Royalton Antigua

My family and I recently stayed at the Royalton Antigua, and unfortunately, our experience was far from what we expected from a resort of this caliber. Upon arrival, the property appeared beautiful, and we were initially excited about our stay. However, the series of issues we encountered during our visit were concerning and disappointing.

After checking in, we proceeded to our room with our luggage, only to find that the electronic key did not work. We returned to the front desk, where the key was reprogrammed. Upon returning to the room, I was alarmed to discover luggage placed inside the room, and we could hear women's voices coming from inside. It was obvious that the room was already occupied by other guests. We immediately left the room and returned to the lobby with our luggage. The staff informed us that we had been assigned the wrong room, and the key reprogramming had only granted access to an already-occupied room. While the staff apologized, this was a troubling start to our stay.

After this, we were given another room. However, by this time it was approximately 6:30 p.m., and we were tired from a long day of travel, hungry, and in need of a shower. When we entered the new room and prepared to shower, I noticed that two tiles had fallen off the shower wall, leaving an unsafe condition. We immediately went back to the front desk, where we were told that the issue would be addressed the following morning when the manager was available. Unfortunately, no follow-up was made on Day 2, and we were still unable to use the shower.

On Day 2, we raised our concerns with the island representative, who assured us the issue would be resolved that day. At around 4:00 p.m., we were informed that we would be moved to a third room, which, thankfully, seemed to meet basic expectations.

Regarding the dining experience, we were disappointed by the limited variety at the buffet, which often included a lot of rice, beans, and potatoes. The stations for grilled meat and fish were inefficient, with staff cooking only a small number of pieces at a time, causing long wait times. On several occasions, we found that popular items, such as shrimp or hamburgers, had run out. This was particularly frustrating, as we expected a higher standard from a resort of this price range.

The à la carte dining experiences were also subpar. At Hunter Steakhouse, I attempted to order an upgraded ribeye steak and lobster tail, only to be told that both were unavailable. I settled for an 8oz NY strip steak, which arrived dry and overcooked, far from the quality I had anticipated.

Throughout our stay, it was evident from the expressions of some staff members that morale was low. Some openly shared that they felt mistreated by management but were reluctant to speak out for fear of losing their jobs. The staff seemed overworked and underpaid, which likely contributed to the overall decline in service quality.

One of the most disappointing aspects of our stay was the lack of any formal apology from hotel management. Despite the numerous issues we encountered, there was no effort to acknowledge the mistakes or offer any gesture of goodwill, such as an apology card or even a complimentary drink. This lack of acknowledgment of our concerns was deeply frustrating.

In speaking with other guests during our stay, it became clear that we were not alone in our dissatisfaction, with many others reporting similar problems. Based on our experience, I cannot recommend the Royalton Antigua to other travelers. There are certainly other resorts in the area that would offer a far superior experience, and I would encourage others to consider alternative accommodations.

This experience was a significant disappointment, especially given the high cost of the stay. I hope the management at Royalton Antigua takes these concerns seriously and works to improve both the condition of the property and the quality of service. [Details]

Upon arrival, the hotel put our rooms on 2 floors when we requested a joint room as we have 2xchildren. Thankfully, they corrected this the following day and found 2 rooms on the same floor next to each other (no joining room) but at least we were together.
The rooms smelled very musty, and mildewy, and if someone went to the bathroom to do number 2 (If you know what I mean). We would air it out and apply perfume to mask the smell.
The room closet door did not close properly, the bathroom door did not close properly and the towel hook on the wall could not hold the weight of the towel as it had already popped out of the wall. Also, for families with older children, the open-concept bathroom area isn't ideal and makes it challenging for privacy.
Killed 2 cockroaches in the bathroom, but considering it's next to vegetation and beach, I expect some level of insects.
In the hallway ceiling in front of our room, there was black mold around the ceiling vent.
Restaurant food isn't bad, no issues there as none of us got sick.
The Italian restaurant is not the same quality as I expected from other resorts we've been to. The pizza looked and tasted like frozen pizza.
The cleaning staff needs to look at the buffet restaurant as there are layers of dust on the a/c vents and the chandelier in the main buffet area.
The steakhouse and Cafe were very good and we did not have the chance to try the Carribean Grill.
The staff are nice, and no complaints/issues.
The entertainment was mediocre compared to other resorts, but they have the potential to be better.
The beach is what's gorgeous. Clean and beautiful, staff always coming around asking if you need anything. The water was very clear, and if you rent the snorkeling goggles, you might be able to see a couple of stingrays and fish. Always have available seating, but that could be because of the year we went.
Overall, it was a nice vacation. I do not think the resort is a 5-star compared to other 5-star resorts we went to, but maybe in the past, it was. [Details]

