Rex Halcyon Cove Hotel, St Johns A&B, Antigua & Barbuda
Hotel Information
Recent Price: £140
Hotel Class:
Hotel Description:
Situated amidst several acres of tropical gardens and directly on the white sandy beach of Antigua's Dickenson Bay, a breathtaking Caribbean location. With swimming pool, watersports activities, 4 tennis courts and Kids Club. A great location and all-inclusive option makes it perfect for families, couples or singles. loading...
Nearby Hotels Viewed by Other Travellers
Rating: 7 / 10
Sandals Antigua Caribbean Village & Spa Hotel
St Johns A&B, Antigua & Barbuda
Distance: 5.6 km / 3.5 mi
Rex Halcyon Cove Hotel Reviews
" I am very shocked by the comments... "
Submitted By: Miss M Richards-Stewart
I am very shocked by the comments which i have read as i certainly must have stayed in a different hotel.
Our room was cleaned every single day and towels were changed. The air conditioning worked faboulously as did the TV and the Fridge.
The hotel staff were very friendly and polite and attended to our every needs as and when required - except for one miserable so and so.
We never used the hotel pool - why would you want to when the beach is not even a 1 minute walk away. I wil always prefer salt to chlorine.
The town is a 5minute bus ride away but your better off getting a taxi from the hotel as its harder to get a bus into town but extremely easier getting one back to the hotel.
For the younger generation the hotel offers a free shuttle service to the main club on the island (which is good for the old and the young) and even takes you back to the hotel afterwards.
Restaurant prices are tourist prices - of course! Better to buy food from the town.
My stay was great. I have nothing to complain about and would recommend this hotel always.
Our room was cleaned every single day and towels were changed. The air conditioning worked faboulously as did the TV and the Fridge.
The hotel staff were very friendly and polite and attended to our every needs as and when required - except for one miserable so and so.
We never used the hotel pool - why would you want to when the beach is not even a 1 minute walk away. I wil always prefer salt to chlorine.
The town is a 5minute bus ride away but your better off getting a taxi from the hotel as its harder to get a bus into town but extremely easier getting one back to the hotel.
For the younger generation the hotel offers a free shuttle service to the main club on the island (which is good for the old and the young) and even takes you back to the hotel afterwards.
Restaurant prices are tourist prices - of course! Better to buy food from the town.
My stay was great. I have nothing to complain about and would recommend this hotel always.
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- Date of Holiday:Jul 2007
- Board Basis:Self Catering
- Tour Operator:Caribbean Reunion Club
" We were apprehensive about some poor... "
Submitted By: Mr S Anderson
We were apprehensive about some poor reviews previously but had a fabulous time, food in both restaurants was first rate, acommodation and entertainment good value, all inclusive system excellent value, all employees we found to be exceptionally friendly and helpful (yes of course sometimes the responses were a bit laid back which is part of the charm of the caribbean people, but when it mattered such as when my wife fell and hurt her head the speedy and efficient help in resolving all sorts of issues was first class). The lack of hot water in some rooms was getting resolved while we were there, although we allways had hot water. I feel that some previous reviews have been a bit unfair, and other guests we spoke to, and there were many, all seemed to agree with us that it was one of the best holidays they had had. We also loved the included Hobie cat sailing, windsurfing and canoeing, and found the swimming pool clean and very attractive, (and we have a beautiful pool at home and know what we are talking about !!) Dining in the Pier restaurant overlooking the panoramic caribbean was particularly pleasant, and the entire complex was spacious with beautiful gardens and an very clean beach cleaned effectively by hand every morning very early.
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- Date of Holiday:Feb 2008
- Board Basis:All Inclusive
- Tour Operator:Kuoni
" This the worst place that I have ever... "
Submitted By: Mrs C Pontin
This the worst place that I have ever stayed in and would not recomend to anyone. Frankly I wouldn't board my dog in it.
The place is shabby, outdated and in need of considerable refurbishment. The toilet blocks are disgusting both in the restaurant and by the beach. They reminded me of the old 1950's school toilets but at least those were clean.
There is dangerous wiring all over the resort and in the rooms. Hairdryers and trouser presses are in the rooms but don't work. Availability of first aid equipment is very limited even for simple things like an anticeptic wipe or dressing.
