Our first trip to Antigua, and we wanted a change after a number of disapointing trips to Asia. Firstly we went just before the season started, therefore we expected it to be quiet. It was, probably a little more quiet than we expected, but nether the less we had a lovely time.

As other reviewers have commented, this hotel is built on a hillside down to a very nice white sand beach, Reception and the panorama restaurant are at the top, along with some rooms, the main 3 buildings are at sea level and there are 4 rooms on the beach. We decided to book a deluxe suite in one of the main 3 buildings on the 1st floor. The deluxe suite rooms are beautiful, in a colonial style, very well equipped and the bed extremely comfortable. Very nice balcony overlooking the garden, pool and view to the sea. However there is no air conditioning, and it took us a couple of nights to get the right combination of ceiling fans, and opening of the window and door shutters to get the right ventilation and temperature in the room. Once we got it mastered the room was very comfortable. Antigua is no different to any other carribean island in that the mosquitos are fairly aggressive. The hotel carried out treatment every week, but a good anti-mosquito lotion is essential.

I did not 'check-out' the hill top rooms, but had a look at the beach rooms and would not recommend. These rooms need renovation and are not very private. However I understand they are much cheaper. I did look in the junior suites and they are very nice, but strongly recommend a deluxe suite on the 1st floor with one of the huge balconys. Be sure it is worth the extra cost.

The hotel was quiet during the day, except for the army of very friendly gardeners and staff keeping this hotel, gardens, pool and beach extremely clean and tidy. Very relaxed and extremely friendly atmosphere throughout the hotel and it's complex. This hotel did feel that it was very well run.

We decided to go 'room only basis' and I think this was the right choice. Breakfast was by the beach and very nice. Basic breakfast was $14 / £7, very nice and good value. Dinner in the panarama restaurant is very nice, lovely food and the staff made superb hosts (about $100 / £50 for two). The hotel boat will take you over to Nelsons Dockyard where there is a very nice French restaurant and bar. A short walk then takes you to Falmouth Harbour and a few nice restaurants and bars. Food at all was very good. In the evening the local taxis' will run you between the hotel and harbour for around $10/£5 one way. Note: most prices were in US dollars (accepted everywhere) then converted to Carribean Dollars when you came to pay.

This area of Antigua is extremelly beautiful and mainly all about boats, and in truth we felt it lacked some real local atmosphere, it felt a bit conservative, rich Brits (and Italians) and boats, when we would have liked to sample a bit of Reggae and beach bar. I understand the north west of the island is best for that.

Antigua is fairly small, and I would definately recommend a hire car. Easy to drive and very cheap $50 /£25 a day. The capital St. Johns is nice but only seemed to cater for the cruise ships or the locals. Not really very touristy.

In summary if you want to relax, in privacy, this hotel is highly recommended. The staff and the facilities are absolutely first class. The walk up and down to and from the reception is not for anyone senior, although the hotel does supply a courtesy car 24 hours a day. Night life was fairly limited and not for the hard core party goers. And finally to get around the island you will need a car or use the taxi's. If you are on a budget, these costs quickly add up. For us, it was perfect especially with the pound being so strong against the US dollar.

We stayed at "The Inn" for one night before a bareboat sailing charter in Antigua, specifically choosing this location so we could easily go to the jump-up at Shirley Heights. After a long, tedious day of travel (including a lost bag), arriving at The Inn was like reaching a safe haven. We were greeted warmly at the front desk, quickly dispatched with check-in formalities, and immediately shuttled to our Superior Suite (located near the pool and beach, but not right on the beach).

The suite itself is lovely and spare, truly West Indian in style. A white, high-ceilinged space with a comfortable bed, potted palms, a seating area, and a large patio. 7 louvered windows, 2 sets of louvered french doors (leading to the patio), and two ceiling fans made air-conditioning superflous, and we actually had to cover up at night. The bath is large and well-equippped (including bidet and huge walk-in shower), with designer toiletries.

The site is a hillside tumbling down to a beach right at the entrance to English Harbour (in Antigua for sailing ourselves, we loved watching the boats come and go). Shuttle service from the lower rooms to the main areas of the hotel was prompt and easy. The grounds are landscaped with palms and tropical flowers. The common areas of The Inn are all stone and varnished woodwork with a commanding view of the sea. It's a clubby yet comfortable atmosphere, and we enjoyed hanging out at the bar (with the friends we were traveling with, and the friendly bartender) for drinks after Shirley Heights, with the music from Shirley Heights still audible.

