Cocobay Resort

We went to Cocobay on our honeymoon and had the greatest time. As two people always on the go, this place allowed us to fully unwind and reap all of the benefits of “island time”!! The food and drinks were all amazing - zero complaints. Will definitely be coming back for an anniversary or even a couples trip!

We went for 9 nights, flying BA to arrive and leave early afternoon. It was a “fly and flop” holiday - we planned to do nothing except eat, drink, and lounge about by water. We succeeded. Be prepared for mosquitoes in the evening. We used repellent every night and were not really affected. We also made full use of the mossie net over the bed. Well-made cocktails at the bars - maybe a bit sweet? Huge variety, and they’ll make what you want. Not top recognisable brands of spirits - but you don’t really notice in a cocktail. Wine is acceptable chardonnay (oaked) or sauvignon blanc. Brand is S7 from Chile. Also a prosecco. Also two reds, but I don’t drink those so no idea of quality. You can upgrade to wine from a reasonable wine list at standard restaurant prices. Diet coke - from a tap, rather than bottle/can. Lots of ice, so it becomes diluted very quickly (why I prefer a can to top up myself) Everything is about upgrades - where you can sit, what pool you use, what you eat, what you drink. Bit like being on a cruise. However, there is NO hard sell! We ordered upgraded wine on two occasions and there was always quite a wait, with it arriving at room temperature - they clearly don’t sell that much, and are unprepared for it. An ice-bucket chilled it nicely. If you don’t drink it all they will keep for the next night - but they “lost” my bottle one night! After I’d waited 30mins (and moved to in-house sauv blanc to tide me over) they said it was lost, and would give me a new, unopened bottle. I saved that for the next night - but it still took 30mins to arrive… Breakfast - a la carte included eggs cooked to order and crispy streaky bacon. Fresh fruit salad, yoghurt, cereals, meats & cheese. Pastries and toast brought to table - no choice, but made in house and varying daily Juices are from carton, not fresh-squeeze Daily cooked “special” e.g. scrambled eggs and smoked salmon, waffles & bacon Lunch - 3 courses Dinner - 4 courses, pay extra to upgrade to steak. Coffee shop open 7am - 6pm Hot drinks, smoothies, baked snacks - all included Bars offer mid-afternoon snacks included e.g. paninis, sliders & chips Going for 9 nights, I feared we might become bored of the food with a limited menu, but we didn’t. There was always something we liked, and it was high quality. We usually ordered fries as an extra! We did NOT go hungry. We were served (well) by Indira so many times she accused us of stalking her! 🤣 Small pools - only accessible by booking - min $120 US, just not worth it. Transfer available twice a week to St John’s - we inadvertently went on a day with no cruise ships so shops, restaurants & museums mostly closed. Struggled to find anything open or somewhere for a drink. Tough way to kill 2 hours! Cost US$23 per person - not worth it, unless you need to get some currency or it’s a cruise day and you want to shop. Sun eve there is a transfer to St John’s US$30 per person plus $10 to get in. Reggae music and bbq. Leaves at 4, back at c. 8pm - seemed a bit daft to go all that way to eat & drink, only to arrive back at the hotel for your included dinner? We didn’t bother. Sheer Rocks restaurant is on the property but unaffiliated. Worth a visit - but be aware not low cost option. Every room is a cabin - great for privacy. Balcony - showers open on to it. Pay more for better view, closeness to facilities, in room pool. Nice if you want to be very private, but otherwise not worth paying for. Word of warning: they wanted a credit card on check-in, which is fine. The day before we left we got a statement mid-afternoon; I emailed immediately to ask them NOT to charge that card, explaining it is very expensive to use, and confirmed I would pay with a different card. 3 hours later (on day BEFORE departure day)… they charged my credit card! When I called to complain they explained that they had not received my email as the one that was sent was automated and replies do not go to them. I pointed out that there is nothing in their email to warn of that, and that no time had been provided for queries about the bill (which was wrong anyway!) They agreed to void the transaction. But it was hassle that should not have happened. Think about the currency you bring with you to Antigua. Most things are generally priced in $US - taxis, restaurants etc. It’s probably easier to bring that with you as currency - but try to bring smaller notes, as they are unlikely to have change. You can bring Eastern Caribbean $, but as most things are priced for tourists in $US, they end up having to work out an exchange rate. It’s just hassle. Next time I would just bring $US. Cards are also widely accepted - but don’t rely on them.

