Sally

We are thinking of going to Anguilla for our next vacation - what we are looking for is PEACE AND QUIET (very important!) and a beautiful beach right on our doorstep... We went to ST. Martin for a few years, liked the hotel (Esmeralda) very much, but didn't like Orient Beach so much anymore - very busy, lots of music and vendors, and we especially detested the jetskis (noisy and smelly)! So we are looking for a beautiful beach but without the noise, preferably without ANY motorized watersports. I have researched the hotels, and Carimar, Frangipani, Blue Waters all seem to fit the bill (on the beach, spacious rooms). We are not looking for a lot of luxury and certainly not activity, just peace and quiet. The prices of the abovementioned hotels all are within our range, esp. in summer which is the only time when we can go. Even Cap Juluca (their cheapest accommodation anyway) might be within our price range in summer.
I would be grateful for all and any advice or experiences re the above-mentioned hotels or any other, and the beaches in Anguilla.

penny

Hi Sally. Yes you will get the peace and quiet on Anguilla. Orient Beach and any beach on Anguilla are like night and day! I can tell you all the hotels you mention are on wonderful beaches-Carimar and Frangipani are on Spectacular quiet Meads Bay, both get high marks and many happy repeat guests. Blue Waters is on Shoal Bay West, again very quiet and there you get the views of looking at St. Martin. I have met happy people who have stayed there too.
www.caribbean-on-line.com/ag/agforum.shtml
This is a very active Anguilla forum and you will get more thoughts there!
You will love the serenity on this island!

Reenie

The most spectacular beach is Shoal Bay East...and a peaceful, quiet hotel with rooms right on the beach is the Shoal Bay Beach Hotel. We love it. Check out their website.

Lee A/T

Check out the Anguilla Great House. It' right on Rendevous beach and is very affordable. Staff is excellent!!! Be sure and eat at Blanchard's and Oliver's, two of the best. Lee in Austin,Tejas

Sally

THANKS for all your advice and positive feedback - this has made me much more confident about going to Anguilla! It really does sound like the place we're looking for. And I will certainly check out the websites you mention!

Kelly

We go to Axa regularly and stay at La Sirena. All the places you mentioned are nice in their own ways. Frangi and Carimar are on Mead's Bay, one of my favorite beaches. Frangi is flashier, Carimar a deal and lots of repeat guests - no pool, restaurant, etc. if that matters, but kitchens if you want that. Blue Waters is similar to Carimar in being self-catering but again nice and the closest of all these to the surf- fall asleep to it at night. It is on West Shoal which is a nice beach but not as nice as Meads or Maundays -however, it is incredibly private and quiet and romantic for that reason. Incredible romantic Italian restaurant just down the beach. Cap has one of my favorite beaches and is the most gorgeous resort of those named. That said, the one thing I do not like is that they have a lot of watersports including use of their boat for waterskiing and the like. You can lounge on the far end of the beach, but it is there and does detract when in use for the real quiet seeker. East Shoal (the famous one) is a gorgeous beach but active for Anguilla and there is parasailing and such. Hope that helps!

Sally

Kelly - many thanks for your very informative comments. We do want a place with a restaurant, i.e. not self-catering - forgot to mention this in my first post. So perhaps Frangipani is most suitable. Thanks also for your helpful comment about the watersports at Cap! Actually, La Sirena was the first hotel I considered going to, since it was the only one on Anguilla mentioned in my travel agent's brochure. It does seem very nice, just a bit far from the beach - or isn't that a problem? Thanks again for your help!

Randy P.

Sally,
We were in Anguilla this past Dec. and stayed at the Frangipani for a week. If you are looking for a gorgeous beach, no crowds, jetskis, peddlers and just a relaxing vacation this is the place. My wife and I went down to just "get away and clear our heads" and this was without a doubt the most relaxed I've ever been in my life. Just waking up every morning to the waves on the beach and a nice long relaxing walk on an uncrowded, beautiful beach, you can't beat it. The folks at the Fragipani are the best, you WILL NOT be disappointed. Have a GREAT time,we did.