i too am staying here and emailes and got the same response. Would be very interested hearing some opinions. I wouldn't get too worried about the reviews- for every bad one there is deffinately more good ones, though i guess it all depends on what your expecting.

anyway lets hope someone thats been there can fill us in!

xx

We stayed here in April 2008 and had two junior suites. We had s wonderful time and would go back again if visiting this island. The staff were warm and friendly and gave us good service. The resort is not a 5 star resort and you are not paying those sort of prices. One of the bad reviewers gave a good review of a hotel in St Lucia we have stayed there ourselves and would not dream of expecting the same standard. Four of us stayed in Antigua for less than it would have been for two of us at the other hotel. Its a shame that they picked two different types of hotel on the same holiday.

Look at the hotel web site and pictures it gives an accurate view of the hotel. The bathrooms are looking a bit tired but were clean and functional. On the security issue, the doors do lock but I personally would not want to be on the ground floor as the beach although secluded is not private.

We did a private tour of the island which was a good way to see the island as sign posting is not one of the islands strong points.

We stayed at the Coconut Beach in January 2008 and a had the best holiday ever. It was very very relaxing, great food and the staff were brilliant, especially jermaine! we stayed in a Junior Suite on the ground flooor and encountered no problems apart from mosquitos!

Go and enjoy your holiday

We stayed at the Coconut Beach Club in March this year and there was an incident whilst we were there. A lady travelling on her own woke up to find an intruder in her room. She screamed the place down and the guy fled. The hotel security and police dealt with the matter in moments, but they never caught the man. The hotel immediately implemented hightened security in the form of lighting and patrols. It is such a shame that the Island is experiencing these current problems as the Antiguans are such wonderful honest friendly people on the whole. We did not feel frightened for the rest of our holiday but with recent events it changes the feel slightly, but I am sure they are doing all they can to make guests feel safe. Coconut Beach Club was a very nice place to stay and we would go back to the Island again in the future.

All the employees at Coconut Beach Club are Antiguan, or from other Caribbean islands - their use of the English language is a bit different at times but this should certainly not stop you from enjoying your holiday there. In fact their staff are particularly nice.

Coconut Beach Club has peep holes in their front doors (plus a small safety chain) and burglar bars (cleverly installed so they are not visible from the outside) on all windows except the big patio doors.

If you are sensible as you would be at home, e.g. lock your doors (Fly-screens are designed to keep out flies, not people), put on the chain and use the peep hole before opening your door - you will be safe. After all, there are lots of people living in fairly close quarters. Plus, they have security.

Simple measures such as not telling everyone where you are staying, or giving out your room number, or flashing money - are always good advice.

All my friends and family who have visited me rent cars and explore the island - again, all you have to do is be sensible. Mind you, there are many other options such as joining a tour, or a sailing trip etc.

You'll be missing out on a great experience if you let one or a few bad people frighten you away. And, trust me, if you let it happen once, you'll never feel safe anywhere.

If you have any questions - do get in touch off line.

HAVE A HAPPY HOLIDAY.

I have been reading the local newspapers in Antigua and it is obvious the this island is experiencing a huge problem with crime. And unfortunately most is violent crime. I intended on using common sense while there, but we would not enjoy ourselves if we constantly had to watch everything we did. What kind of vacation would that be? We were on the island for a day in Oct 07 (cruise) and we went to Turners Beach. When inquiring about a taxi at the pier we and another couple were quoted one price and when we got back to the pier the quote had doubled. To avoid a hassle, we just paid it.We have been planning this trip for months, but after reading all the reports coming out of Antigua my husband is telling me ,NO Way are we going. It really makes me sick to lose our deposit.,better safe than sorry.

I've been watching this post everyday for new information. I have reservations to stay here for the New Year's holiday. I've been traveling to the Caribbean for over 30 years, and stayed on many islands now deemed "unsafe". I don't think I would be so unnerved if I had been to Antigua previously, but this was to be our first trip. If the terrible incident hadn't happened in their own room, I might feel more confident, but as things are.... My husband is not worried, and says it's an isolated incident, but I just can't shake that scared feeling. It's something I've never felt before when thinking of the Caribbean. I'm really thinking of changing my reservations for my beloved Grenada, the island where we were married. So sorry to say....

We were at CBC in February 08. The staff is wonderful, and at no time did I feel unsafe.

We took a taxi every night to Kings Casino in town and got back to the resort at 2-3AM and never felt uncomfortable.

The hotel is clean & a bit run down, but we were looking for a place with no children and also small and intimate.

We had stayed at Galley Bay previously for several years in a row, but the prices now are so outrageous we wouldn't pay them.

To compare anything fairly, you have to take price into consideration.

Please go and enjoy yourselves, just use common sense,

hey linda (piratefan11)....

i am really sorry that you're not going to be able to get your deposit back after planning this vacation for months as u said, since your husband is not wanting to come again...

it would do you good to stop reading so much on the newspaper.. i stopped, it was only depressing me more an more... most of the crime here in antigua are largely with the young boys...they have conflicting issues with other young local boys. Yes it's more crime than we would like...but looking at things in the prospective, it is still less that many other countries.

the end of this wicked system of thngs is near, and it is only going to get worse before it gets better... i think its bad everywhere...

But if you feel another caribbean island would satisfy you...by all means..the Caribbean people are really friendly... love to talk to new people...

Please do not cancel your holiday at Coconut Beach Club!!!! We felt safe the whole time and even going into St John's where we didn't see another tourist for hours. everyone was really friendly and helpful. Please read my recent review and ignore the bad ones, they are from people who feel that its their job in life to rubbish everything they come across.

Hiring a car is the best way to see the island. We tried to but as it was Carnival nothing was opened so we hired a taxi for the day to take us around the island.

Please let me know how you get on and what you decide to do.

Vanessa