cindgail

My family of two adults and two small children will be in Anguilla for 3 days and 2 nights. I made a reservation at the Malliouhana for the "cheap" room of $400 a night on their website. They only asked how many adults and didn't ask about children. I spoke with them later to ask about a rollaway bed. They said we could only have 3 people in our room even though we said the 2 yr. old would be sleeping with us. They said we would have to stay in a Junior Suite, at the least. It's $295 more a night. The $400 was a total splurge but it looked like it would be so much fun for the kids and it was only 2 nights. Does anyone have an opinion about spending the extra $295 a night?

TedTurner

Your question is impossible to answer since you want us to tell you if it would be 'worth it' for you to stay there, but you don't tell us anything about how you value things. For example, what are you expecting, what do you want, what kinds of nicer places have you been to in the past and enjoyed?
Some people think $100/nt is too much for a hotel and some people spend upwards of $50,000 a year on travel.

I will say that I don't find Malliouhana the most luxurious of the Anguillian resorts, but it has some nice kid friendly amenities.

cindgail

Ted - Good question. We've been very spoiled for the past two summers spending 3 months at the Summerfield Suites, in a 2 bedroom for $40 a night. We usually spend around $110-$120 a night at other places in the country. We're going to be spending $3,500 for a 2 bedroom, living room, full kitchen in St. John in February. That will be the most we've ever spent on lodging. So $695 a night for just a bedroom would be a stretch. It's not that I'm cheap but just have limited funds. I guess what I'm asking is compared to our other choices, and keeping in mind we have kids would that be the best value for the money. Hope this makes more sense.

penny

Expectation and values, great point Ted!
Not sure about Malli, but there might be an additional fee for a rollaway bed.

The junior suites at Malli are huge,
the entrance foyer is like a room, already has a studio couch, great set up for families.

Should you spend the extra money, its up to you!

faithie

Hmmmm .... I think I am cheap then !! LOL , 1390.00 for a 2 night stay , there would have to be an awful lot of fun for my kids to justify that . I guess you really have to figure out if it is worth it to you , I feel kids can have fun if you give them a bit of sand and water ! Faith

eileen

I have kids and in my opinion yours are too young too appreciate the amenities and service of a great resort. I would stay someplace less expensive like the Frangipani. If they are anything like my children, they will be happy with the beach and the wonderful water.

Dreamer2

I'm with Faithie.
Cindgail, I've never been to Malli, or even Anguilla, but I can tell you that two young kids cannot appreciate a $700 hotel room (plus tax, grat, and all those surcharges!). Don't do this to yourselves if it's not totally disposable income. You're going to St. John in Feb, why the quick trip to Anguilla? And if you have to be there for some reason, why not stay somewhere more reasonable? What's Frangi running these days? Truly, the kids just want to have unrushed days and quality time with Mom and Dad. They won't care about, or even remember, if the bathroom was marble or the lobby had fancy sculpture. They would be just as happy on the Jersey shore "with a bit of sand and water." Trust me on this one, and save your money, or at least find somewhere where little kids are "included."

TedTurner

I agree...what they said.
Given all the extra details you've provided, I think you'd be stretching to convince yourself Malli was 'worth it'. I think the more you have to stretch the budget the harder it is for any vacation to measure up to expectations, though some truly spectacular destinations can overcome a lot of stretching. For the trip you're describing, I'd pass on Malli. It'll be there in the future when it better fits into your plans and lifestyle.

KarenM

I'm with these people. Not worth the money. You can still go visit the Malli if you stay somewhere else and even have lunch if you feel like it. I'm afraid if you went with the Malli you would feel bad afterwards that you really wasted the money. You can do lots of things with the $580 you would save if you stayed elsewhere.

cindgail

Thank you to everyone for your opinions. The reason we're taking the quick trip is we're going to St. Maarten for a free week at a time sharing condo as a birthday present from a friend. We're using mileage points to get there. We had a few extra days and decided to stop in Anguilla. Because of all the "freebies" I was rationalizing the splurge. The pirate's ship and water slide are very tempting but you're right, it'll still be there and my kids are very young.....

Carola22

So - what about Carimar? It's on the same lovely beach as Mallihouana, and I've heard great things about it! It's just suites, no full restaurant on the premises, but plenty nearby. Certainly if it's just for 2 nights I think it would be perfect, and for a fraction of the price you would have to pay at Mallihouana.

penny

Absolutely go for Carimar, its on the same wonderful Mead's Bay, and you can use the Pirate Ship at Malli for a day fee for $25.OO. Anguilla is a nice change from St. Martin.

ejcrowe

Though I've only done research on Anguilla and have not visited (yet!), I'd also agree that Carimar is a good place for you for 2 nights. I was planning a trip next summer with one child, and the extra fee that Frangi wanted per night put the room in the same price range as the lowest room category of both Malli and Cap.

If you ever want to stay at Malliouhana in the off season, they offer a great family rate of two rooms for the price of one, based on a 5 night stay, which would be perfect for your family of four.

cindgail

Penny - What a fantastic idea!!! I only wanted to stay at Malliouhana so the kids could use the pool. I didn't know you could pay a fee just to use it. Thank you so much!!!!!!!!!!

HowardC

The Malli childrens playground with the pirate ship is next to Carimar I might be wrong but don't think there is a pool in the playground. Carimar does not have a pool or restaurant

cindgail

Penny - I just called Malliouhana and they said you cannot use their pool or playground if you are not staying there. Why did you think you could pay $25 to use it? Maybe I talked to the wrong person. Help!

Carola22

Not Penny, but I think you didn't read her message correctly - she just said you could use the playground for a fee, she didn't mention the pool at all.

Carola22

Correction - she didn't even mention the playground, just the pirate ship. Now I was the one who wasn't reading her message correctly!

OT

Have never stayed at Malliouhana ourselves, but have during our last 3 holidays visited the Kid's adventure ground several times. Payment $ 25.00 per person, accompanying adults included. Open 10 am - 17.30- 18.00 pm.

You can walk in from the beach or by the entrance to the Bistro on the road

Playground consists of Pirateship adventure playgroup with a waterslide. There is also table tennis and a small TV area.

Nice and comfortable loungers by the pool area, which has a diving board and basket hoops.

The Bistro is great, nice lunches, icecreams and afternoon teas.

Perhaps it became too popular with "out-siders", and the management has decided to change their policy. I can understand that, the area is not that big, and it could inconvenience the high-paying guests.

If you can not get in, there are plenty to keep your children happy on Anguilla. I know, mine has been travelling there since they were tiny babies and it is their favourite beach destination!

OT

(oops.. a bit quick of the mark)

I meant - there is a separate pool with diving board and basket hoops.