As with others, it was with some trepidation that we booked to come here (having read the reviews).

However, I have to say we were generally pleasantly surprised!!

PROS: 1. Generally well-run establishment. 2. Most of staff friendly when approached in the right way (exceptions e.g. the enormous lady at breakfast serving who barked at me to leave the porridge ladel outside the pot when I didn't hear her first instruction!). There are, I gathered, a pool of 300 staff in total to choose from, so plenty of opportunity to meet nasty & nice. 3. Food: plentiful & good quality. No probs getting drinks, water top-ups etc. Breakfast a bit repetitive. 4. All inclusive worked very well and we actually spent very little more than the price tag. 5. Some of entertainment excellent (steelband on Thurs night and two blokes on ?Mon night on keyboard/ sax). Give 'Mr. Moves', the karaoke & the bingo a miss. 6. Sports facilities, espec the tennis courts (some had rough surface which prob contributed to me sustaining a very nasty sprain on the 1st morning!!). 7. Deep Bay, Fort Barrington (well worth the short hike to see the sunset) & the Beach. 8. Our room was plain but o.k., cleaned daily and it had a basic TV/ fridge and nice bathroom and shower. No probs getting bath towels/ beach towels.

CONS: 1. Some of the clientelle would appear more at home on an establishment on the Costa del Sol i.e. the earrings & tattoo (sadly all British) brigade mentioned in someone elses' review. That said, they didn't bother us and we toured about rather than spending the day at the pool/ bar. In fact we didn't swim in the pool once!! The sea was far more enticing & the beach was clean. 2. A few chancers, 'rastaphonians' etc. on the beach selling poor merchandise and trying to con people into going on one of the razzmatazz catamaran cruises by claiming to be part of the company concerned and taking 'bookings' & deposits!! 3. Some of entertainment (as mentioned) was quite pathetic. 4. The wristbands: one felt like a member of a concentration camp when outsde of the resort. We visited a couple of the plusher establishments (Curtain Bluff, Galley Beach & Hawksbill Bay) and we got the impression that even the local staff looked at us with slight disdain when they saw the tags!!!

Overall, this is a good all-inclusive package for the price. There are plusher more expensive options. We've no plans of returning to Antigua: feel it's an over-rated destination, save for some very fine beaches and viewpoints. Many locals seemed to hold some dislike (?jealousy/ resentment) of the tourist. Americans seem to own everything: maybe this is why. We often got cold looks and met as many sullen and cold people as warm friendly ones. Phoney hip-hop culture seems to pervade many of the youth especially in the St. Johns' area. Many places are very dirty and even some of the beaches could be cleaner. Grenada was far friendlier and more scenic/ memorable (stayed B&B in the Flamboyant Hotel). Also much quieter and the locals were much more pleasant on the whole.

If you do go to Antigua make sure to do 3 things: 1. Rent a car: can do from Hertz at R Antig for US$55 per day (including CDW). See the whole island with relative ease and don't miss a quiet evenings' sunset from Shirleys' Heights. 2. Do the Ecotour with Eli Fuller of Adventure Antigua for US$90. He's a 'white' Antiguan (born and bred) who runs smallish group tours in his own boat visiting some gems of spots in the North Sound (picks up from R Antiguan beach) with excellent commentaries on the natural & social front.