The breakfast buffet at the beachside restaurant is a bit pricey, but the service was friendly and the buffet well-stocked. The location on the beach was gorgeous, though the no-see-ums were just as hungry as we were.

I would stay here again in a heartbeat, and only wish we had more time to devote to a land-based stay in Antigua.

Expectations were fairly modest (but see what happened when they were high in my review on Biras Creek, Virgin Gorda!). In the event we were thrilled with nearly every aspect of our stay.

We had visited Nelson's Dockyard by boat some 3 years earlier and knew that english Harbour was the place on Antigua most likely to appeal to us. You can escape from the Hotel and go for long walks (linch at Carlise Bay confirmed our worst fears about being entrapped in a Hotel Resort).

Service on arrival was friendly and efficient (what kind of welcome do those Trip Advisor reviewers who complained about their reception actually want? Banners? Music?). We were taken by car down to our rooms, one de luxe suite (first floor, number 27 and one ordinary suite next door, number 26, for our 3 boys). The suite was just lovely. High sealings, lots of wood, colonial style decor, fab big bathroom, celing fans, super huge veranda overlooking gardens , pool and sea.

There was a problem with the room being rather hot but powerful electric fans were brought for both rooms on request. Also a mosquito problem, but we were provided with coils and on request supplied with repellant spray for the rooms. Then very little problem in the rooms from the little demons.

We dined at least 3 times at the terrace restaurant, one of the most beautiful locations I've visited in the Carribbean. The food was good; not stunning, not quite first class but certainly good value and a lot better than in many of the other places we visited in antigua. Sitting on the terrace having dinner under the stars and overlooking the bay was magical. Freindly, cheerful and efficient service.

We had breakfast and snacks at the beachside bar/restaurant. These were good, again taking into account the prices being charged.

The opportunities for activity were excellent. You can take the boat shuttle across to Nelson's Dockyard and go for long walks along the headland. You can use the Hotel's (albeit fairly limited) equipment, ie kayaks, wind surfers etc. Good swimming and walks into town or to Shirley Heights for the energetic.

Shirley Heights was a very pleasing surprise. I had feared it would be ghastly and tacky but it was very understated, lovely architecture and had the most incredible views.

Other guests were mainly foreign, a big Italian contingent (who were very friendly and great fun). No small children to cause disturbance at meal times.

Staff were certainly perfectly polite and anxious to please. Maybe not effusive, but I think that's the Carribbean way.

Overall, we loved it. should we ever return to Antigua, we would definitely stay there again.

Spent three nights here after a week in Montserrat. Found the setting idyllic though hotel some drawbacks.

At first we were booked into two of the hillside cottages next to the main reception area. These are dated with poor plumbing. When we arrived one shower did not work and the next morning neither rooms had any water at all. They are also a stiff 300 metre climb from the beach,pool and breakfast/lunch/drinks bar although there is a shuttle car it is good to be independent and not have to call for the car.
Due to the water problem we were relocated to beach front cottages 10 paces from the sea. Similar decor but more attractive but no tv and more humid as not hillside breeze ( all rooms had inefficient ceiling fans). Did not see inside the suites but probably at lot nicer as newer.Mosquitoes were a problem though burners were provided.

The staff are friendly and helpful - dont mistake laid back carribean attitude for not caring. Found Antiguans generally to be some of the friendlest and helpful people we have come across on holiday.

Food was pricey at the beach bar (US$14 for club sandwich) and we avoided. the attractive terrace restaurant as expensive and limited menu for fussy teenagers. Unfortunately other restuarant on the beach was shut. To get to English harbour village in the evening and the excellent Trappas and Abracadabra restaurant cost US$20 taxi return.
Pool and beach quiet. Mainly Italians staying. Used free water taxi (operated until 4pm) twice though English harbour quiet and many bars shut as the low season.
Car necessary to see other parts of island would probably locate elsewhere if came again as local bus service very good but bus stop too far from this hotel. Stayed here this time as wanted to see Nelsons Dockyard and no other hotel nearby had pool.