Not good for what we paid
Beach was great, rooms good, steak house good.
Can't get food between 3-6 pm unless room service
Buffet. Not good selection or offerings
Scored pub alright. Spotty with service
Service feel short,
Ordered food. Sometimes good, most times good. Or quality was poor [Details]

This resort is wonderful! A stunning property, maintained to perfection, with stunning views and a beautiful beach. We had a swim out diamond club room. It was an adequate size with a great balcony and semi private pool space. Only downside was the bathroom was on the smaller side, however it was still able to accommodate double sinks. Our butler Shandell was amazing! Went above and beyond to help us as needed which was great since we were travelling with our two young kids ages 4 and 2 so all the help we could get was appreciated! Pool and pool deck area was always pristine and well kept. Lots of games and activities organized through out the day. The beach was beautiful and well maintained. Plenty of chairs and umbrellas available at all times. Food was great as well. Hunter's steakhouse was our top pick. [Details]

Beautiful Beach, Food same every day,Rooms clean.
Most Staff not very friendly. [Details]

We had a great time at Royalton Antigua, but that's because we're pretty easy going, and don't let the negatives get us down. We LOVED the beach and pool area, as well as the location of the resort near hiking and swimming/snorkeling destinations. Taking excursions right from the beach with water taxi etc. was fantastic. Vendors on the beach are awesome. Antigua is a great island with interesting culture and people; it's relatively safe and clean, with lots to do.

The food at the hotel is pretty good - it's not a culinary destination, but lots of choices and nothing wrong with it - the ox-tail stew is pretty amazing on the night it's made, not so good the next three nights it's out etc. Staff try their best to be attentive and friendly but you can tell many of them are not happy; seems like maybe not a great work culture. The vibe team are always "on" and seem to be happy and having a great time - always something to do if you want to. They are also the main participants in the nightly entertainment, showing an array of talent; the entertainment is so/so over all. Something to do if you want to, but nothing to worry about missing if you feel like heading to bed early.

There were a few pretty major negatives for us starting with the specific room that we choose and paid for not being available we we arrived, and then some pretty obvious shenanigans around that, which I won't go into, but I feel I was deliberately told stories that were not the truth regarding the situation, and have yet to receive the refund I was promised and deserve.

The room we ended up in was extremely musty. We had THREE containers of damp-rid and they didn't make a dent in the smell and wetness which permeated everything; we never spent time in the room, only a bit on the deck.

On most days, in the morning, and randomly at other times, there was an intense intermittent sewer smell coming from the shower drain or maybe the toilet. We complained three times, and were told that maintenance would come to help, but if they ever came, they didn't fix the problem. Upon checkout I told the Front Desk manager about the problem and he said I'm the first person who ever complained about anything like that, which in my view could not have been the truth because I searched reviews afterwards and many people reported the exact same thing.

Loved the vacation despite the problems, and wish that Royalton would fix the place up a bit so that we would go back. Definitely would choose to go somewhere else next time though, based on our experience. Too bad though, because the area is idyllic. [Details]

The best part of our stay at the Royalton Antigua were the people-their staff. They were amazing! Super attentive and friendly. We couldn't have asked for better Butlers.
The room was clean, airy and large.
As for the food, the buffet was delicious, some of restaurants weren't too bad (food may not have always been warm or delivered together for your meal) - the caribbean restaurant with chef Sheldon was the BEST tasting of all of our meals for the week. The steak restaurant was absolutely awful. We had 4 in our party and all meals were terrible. We had reservations for 2 nights but cancelled one of them. And as for room service…do yourself a favour and go get your own food. It arrived 30 minutes late cold, english muffin not toasted, and part of the meal missing - which they delivered after we ate what we could. We had no choice but room service-my husband was going scuba diving and the restaurants were not open yet.
Overall-we would give this hotel a rating of 8/10. [Details]

