Cocobay Hotel

Just Fabulous

It’s amazing how private your cabin is. Dotted on a hillside overlooking the ocean, all views are great views. The private infinity pool off of our back deck was a wonderful way to cool down and yet never lose the view. Privacy is created with a trellis thick with gorgeous flowering vines and shrubs busily maintained by hummingbirds. There is also the resort’s infinity pool with what has to be an award winning view - ocean but contrasted with hilly landscape forming bays where boats sail and birds soar. It’s location near the bar is convenient. The restaurant is open air. Netting helps keeps many of the begging birds out, but not all. Cover your juice when you leave the table to go to the buffet. A few ceiling fans would have helped to make the environment more comfortable. The service was professional, efficient and courteous. The food was attractive- artful even, and quite delicious. There were variety, options and just the right amount. As well, there us always afternoon tea. The main beach was quite nice but as was noted in another review, there are sand fleas. We opted for the smaller beach in the cove. It’s a quiet place. Evening entertainment is periodic and varied. A small boat is available to take for a sail. There is a central room with a large flat screen and couches -you can keep up with sports scores and news, if you wish.

Awesome!

The hotel was the rustic West Indies style with open air rooms cooled by ocean breezes. The staff was excellent!

Traveler's tip on recreational activities

Take the Antigua Rain Forest Canaopy Tour and go zip lining!

What an awesome vacation!!!

I can’t say enough about the fabulous time at this hotel--the staff was great and always called me by name inquiring about the excursions and how I enjoyed them. The room was wonderful with its own infinity pool, which I used every day, along with laying out by the hotel pool. I must say the best thing about this hotel was NO KIDS! It made it such a quiet, relaxing grown-up experience. All the guests were friendly and I made many new aquaintances. Although it was a very couples oriented place, I still felt comfortable as a single lady. I loved that there were no phones and tvs in the rooms, but access was very easy at the lobby desk. I stayed in room 2, which was an oceanside view with air conditioning--my friends stayed in room LC, which had the same amenities and they also loved it! I did not get the all inclusive meal package, but did pay the additional dinner only prices each night. The food was great! Take the group taxi to town--St. Johns at a reasonable price with a group--it is much more expensive if you try taking a taxi on your own!! You must do the rain forest ziplining! It is awesome!! I can’t wait to return to this hotel and island as there is so much to offer!

Traveler's tip on local attractions

*Must do: the ziplining through the rain forest! *Shop in St. Johns--take the group taxi from the hotel from 9-1:00 *take the circumnavigation sailing catamaran around the island and do some snorkeling at Turtle Bay

I really enjoyed our stay and the all inclusive was great.

We were here on our honeymoon. It was very peaceful and quiet. We loved the view from our cottage and also from the pool. The only thing I would recommend is to get a cottage with air conditioning.

Totally relaxing and breathtaking

If your dream vacation includes being on a beautiful beach, eating delicious food and being totally relaxed, this is the place to be. Our cottages were overlooking the water and included a deck, hammock and a small private pool attached to the deck. There is not a lot of night life, but we weren’t looking for that. We used the hotel as a base for exploring the island and relaxing during our free time. The staff was extremely helpful and friendly My only problem was that I wished there were more chairs in our cottage since there were four of us together and there were times we would have liked to hang out in our cottages. But there are plenty of places to concregate on the hotel grounds. Also, the beach guy had a habit of disapearing, so it was hard to pin him down to get snorkeling equipment or oars for the kayak. The beaches were beautiful! We did get to snorkel and kayak and went on a nature walk. I’d go again in a minute and i would highly recommend it to people who are looking to relax. I don’t think it would be a good family resort as there isn’t much for kids to do. In fact, there were NO children there that I noticed. There were several weddings on the beach during our stay.

Unpleasant stay!

The hotel was clean but, that is all the good coming out of me! We were celebrating a special event and brang it to their attention before arriving. They gave us (what they stated was one of their best rooms) we had to walk a 1/2 mile to and from the main area! TIRING! They speak so fondly of the center of town St. John’s...well oh boy be careful, seriously! The food was awful and the service (forbid you if you order a second drink at the bar) moody staff! I’ll end with this...thank god the weather was accomidating! 8( not much to do...water sports? entertainment?

