Antigua Travels
Another anniversary means another trip to a new country! If you follow along on any of my social media channels, you saw my husband and I recently spent 5 days in Antigua. Here’s a full review of Cocos Hotel, Antigua from our experience!
Location
6 out of 10
We stayed along the western shore of Antigua, a small mountainous country located in the southeastern Caribbean. This was our first trip to Antigua or even this far south in the Caribbean as a couple. When traveling to Antigua, you fly into VC Bird International Airport on the eastern shore. From the airport, it is about a 45-minute ride to the resort. This ride was coordinated by our hotel, but a warning, you will travel through some very dilapidated and poor parts of the country as you go from one side of the island to the other. Never did we not feel safe though. The resort is set on a cliffside, between Jolly Beach and Valley Church Beach, in a lush tropical environment. There are panoramic views of the Caribbean Sea from almost every spot along the resort. I was somewhat disappointed though. The water is a beautiful hue of jade, however, it is NOT as pictured on their Instagram (hello filter). Also, when booking, there is a warning that if you have mobility issues, this is not the resort for you. Now this wasn’t an issue for us but when I tell you do not take their warning lightly, DO NOT. All the cottages are uphill and some, like ours, even have over 30 steps and a steep climb to reach them. Let’s just say I won’t be needing any leg workouts for a few weeks.
Food
9 out of 10
Because this is a smaller, boutique property, there is major attention to detail with the food. There are no buffets or round-the-clock room service options. However, they do have a beach grill that serves for 8 hours a day along with a full-service restaurant which is also open for all three major meals. The quality of the food is outstanding! Everything is fresh, and locally sourced and there is a rotating menu for dinner daily along with daily specials for breakfast and lunch. The only downfall I found in this area was that if you are a picky eater, this is not the resort for you. Also, there is a $20 fee for room service per meal (12 pm-10 pm), which is different from any other all-inclusive resort I’ve ever been to. Overall it was a wonderful culinary experience, we tried some new things and we didn’t go hungry.
Service
8 out of 10
The staff was friendly and accommodating. As mentioned in previous experiences in the Caribbean, there isn’t a sense of “urgency” to wait on you but that is a cultural thing. There was not a beach waiter but it was a super short walk (less than 1 minute) to the beach bar so it was not an issue. We did notice that tipping, which was recommended, didn’t seem to be as appreciated as it is in some countries. The staff never acted super excited about the tip and the level of service didn’t increase or decline with the tip or amount.
Excursion
No rating
We did not book any excursions during this trip. This is unusual for us but we wanted major relaxation and to not be on a schedule. There are quite a few reputable excursion companies on the island though with various adventures like sailing, snorkeling, swimming with stingrays and rum making. We chatted with several couples during our stay who took the excursions and they were pleased with them. The hotel will book them for you if you ask. The beaches in Antigua, even at resort properties, are public so there were vendors selling souvenirs, jet ski rides, and what not daily. They were not pushy and we politely declined.
Beach/Pools
8 out of 10
Cocos is nestled between two beaches, Valley Church on the south and Jolly Beach to the north. Both offer loungers with palapas, white sand and clear water with few waves or currents. Valley Church Beach seemed to be most popular for us and other guests as it is home to the beach grill and bar. We never had a problem securing a chair even on days we didn’t make it out until later. We didn’t visit Jolly Beach other than to walk down it to a local beach bar one evening. Currently the bar there is not open nor is there a grill. This seems to be due to staffing issues. The final night we did book a special dinner on the beach in this location though and it was super private with a great view. There is one pool located on the Jolly Beach side, but we spent all our time in the sand.
Resort Grounds/Facilities
6 out of 10
Now this may seem low, but there's a good reason. Remember what I said about climbing? Yeah, I was a little taken back even though I knew ahead of time. The resort is different in that the rooms are individual cottages. There are different levels which you can learn more about here. We chose a Sunset View Cottage for our stay. The cottages are air-conditioned but on the primitive side in looks and architecture. One of the coolest and most fun features of the cottages was the outdoor shower. The downside was that our entire bathroom (toilet and sinks) were also outside. The humidity is crazy there so it was not pleasant trying to brush your teeth or get ready in front of the mirror in the heat. After chatting with other guests though, it seems our cottage was one of the few like this. Others had the outdoor shower, which we expected and loved, but their other bathroom facilities were inside. This is an older property so it has lots of character and charm which we loved. Our cottage was high atop the hillside so there was some extra hiking involved, but overall it was a cool experience. I do think splurging for the Beachfront Pool or Sunset Pool Cottage would be worth the price if I return.
Overall, it was a great trip to a new place and we went to have a fun experience with our accommodations. The beach is beautiful but not as pretty as I was expecting. June is part of their “off season” which meant it wasn’t crowded, but it was very hot and humid. If you’re looking for seclusion at a small resort this is the place for you.
Remember… Take the trip. Money will return. Time will not. Antigua, you were a dream! 🏝
XOXO,