We had no hot water for 2 weeks with little explanation from the management let alone an apology. Reporting anything to the reception staff is a waste of time as they have little regard for guests, know very little and can't be bothered to do anything about it anyway. The management of this place leaves a lot to be desired and the attitude of the staff is very poor, although the cleaning staff are very pleasant and will usually try to help.
There is little by way of any decent entertainement led by an extremely annoying 'guest services' chap whose constant shouting and irrelevant chatter would be better suited to Butlins. Understandably hardly anyone bothers to take part or attend any of his 'events'
The food is poor, with little choice and very much the same each day. More often than not it is not labelled so you don't even know what it is let alone want to eat it. We had occasion to confront the chef over the quality of the food and the fact that it was undercooked but his attitude was "I hear what you say but it won't make any difference"
Five of us had a stand up row with the chef one morning over the fact that the milk was off but she would not accept it and told us it was ok when clearly it was sour. We left to eat elswhere.
The pool is nice but with very few sunbeds. There are sunbeds and umbrellas on the beach but most of them are in need of repair. Most of the palm umbrellas that we looked at had nails sticking out of them.
When we went in January the sea was very rough and quite deep and certainly not clear. It was dangerous to leave children unsupervised.
The Thomas rep was never there on time and got very irritated when we didn't show up to his meeting at 0830hrs the morning after we arrived. He had little concept that peope who had been travelling for 20hrs and arrived the night before might not want such an early meeting. When we did meet with him he seemed to have little knowledge of the basic facilities offered by the hotel and said that he'd have to look it up. His attitude to us left a lot to be desired. Suffice to say we didn't bother with him and found our own way around.
Don't waste your money. Go to Thailand where the people are always smiling and can't do enough for you. The hotels are lovely and it's cheap to eat, drink and shop.
The place is shabby, outdated and in need of considerable refurbishment. The toilet blocks are disgusting both in the restaurant and by the beach. They reminded me of the old 1950's school toilets but at least those were clean.
There is dangerous wiring all over the resort and in the rooms. Hairdryers and trouser presses are in the rooms but don't work. Availability of first aid equipment is very limited even for simple things like an anticeptic wipe or dressing.
We had no hot water for 2 weeks with little explanation from the management let alone an apology. Reporting anything to the reception staff is a waste of time as they have little regard for guests, know very little and can't be bothered to do anything about it anyway. The management of this place leaves a lot to be desired and the attitude of the staff is very poor, although the cleaning staff are very pleasant and will usually try to help.
There is little by way of any decent entertainement led by an extremely annoying 'guest services' chap whose constant shouting and irrelevant chatter would be better suited to Butlins. Understandably hardly anyone bothers to take part or attend any of his 'events'
The food is poor, with little choice and very much the same each day. More often than not it is not labelled so you don't even know what it is let alone want to eat it. We had occasion to confront the chef over the quality of the food and the fact that it was undercooked but his attitude was "I hear what you say but it won't make any difference"
Five of us had a stand up row with the chef one morning over the fact that the milk was off but she would not accept it and told us it was ok when clearly it was sour. We left to eat elswhere.
The pool is nice but with very few sunbeds. There are sunbeds and umbrellas on the beach but most of them are in need of repair. Most of the palm umbrellas that we looked at had nails sticking out of them.
When we went in January the sea was very rough and quite deep and certainly not clear. It was dangerous to leave children unsupervised.
The Thomas rep was never there on time and got very irritated when we didn't show up to his meeting at 0830hrs the morning after we arrived. He had little concept that peope who had been travelling for 20hrs and arrived the night before might not want such an early meeting. When we did meet with him he seemed to have little knowledge of the basic facilities offered by the hotel and said that he'd have to look it up. His attitude to us left a lot to be desired. Suffice to say we didn't bother with him and found our own way around.
Don't waste your money. Go to Thailand where the people are always smiling and can't do enough for you. The hotels are lovely and it's cheap to eat, drink and shop.
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- Date of Holiday:Jan 2007
- Board Basis:All Inclusive
- Tour Operator:Thomas Cook
" We have just returned from a fourteen... "
Submitted By: Mr S Edgington
We have just returned from a fourteen night holiday as group of seven in Antigua.
If you have booked this so called 3 Star resort for a holiday in the near future- please, please, cancel it now and book elsewhere.
We found it to be a huge disappointment. It felt like we have just spent two weeks in a resort in hell. The rooms were worn out, the bathrooms were unclean. The whole resort is an overall state of disrepair.
