When we first traveled to Anguilla in 2007, we stayed at the CuisinArt Resort on Rendezvous Bay. Since that visit, we have returned to Anguilla half a dozen times, staying at the CuisinArt again in 2014. In 2023, we returned to the resort, now Aurora Anguilla. Several people have asked how the Aurora compares to the CuisinArt. Overall the resort has seen many improvements, and here are our impressions from our stay in November-December 2023. Upon arrival, you are greeted with a cool towel and a cocktail (your choice of alcohol or non-alcoholic), with the flavor of lemongrass – my favorite! You are given your room key which was not…
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When we first visited Anguilla in 2007, Bankie Banx’s Dune Preserve was much different than we see today. Back in November 2007, the bar was expanding, and construction was in full force. My daughter was 10 years old, and spotted Bankie on the beach, prompting one of our favorite photos. Over the years, we have returned again and again, seeing many changes, but the atmosphere remained the same, making it one of the best beach bar in the Caribbean. Take a look at the changes to the Dune over the years. 2007 2009 2010 2014 2020 2023 Watch for “Bankie Banx King of the Dune,” the story of Bankie Banx…
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One benefit of returning again and again to the same place is that you know the lay of the land. You know the best beaches, the best restaurants, and where to stay. After years of traveling to Anguilla, we gravitate toward the west side of the island, and favor the beaches on the southern side, facing St. Martin/Ste. Maarten. This trip, we returned to Rendezvous Bay. It has amazing views of the hills of St. Martin/Ste. Maarten, has calm water and soft sand, and you can walk to some of the best beach bars and music on the island. I’ll post shortly on our stay at Aurora Anguilla, which we…
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When you have traveled to a place seven times, it’s easy to get into a pattern of visiting the same places and eating at the same restaurants each trip. We do try to add a couple new places every time we visit Anguilla, and were excited to try Artisan Pizza Napoletana in Island Harbour. Even though we stayed on the west end, it was an easy drive out to Island Harbour. Our kids had eaten there earlier in the week when they went out to Island Harbour for a night kayaking trip with Liquid Glow. They raved about the place, so the whole family headed out a few nights later. When…
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This was our 7th trip to Anguilla (AXA), but our first time flying direct to Anguilla from the US. Typically, we would fly to either Charlotte (CLT) or Miami (MIA) and then on to St. Martin (SXM). From there, we would take a charter over to Anguilla. I loved to have a rum punch on the ride over, but it was a bit of time to get to the island. On the way home, you had to plan the time to get to the ferry terminal, take the boat over, and transfer to SXM to fly home. It added a couple hours on each end of your trip. In April…
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We’re just back from our 2023 visit to Anguilla – our 7th trip to the island. We stayed at the Aurora Anguilla, and have loads to share. I know some readers have been interested in the comparison between the CuisinArt Resort (where we stayed in 2007 and 2014) and Aurora, so look for that to come. Overall, it was a week for relaxation and recharging, with beautiful beaches and fantastic food, and Anguilla never disappoints. Stay tuned!
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Location Luxurious Accommodations On-Site Restaurant Eco-Friendly Even if you don’t consider yourself to be an environmentalist, it is nice to know that efforts are made to preserve valuable resources and protect the natural beauty of the places we enjoy. Frangipani is leading the way in using clean energy to power the resort, reduce waste, and minimize the impact on the natural environment. Solar panels supply approximately 70% of the resort’s energy needs. Frangipani provides each guest with a reusable cup, and provides a chilled water dispenser near the pool from which to refill your glass. The resort has also moved to paper straws to reduce plastic waste. The small amenities…
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Before leaving Anguilla, I had intended to write a story about the island’s recovery after the devastation of Hurricane Irma. While we were there, I looked for all the things that had changed. Homes, hotels, restaurants, and businesses had been rebuilt, and some were in the process of rebuilding. But upon reflection, this was not what I really wanted to write about. What was most remarkable was not the new structures, new businesses, or renovations. Instead, what inspired me was what compels us to return again and again. Anguilla is more than what is, or was, there. Instead, it is about who is there. Anguilla is back? The heart of…