Can’t wait to go Back - Best Resort in Antigua

Couldn’t say enough about how great all the staff and resort really was - the best time i have had on holiday - The food was amazing! and sights were breath taking - can’t wait to revist - We had a wedding there and they full filled all our dreams and really had a amazing time....Thank you!!!!!!

Traveler's tip on recreational activities

Try out the Zip lines in the Rain forest - really a great time

two years in a row and still loving it!!!!

My Fiance and I visited this resort in 2007, meeting his family there, and had an awesome time!!! so this year we went with two of our friends, and it was just as great...The staff was awesome. The food was great... and the drink "pippi longstocking" at the bar was totally yummy!!! plan on being there again next year....We were there during carnival this year and it was so cool...cant wait to be there again!!!!

Traveler's tip on getting the most out of your stay

Its a great resort...and totally relaxing!!!! we didnt do ANYTHING!!! hahahah....and it was great.....

Peaceful and Relaxing

Our honeymoon was fantastic thanks to Cocobay! We had a wonderful time. If you enjoy relaxing by the ocean, this is the place for you. We really enjoyed the all-inclusive plan and loved the cottage rooms. It seemed so private, yet we were sharing this resort with others. We can not describe how wonderful our experience was and can not wait to return to Cocobay!

Seafront rooms aren’t all the same

This hotel is amazing; fantastic 4 course dinners, breathtaking view and exceptional staff. We had arranged a seafront room through Expedia instead of thru the hotel’s site. They haven’t finished all the plunge pools and if you read the description from Expedia, a plunge pool is not included in the room. Additionally some of the rooms are very close/viewable from the paths that everyone walks down and have considerable less privacy. Similar is true for the Seaview and Garden rooms. There was a garden view that overlooks the front drive, which is pretty, but also busy. The hotel overall was exceptional and after we switched to a different room, was the vacation of our dreams.

Traveler's tip on shopping

There are about 3 souvenir shops and a few restaurants and a coffeeshop in Jolly Harbor, the closest town. The shop at cocobay has better quality stuff. If you really want to shop go all the way to St. Johns, it costs just a bit more for the taxi.

Nature at its best and worst

The beach at Cocobay is one of the best in Antigua. It’s perfect for swimming, sunning, and taking out a kayak. The cabanas are cute and have most of the comforts needed. However, the sheets and towels are sometimes stained. Also be prepared to have insects, lizards, and birds in your cabana and everywhere around the resort. Goats and sheep also graze and bleat around the cabanas. Also be ready to come back with dozens of mosquito bites. For a quiet and relaxing vacation in the middle of nature, Cocobay is a good choice. Just try to avoid staying here on Sundays, when the locals bring loud music to the beach.

Traveler's tip on local attractions

The island tour with Elmo is great, as is the Adventure Eco Tour.

Best vacation ever

We were very surprised when we saw the hotel room. We had a private swimming pool!!!!! Although the hotel description states that the room doesn’t have AC, but we actually had AC in our room. We booked sea front view and we think all sea front view units have private swimming pools and AC equipments. The hotel area has three nice beaches. Hotel owns one private beach, the other two beaches are only 5 mins away, extended at two different directions. Before I came to Cocobay, I got a little tired of the type of big fancy resorts, I chose Cocobay for its quietness. I also loved that fact that it doesn’t have TV/radio/cable/clock in the room. It is the place that 100% rewinded me, healed me and made me forget the concept of time. The restaurant serves excellent food. My husband and I totally enjoyed having meals there everyday. This trip is so far the best vacation in my life.

Traveler's tip on dining

The dinner is included in the package. But customers can still order some other food on the menu. I loved the lobster and scallop dish for appetizer. It is only $8 and totally worth it! Try it!

Cocobay for quiet but no ammenities

First service on the island is very bad. The island (although told was not as poor as others) was very poor. Roads bad, city run down, restaurants scarce and bad food, and taxi driver rates (~$40-50 US for 20 min roundtrip), etc. Resort is located on beautiful part but it is a very slow, quite, and remote part. Few activities on this part. Resort has amazing views. The pool is nice but small. Really no entertainment available. No music, TV, bands, etc. The beach is great but limited water sports. The food is prepared like a 5 star restaurant but the selection, quality, and menu is mediocre. We were dying at the end of the time for something simple like good soup, sandwich, etc. Instead had items like cold pumpkin salad, cashew ice cream, salad with only one choice of dressing (warm french), etc. Drinks from the bar were good but small glasses (bring a large cup!) and for dinner you had to get your own unless you wanted cheap wine or water. The room was cute but the bed is bad, no ammenities, and the shower...the shower we were told was an indoor/outdoor experience but in reality it was a bathroom with slated windows and a shower tub with no curtain. Also only 7 of the 30 some villas have a pool! No air-conditioning, radio/clock, TV. Men can’t eat dinner unless wearing pants. Since I was on an island I brought one pair of pants...which I wore for 8 days so I could eat! Pay for use of one computer, spa average, "entertainment" that equated to a fashion show selling clothing.