We had no hot water for 13 out of 14 days, we went to reception most evenings with towles and wash gear asking to use a room with some hot water.
One couple in our party had no toilet for three days.
The wiring is exposed in places.
There was no milk available for morning tea as the hotel had run out.
The food was variable but generally poor.
Some of the staff were pleasant. Some of the bar staff, reception staff and waitresees had a real attitude problems. Treating you as an inconvenience seemed to be the name of the game.
The beach is fairly long, but be prepared for plenty of cigarette ends etc in the sand broken sunbeds, tatty sunshades with nails sticking out .
We were not impressed by this Caribbean resort at all. It's run down, tired, has lacked any investment for so long that it should be rebuilt, its a dead resort, beyond help.
We would beg anyone not to book Halcyon Cove.
If you have booked this so called 3 Star resort for a holiday in the near future- please, please, cancel it now and book elsewhere.
We found it to be a huge disappointment. It felt like we have just spent two weeks in a resort in hell. The rooms were worn out, the bathrooms were unclean. The whole resort is an overall state of disrepair.
We had no hot water for 13 out of 14 days, we went to reception most evenings with towles and wash gear asking to use a room with some hot water.
One couple in our party had no toilet for three days.
The wiring is exposed in places.
There was no milk available for morning tea as the hotel had run out.
The food was variable but generally poor.
Some of the staff were pleasant. Some of the bar staff, reception staff and waitresees had a real attitude problems. Treating you as an inconvenience seemed to be the name of the game.
The beach is fairly long, but be prepared for plenty of cigarette ends etc in the sand broken sunbeds, tatty sunshades with nails sticking out .
We were not impressed by this Caribbean resort at all. It's run down, tired, has lacked any investment for so long that it should be rebuilt, its a dead resort, beyond help.
We would beg anyone not to book Halcyon Cove.
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- Date of Holiday:Jan 2008
- Board Basis:All Inclusive
- Tour Operator:Thomas Cook
" If you are after a basic clean resort... "
Submitted By: Mrs L Little
If you are after a basic clean resort at a reasonable price, this is the place for you.
Incredibly friendly staff and the Warri Pier restaurant for breakfast is amazing as you are on stilts in the sea.
Had some trouble keeping up with the soft drink demand, but on the whole we had a good time.
Incredibly friendly staff and the Warri Pier restaurant for breakfast is amazing as you are on stilts in the sea.
Had some trouble keeping up with the soft drink demand, but on the whole we had a good time.
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- Date of Holiday:Aug 2007
- Board Basis:All Inclusive
- Tour Operator:Virgin
" We have just returned from a fourteen... "
Submitted By: Mrs Gail Reid
We have just returned from a fourteen night holiday as a family of four in Antigua.
If you have booked this so called 3 Star resort for a holiday in the near future- cancel it now and book elsewhere.
We found it to be a huge disappointment. It felt like we have just spent two weeks in a hotel in Benidorm. The rooms were smelly and the bathrooms were unclean. The whole resort is an overall state of disrepair.
The staff on the whole were pleasant. The bar staff and reception staff had mega attitude problems. Treating you as an inconvenience seemed to be the name of the game.
The beach is fairly long, but be prepared for plenty of cigarette ends in the sand. We were all stung by jellyfish, but that could happen anywhere.
We were not impressed by this Caribbean resort at all. It's a pity really, as it's in a great location. There are always taxis available on site, albeit rather overpriced.
We would persuade anyone against booking Halcyon Cove.
If you have booked this so called 3 Star resort for a holiday in the near future- cancel it now and book elsewhere.
We found it to be a huge disappointment. It felt like we have just spent two weeks in a hotel in Benidorm. The rooms were smelly and the bathrooms were unclean. The whole resort is an overall state of disrepair.
The staff on the whole were pleasant. The bar staff and reception staff had mega attitude problems. Treating you as an inconvenience seemed to be the name of the game.
The beach is fairly long, but be prepared for plenty of cigarette ends in the sand. We were all stung by jellyfish, but that could happen anywhere.
We were not impressed by this Caribbean resort at all. It's a pity really, as it's in a great location. There are always taxis available on site, albeit rather overpriced.
We would persuade anyone against booking Halcyon Cove.
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- Date of Holiday:Oct 2007
- Board Basis:All Inclusive
- Tour Operator:Thomas Cook
" I have just returned from this hell... "
Submitted By: Mr A Layton
I have just returned from this hell hole. The staff, although pleasant, never really did anything except the room maids, management is a total joke.
