<BR>Here's my dilemna... <BR>I have gone to the Caribbean every year for the past 4 years.My first trip was on my honeymoon and we haven't been able to stay away since. <BR>We went to St Croix on our honeymoon. We thought it was paradise. The food was great at almost all the restaurants we went to (this is extremely important to us- we live in NYC and are highly critical of food), we thought the beaches were spectacular (of course we only had the beaches of NY and NJ to compare), we did everything we could in the 2 weeks we were there (snorkel,scuba,bi plane rides over the island, para sailing). We stayed at Villa MAdaleine (villas on a cliff with a view of Buck Island and your own pool)which we thought was amazing.<BR>We took the seaplane to St Thomas and caught the ferry to ST John and it blew us away. Trunk Bay was the most beautiful beach I had ever seen.Cruz Bay was like our neighborhood (the Village) in paradise. Just amazing!!<BR>Well, we went to Tortola the next year (it came highly recommended from a a friend who had lived there) just to see a new island.We really liked it. Stayed at Long Bay and was satisfied enough with the island, food, and room right on that really nice beach but we weren't wowed! Virgin Gorda was beautiful though...<BR>The next year we made up our minds fast - we were going to ST john..<BR>We rented a villa and loved every minute we were there. <BR>By the next year I had discovered this site. I was instantly hooked on all the great things you can learn on this (and other) boards. I had thought that Anguilla fit the bill for our next vacation but at the last minute we ended up going to St John again.We just felt like we were guaranteed a great vacation there. We did the villa thing and were really disappointed.We did not like the house for many reasons and some other little things made us want to go home.<BR>So I am getting ready to book our trip for this year and Anguilla is it...I know we will love the food and the beaches. But I'd like to know what people who have been there think about it.Just maybe the top 5 or so things about Anguilla that you think are important to know...Anguilla in a nutshell!!

Anguilla in a seashell ... beaches and dining! Very different than where you've been. Arid and not lush tropical pretty but oh! those beaches! Reminded me of BVI 20 years ago before it was "found." One of the few islands that has two remarkable hotels and lots of choices for more moderate ones. Undeveloped, uncommercial and lovely friendly warm islanders. Did I mention the beaches and dining? That's it in a seashell!! Truly Paradise!

5 things in a nushell:<BR><BR>1. Lots of gorgeous beaches, long and walkable with "gentle" or no surf.<BR>2. Many world class restaurants, some expensive, some not.<BR>3. Friendly people, very British.<BR>4. Easy to get to. American Eagle from San Juan or ferry from St Martin.<BR>5. Quiet. IF you want "noise" or "action" or shopping, short easy ferry trip to St Martin.

Thanks for your replies..<BR>I was thinking Of staying at the Frangipani..It's on a great beach,the rooms look very nice,the price is right.<BR>Any thoughts on this hotel???<BR>Anything about the island that maybe I haven't read on these boards?? For instance-a while back Karen (not sure which one) mentioned she drove to some of the restaurants in the daylight so she would know the way better...Thanks!!!

We plan to go to Anguilla and stay at Frangipani, for the 1st time this summer - have done extensive research on the Internet on both Anguilla and this hotel, and have so far read nothing but good things about both! A good forum to try with all and any questions about Anguilla is the Caribbean-on-Line forum at www.caribbean-on-line.com/ag/agforum.shtml, you're sure to get fast replies there to all your questions about Anguilla. Good luck!

We stayed at the Sonesta last April and visited the Frangipani. We would not stay at the Sonesta again (too much of an Americanized feel to it and not on a great beach) on our next trip. I would highly recommend the Frangipani. It's on very lovely Mead's Bay and it had more of a quaint Caribbean feel to it.

Have you considered Cap Juluca? It was amazing when I went there several years ago for my honeymoon, and from reading posts online, etc. , it seems to still be!!! And it has a great restaurant, Pimms. I can't say enough about it.

Thanks for the thumbs up on the Frangipani..Happy to hear more positives about it.<BR>Actually I just lucked out and had a friend return from the island after staying with Anguillans (?).So I feel even more confident of my choices.<BR>With so many great islands in the Caribbean and only getting to go once a year the choice you make is so very important, don't you think.Like most people on these boards I want to see the best.<BR>About staying at Cap Juluca- it and Covecastles are my top choices on the island.They both are architecturally stunning which is a great passion of mine not to mention those beaches!! But I like to watch my spending and try to build a future for my family and spending close to $8000 for a week of vacation is just crazy to me at this time in my life.I honestly don't know how a lot of the people on this board afford it. I mean , I am a fairly well off person (I do live in Manhattan though) and I just couldn't do it.One day maybe I'll get over it and just go!!Though we did consider Cap for our honeymoon but then we decided we'd use the money to stay 2 weeks instead of 1.<BR>But then when you make the decision to spend that kind of money there are just so many places to go..!! Le Toiny,Parrot Cay,Eden Rock,Isle De FRance, Sandy Lane - I could go on and on!!<BR>

I hear you OlGA, couldn't have said it better myself. I want to still be able to go to my favorite islands (St. Barth, Anguilla) when I'm old, not just sit back and think about what vacations USED to be like. Therefore we'll probably keep staying at places such as the Christopher Hotel in SB & Frangipani in Anguilla (which are no slouches) to ensure many more vacations in the future.

We stayed at the Carimar Beach Hotel which has one and two bedroom units. It was highly recommended by posters on the AOL message boards and we agreed with their enthusiasm. Meads Bay is lovely (same beach as the Frangipani) but I think that the Carimar end is nicer. I tried to get into Frangipani to look at a 2 bedroom unit, but unfortunately it was occupied the whole time we were there. <BR><BR>The beach at Cap Jalucca was my other favorite beach. Big price difference between Carimar (or Frangipani) and Cap Jalucca and for my family not worth the cost. However, Cap does have great amenities (includes non motorized water sports) and a view of St. Maarten. <BR><BR>We stayed on St. John a few years ago in a villa and it was my favorite of the islands we've tried. <BR><BR>I liked Anguilla's compactness, the friendliness of the people, good (though expensive) restaurants, good prices for lodging, great beaches. I didn't like the arid scrubby inland and the poor snorkeling.

Anguilla is one of the scruffier brown islands inland and it's not a whole lot of fun to drive around it. And, it doesn't have much inner-island scenery or sea vistas because of the fact that the island is so flat. But, boy those beaches...are they ever to die for!