UPDATE: Back from CAP JULUCA 4/6/01 -- all okay!
 

I'll gladly field your questions.

I'd like to add that the resort was everthing that you can imagine from what their website: www.capjuluca.com boasts: excellent dining experiences at Pimms, Kemia, and Georges -- all on-site restaurants. The beach was clear turquoise, medium blue, and though the outer edges of Maundays Bay were rockier i.e. (full of cracked shells -- though the staff did a great job shelling (diving) for them for its guests -- it's still better than most)at least the middle section -- it is one of the most beautiful beaches we've been (including Bermuda, Bali, Manila, East Hampton, Martha's Vineyard, Cape Cod).<BR><BR>We were looking for supreme privacy with luxury -- all needs were met. I highly recommend Cap Juluca.

My fiance and I are going to Cap for our honeymoon...coming up soon. I'm glad you liked it so much. We are staying in a private pool villa. Do you know where they are located on the beach? Any info about them would be appreciated. Thanks!

Congratulations "dg"!<BR><BR>The pool villas are located on the far West end of Maundays Bay -- the most private of all villas on the beach. Pimms restaurant along with Kemia's which share the same building are on the opposite end of the beach.<BR><BR>The villas are arranged accordingly from East to West in a crescent shape: Pimm's/Kemia's restaurant; Main House (includes spa services; afternoon tea; concierge; an asian art gallery; and one giftshop carrying some necessities like sunblock and some spa products); then there's the watersports area; superior villas, then luxury rooms; Georges outdoor (tented) restaurant -- behind that lies the pool where the West Indian BBQ night occurs on Mondays &amp; Fridays; followed by the junior suite villas, and finally to where you'll be -- the pool villas.<BR><BR>

dg:<BR><BR>Of the 19 villas, #14-19 are pool villas.

Maggie-Welcome back! Wasn't the drive into the hotel an experience! I am so glad you had a good time. How could yoi not! We were there until the April 2nd-shells were gone, but it was rough one night so the next day they reappeared. No real problem-right! I know they had the beach staff cleaning up the shells-you should have seen the piles when we were there in Novewmber-conch shells everywhere-much better now.<BR><BR>We enjoyed the new Kemia-the menu is interestng,loved sitting there at lunch, watching the water and the boats. Pimms new menu is excellent too!I thought the service was the best its ever been at the entire hotel. Georges is bigger now-the bar use to be in the center, and years ago thats all it was, lunch was to the west of the pool its now the new kitchen.<BR><BR> We met some first timers , who loved the hotel and island, and many repeat guests all as happy as can be. It all goes too fast!<BR><BR>DJ-The pool villas are spectacular! Huge, living room, dining room , kitchen, 2 balconies, large lighted dome, great views from the living room and bedroom, Huge pool and patio area. We were in the pool villa #14 a few years ago. The pool has columns and a walkway, walking to your entrance. As Maggie said they are on the West end! You can hear the sound of the waves at night. Michael J. Fox had his honeymoon at CJ-comes back all the time. He was just there with his beautiful family, and no one bothers them! He had a whole villa,almost the same as a pool suite, except for extra bedrooms and bath and downstairs 2 bedrooms(luxury rooms the whole villa is not rented). We were in a luxury room in 1993-and Steven Tyler has villa 18 next door.<BR><BR>Yes it is a beautiful island and hotel!

Is that the general attitude of people going to CJ then? Wanting to vacation in a place "the rich &amp; famous" are or may be seen?? That has been one of the reasons I keep putting it further down the list. I keep hearing this "guess who we saw there" scenerio, same with Parrot Cay. I'm not interested in a who's who but rather privacy &amp; great service. Someone please tell me if I am wrong.

NO Theresa- The last thing I wnat to do is vacation with the rich and famous. I only mentioned the above celebs to make a point about privacy and being treated like everyone else. Anguilla is an island for everyone to enjoy! I have been to CJ 8 times-no one famous 6 out of 8 that I know of. I am sure the same of Parrot Cay. What you have to remember is these are great locations, and are fairly easy to get to fron the NYC area. The service on Cap Juluca is excellent, so do not hesitate. No one walks around like a "star" except a few jerks now and then with cigars in their mouth-up and down the beach, but hey that makes them feel big! Seriously the island is vey low key! Most of the celebs go to the caribbean over Christmas, with their children. The general attitude is to relax, dine, explore and have fun! Its your choice!