My son was subject to an avoidable accident in the Arawak terrace buffet, when one of the serving dishes filled with scalding hot water tipped over his foot. The staff just stood and watched, it came down to a guest who luckily for me was a doctor with a wedding party.
The bar staff were arrogant ignorant if the beer ran out if would take hours to replace it.
Staff asleep when should be working in the bar, guests having to serve themselves. Food ran out and sometimes was under cooked.
As for the rooms falling apart, electrical sockets with bare wires by a childs bed, sinks cracked and broken fridges leaking within wooden cabinets rotting the wood.
When I spoke with my rep she tried to speak with the manager but he was un-contactable for 2 days, he had told her we had been offered a free meal in the Warri pier.
When we checked at Virgins check in and chill out the rep was there again, asked us if we enjoyed the meal? We informed her there was no meal and then we were offered a room for the day instead of having to use the hospitably suite, which in all honesty is in better condition than the rooms.
Antigua was very nice but Halcyon Cove needs a lot of work and some good staff and a manager that talks to his guests and except criticism.
Would never recommend to a friend or family or my enemies for that matter.
My son was subject to an avoidable accident in the Arawak terrace buffet, when one of the serving dishes filled with scalding hot water tipped over his foot. The staff just stood and watched, it came down to a guest who luckily for me was a doctor with a wedding party.
The bar staff were arrogant ignorant if the beer ran out if would take hours to replace it.
Staff asleep when should be working in the bar, guests having to serve themselves. Food ran out and sometimes was under cooked.
As for the rooms falling apart, electrical sockets with bare wires by a childs bed, sinks cracked and broken fridges leaking within wooden cabinets rotting the wood.
When I spoke with my rep she tried to speak with the manager but he was un-contactable for 2 days, he had told her we had been offered a free meal in the Warri pier.
When we checked at Virgins check in and chill out the rep was there again, asked us if we enjoyed the meal? We informed her there was no meal and then we were offered a room for the day instead of having to use the hospitably suite, which in all honesty is in better condition than the rooms.
Antigua was very nice but Halcyon Cove needs a lot of work and some good staff and a manager that talks to his guests and except criticism.
Would never recommend to a friend or family or my enemies for that matter.
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- Date of Holiday:Mar 2007
- Board Basis:All Inclusive
- Tour Operator:Virgin
" Our party of 15 travelled to Antigua... "
Submitted By: Miss A Richardson
Our party of 15 travelled to Antigua for my sister’s wedding. We were expecting Paradise Island.
Once we got to the hotel we were made to wait for 3 hours for our room key. When we finally made it to our rooms after having to find our own way there and carrying our suitcases up 2 flights of stairs, we found that the air con didn't work. I reported this the next day and finally got moved on the 5th evening (hardly any point as we only had 2 days left)
The staff were very rude - we were told that this was the Antiguan way.
One of our party needed medical assistance and we were told that there were no first aid kits on the premises.
The Bride and Groom refused to get married at this hotel and requested that the manager arrange something else. He reluctantly arranged another wedding at the Grand Pineapple and it was perfect. The staff here were the complete opposite to the staff at the Halcyon.
During our whole stay at the Halcyon we only saw the Virgin rep once.
I would not recommend this hotel to my worst enemy. If you are planning going to Antigua - go to the Grand Pineapple.
Once we got to the hotel we were made to wait for 3 hours for our room key. When we finally made it to our rooms after having to find our own way there and carrying our suitcases up 2 flights of stairs, we found that the air con didn't work. I reported this the next day and finally got moved on the 5th evening (hardly any point as we only had 2 days left)
The staff were very rude - we were told that this was the Antiguan way.
One of our party needed medical assistance and we were told that there were no first aid kits on the premises.
The Bride and Groom refused to get married at this hotel and requested that the manager arrange something else. He reluctantly arranged another wedding at the Grand Pineapple and it was perfect. The staff here were the complete opposite to the staff at the Halcyon.
During our whole stay at the Halcyon we only saw the Virgin rep once.
I would not recommend this hotel to my worst enemy. If you are planning going to Antigua - go to the Grand Pineapple.
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- Date of Holiday:May 2007
- Board Basis:All Inclusive
- Tour Operator:Virgin
" Pulling up to the Halcyon Cove, my... "
Submitted By: Ms M Orisan
Pulling up to the Halcyon Cove, my first impression was that the hotel looked quite nice but within five minutes of sitting in the foyer waiting to check in, it was obvious that the hotel was nothing but chaotic...