Royalton Antigua is truly a slice of paradise. The grounds are well kept, the beach is pristine and the staff are friendly and happy to help. Food is well prepared and variety is good. Concierge and butlers check in randomly and regularly to ensure you're happy. They quickly assist with any needs that come up. I'm gluten intolerant and while the restaurants always had bread for me, they did not always have gluten free flour in their kitchen. If I gave them a couple hours notice as to where I'd be eating, they ALWAYS had gluten free pasta, pizza dough or pancakes available. It was so nice to just go, relax and know they'd take care of you. [Details]

We were Diamond Club and had a separate check in. Was a bit chaotic with getting to the room, were told restaurants were open for food and they weren't. First impressions were terrible. No regard for the staff working in extreme heat, terrible that air cons were not working in restaurants or in common areas. Food literally melting in the buffet. Were told different stories about the air conditioning, it's been broken for two weeks or this is the first complaint they've heard but yet the expensive gift shops air con was working. Made a reservation at the spa. Walked from the beach only to find out they had power failures they said they called the room at 3 pm to advise. Who is in their room at 3 pm on vacation? After a few days we adjusted to the lack of air conditioning. Sat mostly outside. Butler service is excellent, but no need for these men and women to wear long pants, long sleeve shirts, vests, jackets and ties. Rethink their uniform please. [Details]

The Royalton experience this time around was the worst we have had. Stayed many times before and this does live up to the standards of service. The property itself was nice but the service was horrendous and the staff were the least friendly I have ever come across in my 25 plus trips to the Caribbean to many islands and resorts. [Details]

It was such a nice resort. On the smaller side but very beautiful, we had a luxury bay suite which had an amazing view of the bay and the beach. People were friendly especially Silvanie, Miguel, Missy and Karrie. [Details]

What a disappointment this hotel was. First we got hit with a resort tax $10/nday for 9 days. And a $200 deposit for Incidentals. Our hotel room over looking the Bay was very dated. I was very surprised when I walked in. A la carte restaurants were not good at all. The best place was the sports bar. The Italian restaurant after waiting over an hour for pizza was completely raw. The Alfredo sauce both in the buffet and the Italian restaurant was bland and watery. No offer of added parmigiana cheese. Chicken parm was burnt along the edges. Red sauce was no good at all. Caprese salad was the paper-thin slices of tomatoe with two thinly sliced pieces of cheese. My husband actually laughed when they brought it to the table. The mozzarella sticks were very good but you only get 2. The restaurant beside the Italian restaurant offers boiled hot dogs. One is spicy but that only because they added a spicy sauce to it. The speciality restaurant that you have to pay extra for has a minimum of 6 people in a group. It's not as though they pair you up with anyone. You have to supply the 6 yourself. And if you like beer the only one that you will get is their own Caribe Beer. Yes. That's it. One kind of beer and only two types of wine. If you want premium drinks there's an added charge for that. Not bbq area. Can't bring food to the pool or beach area. And never mind about getting bar services either around the pool or beach unless you are a Diamond Club member. The gift shop is extremely overpriced. Sunscreen is 37$ USD. Shirts are over $100 USD. The buffet is ok as long as you get there when it opens up because then the food is fairly fresh and not sitting under heat lamps. The a la carte steak house I found the rib eye to be pretty good. My husband had the beef tenderloin that was very undercooked. We sent it back and without making a new steak they cooked his more after we had cut it up into pieces. So he got his same steak back. Very tough. The second time we went their we actually got a waitress that was nice and actually offered us dessert. The crème brûlée was very good and actually big enough for two. The sports bar offers you 4-5 small chicken wings, 3 onion rings, the poutine has no gravy. Everything is very small portions.
Overall. At best, I would rate this hotel a 3.5 star. Especially for the amount of money we spent I didn't feel it was worth it at all. I have enjoyed Cuba more than the Royalton Antigua. [Details]

Royalton Antigua provides anything you may be looking for. Relaxation, water fun, good food, good service. A very secluded location away from noise and commotion however close to the capital St. John. Definitely a 5 star vacation location. [Details]

The rooms are smaller than at other Royalton resorts. Elevators had issues, my kids got stuck inside, it happen before as other have been stuck in in the past. First time at Hunter steakhouse we left after waiting one and a half hour for the food. Complained to the dinning manager and Manuel made it right the next day. Overall a decent resort. Value is not the best as the rooms were small. [Details]