Cap Juluca or Turks?
 

I was planning on taking my husband to Cap Juluca in 2006 for our annual Caribbean vacation. Then, I noticed that Amanyara is opening in Turks & Caicos in 2006.
http://www.amanyara.net/swf/amanyara_sm.html

Which do you think we should go for and why? I know nobody will have been to Amanyara yet because it hasn't opened, but I was wondering if you have been to their other resorts? Or, if you could just compare the different islands/beaches to me?

I appreciate all of your help and suggestions!

I prefer Anguilla over T&C. Most of the hotels on T&C are on Grace bay beach. Hotels on Anguilla are dispersed on different beaches. A more secluded feel. Also there is a lot of construction going on everywhere in T&C. The beaches are awesome on both islands. The main beach is Grace Bay on T&C though there are some other beaches on the island. There are several really nice beaches on Anguilla though none that is 12 miles long as in T&C. I also think the restaurants are better on Anguilla. T&C also has some nice ones but Anguilla has many more. I think Amanyara may be in a different league than Cap. Unlike the other hotels on T&C, it appears that Amanyara will be more secluded. Another thing to keep in mind is that if you are going in the winter months the water temps will be warmer in Anguilla compared to T&C.

Thanks. I was trying to figure out if Amanyara was secluded from looking on their page. It appears to be, but I don't know anything about the island...

Have you considered Parrot Cay in T&C? It's on it's own cay, very secluded.
Amanyara is on a beautiful beach, but it will be hard to travel to other restaurants/activities from there, so you will be dependant of them. I've been to the beach it's on before they built, gorgeous beach.
I love both islands. Here's my take: Anguilla has better, (and more expensive)restaurants. T&C has better restaurants than most islands, just not better than Anguilla.
From Anguilla, you can island hop for totally different feelings. St. Martin is a 20 minute ferry ride away. St. Barts is about an hour from St. Martin. 3 completely different islands. T&C has lots of cays, so you can have private picnics on beaches and never see another soul.
Both are flat, dry, scrubby looking islands. Both have blinding white sands, and gorgeous turquiose waters. Both are fairly quiet. Both have tons of construction. (Have you been to Anguilla lately mnag?-building 3 resorts on Meads Bay, and a new mega resort on the way to Shoal Bay with 1200 units,AND another golf course!) That doesn't include the golf course about to open. However, Cap Jaluca has no construction around it, and is spectacular. Grace Bay is more built up, as Grace Bay is 12 miles long! Parrot Cay has no construction, it's on it's own cay.
The beaches in T&C are longer, and the water averages to be calmer. T&C has great snorkeling, Anguilla has average snorkeling. Anguilla has NO shopping, (go to St. Martin for that) T&C has a LITTLE shopping.
Anguilla has a more "island vibe" to it. While T&C has some ultra upscale resorts, Anguilla's are all higher end.
Both have gorgeous beaches, some of the best in the world.

hi shari, if secluded is a main criteria then amanyara will be good. it was a 30 min+ drive to anything from malcolm road beach (amanyara's beach)over terrible road. i haven't been on island since they started to build, but i understand they have put in their own road, so maybe the drive is faster now. either way if you want to leave the resort its a long drive. there are 3 other good beaches - sopadilla, taylor bay and long bay) all another 15 mins from end of aman's road. some very nice restaurants (coyaba, anacona are very special and lots of more casual places)
t&c is world renowned for diving. and has very good snorkeling. not much else to do besides hang on the beach. i love the island. have not had the pleasure of anguilla yet though.
and i think you have a lucky husband!

Wow, I love Turks & Caicos. When is this new place opening? Why is there no room info or rates. Are the accomodations condo style or just a room with a bed?

thanks

luisa their site is www.amanresorts.com then click on turks and caicos. plenty of photos. no condos. rates on the high side!

Hey Virginia,

Thanks for the info.
Wow, nice place. Guess that will have to wait until I win the lotto. But a girl can dream.

take care!

Wow thanks! I'm excited to hear about this as I think PC is getting overrated due to a few hollywood marriages. Was thinking of going there this Dec but it seemed a little pricier for very little additional. Aman Resorts are fantastic. This was a good post. I would check out T&C in Dec next year.

Shari,
I haven't been to Anguilla but did visit Turks this past August. Turks is beautiful and the water is amazingly clear and warm, but as another poster noted, there is a ton of construction going on on Grace Bay. I also didn't find a lot of shopping which I thought was strange being that there were so many resorts.

I am dying to go to Cap Jaluca myself because the resort looks stunning. I would love to know what you end up deciding and if you do go to CJ I would love to hear all about it.

Just returned from TCI stayed at the Royal west Indies, unequivocally the best hotel rental on the rock (beach front about $250)
Amanyara rates with taxes start @ $1,500 - $8,000/night for the 3 bed bungalow. That's alot of lunch money. The resort not yet complete but looks beautiful.
Definetly isolated you need a 4 wheel to get there and about 25min. of awful road.
The beach is public and free.
My advice is rent a house wiht all amenities, loaded about 3k/wk.
Enjoy the food at several great restaraunts ... Magnolia (green flash),
Sibonne (topas) etc. etc.
rent the jeep take Malcomb Beach road and enjoy...p/s pick up some ribs at Lamont's and chicken wings at Sweet T's both near the airport roundabout and have a picnic.
B We've been there several times over the last few years

I decided on Amanyara! I just could not resist.

If you can afford that, you can definitely afford to take some of us friendly fodorites with you.

I'm sure that we'd be happy to "settle" with Parrot Cay while you stay at Amanyara.

Shari-Did you ever make it to Amanyara?
If so, would love to hear about this new, fabulous resort. Please share with us. Thanks.

I would like to know if I could go for drinks and dinner if staying somewhere else? Thanks.

Hi folks. I am not going there until the end of May. I will let you all know how it is, though!