we loved coco bay i took garlic caps and b1 vitamins 3 weeks before i went and i had no bites. we also took 100 deet .the food was wonderful and david the barman was fantastic made wonderful cocktails.there is a wonderful beach just round the headland that john and i used to go to never so anyone else there only downside tree frogs kept you awake at night but we will still be going back this year. karen and john from preston

We spent the end of December and early part of January at Cocobay and had a fabulous holiday. As we had booked this 10 months in advance, we had plenty of time to read the reviews so were fairly certain of what to expect and what to take.

We're uncertain why some reviews have complained about the staff and poor service, because we didn't experience any of this. Quite the contrary. All staff were extremely friendly and eager to oblige and the service was always fast in the restaurant. Yes, there is a diary system for the evening meal, kept on the reception desk, but it was no hardship to sign our name each morning on the way to breakfast for one of the many time slots available.

We had a beach side hut which was incredible. Small, but ample and always very clean. Some reviews have stated that accomodation is tired and basic. Perhaps it depends on your expectations. We stayed in Oleander which is between the Wellness Centre and the restaurant/lounge. Oleander appeared almost new to us, with fresh paint, screens on the windows, a silent fan and a huge incredibly comfortable bed. Perhaps it's those huts further away that are in need of a refurb. We had asked for quiet accomodation and so we were away from all the other huts. However, being so close to the restaurant/lounge we were concerned about that noise, but we had no problems at all and went to sleep to the sound of the ocean waves and nightlife....oh, and the wind at night! Extremely strong and wild whilst we were there. The social life in the evening doesn't continue in to the early hours (except for new year's eve!) and by 11.00pm, if there was any, we certainly didn't hear it.

As already mentioned in other reviews, breakfast and lunch are buffets. Adequate and varied. We didn't experience any problems with flies. There are screens covering all food and if everyone is courteous and replaces them after serving, there is no problem. There are birds, but we didn't see a plague of them and those that are present don't dive your plate and take food from under your noses! Just be practical and don't walk away leaving your plate tantalizingly exposed. Cover with a napkin. The management make every effort to keep the birds to a minimum with netting on some exposed parts of the restaurants and wires across the railings to prevent them from perching. By the evening, they have retired to their nests for the night.

The evening meal is a la carte, but not necessarily to everyone's taste. My husband enjoyed these meals very much and from watching others, there were no problems. For myself however, I found them over complicated and spicy. There is a choice of starter and main and whilst the menu describes the food very simply, when it arrives, it could be anything! Our only description of it is bordering on nouveau cuisine and most of the time spicy. Delicious according to my husband and substantial, but sadly not to my tastes so we spent a few evenings at nearby Jolly Harbour and enjoyed some excellent and reasonably priced meals. We discovered on the last day of our holiday that the resort is more than happy to cater for guests with food allergies, dislikes etc with the evening meal, so if you are like me, notify them in advance.

If you fancy dining at Sheers, book well in advance as it's very popular. We decided to dine there towards the end of our stay and understandably, we couldn't get a table.

There were 7 weddings during our 10 day stay, but these were not intrusive and kept away from the main area of Cocobay.

Jolly Harbour has a good choice of restaurants, a pleasant environment for a stroll, beer or coffee and an excellent supermarket that is well stocked and sells freshly fried chicken everyday. Perfect for a picnic if you are going out and about.

The beach closest to Cocobay is clean and raked every morning. There are static wooden parasols, but limited numbers. The sunloungers are very comfortable and there is ample supply. The main area of the beach is not particularly large and on most occasions we felt a bit too cramped. Walk down this beach away from Cocobay, across some minor shrubland and you will come to another beach which is larger, virtually deserted and beautiful for swimming, but there are no parasols or sunloungers.

When you arrive you are given a towel card. Simply exchange this at reception for towels. We did ask for 4 on our first morning, but were advised that only 1 per guest was allowed. However, the towels are extra large. It's a good idea to pick up your towels either first thing in the morning on the way to breakfast, or exchange for cleans ones at the end of the day as occasionally we found they were still being cleaned at 9.00am and had to wait an hour for them to be returned.