Cocobay is a charming, friendly and beautiful experience. The food is wonderful- which is important since you can’t eat anywhere else easily. The all inclusive nature of the hotel is perfect, along with the location on the island of Antigua. If you have the budget for the oceanfront rooms- you should do it. They come with perks which are not advertised… We rarely go the same place twice but we will most certainly be back to CocoBay.

Thoroughly enjoyed our relaxing vacation. Absolutely beautiful surroundings and wonderful friendly staff. The staff was delightful to talk to like we were friends. They made the vacation, even more enjoyable. The food was wonderful, daily menu changes and choices for all three meals. We were there for 8 days and never missed a meal. Our only problem was the lack of lighting in the room, we used the flashlight on our phone to solve this concern. This was our first trip to Antigua and we definitely chose the right resort. .

WARNING: DO NOT GO TO COCOBAY (Unless you are prepared for significant depression when you get back home!) I have traveled to and stayed in many places around the world, and I can honestly say our week at Cocobay Resort ranks in the top three for overall quality. The hospitality and service from the staff were exceptional, the location and views were unbelievable, and the infinity pools everywhere created an incredible atmosphere. This is not your typical all-inclusive resort — every night you order from a menu that changes daily, and the food was fantastic. The bartenders were fun, knowledgeable, and made excellent cocktails. The only criticism I saw in other reviews that I found to be true was regarding the wine. If you are a serious wine enthusiast, you may want to order from the upgraded wine list. Personally, I enjoyed the white wine they offered. When I research travel, I spend a great deal of time making sure everything is as close to perfect as possible — my wife would probably argue I go into too much detail. But the results are worth it. Cocobay was wonderful during the research phase, but I wanted to add a few observations and suggestions from our actual stay. It was difficult to fully understand the property layout and determine which cottage category to choose. Attached is a semi-representational map of the grounds. a. We booked a Premium Pool Suite (Silver Sand). b. It was more expensive, but once we arrived, we were blown away by how amazing the cottage, plunge pool, privacy, and view were. c. It is understated luxury with plantation like cottages. Not slick and impersonal. It added to the relaxation BOOK DIRECT. We were fortunate to receive an A+ quality cottage because of Cocobay’s stated policy of rewarding direct bookings. We met several wonderful couples who booked through travel agencies or vacation packages that included flights, and they did not receive the same caliber of location. I suspect commission structures play a role in that. Car rental: We rented a car and spent one day exploring part of the island and snorkeling with sea turtles. However, Cocobay was so wonderful that we never left the resort again until it was time to go to the airport. Next time, we would skip the rental and simply hire a driver for the day if needed. Beach: The beach is beautiful, and ongoing beach drink and food service is included. Around both corners of the resort are additional longer beaches that offer different scenery and views. Plunge pool: There are many opinions on whether the plunge pools are worth it. Yes without hesitation. It costs more — but WOW. The pool is not heated, but every morning we had coffee delivered and spent time reading while standing or floating in the pool overlooking the ocean. It was not uncomfortable at all 3rd week in April. It became one of our biggest takeaway memories from the trip. The privacy was outstanding. If a plunge pool is not in your budget, don’t worry — there are two large infinity pools and two smaller pools that we also used in the afternoons, along with the overwater cabanas and loungers. You will still have an amazing experience. Service and friendliness: Again, truly first class. Special shout-outs to Diamond, Indira, Kashina, Saskia, Vanica, and many others who made the stay unforgettable. Landscaping and privacy: One of the major benefits of Cocobay being an established resort is the mature landscaping and sense of privacy throughout the property. It felt peaceful and relaxing everywhere we walked. We visited what we thought was a comparable resort on the other side of the cove, and while the views were beautiful, the rooms were much closer together, lacked privacy, and had very little open green space. The Post-Cocobay Depression Syndrome is real — which only reflects how truly amazing the experience was.