I've been to the Ritz Carlton at St. Thomas, Cancun and Jamaica as well as La Samanna.....my wife never picks out the hotels or restaurants so it's up to me. We would like to go to CJ or Malliouhana but I can't decide........I've read too many reviews and feel like I'm mixed up now.....last time I looked at Malliouhana's website, I thought about going there.....If you have been to both and can help I would appreciate it.......I definitely want to go to Anguilla to CJ or Malliouhana......we want to take the day trip to SXM......my wife loved St. Phillipsburg and all the shopping...........thanks...........

Malliouhana is great---the rooms are beautiful- 3 great pools----and a children's pool down on the beach----reataurant is high french--but still the best on the island. You can view all of my posts regarding Malli---as I have stayed at all major places in Anguilla, I would always choose Malliouhana. Meads Bay ( in my opinion) is the best beach in the world....I have stayed at Maroma-which was voted the best in the world by the travel channel--however I still prefer Meads Bay-to conclude I would ask you----where else can you view the sunset while sitting in your bed in your room---answer---Malliouhana !!!!

While I have never stayed at either, I have visited both and my choice would be Malliouhana. I actully got kicked out of Malliouhana as they do not allow sightseers! I touref Cap Juluca before it was completely built. Meads Bay is the best beach I have ever been to.

Well, I'll offer a different point of view. First off, those Travel Channel lists are nothing more than random opinions of the editors designed to stimulate conversation. They're not based on anything objective. I wouldn't rate Maroma, or any other mexican beach I've been to, in the top 5 romantic beaches in the world (which is what the list referenced above was about). And while people differ in their opinions about Anguillian beaches, I don't like Mead's nearly as much as Maunday's. Maunday's is much quieter, calmer water, beautiful views of St. Martin in the distance with its lights at night, and it's a perfect crescent along which each and every room is built. None of the rooms at Malli are on the beach, the water is rougher on average, and there's no distant mountainous island on the horizon.
As for Malli's restaurant being the best on the island, well, that's a stretch IMO, but restaurant opinions are highly subjective. I can't think of anyone else I know who frequents Anguilla who thinks it is the best on the island.

Ted---you're right---I have been to Anguilla alot of years--and the restaurants come and go--It's all a matter of taste. Everyone pushes Blanchards, and straw hat---I thought straw was ok, but not great/ Blanchards is the most expensive on the island and it leaves alot to be desired...as for meads bay --it is anything but rough---you get a sunset on meads----mauday's is nice but it is on the windy side. when i stayed at cap i stayed at the very end---the wind at night was a very big factor. It blew through the windows, and actually gave you a headache......The thing that has me bothered is that the island is enlarging the airport----I've always enjoyed the fact that alot of people are bored while staying at an anguillan resort----that's fine with me---I sincerely hope it doesn't explode now with larger planes arriving....

Ted once again you have said it so well!
I am a big fan of CJ as I love its whole setting, the beach, the twinkling lights of ST. Martin, the privacy in each villa. Yes, the west end of the long beach is windy, yet thats where all the pool villas are located - and tend to be a bit more private. Then again you can stay at the east end of Maunday's Bay.

Actually I feel that Malliouhana and CJ are similar but MUCH better than La Samanna. Malli the hotel, restaurant on
the cliff,even the pool remind me of this St. Martin spot, CJ the beach villas on the sand. Malli does have some beachfront rooms, done in the past few years. I also like the junior suites-great views large terraces, lovely Turtle Beach. Both beaches are much better than Baie Long. Also the rooms at both of these hotels outshine La Sammanna.

As far as the restaurant at Malli, yes it is good, the best on the island, not really. Anguilla has many wonderful dining spots, lots on the water, very good chefs. Each trip we dine at our favorites, each trip we have a favorite.
I might add that Malli was excellent this past May, so was CoveCastles.

