November 2010 Trip Report

This was our third trip to Anguilla, and it is still my favorite island. Due to the airline canceling our Thanksgiving Day flight, we flew out the day before Thanksgiving, one of the worst travel days of the year. Surprisingly, the trip down was quick and uneventful. We arrived at Princess Juliana Airport and took the Funtime Shuttle to Anguilla. The Funtime people load you up in a van to drive the equivalent of about half a block to the dock. This year, there were many more travelers than we had seen in previous years over Thanksgiving, so the large boat was full. The waves were a bit more exciting than usual too, keeping you attentive that your Carib did not spill on the short trip over to Blowing Point Harbor.

For our next trip, I plan to take better notes on what we do each day so that I can remember what we did. Usually I use my photos to remember, but I did not take it everywhere, and I really do not want to forget the dinners at Barrel Stay , Straw Hat, and Veya, when my camera stayed in the room. That was our first visit to Barrel Stay, and I wish we had discovered it on previous trips.

This year we stayed at Anacaona Boutique Hotel, formerly Sirena. In previous years, we have stayed at Cuisinart Resort and Meads Bay Beach Villas, and found them lovely, although pricey. There is no doubt why Anacaona has received so much great press as an affordable way to visit Anguilla. Our two-bedroom cottage, just steps from a pool, and a short walk to Meads Bay, was only $260 a night. It’s tough to find a hotel room in Chicago in the winter for that rate. Although the cottage was not as luxurious as Meads Bay Beach Villas, it was a great value for the money, especially if you are like us and take your kids on vacation. They are continuing their work to update the property. Not a day passed where some new work was not done. The Anguillan breakfast at Anacaona was phenomenal. It consisted of a whole fish and crisp, warm johnny cakes. Delicious!

Anacaona also has the Mayoumba Folkloric Show on Thursday nights. In addition to dinner, you are treated to a show of stories and songs of Anguillan history. They are a very talented group!

If it’s Saturday, this must be Smokey’s. Since we first heard Christmas carols with a Caribbean beat here in 2007, Smokey’s is a regular visit and always puts us in the right frame of mind. The Musical Brothers did just that.

Thanks to the people at the Anguilla Forum, we discovered Sand Bar. The menu, with a cover of sandpaper, features a variety tapas. Every one we tried was fantastic. We will be sure to return.