We booked a late booking for Club Colonna on the Sunsail website. I then looked up the Trip advisor reviews ! Yes I realise this is the wrong way round but hey we can all make mistakes !
Booking this holiday was the best move I have made in a long time. We joined friends who had previously been on six Sunsail holidays so it came highly recommended. Contrary to what alot of other people have said we all had a fantastic time. Direct flights to Antigua are the norm now, this was a nice surprise as I was under the impression we had to stop off in St Thomas for immigration procedures. Good flight times, you arrive early afternoon so have chance for a rest before the brief at five pm. I could not fault the food, always beautifully presented with enough choice for all but the fussy eater !! Fish, meat , salads, more than anyone could eat!!
I like the three hour time slot for each meal, I was able to wander in at seven thirty for coffee and maybe some fruit, then go to the Pilates Class (Free at the moment until new fitness suite is completed) after Pilates breakfast was still being served, so it was difficult to avoid going back for more !!
Room was good top floor with nice high ceilings, good air conditioning, tree frogs are noisey but hey you are in the Caribbean !!!
Husband very happy chappy, he was able to take out boats without having the chore of rigging or de-rigging, he has not sailed for approximately twenty years,he was given all the help he needed to give him the confidence to just get on with it. He was taking part in the Thursday Regatta in the first week, and came a commendable second in one of the races.The following week he was first !! (He was crewing for his experienced friend, but was he pleased !!)
Do go on a "Happy Trail" tour should you feel the need to see some of the Island. Gareth Williams is a local chap who knows the Island inside out, he takes you in his 4x4 on an exclusive trip around the Island that he knows and loves. His mother supplies you with Rum Punch and homemade banana bread, you get luuch on Turners Beach, and he is more than happy to stop on route for photo stops or a stop at the supermarket!

I only have a couple of points that I would like to change. Its great that you do not have to carry money around at the club, but do try and keep tabs on what you sign for, its easy to sign away a couple of hundred pounds in a week. I think they should give you a receipt for everything you sign for, then you could keep track, it is worth checking the bill when you settle up as mistakes were made, usually simply rectified. The staff were always very happy to help.
I would also check when you book that they do not have a large block booking staying at the same time as you. We were joined on our second week by 127 builders & their familes, who all knew each other. This was not to much of a problem apart from the atmosphere of the club changed from catering for Sunsail guests, to whatever "Elliots" wanted. Elliots Cocktail Party took over, someones birthday took over the planned quiz, which had been a riotous night the first week. On the whole it did not spoil our holiday because we would not let it, but there were a few mystified holiday makers who wondered what was going on.
Checking out was a real surprise, First Choice come to the hotel and check you back onto the return flight at the hotel. So you can choose your seat and say farewell to your luggage leaving you another day on the beach ! Best place for a shower before you fly is the "Ladies Cloakroom" in reception it has the best A/C in the whole building.

Zoe the fitness instuctor will have you join every class going if you let her ! I did manage to avoid the Power Walk, far too hot ! I did join in the Pilates, and the Aquarobics, the pool is cold to get into but believe me it soon feels ok.
We spent £2000 for the two of us for two weeks and it was the best money we have ever spent on a holiday, plus the fact we have made friends with two of the nicest people ever.
I have every confidence that we will return and we will be taking the grownup family with us.

We had a wonderful holiday (April-May 2005): villa on the beach, good food, learnt to sail and did the 3 day yachting course, explored the tropical beauty of Antigua by jeep, while the children either had wonderful time in kids club or joined us in our exploration. The location is great , the accommodation is super on the beach, the staff IS GREAT, the food is tasty, the kids were happy and were desperate to return, the sea water is 29 degrees and we had every evening to ourselves for two weeks! (we have kids of 2 and 4 years of age, hence the surprise) We'll be back there in December!

Thought I would write a short note regarding Club Colonna. We stayed at Colonna at Easter. The first week we sailed the BVIs with Sunsail - great! This was our fourth sunsail holiday - not just in the carribean we have also holidayed in the Med. There will always be mixed reviews I feel with Sunsail. For many years we holidayed with Mark Warner and they too had mixed reviews. I believe it to be untrue that any members of staff working on the water front are not qualified. We have always felt that although Sunsail are not cheap you are paying for a whole package. It will never be for the accomodation as this is always pretty basic ( we had a villa at Colonna and yes it was on the main road - but no traffic!) Enthusiasm of the staff counts for alot - and also guests who generally are all there to have a great time. With regard to a comment about the flight - read your travel itenary and it will clearly state time of arrival etc. I feel that most people who complain have just not enjoyed themselves too much because they were finding to many faults. I believe they are about to spend and few quid on colonna so maybe that will perk a few people up. We are off to Sunsail Turkey next week - sailing first week and club second week so hopfully will meet like minded individuals.

Regarding the watersports - the standards fell far short of the RYA standards that they are meant to adhere too...no anchors,paddles,1st aid kits on the rescue boats and not enough of them. The kids club sailing activities where run by non qualified local staff, occasionally helped by the (again unqualified) general manager for some reason - his own dubious pleasure I think, I would not let my own children join in this.
In your own interest please demand to see the relevant certificates of instructors qualifications, a reputable operation should not object to this.
When I was there the resort also suffered from a very, very serious food poisoning outbreak - resulting in Sunsail transferring all new arrivals to a different resort. The bar was overpriced compared to nearby places and the resort seems to want to get what it can from its clients. The price of photo's offered for sale that had been taken during the week where extortionate for example, and i agree with a previous review about the internet.
Despite this, it is a beautiful setting and has the potential to be superb resort. Its a shame Sunsail don't seem to appoint a management team with the ability to live up to this. My custom will go elsewhere.