All the film is back from the lab, all the digital images processed, and even our bags are unpacked (even the camera bag!), and our 2014 Anguilla Trip Report is complete. This year we visited many old friends, and made many new. It remains our favorite island in the Caribbean and every day I wish I was still there. Walk with us along the beach at Rendezvous Bay. Dine at our favorite restaurants, including SandBar, Smokey’s, Picante, Geraud’s, and many more. Shop for great gifts at Limin’ Boutique and Irie Life. Dive below the surface with Shoal Bay Scuba. Browse through all our posts from over the years: [the_grid name=”Anguilla”]…
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No trip to Anguilla is complete without a stop at Geraud’s. I am amazed every time I enter the shop – – row after row of gorgeous pastries and breads to choose from! I’m no chef, but I had always read that good pastry requires cool conditions, and Anguilla is anything but cool. He turns out croissants with such light, flaky layers! If you have read my posts over the years, you know the pain au chocolat is my favorite! Geraud’s has been our regular breakfast stop over the past couple trips, however, this year, we stayed at the CuisinArt where breakfast is included. But that’s no excuse to…
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There are a lot of lists of the best beaches in the Caribbean and the best beaches in Anguilla. When it comes to Anguilla, you usually hear about Shoal Bay, and don’t get me wrong, it is a beautiful beach. So is Meads Bay, and Cove Bay, and Maunday’s Bay. I could keep going, but my favorite beach on the island remains Rendezvous Bay. It was our first beach on the island. When we first visited in 2007, we arrived after dark. I remember walking out on the balcony and seeing loads of stars, hearing the waves, and seeing bits of the surf in the distance, but it wasn’t until the…
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It was our first night on the island, and we were headed to Picante to catch some margaritas and Mexican food. The only problem? Picante is closed on Tuesdays. A new plan is needed. We start driving east, trying to think where to go. Driving along, just as we were passing Dungeon Gym, over on the south side of the road I spotted the red lanterns of Cha Cha San. I recognized it immediately from Anguilla Beaches, and said “Quick, turn around!” We were early to dinner, and glad that there wasn’t trouble getting a table, because after a long day of travel, we would need to retire early. I…
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We don’t shop much on vacation, but we do like to pick up a few gifts and some t-shirts to add to our collection. Our favorite place for t-shirts on Anguilla is Irie Life. Irie Life has two locations, one on Back Street in South Hill, and one in Sandy Ground. We always go to the one in South Hill. Irie Life carries more than t-shirts. We’ve picked up some cool jewelry and great hats there in the past, and they have loads of beachwear too, but the t-shirts are our favorite. They have such great designs, and it’s always difficult to choose. These were my two favorites. Pick up…
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When we last visited Anguilla in 2010, we quickly became fans of SandBar, a beachside tapas restaurant in Sandy Ground. It quickly became one of our favorite beach bars. Since our last visit, the restaurant was sold to Darren and Alicia Banks, and I feared that one of my favorite restaurants would become merely a memory. I was thrilled to find that the “new” SandBar was just as impressive, with fantastic food and great service. There were a few changes. You used to be able to enter from the beach along the deck on the eastern side of the building. Now, the only entrance is on the western side of…
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We were looking for a special restaurant on Anguilla for what was Thanksgiving Day in the States, and we found our way back to Barrel Stay. Located in Sandy Ground on the beach, hosts and chef, and husband and wife team, Jill and Graham, offer a great place for fine beachfront dining. Upon arrival, we were greeted by Jill as if we were old friends. We had been there before, back in 2009 or 2010, but we were not even close to regular guests, yet we were treated as if we were. Jill has a warm way of welcoming you, and when it comes to describing what Graham has prepared…
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Coming back to The CuisinArt was like coming home again. We stayed here on our very first trip to Anguilla in 2007. I still remember the doorman calling to us as we ventured out for our first bit of driving on the island, “Left is right, right is wrong!” It’s a family-friendly resort that’s not too stuffy and not at all chaotic. It just fits. The resort is just as beautiful and the staff just as welcoming as I remembered. The grounds are well-maintained, filled with lush plantings. The lobby looks out to the beautiful series of tiered pools that lead you out to the beach. And the beach is…
