Jane9
Reged: 11/15/04
Posts: 8
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I am planning a vacation and I cannot make up my mind between these two islands. I would really appreciate some advice from anyone who has done both. If it makes any difference, we are in our late 30s, active, enjoy fine restaurants, dancing, listening to music while on vacation and we don't speak a word of French.
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Mike R
Reged: 05/26/03
Posts: 15651
Loc: Stinson Lake - New Hampshire
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Anguilla..better beaches
St Barts..better food
Anguilla..bigger island with rolling hills
St Barts...smaller island with jagged rocky volcanic outcrops
St Barts people are a bit more friendly then Anguillans
St Barts high season is a little more energetic then Anguilla's high season....a plus for some..a minus for others
thats it in a nut shell..and don't sweat not knowing French on St Barts...there was a time when that could be a bit of a problem, but ever since the North American invasion of the 90's,and the prevailing North Ameican attitude that everyone should speak our language and we should speak no one else's..... everyone pretty much now speaks at least a little English ...
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karma is a beautiful thing at times
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SteveO
Reged: 06/06/03
Posts: 78
Loc: Boston, MA
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I've been to both. Stayed at the Cuisinart on Anguilla and got totally pampered. I stayed at Le Tom in St. Barts last spring and liked it even more.
My observations.
Anguilla is more isolated and spread out. Seemed to be a lot more quieter. Taxi's to and from places add up. Driving is easy but rather bland. No Taxi's in St. Barts so if you like to get a little tipsy during dinner remember you may have to drive home.
Food in both is great, give St. Barts an edge on having more (in terms of overall numbers) quality restaurants.
Expense? I actually spent less money on St. Barts than I did Anguilla. You can spend as much as you want on either island without breaking the bank.
Flair? Anguilla had a much more Caribbean feel, reggae music, food more Caribbean inspired. St. Barts had a very European feel.
I liked St. Barts for the overall selection of activities it offers. Great Dining, great beaches you can visit, and great shopping. I felt much more independant on St. Barts and I liked that. Anguilla it seemed I depended upon the resort pampering me and selecting my activities for me. Both are great though and you can't go wrong!
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Jane9
Reged: 11/15/04
Posts: 8
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We were thnking about staying at the Cuisinart although I hate the name! Steve which island did you find most relaxing? What do you think about splitting time? Is a few days enought at each or will it feel rushed?
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DAL
Reged: 04/28/03
Posts: 101
Loc: Easton, Ct
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Hi Jane - It depends on what you are looking for. We do both islands. This year we are leaving Friday for Anguilla and will go to SBH in February. Sometimes we do a week in SBH and fly over to Anguilla for a week. I find Anguilla very relaxing. If you are a roll out of bed on to the beach person, Anguilla is great. I love the food on Anguilla and I find the people to be very friendly. We also love SBH, the food and the people. I think SBH is a little more hectic (or maybe we make it that way) lots of shopping, great restaurants. What I like more about Anguilla is the beaches are easier to access. There is quite a bit of hiking getting to St. Barths beaches other than Gouvenor and St. Jean. I like a lounge chair and a fresh towel at my disposal, hiking up a hill with a chair on my back is not my idea of a good time. NBC Today Show is featuring a wedding this Friday 11/19 airs from 7-10am which is at Cap Juluca.I am sure they will be showing different parts of Anguilla throughout the show. If you have enough time, do a week in SBH, shop to you drop, and then fly to Anguilla to vegg.
Good Luck, Diane
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Diane
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DAL
Reged: 04/28/03
Posts: 101
Loc: Easton, Ct
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Jane - I highly recommend Cap Juluca, we have stayed at both and find CJ to be more intimate. There are less people on a larger beach. Cuisinart felt like people were everywhere. Also, the beach at Cuisinart tends to be windy.
Diane
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Diane
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Jane9
Reged: 11/15/04
Posts: 8
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Thank you for the recommendation. That actually sounds like a great division of time but I think we'll only have a week. Is there anything on St. Barts like Cap Juluca? Where do you stay?
