I went to Antigua with my mother-in-law, yes my mother-in-law in October of this year and we had a fantastic time. I am a travel agent and managed to find a brilliant deal to this hotel. We were upgraded without request to a higher standard room. Unfortunately i didn't manage to see the standard rooms but i've read that they are pretty basic. However our room was lovely. We had side sea view rooms that were always clean as was the bathroom and balcony. the balcony was a little small, but we were so seldom in the room it never mattered!
I found the staff to be friendly and accommodating. The food was a little restricted, mostly due to the scale of the hotel i believe. Being a vegetarian (pectarian!) i did find it to be a little difficult, but the salad, vegetables, pasta, rice and fish were very tasty and these were cooked differently everyday.
Food and drink is not served 24 hours a day like many hotels are, but we knew this before we went and so were prepared. the cocktails are a must when staying here! They are strong and addictive! and i'm afraid to say not very thigh friendly!
The pool was a fair size, clean and there were always enough beds throughout the day and privacy was more than easy to find.
the beach is the best beach on the island without doubt and we found the water to be fabulous. Once you get out a little further, the water becomes much clearer, purely because the white horses aren't kicking up the sand.
Vendors are present on the beach during the day and will ask you if you want to go on trips or buy hand-made jewellry from them but we found that as soon as you stated that you weren't interested, if that was the case, they would leave it at that. You just had to be clear and we found that giving a reason like "i don't like boat trips, i can't swim" normally works!!
One trip that is essential is the boat trip to Prickly Pear Island with Miguel and his family. The snorkelling there is amazing and so is the food and drink which is included! freshly caught fish and lobster as well as chicken and all sorts of other things. They have a website which can be found by instering it into a search.
Overall, the atmosphere at this hotel is very relaxed, friendly and welcoming, so i would definatley return and plan to in the near future.

My sister and I were on vacation at the Rex Halcyon Cove from Dec. 3-10 and were very pleasantly surprised! After reading the horror stories on this site, I can only say we enjoyed our stay immensely and the hotel staff were gracious and accomodating.

After a horrible 13 hour delay in NY on Air Jamaice, we arrived at the Rex at 2:30 AM to be pleasantly greeted by Aukland at the front desk. Seeing our exhaustion, he asked if he could get us some fruit punch which he served in real glasses with lots of ice. Once we were checked in he quickly got us a young man to show us to our room. Once there we were amazed to see our "standard" room had two twin beds, a tub and shower, TV and phone. The room was freshly painted and the air conditioner worked well. (Sometimes too well and we would turn it off for awhile.) We also had a comfortable sitting area - two chairs and a table in our room and a small balcony with two chairs and a table.

The beach bar had entertainment nightly and on Thursday night the hotel manager has a poolside cocktail party which is delightful.

We did not take the meal plan (maybe a mistake since the food is very expensive in Antigua) but we ate at the Warri Pier and it was excellent. While the outside does need refurbishing the inside is well maintained. We also had breakfast and dinner in the regular dining room and it too was good. However, our not being all inclusive did allow us to try some wonderful restaurants. The Coconut Grove at the Siboney should not be missed - we did dinner and breakfast and both were excellent. Also there is a restaurant called The Beach by the Antiguan Village which also provided a good breakfast and lunch - we did not have time for dinner there. Both of these restaurants are withing a half mile walk up the beach. A short walk up the hill from the Rex is a wonderful restaurant called Pari's Pizza and Steaks which served great pizza, ribs, seafood, etc.

Don't miss the view from Shirley Heights on Sunday evening. The music and food are good. Antigua is a laid back but beautiful island. We went to attend a wedding which was delightful and I hope to return some day. If so, I would certainly stay again at the Rex Halcyon Cove!

Well after the long journey from Gatwick, our party where nackered, so we got to the hotel looked ok at night!!! Got to reception and the receptionest asked us for our credit card?? Hold up this is an all inclusive hotel - why do they need our credit card? We said no becuase we actuallly didnt have it on us, so then she asked us for $100ec (at the time we didnt know what ec dolloars were) so again we said no because we thought it was $100 US - she said that out telephone will be blocked -ok fine ( you can make a call without having to pay the money!!)

Breakfast, and Dinner well oh my god talk about repatative! How the people infront of me could pile there plates high with the stuff!???!!! No seriously it was very boring, they are supposed to have barbiques on a saturday nite - nope not when we where there!!! Damn im sure it would have been lamb, stew etc he he!!!

Bedroom - cant fault it- only problem was the towels they take them away at 9am in the morning and you dont get them back til about 6pm?? Do they not think people have showers!!! Shower was piddly and i swear the water was run by solar power you had a fantastic shower in the morning nice and hot, but by night it was freezing!!!

If you young guys are going out there - there is nooooo club in this hotel - rather boring at night im 23 years old i was in bed by 11pm aarrgghhh very annoying as i wanted to get pissed - but no that would not happen!!! But Elvyn the entertainment man was funny - WASSUP Elvyn!!!!! xx

Beach Bar - hmmmmm if you like flies as your friends your do well there - cocktails really good there but have to many and you'll get lost down the toilets!!

And one last thing if you smoke - DO NOT BUY IN THE HOTEL - BUY IN ST JOHNs you will save about $15 in the hotel they are $30 USfor 200 in St Johns they are $15 US for 200.

Stayed on Honeymoon at the Rex Halcyon November 2004. Always tried to keep in mind that things in other parts of the world are not always done to the same standards as we are used to.

Room (621) was large with nice balcony view towards the beach. Decor (like the rest of the hotel) was shabby and in need of an overhaul.

Room was not cleaned to a paticularly high standard.

Old Bathroom towels taken early in the morning and it was anybody's guess what time they would re-appear and indeed what you would get.

Air conditioning was a joke. Our unit was huge and made more noise than a 747 engine. You learned to live, and indeed sleep with it.

The Arawak was truly awful though the staff were nice if a little overrun, espcially at breakfast. Food was uninspiring and in the evening it was not a place you felt you wanted to relax and spend time. On the first evening i asked what the wine choices were and was told that wine by the glass was the only option, and it was 'Spanish' as though that explained everything. It may well be Spanish but I think they probably use it to strip paint rather than quench thirst. The bloke who does the eggs and omelettes in the morning in all that heat deserves a medal !

On all inclusive you got a $20 allowance each for the Warri Pier which was an altogethor more pleasant dining experience.

The best eating experience by far however was a 5 minute stroll up past Sandals to a place called 'The Beach' - very nice.

Hotel had plenty of shops and taxis were never a problem either. Its bar area was poor. Beach was fantastic, The pool could have been better and cleaner. We did get pestered a bit by beach vendors though its not a real problem. Bizarrely the Hotel has its own palm reader. Not sure why.

We never sampled the evening entertainment.

Antigua is nice - quite a bit to see and do including St Johns, a cat round the island (I would recommend Treasure Island not Wadadli Cats as Treasure Island do not seem to cram so many on a boat, and we heard it was run by the locals). But having spent 2 weeks there we feel we have 'done' Antigua and for that reason wont be back.

If that were not the case we would not return to the Rex Halcyon.