After a 25 minute wait I was finally allocated a room.
My room was very spacious and overlooked the pool. I had ordered a standard room and my pool view was clearly an upgrade.
The furniture was basic and the bathroom, although clean, rather dated. My room was cleaned daily.
Staff were rude, food purchased over priced and tasteless and the beach around the hotel the worst kept stretch upon Dickinson Bay.
It was hard to believe I'd paid to be a guest, as staff were on the whole, disrespectful. I was often woken with staff shouting loudly at one another through corridors at all hours.
A cheap option for Antigua but it was the staff/management that let this place down.
Complaints fell on deaf ears and the hotel just needed a bit of TLC.
After a 25 minute wait I was finally allocated a room.
My room was very spacious and overlooked the pool. I had ordered a standard room and my pool view was clearly an upgrade.
The furniture was basic and the bathroom, although clean, rather dated. My room was cleaned daily.
Staff were rude, food purchased over priced and tasteless and the beach around the hotel the worst kept stretch upon Dickinson Bay.
It was hard to believe I'd paid to be a guest, as staff were on the whole, disrespectful. I was often woken with staff shouting loudly at one another through corridors at all hours.
A cheap option for Antigua but it was the staff/management that let this place down.
Complaints fell on deaf ears and the hotel just needed a bit of TLC.
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- Date of Holiday:Dec 2006
- Board Basis:Room Only
- Tour Operator:Virgin
" We had heard bad reports about this... "
Submitted By: Mrs H P Williams
We had heard bad reports about this hotel, but we were pleasantly surprised.
We had a good holiday here. Most of the staff were friendly and the service was good. It could do with a bit of painting to make it brighter and perhaps more entertainment. The food was of a 3 star rating but could have been a bit better.
Nothing was too much trouble for the reception staff and they were very helpful.
We would definitely go again.
We had a good holiday here. Most of the staff were friendly and the service was good. It could do with a bit of painting to make it brighter and perhaps more entertainment. The food was of a 3 star rating but could have been a bit better.
Nothing was too much trouble for the reception staff and they were very helpful.
We would definitely go again.
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- Date of Holiday:Mar 2006
- Board Basis:All Inclusive
- Tour Operator:Virgin
" Despite the poor reviews that we... "
Submitted By: Mrs K Carter-Brown
Despite the poor reviews that we read, which filled us with dismay prior to departure, I can honestly say that the Rex halcyon on Dickinson Bay in Antigua was absolutely superb; being one of the oldest on the island and a 3 star this year, the A/C left a lot to be desired in the rooms - very noisy! There was No A/c in the dining room, which to be honest was a problem as it is upstairs and extremely hot, however, the staff, the accommodation, the food, the atmosphere was superb.
The catamaran tours (bought from Eddie, a great beach seller guy) were out of this world, Eli’s eco tour was good, but a little disappointing, but only because we knew far more about mangroves than the crew on board - the tour itself, the food and the company were stunning. We have travelled the world, we have stayed 5 star, we have been waited on hand and foot, but this holiday at THIS hotel is the place I really relaxed, and would return to like a shot!
I recall that one review complained that the pool was out of order last Christmas - the warm, clean, blue sea, no deeper than the pool, and cordoned with barriers is 10 metres from the pool - who wants the chemical pool when the Caribbean sea calls?
The Rex is being upgraded, and will return I am told as a 4 star, and if we can possibly manage it my husband and I will be back there in 2006.....
The catamaran tours (bought from Eddie, a great beach seller guy) were out of this world, Eli’s eco tour was good, but a little disappointing, but only because we knew far more about mangroves than the crew on board - the tour itself, the food and the company were stunning. We have travelled the world, we have stayed 5 star, we have been waited on hand and foot, but this holiday at THIS hotel is the place I really relaxed, and would return to like a shot!
I recall that one review complained that the pool was out of order last Christmas - the warm, clean, blue sea, no deeper than the pool, and cordoned with barriers is 10 metres from the pool - who wants the chemical pool when the Caribbean sea calls?
The Rex is being upgraded, and will return I am told as a 4 star, and if we can possibly manage it my husband and I will be back there in 2006.....
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- Date of Holiday:May 2005
- Board Basis:All Inclusive
- Tour Operator:Carribean Vacations
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