Hawksbill Resort
Aug 7th, 2003, 04:30 PM
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We stayed in the neatest little cottage right on the beach. Nice porch with comfy chairs... Very clean. There were 3 beaches that were easy to get to and the fourth was supposed to be a nudie, but we never made it there.
The snorkeling was adequate, the food left a lot to be desired and the service downright sucked.
The snorkeling was adequate, the food left a lot to be desired and the service downright sucked.
Aug 7th, 2003, 05:09 PM
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We stayed at Hawksbill for the long holiday weekend last November, during which was Antiguan independence day. The resort had a very festive feel for the time we were there. The grounds are fairly extensive and well maintained, which combined with the low capacity (maybe 30% or so) contributed to a very secluded effect.
We stayed in a regular hotel room which turned out to be more spacious and better ventilated than we thought it would be. We were on the second floor and our balcony afforded views over the grounds and beach to the water. Bathroom was a bit cramped and could be steamy if we took back to back showers, but otherwise fine. Good water pressure and good supply of hot water. There's a mini fridge in the room, where we kept a supply of gin, tonic water, and beer for mixing afternoon cocktails.
The grounds are quite spacious and were nicely maintained when we were there. The property is along four separate beaches, so if you were to talk from the beginning of the first one to the end of the last one, it would be nearly a mile. During the time we were there, only two beaches were in use--#2, where the water sports facilities were, and #4, the clothing optional one. There are chairs and thatched umbrellas stationed along all of the beaches, and the most people I ever saw at any given time was 8. The view out to the hawksbill rock during sunset is fantastic! Of the water sports I only availed myself of snorkeling, which I did not find to be as interesting as in other parts of Antigua.
The food had its ups and downs. Breakfast was the usual buffet with a few items cooked to order. I think it was $12 pp, which seems midrange to me for Caribbean breakfasts. The downside is I don't think they charge you less if you just want a cup of coffee and a banana. I never ate lunch at the hotel, so I can't comment on that. We ate dinner twice there and found the buffet to be fair to middling (it was the Independence Day, so there were lots of local foods on the buffet, which I enjoyed sampling). The a la carte meal was about $35 pp for three courses and it was also fair to middling.
I overheard a lot of complaints about the staff while there, but they were nothing but courteous to us.
The giftshop has real potential but doesn't live up to it. It's fine if you want to buy sunscreen, film or t-shirts but not if you're looking for a nice souvenire to take home (for instance, I like to buy small pieces of local pottery or artwork).
The resort is about a $40 roundtrip cab ride to just about anyplace else on the island, which makes it too isolated for some folks. (And it makes for an expensive dinner if you want to leave the resort to escape the food.) I would rent a car if I were to stay there again--and if I didn't already have a favorite place to stay in Antigua, I would certainly stay at Hawksbill again.
However, I love the seclusion of the place. My favorite thing to do on Caribbean vacations is to read a book on the beach all day long and retire early. I do, however, like to really enjoy my meals when on vacation, and while a couple of dinners at Hawksbills weren't bad, I wouldn't want to eat there every night.
Please feel free to adress me with any specific questions.
We stayed in a regular hotel room which turned out to be more spacious and better ventilated than we thought it would be. We were on the second floor and our balcony afforded views over the grounds and beach to the water. Bathroom was a bit cramped and could be steamy if we took back to back showers, but otherwise fine. Good water pressure and good supply of hot water. There's a mini fridge in the room, where we kept a supply of gin, tonic water, and beer for mixing afternoon cocktails.
The grounds are quite spacious and were nicely maintained when we were there. The property is along four separate beaches, so if you were to talk from the beginning of the first one to the end of the last one, it would be nearly a mile. During the time we were there, only two beaches were in use--#2, where the water sports facilities were, and #4, the clothing optional one. There are chairs and thatched umbrellas stationed along all of the beaches, and the most people I ever saw at any given time was 8. The view out to the hawksbill rock during sunset is fantastic! Of the water sports I only availed myself of snorkeling, which I did not find to be as interesting as in other parts of Antigua.
The food had its ups and downs. Breakfast was the usual buffet with a few items cooked to order. I think it was $12 pp, which seems midrange to me for Caribbean breakfasts. The downside is I don't think they charge you less if you just want a cup of coffee and a banana. I never ate lunch at the hotel, so I can't comment on that. We ate dinner twice there and found the buffet to be fair to middling (it was the Independence Day, so there were lots of local foods on the buffet, which I enjoyed sampling). The a la carte meal was about $35 pp for three courses and it was also fair to middling.
I overheard a lot of complaints about the staff while there, but they were nothing but courteous to us.
