I took my 12 yr old daughter to antigua dec 5 to 12th and although the room was big, the bathroom had no fan and always had that mildew smell. The resort did not have much for her to do, there were some kids activities but for younger children. Good thing we brought our own volleyball because the resort didn't seem to have one just the net! We brought our own flippers and snorkle stuff but there wasn't anything to see, have no idea where anyone ever got the idea that there was great snorkling there. all we ever saw was sand and seaweed. there was small shells washed up into the beach but that's it. I think if you wanted to spend the money you could take a tour out somewhere for better sights. you could do alot of thiings if you had a lot of money to spend, which I did not. We took the bus into town (go around the tennis courts on the road behind them, following it onto a dirt road, down a hill, past a school to a blue roofed shelter - do not go out the main gates of the hotel like we did as we misinterpreted someone's directions the first time) buses come whenever at $1 US each wandered around the crowded streets and found an IGA supermarket where we bought lots of soup, macaroni cookies, etc and that with our hotpot that we brought fed us for the week for about $40 US. The supermarket is priced in EC money but when you go to pay the register will switch it over to US amount, your change will be in EC money. To get the bus back, go to the station where you were dropped off and either someone will tell you or you'll have to start asking the drivers, when we were there is was bus #61 as stated on the licence plates) Food at the hotel was too expensive, besides the groceries we brought our own food, more soup tons of granola bars, drink mix - brought a small pitcher to mix it in, and our own bowls, mugs etc. but better to do that than to pay $16.50 for lunch and $30.00 for dinner per person which was the rate posted at the lagoon. The beach was nice, lots of sun loungers available. My daughter got her hair braided by Iris and she did a great job. Cost $40 US, but my daughter has alot of hair and took about 3 hours to do. Also in your room make sure you don't leave anything sweet sitting out, even one crumb attracts these little tiny tiny ants, although they only seemed to be in and around the bathroom area. If you have an early flight you need to book your taxi the night before only certain taxis go tothe airport, the drivers sit outside the hotel doors and you need to go talk to them to book. Our flight was at 7a.m. so we booked a taxi (which means they tell you their name, you tell them your room number and that's it) We booked for 5 a.m. to allow time to get there and check luggage, customs etc. Anyways Franklin never showed up!!! Luckily another driver showed upat 5:30 for someone else and although he couldn't take us, he was able to call another driver. The front desk was trying a few numbers that they had but weren't getting anyone answering their phone. So if you're going to go just to relax and really do nothing much then's it's fine, if you want to do anything I hope you have lots of money because the whole island is very expensive! Next time we're going somewhere that's alot cheaper and has more to do, maybe a cruise

Two friends and myself stayed for ten nights at the Royal Antiguan Hotel in June 2003. We stayed on a room only basis and rented a car for just four days of our stay.I have to admit that I was a bit apprehensive before I left as I had read some of the reviews on this web site, however we all had a fantastic time and had no issues with the hotel. I think this is because we were not expecting too much (the hotel is one of the cheaper resorts) and as we were on room only (EP in the US I think) we did not feel compelled to stay in the hotel.The hotel is not the most attractive but the location makes up for this by the bucket load. The hotel is right on the beach at Deep Bay. The beach is beautiful, a long curving stretch of white sand and clear water.At the end of the beach is a rocky outcrop with the ruins of Fort Barrington on the top. The hotel has daily escorted trips (for free) up to the top. The view is great; you can see St Johns and out to sea. We walked up by ourselves but the path is not always clear so I'd go up with the hotel staff if I went again. Also wear sensible footwear, sandals; even flat will turn a nice walk into a hazard!The beach hawkers are friendly and if you tell them you are not interested then they will leave you alone. I think you only get pestered if you tell them you might be interested, don't be polite if you don't want your hair braided then say so, these people are business men and woman and won't be offended.We stayed in a Bayview room that had a wonderful view of the sea from our balcony. We had actually booked the hillside view room but were allocated the Bayview room when we checked in.I did get a look at one of the hillside rooms and do have to admit they were not as nice. I think a lot of this is because they do not have a balcony and sitting outside in the morning and seeing the sun come up is a sight not to be missed!I'd recommend paying that little bit more and going for a Bayview room. They also offer Seaview rooms (these are on the higher floors) for even more but we had a wonderful view from the 3rd floor.The staff was very friendly. I think some of the people who have submitted reviews saying that the staff were not helpful is because they may have been rude to the staff in the first place.Service is not as fast as some places in the world but this is the Caribbean things are supposed to laid back! We had some wonderful lunches in the Andes open air restaurant, which is on the beach.The hotel has a more exclusive Restaurant, Barringtons. You need to book this through guest services the day you want to eat there. Book early so as not to be disappointed, we were always to late to get a table!St Johns is a short taxi ride away and offers lots to do and some really nice places to eat; we tried Hemingways, O'Gradys Pub and The Commissioners Grill, which were all fantastic.Also just down the road from the hotel is a little place called Pensioners Corner; this is cheap and great for some local food, beer, rum and a few stories thrown in for free!I'd highly recommend hiring a car; Hertz have an office at the hotel so it couldn't be easier. We visited nearly ever corner of the Island and found some great beaches and sights. Long Bay Beach was my favourite but Half Moon Bay and Johnsons Point are also beautiful.Shirleys Highs has great views and a great party ever Sunday night. Get a taxi at the hotel and they wait and bring you back again.We also drove through the rain forest and up to the Devils Bridge (take an umbrella!).Basically this is a cheap great place for a base, get out and explore the island! If you don't intend to leave the resort or have lots of kids to keep happy then pay for some where better but if like me you like to see some of the country you are visiting then the hotel is just fine!I'd go back, book a Bayview room and a car for the week, and have a great time all over again.

My husband and I recently stayed at the Royal Antiguan on a room only basis as we did not expect the hotel to be so isolated. Public areas of the hotel are shabby and in need of refurbishment. The rooms are large and clean but very basic. Service in the restaurants and bars is slow, and not helped by the need to sign for everything. The food was of a poor standard (and often not very hot) and extremely overpriced for those on room only. Of the four bars, it is likely that only one will be open in the evening - again making service slow. I think all this could be deliberate, as then you don't drink as much! The beach was lovely although many of the sunbeds are broken. Taxis from the hotel into St Johns are very expensive - get the local bus during the day.
Needless to say I will not be returning to this hotel!

We took a 9 nite room only trip with 2 kids; aged 5 and 7. Poor service, miserable staff, substandard but overpriced food, smelly rooms desperately needing modernisation, poorly managed daytime activities and evening entertainment. Poor facilities and overall management with no true consideration to a guest's need. they have the most beautiful beach but yet do not knbow how to capitalise on it with any parties or evening activity! Even though we got a cheap deal for £2000, we felt it still was very poor value for money. The only good things were the hotel grounds and that natural beach! It was my son's 7th and my wife's 40th b'days and all we did was argue. It cost GBP£8 to get into town to eat in the Big Banana and £12 to The Beach restaurant in Dickenson Bay one way! yet the more time we spent away from the hotel the better our holiday got! Antigua is a beautiful island and the people were nice once you are outside the hotel. We recommend families to stay in Coconut Grove Hotel in Dickenson Bay which is a privately owned small hotel with a good restaurant on the beach and very reasonable prices. for those with alittle more means, Jolly Beach Resort is the one! For couples, Sandals Resort offers everything you need...