Beautiful Location, Low-key, Relaxing

Cocobay was simply wonderful - beautiful beaches, beautiful accommodations, beautiful landscaping. A very romantic getaway, small enough to be friendly and attentive, large enough to have plenty to do - and space to do nothing, if that’s what you want.

Would go back in a heartbeat!

Best place on the island for total rest and relaxation. Staff friendly and willing to help. Beach was small, but fine. Food was fine dining - well prepared and presented. Bugs were an issue, but did not spoil our trip. Open door shower and deck were a treat. Ceiling fan was adaquate and bed net was needed.

Traveler's tip on getting the most out of your stay

Since there is no nightlife, suggest making the most of the day, stay on the beach until sunset and plan a late dinner. The bar closes at 11:00PM,so nights are early. Not to worry...the sun and sea will tire you by the end of the day and the bed is very welcoming by 11:00PM!

Best Trip Ever

My girlfriend and I both live and work in New York. We needed to get away and unwind. The Cocobay Hotel provided just that. The rooms were simple but that is what made them perfect. The view from our room to the ocean was even better. The pictures online are beautiful but don’t do the hotel justice. The other guests and the staff at the hotel were all very friendly. We made friends with 2 couples and had dinner with another that lives here in New York. The meals were fine but after a few days we were looking to venture out and take in some of the local scene. It’s amazing the effect this trip had on our relationship. Since we have returned, we have been closer than ever before. I would honestly like to return to Cocobay at some point in the future. Trust me, you will love this place if you are looking to get away for a week in paradise.

Will be a regular guest there!

I really enjoyed my stay there. I don’t think there is a prettier location in all of the Caribbean. The pool is especially nice and looks out over the sea. It is stunning! I went there to relax and get some sun and so it was perfect. The beach is also great and there are water sports and activities. The meals were included in the package and there was quite good food. The rooms are not modern, but I really loved it and found it comfortable. There are ceiling fans and floor fans and mosquito nets and a lovely hammock on the balcony...cool breezes and I really felt like I had gone back in time. The location is pretty good in Antigua - not far from Jolly Beach, which is a centre of activity, and the desk at the hotel helped me organize for renting a motorbike to drive around the island. All in all, a fantastic, relaxing holiday - just what I needed. As I have just bought a house in St. Kitts, I will visit Antigua regularly and will make Cocobay my "second home."

Traveler's tip for business travelers

This isn’t a great hotel for business travelers...there are no phones in the rooms and just a public phone in the lobby. There is also no Internet/wireless facility. There is a computer in the lobby that people can use for 15 minutes or so, but it was broken when I was there. This is a place for couples or families and a place to relax and get away from it all

best hotel ever

very good hotel for relaxing, we enjoyed it very much; nice pool and delicious food, cocktails as much as you can drink

Enjoyed our stay!

We had a fabulous time at Cocobay. We enjoyed the friendly and helpful staff. We felt comfortable and were well taken care of.

Traveler's tip on getting the most out of your stay

Take a taxi or rent a car and drive around the island-- go to Fig Tree Drive and eat some pineapple, Shirley Heights, Nelson’s Dockyard and St. John’s for some shopping...

definitely recommend. it’s the perfect place to unwind!

The hotel is simple, yet beautiful, surrounded by ocean views. The staff are very friendly and helpful. If you need a place to go watch the ocean waves and forget the daily grind without all the activities and chaos of most all inclusives, this is it. Cocobay was serene and beautiful and I would highly recommend it.

Traveler's tip on recreational activities

Kayaking at the hotel is free and fun. Snorkeling is also free, but there are much better beaches to partake. The Wadadli catamaran will take you on a circumnavigation tour of the island and pick you up at the resort. Eli’s EcoAdventure is a great way to see the north side of the island, and picks you up in near by Jolly Harbour.