Help us decide b/w the two for 6 nights in late October/early November. First trip to Carribean. We are a young family - we are in our early 30s, we have two kids - a 4 year old son and a 1 year old daughter. I really want pristine beaches, warm water, but also lots of fun activities for the kids. Thanks.

While both Malliouhana and Four Seasons are terrific resorts the islands themselves are vastly different. Perhaps the following will help in your decision:

Anguilla is flat, arid, scrubby and has little natural vegetation. It's a coral/sandstone based island with over 80 restaurants (some among the finest and most expensive in the Caribbean) and 35 spectacular white sand beaches that are lapped by calm and clear bright torquoise blue waters. There's some decent but not great "walk-in" snorkeling off of several beaches. Malliouhana is an upscale resort that caters mainly to adults although they do accept children. Anguilla is basically a quiet island with little to do but swim, lie on a beach and dine out. You won't find a lot of activities for children.

Nevis is a volcanic based islands with 3,000+ foot high mountains, lush rain forests and darker sand palm tree lined beaches. Because of the dark sand the waters surrounding the island take on a steel blue hue. The island is dotted with old ruins and caves to explore, hiking trails, two mueseums, several Plantation Inns, a number of fine restaurants. The Four Seasons Resort is one of the finest in the Caribbean and offers its guests exceptional service. The resort welcomes families and has an excellent children's program that will be perfect for your 4YO son. FYI - your 1 YO daughter is probably too young to participate.

If a children's program is high on your list of priorities you are beter off going to the Four Seasons rather than Malliouhana.

Thank you so much for the wonderful information. My only hesitation with Nevis is the beach - we really want the beautiful crystal blue water, and I suspect we will not find that at Nevis.

There's no question that the Four Seasons is a better family resort. But you may not be as satisfied with the beaches on Nevis; they are not the powdery white sand you find in Anguilla. Malliouhana is a lot more family-friendly than a lot of people expect; I think you'll do fine there, though I doubt that either resort will have many children present in the time-frame you are looking at, and I don't believe that Malliouhana opens up again until November, so you should verify that it's even a possibility. Most places on Anguilla are closed through the end of October and many well into November.

Thanks - we were able to get a reservation at the Malli - its the first week of the season they are open. Our concern w/that resort is the consensus that it is run-down and not nearly as nice as Cap Juluca/Cuisinart. Any thoughts on that point?

I agree with almost everything above. If you want the 4 year old to really enjoy boy to enjoy himself, if he is reasonably outgoing, FS-Nevis, is my pick, hands down. If you really put lying on the beach rather than around a beautiful pool (they have 2)as most important then Malliouhana has to be the choice. As far as food for the 3 of you, I am not ignoring your daughter, I definetly would choose FS-Nevis. While I have not been to Anguilla for 4 years the activities for children and yound adults, if you will trust a babysitter, then FS-Nevis would be my choice.I will not bring up other locations because that will onlt cinfuse the issue.