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DAL
Reged: 04/28/03
Posts: 101
Loc: Easton, Ct
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We have stayed at Emeraude Plage numerous times, a villa, and this year we are going to try Les Ilets de la Plage. We love staying right on the beach. The only two hotels I would compare to Cap Juluca would be Isle De France or Eden Rock. Both are very beautiful and are on the beach. Unfortunately with the current state of the Euro both are a little over the top for us in an oceanfront room. If you would like more info on Anguilla go to www.anguillaguide.com
or www.news.ai. Good Luck, Diane
Edited by DAL (11/15/04 01:55 PM)
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Cheri
Reged: 10/13/02
Posts: 1682
Loc: St. Louis, Missouri
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We have been going to St. Barths practically every year since 1994. We have been to Anguilla just once (we combined St. Barth and Anguilla on our 2001 trip). Here are our observations:
Anguilla - VERY laid back atmosphere, quite flat, scruffy island with not a lot of vistas to be seen while driving around, fantastic restaurants (as good as St. Barth in my opinion), absolutely fabulous beaches many of which are much longer than beaches in SBH and thus provide for long walks, most hotels located on the beaches with several high end including Cuisinart and Cap Juluca (which we did not stay at either but visited both and would definitely recommend Cap and would like to stay there when we return), many other beachfront hotels but not as many villa options from my understanding, not much shopping in Anguilla and no high end shopping at all (at least in 2001).
St. Barth - More "happening" island than Anguilla but still quite laid back in a lot of ways (if that makes sense), more development (much to the chagrin of some), very charming ambience with strong European flavor, very hilly, mountainous with beautiful vistas around every turn, beautiful beaches, incredible restaurants, four high end hotels (Isle de France and Eden Rock located on the beach and Carl Gustaf and Isle de France located in the hills), numerous boutique hotels and a lot of great villas many of which are also located in the hills, a lot of high end shopping as well as boutiques, fluency in french not required (but attempts are always appreciated).
Hope that helps!
Cheri
Edited by Cheri (11/15/04 05:27 PM)
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SteveO
Reged: 06/06/03
Posts: 78
Loc: Boston, MA
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I know Cap has its fans and it is a VERY nice place but the Cuisinart would be the place I would stay at if I returned to Anguilla. Cap seemed much more secluded and spread out. No TVs in the rooms and you could go a week without seeing many other guests.
The Cuisinart seemed more centrally located. The beach is breazy but never too windy where I had to pack it in. Also the Cuisinart's beach, Rendevouz Bay, is a great walk and there are other smaller hotels lines along it. If you want more isolation go for Cap. The Cuisinart, although expensive, is a better value IMO.
All that said I prefer St. Barts. Anguilla is a place I would get bored with after 2 weeks, St. Barts isn't. Do both for a week or a little more time on St. Barts. On Anguilla, you must do Scilly Cay however!
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Cheri
Reged: 10/13/02
Posts: 1682
Loc: St. Louis, Missouri
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We thought that Maundays Bay was quite beautiful and with Cap Juluca taking up the whole beach there, it is just a very private and incredible setting for a very stunningly beautiful hotel. We did not care for the beach at Cuisinart nearly as much. However, I don't think one would go wrong with either hotel. Both get great reviews.
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georgedp
Reged: 06/22/04
Posts: 2772
Loc: Beautiful hunterdon county new...
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In a word, Anguilla is BORING. Given a choice, having only a week as you have mentioned, I would take St. Barths over Anguilla. I have a personal philosophy when I am on vacation - I don't wear long pants, socks or jackets. Remember a few year back going to Pimms in Anguilla on a tuesday night, in the off season, and having a toothless waiter in a tuxedo telling us that we were under dressed but, because it was a slow night, they would do us a favor and give us a table. Farook that.
Skip Anguilla - go to St. Barths. And if you should make the decision to go to Anguilla, get ready to drive on the left side of the road and enjoy driving around their ''roundabouts''. Anguilla is great if you like goats (they have made it a point over the years to tell tourists that they have more goats than people). On a positive note, if you decide on Anguilla, check with your hotel's concierge and let them arrange a day trip to Sandy Island for the day - have their specialty drink "sex on the beach" or a couple of stripe beers and you will have fun. But, for my money, it's St. Barths over Anguilla - hands down.
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