chicken or curry.

Dinner was a 4 course meal - not the most Antiguan meal Ive eaten but still pleasant. Wine is served with every meal.

Breakfast and Lunch are buffet style and we found by dinner we werent that hungry so the smaller protions never bothered us 0 we spoke to other people round the pool and they all agreed. They serve sandwichs and home baked cookies from 4pm in the bar too.

David on the bar is very good - always smiling and makes the best cocktails!

All in all a amazing place - apparently Cocobay has the best poolside views anywhere on the Island and the locals describe it as a 'posh' place!

A short walk up cocobay beach and up the hill is Dennis Bar - we recommend you try lunch here - very nice!

the beer at the hotel is horrible - it is the local brew - but for $1 a bottle ou can buy bottled beer from the bar at sheer.

I cant wait to go back!