Royalton Antigua Resort and Spa

Never before have I seen a single concessionaire parked on the beach of a major resort so thoroughly ruin a hotel's ambiance. In this case I am writing about the jet skis that are rented by the customers of this hotel. The beach is stunning, the hotel itself is okay, the pool is nice, but the jet skis make all but a tiny sliver of the beach cordoned off by dirty white floats unusable. The jet skis are loud, ubiquitous, and transform an otherwise beautiful setting into one of chaos and danger. I wish this were an exaggeration, but it is wildly hazardous for a swimmer to venture out in the inviting bay (or even venture a small distance from shore). The jet skis rip around at 50-60mph, and we watched with horror as they passed several feet from anchored yachts, paddleboards, and swimmers. Even the slightest twist of the wrist in the wrong direction and someone will die. It's absolutely bananas. We watched two riders fly off a jet-ski and the jet ski subsequently collide with a yacht. If the hotel would get rid of this concessionaire (which caters almost exclusively to hotel guests) the experience of staying at the hotel would be dramatically improved.

Vanessa (Supervisor) was outstanding. She was accommodating, professional, personable, and demonstrated excellent leadership. Jamil (the runner) was also exceptional. He checked on us throughout our stay, made sure we had everything we needed, and was genuinely kind. Thomas was friendly, welcoming, and always willing to help. These three employees truly stood out and made a positive impression.

The pool staff also worked incredibly hard, and the poolside amenities were enjoyable. Diane at the bar was very friendly and provided great service.

Unfortunately, I cannot recommend this resort.

I come from a hospitality background, and the guest experience was disappointing from the moment we arrived. There was no warm welcome, no greeting, no cold towel, and no enthusiasm from the staff. The main bar wasn’t even open until noon, which was surprising for an all-inclusive resort. After reading previous reviews mentioning unhappy staff, I can honestly say I experienced the same atmosphere.

I’ve stayed at Royalton Cancun and Royalton Jamaica, where the service was exceptional, so I expected a similar standard here. Instead, the resort felt boring, lacked energy, and there were very few activities. Antigua is a beautiful destination where the resort should be creating memorable experiences, but this resort simply didn’t. There also didn’t seem to be visible management actively leading, engaging with guests, or setting the tone for the staff.

The dining experience was another disappointment. Breakfast often did not taste fresh unless you arrived right when it opened. For three consecutive days there were no hash browns available, and room service frequently had little to no food available from the menu, making it unreliable.

As for the room, it was clean, but it had a noticeable mildew smell, likely from condensation caused by the patio door. I also paid an additional $112 per night to upgrade to the Bayside section, but I didn’t feel the upgrade justified the extra cost. Since the room issue wasn’t my fault, I don’t believe I should have had to pay extra to relocate.

This was also a birthday trip, and I had requested a birthday banner, but nothing was ever provided, which was disappointing for a special occasion.

My experience with the Diamond Club was also disappointing. Rather than feeling like a valued guest, I was constantly reminded that I wasn’t a Diamond Club member, which made me feel uncomfortable and unwelcome.

Vanessa, Jamil, Thomas, Diane, and the hardworking pool staff were the highlights of my stay, and they deserve recognition for their excellent service.

Overall, this vacation was not worth the money I spent, and I left extremely disappointed. While a few employees did everything they could to make our stay enjoyable, the overall resort experience fell far below the standards I’ve come to expect from the Royalton brand. Unfortunately, I would not return or recommend this property to others.

Amazing experience and great vibe