Would Cap Juluca be appropriate for a handicapped 71 year old woman and kids ages 9-17? Do they have golf carts to transport grandma to the retuarants? Many steps?

Hi Mark-I know it can be difficult for the handicapped, and it really makes one think. My mom has a bad knee, so I know what you mean. Cap Juluca has golf carts, you can call to take you to the restauarants etc. You are testing my memory, to get into Pimms from the parking lot I think there is one or 2 small steps not sure . There is one or 2 steps form the bar area into Kemia(lower oart of Pimms). Georges is on the beach and has access from the parking lot, walkway and a few steps. The lower floor of the villas would be the best-walkway from parking area directly in back of the villas. These villas have a walkway with a few steps onto the beach. I hope this helps. As for the kids, they will have a great time at Cap Juluca. The last week of March was a school vacation for many children, and the hotel had quite a few. You should call Cap<BR>Julucas 'Florida phone number and ask for Helen, she could give you some more specifics, as you are the only one who can assess what your mom can and cannot handle. I know the only facility on the island with an elevator is the new luxury villa Altamer.<BR>Please feel free to ask me any other questions-your family will love Anguilla.

Mark-Sorry I meant your grandmother, not your mother.

Am looking at making a reservation for May 5 -11 at the Hilton Tobago. Any thoughts?

I had such a hard time posting my replies yesterday that I went offline -- sorry about that. I retyped two messages, only to see that another "error" had occurred.<BR><BR>

Additions:<BR><BR>The 19 moorish styled villas are designed with privacy in mind, even the landscaping was done so that coverage and greenery would complement areas where bare beach would normally be. <BR><BR>We spoke to Nik Douglas, the Asian Art Gallery owner who said that after Hurrican Lennie, they (CJ) literally ordered Rosewood hardware from Thailand, i.e. heavy thick wooded doors, window frames, and sliding doors for the closets, etc as part of their multi-million dollar year-long renovation. The mix of dark wood with white walls and tiling, has a calming effect for any guest. It only adds to the crispness of white and the elegant smooth dark surfaces -- the right combination. It does feel like you are somewhere in the Middle East.<BR><BR>Another detail is their hanging lantern in the hallway of the Main House as you enter the property. Douglas pointed out that the lantern is from Turkey. So, all these details were added with the "feel" of being "away" to some exotic place.<BR><BR><BR><BR>

Maggie-Thanks for all your design details, I really enjoyed your comments. I just read about Kemia, the new tapas restaurant in the newest issue of Traveler. Did you like it? Also did you see much of the island. Thanks, we leave in a few weeks.

Sharon, <BR> <BR>We didn't see much of the island other than from the taxi ride from Blowing Point via St. Martin Ferry to the CJ resort. I have to admit, the island of Anguilla is more arid and flat than other islands, but the tradeoffs are well worth it -- enter Cap Juluca. <BR> <BR>I give CJ high marks for design & location, beach access, beach waters, food selections, luxury, privacy and comfort level -- it would be very difficult to be disappointed. <BR> <BR>Enjoy yourselves -- it'll be a REAL vacation!

Additions: <BR> <BR>Might I add that the complementary Afternoon Tea is available at the Mainhouse from 4 - 6 p.m., a nice change of pace from being outdoors on the beach. <BR> <BR>My husband and I are tea lovers, but saw only a handful of people, so have that "spot of tea" too and sit on the outer terraces of the property -- Oh! Don't miss trying Twinings' Prince of Wales tea...."eet eese soh goud!" <BR> <BR>Happy Travels!

Is afternoon tea at the Cap seasonal? I'll be there the last week of August.

Is afternoon tea service at Cap Juluca seasonal? I will be there the last week of August.

Hi Kat: I do not think the tea service is seasonal, it should be available at all times. It does sound nice, I have never tried it, as I enjoy the beach at that time of the day. Looks like I was missing a nice relaxing experience. Enjoy!