There were 4 adults and 1 child on vacation last Nov. 6th through the 15th and we stayed at the Royal Antiguan. To start off we arrived at the airport on a rainy night and our luggage was left at the Puerto Rico airport on the tarmac in the rain. I guess they leave luggage so everyone will fit on the plane. We received our luggage the next day but it was soak and wet and all my tops had bled on the other clothes so our clothes were ruined, had to spend a day at the laundry mat to get it clean. We ate at the barbque the 1st nite at the Royal Antiguan and the food was alright but not worth $30 a person and one was a child. (I thought the bill was in Antiguan dollars but not that lucky) We didn't go all inclusive and probably should have. We rented a car and on the 1st day out we went to town where we got cussed out by a local for not moving out of his way on the road and we had the right of way, so the people were not nice either. It rained everyday (Nov is the rainy season). We went scuba diving and it doesn't compare to Belize or Cozumel. I would never go back to Antigua and I want to get the word out because I only take 1 vacation a year and I was very disappointed last year. Most Carribean islands, the people are very nice and want you to come back but the Antiguans were only nice on the days the cruise ships came in town. We did meet our chef at the Royal Antiguan and he and his friends were very nice and they were the highlight of the trip. (I can compare Antigua because I have been to St. Thomas, Tortola, Bahamas, San Juan PR, Grand Cayman, Belize, and Cozumel) We made a day trip to Monserat and we loved it there the people were so nice and the island was amazing. We would definitely recommend Monserat. Good luck if you already have a trip planned for Antigua but if you are just considering then I would look somewhere else.

Feel moved to write a review after reading some others. Stayed here end June 2003 for 2 weeks with just my son and have booked to return this year with the rest of the family.

The food was excellent especially the made to order breakfast omelettes! The buffet restaurant generally meant all tastes were catered for apart from absent chips (which isn't a bad thing!) Atkins followers take note! The Andes Restaurant had those and was open for lunch and dinner and it was great to dine and watch the barracudas swimming below whilst feasting on lovely fresh fish dishes or steak! There the service was slower but then you were happy to be out of the midday heat...or you had all evening. No problem getting drinks just a problem staying sober with the excellent cocktails all part of F.I. Yes you have to be early to queue and book Barringtons but that adds to the special dining experience. A hut on the beach served drinks and BBQ lunches.

The pool area was a little breezy in June (tip take things to keep your hair in control!) and whilst the pool was deep the beach was gently shelving and very safe being a sheltered bay, the most spectacular part being able to see fantastic fish without having to snorkel out of your depth. The rocks at the left of the bay were like walking in an aquarium and fish would eat out of your hand. All non motorised watersports were safe and free with a huge choice of craft to try. There were also lots of organised daytime activities and sports.

Ok the tennis courts were not Wimbledon but they were free as were the raquets and balls but better to take your own. There was also a well equippped gym.

Evening entertainment was centred around the bar and the function room with a second bar and catered for many tastes plus there was the casino with a plethoria of slot machines and horseracing that took our dollars! :> Getting drinks was never a problem.

We had a large Bayview with a fridge, tv with good channels large comfy beds and clean bathroom. Yes the rooms at the rear faced the rock face with lovely goats but at the Antiguan you are either changing for your meal or sleeping exhausted!. They take the dirty towels early but pool towels are provided anyway.

It wasn't that cut off as there were plenty of local stalls along the beach, some shops in the hotel and a daily cheap minibus service as well as taxis into St Johns 20 mins away...hardly isolated! Don't expect great shopping or deals as most things are imported and the local stalls fuss you. St Johns is set up for the cruise ships with a lot of diamond stores!

The Jeep Safari and around the Island Catamaran trips are a must! the latter showing just how special a setting the Antiguan enjoys!

Visited this hotel mid April.If you like kareoke england shirts and women with tatoos this is your place.The hotel looks like a multi storey car park with balconys.The staff were rude and lazy ,if they get any slower they will stop.The food was bland and repetitive.Andes and the beach grill were ok for lunch,barringtons food was good but the atmosphere was dreadful.It was so dark you couldnt actually read the menus.The maitre D was more like a bouncer and was very intimidating.The worst thing about this hotel was what in the evening the only bar open was in the hotel lobby which was a bit like drinking in a airport lounge oh and it stank of disenfectant/dirty mops.
The plus points were the beach which was excellent and the rooms were clean.Sure this is a 3 star hotel and you get what you pay for but their are far better options in antigua try dickenson bay and the rex halcolyn far nicer and next to 2 fabulous restaraunts the cocunut grove and the beach
The royal antiguan is totally isolated there is nothing around for miles and cabs are unbelievably expensive Do not book this hotel