We had originally been going to Jamaica, but unfortunately (well, as it turned out, fortunatelly!!) our youngest son came out with chicken pox 3 days before so we were forced to cancel and book to travel elsewhere a week later. Luckily for us we were offered the Halcyon Cove by Rex in Antigua. When we first touched down on the island we were greeted by the typical Caribbean smile, it was a warm welcome and we felt very safe and secure. We had no transfers included and had no worries man getting into a taxi to our hotel and we were not ripped off on the price.

We'd planned on renewing our wedding vows in Jamaica on our 10th anniversary but as it was cancelled, we checked the Halcyon Cove website before travelling to see if they could sort something out. The luckily arrange renewal of vows and wedding ceremonies so we emailed the hotel to advise of our intentions and when we checked in, the fabulous Debbie had a date and time pre-arranged for us. All we had to do was tell her what sort of cake, flowers etc we wanted and turn up, all the rest was done for us. Unfortunately the only day in the 2 weeks stay it rained was our renewal of vows day, but it didn't dampen our spirits, instead of being on the beach it was relocated to the lounge of the Warri Pier and the walkway was adorned with flowers and balloons and the whole lounge decked out for us too, it was lovely and so special.

Debbie had arranged a local photographer to come and take pictures and he even took some ad-hoc ones of the friends we made there which was lovely. He came back 2 days later to take pics of us all in the sunshine too!! The hotel staff even put a 'just married' sign outside our room and covered our bed in confetti!!!

I can't praise the staff enough, I won't name names as they were all so fantastic.

The rooms were in need of a spruce up but were very clean and we had clean towels every day. We had been upgraded to superior so we had a tv, bath and shower, hairdryer all included. The air con is a godsend!!

The beach was the integral part of our holiday as we travelled with two boys aged 5 and now 3 who loved the sand, the crabs, learning to swim in the sea, the kayaks, snorkelling...... they were thrilled.

All inclusive is a must. It gives you the freedom, especially when you meet up with others, to get rounds of drinks and not worry, and as a group of 11 of us did one night, we went out to eat - not having to tho. Food was good, a bit disappointed there was not more local fare, a bit Americanised for us.

There's so much to say about this hotel but I fear I have little space left on this review to do it justice. Would I go back to this hotel again, Yes. Did we have the holiday of a lifetime, yes. We were made to feel like royalty the whole time, but what made our holiday so special was the wonderful people we met and are still in contact with..

Ignore other reviews who slate this hotel, yes it needs a bit of a spruce up, a lick of paint etc, but its clean, it has all mod cons, but hey, you're in the Caribbean!!!!

Have a lovely trip to Antigua, try the Wadadli cats boat trips and ask Gi Gi from the hotel taxi rank to take you out and about, he's the man!!!

I've so much more to tell you but I guess you'll just have to check it out for yourself!!!!!!! xxx

if you want all the bells and whistles of a top-notch 6 star resort---you will need to visit a different island. even the sandals next door is not like the other sandals throughout the caribbean. antigua is a laid back low-rise old world etc island as far as i saw---and i had a pretty good tour(we hired a cab to show us the island.) the halcyon itself could use a face-lift. some new furniture, plumbing, paint would help. however the bed was the most comfortable bed i ever slept on. if all that is important to you---you will not be happy here. what floats my boat is the ocean, beach, food, service, and drinks. and if that's what you like too--then you will enjoy your stay. the staff is the greatest---heather, maricia, kelvin, tamer--all of them aim to please. the beach is absolutely beautiful--number 4 in the world i'm told, the ocean is breathtaking with the sounds of surf without being rough. the food was to die for. i always warn people that caribbean food is different than home---you can't expect steak,bake potato, and vegetables---but one night that was in the buffet. their buffet was different every night--from veg lasagna, lamb, differently prepared fish, or chicken...i could go on---i hate buffets, but this one had to be one of the best. the lunches were served by the beach---again pretty darn good. we did not go to the warri pier---felt we would miss something and why pay for it even though they gave you a voucher to apply. the drinks were your typical island drinks---but were made well. i'm a crown royal drinker whch they did not have and any premium brands you had to pay for. i love the intimacy of a small resort---we met almost everyone there and was on a first name basis. also the vendors on the beach were polite and did not pressure sell you. all the beaches in antigua are public and the locals were friendly and respectful. i would go back in a heartbeat. if there were any negatives--i would say that we do not like the long pants dress code in the restaurants--they are not airconditioned--it was o k in june but i can imagine august--yikes. my husband would just change after dinner into his shorts--shouldn't have to go through that. also the ala carte restaurant should be included in the all-inclusive plan. there were excursions you could go on---we chose to do the cab thing and enjoy the onsite watersports at the resort. what a great time we had!!!

We have just retruned from our two week stay at the halcyon cove hotel in antigua. The halcyon cove is a very basic standard hotel. We had a superior room and it was very basic. All the rooms need a complete overhall as does the the entire hotel. The carib bar, warri pier and the awark terrace etc. The staff are friendly but are extremely SLOW. Dont go to the bar for a drink when you are thirsty go before you get thirsty as you are so long waiting for it. The nightly entertainment was only ok. We are a young couple in our early thirties and after 11pm at night there was absoultey nothing to do. We found an amazing restaurnat at the end of dickensonbay called Coconut Grove and we ate there on a few occasion and we drnak there most nights as it was only place near the halcyon that had a bit of life to it, despite being all inclusive. The beach the hotel is on is truly amazing and there is an abundance of beach brollies/shelter and that was a major plus as having visited may of the other baches on the island, the halcyon was the only hotel that provided plenty. A wadadli catamaran cruise around the west coast of the island is a must. You go snorkelling on cades reef , have a beach bar b q for lunch and visit some amazing beaches. All food and drinks for the day are included and the rum punch is flowing. What a great day we had on that. Another must is Sherly heights on a sunday evening. They have a great regge band there that play from 7 to 10 and the athmosphere is elcectic and plenty to eat and drink there. In all we did enjoy our stay at the halcyon. We will return to Antigua again but not the Halcyon Cove. Rex Resorts get your finger out and refurbish the entire hotel and send the staff on an efficency course. You are sittinng on a jewel situated on a beach that was voted the best in the carribean for a few years running......

My wife and I read the mixed reviews and did not really know what to expect. We arrived 10pm to check in and we were given a standard room on the 3rd floor in the back. The room was clean-no tv, but we did expect that. The air conditioning worked very good. After 2 days we were quite tired of climbing the stairs so I asked to see a poolside room which cost more.
Took 2 days but they were very gracious and apologized for the delay. They also did not charge me extra but asked that I enjoy the remainder of our stay! The Pool was very cleans-the grounds were very nice, flowers and birds everywhere. We did not get the all inclusive with meals as we wanted to have a little variety. We thought the breakfasts were
overpriced but ate there several times. We did not eat in the dining room or at the pier restaurant due to their policy of men wearing slacks and collared shirts for men and dressy for women. We went to relax and vacation-not to dress up. Good food in walking distance to The Beach restaurant . The food was very good there-nice sunsets. The beach at Dickenson Bay is very nice. Some of the other beaches were breathtaking. We have traveled much throughout the islands and had a very good time in Antigua. The Catamaran trip around the island and snorkeling at Green Island was a fun tour! Well worth the $90.00 per person-good food and rum drinks all day long! Reefs were not as pristine as some islands we have been to
but Antigua is very lush and tropical-very nice hills, crystal clear beaches. Did not experience any bug problems as some people had reported, good thing!! So all in all it was a good value-courtious staff that went out of the way for us. The vendors on the beach got tiring but were friendly and just trying to make a living also.