Grace

Hi all,<BR><BR>Still researching both Anguilla and Turks for our summer vacation. We went to Turks and LOVED it but would like to find another paradise.<BR><BR>After reading some posts here, it seems Meads Bay is a great beach with calm waters like we wish for. <BR><BR>We found a deal on Expedia for $1051 per person, this includes round trip from Boston, 7 nights hotel, taxes, etc. Is this a good deal? <BR><BR>Someone here recommended Carimar for our budget restrictions. Any other advice about this hotel?<BR><BR>My question is this. Is there a grocery store nearby so we can stock our fridge to save $$? How are the prices?<BR><BR>Also, is Meads Bay near Little Bay the snorkeling area? I read that you need to go to Crocus (?) Bay and take a boat there. Is this around the same area as Meads Bay?<BR><BR>Any other ideas or thoughts are welcomed.<BR><BR>Thanks!<BR><BR>Denise

Mary

Carimar is lovely &amp; waking up on Meads Bay every day is unbelievable. There's a 7/11 type of store nearby but the best supermarket is in the Valley. If you're getting a cab at the airport or the ferry, you should ask the driver to stop somewhere for you to stock up (you may want to ask how much he charges to go to Albert's in the Valley). Little Bay is on the opposite end but the whole island is only 15 miles long. You go to a beach bar called Roy's &amp; ask for Calvin &amp; he'll take you &amp; pick you up for $10. You can get a car at Frangipani (on Meads Bay) for $215/wk -- it's really worth it as the other beaches on Anguilla are spectacular. We love hanging out on Meads Bay on rafts -- Heaven on earth!!!

Susan

Hi Grace!!! I can only reiterate what Mary has already written. Just up the road, about a 10 minute walk, is a small grocery store. We went there to get some food (breakfast &amp; lunch stuff and pasta for dinner) to tide us over until we got a car. The Carimar Beach Club made arrangements for a car rental company to deliver a car for us at the hotel. Very convenient. We had it for three days, which was time enough for us. Anyway, Mary is right about the big grocery store the Valley. Once we got the car, we found the big grocery store and stocked up. We ended up eating out just three nights the entire time we were in Anguilla (Do go to Altamer's. Well worth the money and it was wonderful to splurge for one night!)and actually went home with leftover money in our wallets! Carimar has a website, which I do not think does the facility justice. You can have a choice of one or two bedrooms, with one or two baths. The kitchens are well equipped. You will not want for any kitchen utensil!! Plates, glasses, saucepans, wood spoons, strainers, etc. It does have daily maid service, so do not worry about doing dishes while on vacation. Each unit has a wonderful patio, with a dining table and lounge chairs. We loved to have breakfast on the patio, looking out onto Meads Bay. The entire time we were there, we did not see any children. Not that I have anything against them mind you, but there simply were not any running around. The Carimar has a tennis court across the street from the reception area and a small rec room with a television and ping-pong table. The individual units do not have television, which is our idea of getting away from it all. There are telephones in the units. If it is too warm for you despite all the ceiling fans, they will put an ac unit in the bedroom for $10 US a day. We didn't have one the first couple of nights, but then due to sunburn, ended up getting one for the rest of our stay. Very low key place and I would have no qualms about going back. Pleasant staff. I believe their website is www.carimarbeachclub.com We went on a package deal with GWV Travel out of Boston and I think it was about the same price as you quoted. By the way, if you end up staying at Carimar, there is an unbelievably delicious BBQ place just up the hill across from the small grocery store. Ask anyone and they can tell you about it. Not fancy at all, but fantastic BBQ ribs. We ate there two nights and one night ordered some ribs to go and had them for lunch the next day!! And it was so inexpensive. We ate the ribs at the highly recommended Ernie's on Shoal Bay, but thought it terribly overrated. Our little place up the hill was better. I would be happy to answer any other questions you might have, although Mary seems to know her stuff as well!! Good luck with your trip and plans.

Susan

Hi Grace! I just double checked the Carimar Beach Club website and it is www.carimar.com Sorry about that. I guess my memory is not what it used to be!

Howard

Mary and Susan pretty much covered everything. If you are on a budget Carimar is a very nice place to stay. We have been to Provo and Anguilla both over a dozen times. Hard to pick a favorite. Stay at Frangipani on Meads Bay but have seen Carimar. The grocery store up the hill from Carimar is Christine Flemings. The BBQue place is right across the street and very good BBQue. They only cook on Fri and Sat. Corner Bar and Pizza in North Hill has a great seafood pizza. Really huge--enough for dinner and lunch the next day. The best Grocery store is Albert Lakes in the Valley. Make a left at the stop light and it is on the left. They just completed renovation. No Pool or restaurant at carimar but cocoplums is within walking distance and is very good. You can also walk to Blanchards which we really like but it is very expensive. Just before we left in Dec they opened a new restaurant about half way up the hill to Christines on the left called Snappers. Looks like it is locally owned and operated. E's Oven and Tastys Cafe are also excellent inexpensive places to eat. If you decide on Carimar you want unit 1 or 6 which are beachfront. We use Carib Rent A Car which is at frangipani. Phone3 497-6020. You can leave the car in the airport parking lot when you fly out so you save the $16 cab fare from carimar to airport. Feel free to e-mail me with questions