The giftshop has real potential but doesn't live up to it. It's fine if you want to buy sunscreen, film or t-shirts but not if you're looking for a nice souvenire to take home (for instance, I like to buy small pieces of local pottery or artwork).
The resort is about a $40 roundtrip cab ride to just about anyplace else on the island, which makes it too isolated for some folks. (And it makes for an expensive dinner if you want to leave the resort to escape the food.) I would rent a car if I were to stay there again--and if I didn't already have a favorite place to stay in Antigua, I would certainly stay at Hawksbill again.
However, I love the seclusion of the place. My favorite thing to do on Caribbean vacations is to read a book on the beach all day long and retire early. I do, however, like to really enjoy my meals when on vacation, and while a couple of dinners at Hawksbills weren't bad, I wouldn't want to eat there every night.
Please feel free to adress me with any specific questions.
Aug 8th, 2003, 06:14 AM
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Hi there: I stayed there last year and really enjoyed it. It has a more traditional feel to it. The grounds are lovely. It is a very relaxing, peaceful place. I was on a meal plan so breakfast and dinner were included. I had no complaints about the food. We did eat off property on two occasions.
I thought the staff were extremely pleasant and helpful. They arranged car rentals, day sails, etc. On our last day, because our flight was in the late afternoon, they provided us with a room to change and looked after our valuables and luggage for us.
We stayed in a club room which is one of the cottages on the first beach. The rooms are older and a bit worn and there was no A/C or fridge. As EJ says, the standard hotel rooms are actually quite nice.
The pool is very small so we didn't use it all.
It's true the resort is isolated. Taxi rides can be expensive. We rented a car to go off property.
I enjoyed the beauty and relaxing atmosphere of Hawksbill.
I thought the staff were extremely pleasant and helpful. They arranged car rentals, day sails, etc. On our last day, because our flight was in the late afternoon, they provided us with a room to change and looked after our valuables and luggage for us.
We stayed in a club room which is one of the cottages on the first beach. The rooms are older and a bit worn and there was no A/C or fridge. As EJ says, the standard hotel rooms are actually quite nice.
The pool is very small so we didn't use it all.
It's true the resort is isolated. Taxi rides can be expensive. We rented a car to go off property.
I enjoyed the beauty and relaxing atmosphere of Hawksbill.
Aug 8th, 2003, 08:23 AM
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We stayed there couple years ago.Beautiful settings ,great beaches especially the nude one -BEST! Very secluded ,quiet ,romantic and special ( NOT rowdy ,tacky).We didn't care for the food , bland and pricey.We had a cute cottage ,private ,cozy ,(feel like you go to your vacation home) no AC but do have fan and fridge , good size room with spacious walk-in shower.The ground is gorgeous but very hilly and winding ,steep steps -not for people with walking difficulties.We would go back if the food is more exciting and the workers smile a little more( very few we thought were pleasent)
Oct 10th, 2003, 12:28 PM
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I spent a week there in May '02. I had one of the 2nd-floor hotel rooms, which I found ideal. Nice sea view, and a large balcony that offered more privacy than the cottage rooms (if you sit on a cottage room terrace, you're in full view of anyone walking by).
Beaches were attractive enough, if a bit rocky underwater, especially the nude beach (#4) where I spent my days. But I got used to it and soon learned how to find the sandy pathways into the water.
Breakfast was the best meal of the day. Dinner was pricey and awfully dull, but finding alternatives in St. John's required a $12 taxi ride. An excellent French restaurant, Chez Pascal, is within (somewhat strenous) walking distance though...quite expensive, but I justified the cost by trudging 20-25 min each way, thereby saving the taxi fare. Yes, I'm a cheapo.
I found the staff to be quite friendly. I'm a little puzzled by all the reports of surliness. Some people find the mostly British guests at this hotel to be a little cold...an American honeymooning couple told me I was the only friendly guest they'd met all week!
Beaches were attractive enough, if a bit rocky underwater, especially the nude beach (#4) where I spent my days. But I got used to it and soon learned how to find the sandy pathways into the water.
Breakfast was the best meal of the day. Dinner was pricey and awfully dull, but finding alternatives in St. John's required a $12 taxi ride. An excellent French restaurant, Chez Pascal, is within (somewhat strenous) walking distance though...quite expensive, but I justified the cost by trudging 20-25 min each way, thereby saving the taxi fare. Yes, I'm a cheapo.
I found the staff to be quite friendly. I'm a little puzzled by all the reports of surliness. Some people find the mostly British guests at this hotel to be a little cold...an American honeymooning couple told me I was the only friendly guest they'd met all week!
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