Sandflies and mossies: we were expecting to be eaten alive from reading all the other reviews so went prepared as if going to war! 100% deet spray, spray for the room, plug in insect repellent which we left on the entire time, patches and bracelets with deet and even took vitamin B1 prior to and during our stay. We came home with no more than 3 bites between us. We're not sure if this was because of our precautions or pure luck, or because it was quite windy with several downpours during our stay. Having said that, we certainly saw many other guests with their legs covered in dozens of bites.

We would recommend using Benji for car/jeep hire. Ask at reception and they will phone him immediately. He was the cheapest at $155 for a two day hire that including insurance and local Antigua licence which you have to buy. It was great to have the freedom of getting around the island, but also to find some amazing beaches on the south side of the island where the rain just didn't seem to fall. Morris Bay was our favourite.

St John's is not a cosmopolitan place, nor is it large so it's easy enough to get around in a couple of hours. It appears to be sold on the idea of buying goods duty free. Some things are definately cheaper such a jewellry, but St John's is there for the vast cruise ships that arrive. When they do, the place is heaving.

Would we go again? Yes, absolutely. We had a wonderful time and can highly recommend it. Cocobay is a beautiful resort, peaceful with wonderful views. Our only tip is to thoroughly research so you go prepared.

we also stayed at cocobay at the same time as the last reviewer, we found the hotel staff very friendly , if you give them a moment of your very important time they really appreciate it and you will make an instant friend for your stay .
The rooms are fine if a little rustic shall we say , but the views ,
awesome , we have been to barbados , cuba etc but nothing to match what you have here .
The beaches are superb and quite , if you wander along the beach towards the restaurnt on the headland and walk across some small scrubland you will find a large desserted beach , beautiful .
food totally addequite , if you just want a chill this is the place , personally, a week is enough .
sandflys a nightmare , take everything you can get hold of , but you will still get bitten , i rarely get bitten but was noshed on the whole week .
Thanks to all the great people we met at mr and mrs chuffing _ hells wedding YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE , guy + jacqui torquay

We returned from cocobay on 11/11/06 and had a fantastic time. We were really worried after reading some of the reviews but it was not at all like what people had wrote.

The staff were absolutely lovely and the place was spotless. We were welcomed with a glass of rum punch and a cold towel after the long journey. Unfortunately our room wasn't ready when we arrived but that wasn't too much of a problem because we had time to have a look round and go to the bar.

When we went back to our room we found it to be very clean but basic. It is exactly how it is described in the brochure. We'd upgraded our room and the views were to die for but there was no extra amenities.

The food was delicious, buffet for breakfast and dinner and on an evening there was a four course a la carte meal - which been a vege I thought I would go hungry some nights but that never happend. People have said the waiters gave a poor service but I just can't understand how, they were always friendly and very prompt.

I have also got to give it to David the barman, he was great and never stopped smiling or laughing. He was always very friendly and me and my partner would sit and talk to him all night.

The pool area was very clean and you could always get a sun lounger, so if you went on the beach in the morning you could sit by the pool in the afternoon.

There are three beaches close to cocobay and all open to the public but don't worry because there is minimal crime in antigua and you're very safe to walk about and explore. The beeches are clean and very nice apart from the sandflies - which eat you alive!

There is a propblem with mosquitoes and sandflies and the hotel fogs the place with diesel and turps regullary but i don't think it works, neither does 100% deet which we were told would. Women tend to get bitten a lot more than the men as i did but if you take antihistamines before and during your trip this will stop the bites swelling. I would also take some cream to stop the itching. We were told insect repelling candels worked.

We also met a fantastic bunch of people whilst at cocobay and went to their wedding - congrats mr and mrs stokes!

Overall the holiday was fantastic and the flight was that good that we will be going back for a week in 2007.