It is a hard choice, just make sure you go out of the hotel, its one of the few islands that dining outside of your hotel is a must!

penny---I agree cap was very good --I stayed at the pool suite---far end---room was beautiful, but the wind was too high....I have stayed at Malli for 18 years---and the restaurant has been excellent----however you do need to get out-years ago Koal Keel was great---closed for awile---but re-openeing this fall......tasty's --fair-------straw hat---ok-----pimms---was bad----I don't want to dump on cap ---but kemia was far superior----small plates---blanchard's was not that great----again this is my opinion----rendezvous bay ---cedar grove was great last three years---this year fair---in other words they are changing every single year----but-malliouhana is always consistent-for lunch---the view and setting are the best!!!! breakfast is always great---Please understand this is my opinion---may differ from yours

Zwibbs11, you are so right about the restaurants! Consistancy is the name of the game,Malli is up there for sure.
Pimms is not one of our favorites, we also prefer Kemia! Trattoria Tramonto, Mangos, our personal choices. Have you tried Covecastles? Also lunch at Altamer is lovely!
We stayed in the pool villa at CJ, and hated the noise of the seagulls! Loved the pool, enjoyed the huge living room, though never used. We always love
the lower floor, tend to book the junior suite, or patio suite at the east end of the beach! Just curious
which room catagory do you likd at Malli? We enjoyed a junior suite once, love Turtle Cove, but prefer CJ, maybe
we are just so use to it!

We love all the rooms at Maliouhana---believe it or not the Garden Villas are lovely--Turtle Cove is great ---we came back August 4th and last fall the ocean deposited a tremendous amount of sand ---it goes right to the point---the stairs leading down from the pool area---we loved cj--also had a poolsuite, but Malliohana is just more our taste....We also enjoyed Altamar--Last summer we went for a week to Martha's Vineyard and the people who own the overlook Restaurant own a place in MV called the cornerway and Lucie from Altamar was there !!

Penny- this is Mrs. Swibbs 11 so I hope you will welcome a woman's view!

FIrst I have to say that we all should be lucky to stay at either Mali or CJ. They are both great places. However Anguilla is not an easy place to reach and is expensive to go to so you need to play the odds. From our 24 time experience and we have stayed at both CJ and Mali in their best suites and also have tried their various rooms ( we travel with a large family) we have found that Mali has consistantly delivered. For example we have been at the CJ beach and found it perfect- ie no wind, no seaweed, calm waters etc only to return the next three times to find all of that and wind that made me have headache. maybe it is just the luck of the weather but at Mali with its three beaches - mead, turtle cove and bobbins- our favorite - it was never anywhere near that. Additionally if you have a poor beach situation due to weather and tides the pool at CJ's pool can not compare to Mali[s 3. I am amazed at all of the beauty and detail that CJ has gone to in so many area only to fall way short on their pool and their work out room. What were they thinking? Food preference is very subjective but never had a bad meal --any meal at Mali. been to CJ and grossed out at dirty breakfast/lunch dishes in dining area and general upkeep at Pimms...

Mrs. Zwibbs 11, great to hear from you!
Nice to have both spouses on the net!
Its also nice to have choices! I must admit there are times when CJ is a bit to busy for my tastes, its really become too popular! Having said that our last trip was this past May, and the hotel could not have been better. We did stay for 2 nights (to try it) in a villa at Covecastles. We now go twice a year to Anguilla,(approx.16 times) I would really love to be there over Christmas, but its way to busy for the 2 of us. We also opt for Jumby Bay in January, so we have never really seen Maundays Bay too choppy, or windy as we stay on the east end. This past May it was very windy on the west end, ditto last November! Picking a hotel is really a personal choice, as you said
we are lucky to be at either one!
I must admit I have never set foot in CJ's pool, it is in an awful location!! But a pool never influences my hotel choice. BTW Mallis pool area is stunning. One of my reasons for not selecting Malli years ago, is that its on a cliff, I wanted to be on the beach. On our next trip in November I will try Malli for lunch! Might also do another dinner. Pimms is not on my list!

help....im going to anguilla for this thanksgiving w/my 2 kids..7/9 and was wondering which resort would be better for us,i currently have reservation for an ocean front suite at cuisinart but also thinking about malli...wondering which would be better with the children,as im concerned about the wind on the beach at cuisinart.a friend stayed there this may and couldn't use beach beach except for 2 days out of eight.both look great any help would be appreciated thanks

Don't know when your friend went but we go every November & Rendezvous Bay is like a pond -- so very still. I have heard that it can get very windy in late winter/early spring. Malli, tho, has a playground for kids, complete with a pirate ship.