Anguilla or SBH

[Bob]

There was a long feature article on Anguilla in Friday's USA Today which included a comparison of Anguilla and SBH. As always, USA Today did this from a "celebrity/high end" perspective. Having never been to Anguilla I am interested. Any information anyone has on Anguilla - and also comparisons to SBH from a more real viewpoint - would be much appreciated.

Bob in frigid Virginia

 

[MIke R]

better beaches....not better food.....

 

[rkenneken]

Definitely better beaches on Anguilla. The food is just as good but actually more expensive. The problem with Anguilla as I see it is the fact that it is very poor. The super rich don't care about this as they stay in very expensive compounds and venture out only to very expensive restaruants. It reminded my of being in Jamaica without the crime. There was an underlying sense of real discontent among the natives . Tourists were put in another class. In St. Barts the people who live there year round are hard working but properly compensated for their work and therefore have pride in what they do and do it well. This is not what happens in Anguilla. I was constantly cheated whenever I went to a local store or small restaurant (usually in incorrect change) and sometimes a look of surprise that I had ventured off the beaten path. In St Barts I feel I can go anywhere at anytime and feel safe and welcome (as welcome as the French allow one to be) As beautiful as the famous resorts and the beaches are in Anguilla I would never go back. (p.s. there is absolutely no shopping in Anguilla which did not make my wife very happy either)

 

[DAL]

We love Anguilla. The people are warm and friendly, there is no "attitude." The beaches are spectacular, the restaurants (IMO) are better than St. Barths. We love St. Barths, but love Anguilla as well. Usually we do a week in St. Barths and a week in Anguilla. St. Barths is a little hyper, and Anguilla is verrrry relaxing. If you want pampering, go to Anguilla and relax on the beautiful beaches
(they even have chairs). Go to Sandy Ground and visit one of the beach bars, on Sunday Johnno's has a local jazz band, it is great fun, locals and tourists, kids & dogs. Have some ribs and a couple of beers and watch the sailboats.Shoal Bay is another beautiful beach with fun beach bars and chairs & umbrellas to rent. Go to Scily Cay and have the most wonderful lobster of you life we always seem to meet other people there,who we sometimes have drinks and dinner with. If you really want pampering, go to
Cap Juluca and be treated like royalty. The employees there cannot be nicer. The beach is just beautiful. Favorite restaurants: Mangos, Altimer, Georges & Olivers.
As far as shopping I love Gustavia, but reality is I can buy most of what is there here in Westport, Ct. I actually see the same shoes I buy down there here at home. Another plus, Anguilla uses USD so you are not paying an addititional 20-25% for the eruo. Actually they use Eastern Caribbean Dollar but restaurants and hotels charge in USD. The Eastern Caribbean Dollar is about $1.85 to our
$1.00. I posted a trip report at the end of November from our Thanksgiving trip.

 

[caribce]

I second the love of Anquilla-Beautiful soft white sand beaches with the most turquoise waters!! Excellent restaurants by most standards-haven't been to STB! Everyone very nice and accomodating. Stayed at Cap Juluca twice in 90's-lovely view from first floor room, loved having brkfst on terrace! at Cuisinart this past June, service and staff were outstanding, extremely friendly, cost much lower than Cap and included more brkfst items on buffet. REally enjoyed "The Happy Hits" string band at Cuisinart at Tue Carib. nite buffet and at Scilly Cay on sunday. Beaches were practically deserted, walked down Shoal Bay hardly seeing a soul, also no-one on beach by Malliouhana one day but on sunday was packed w/ locals as there was a sail boat race that started there! Trying to decide if we'll like STB as much as Anquilla which is our favorite island along with Bermuda! I don't like flying or roller coasters so would probably ferry to STB!? we're looking for special place for our 25th anniv.late may-early june?? we've been to 9 carib islands,(Little Dix, STT Ritz, Nevis 4 Seasons...) I'm afraid in STB I won't have that carib feeling or any
"HOT HOT HOT" island tunes!?Had hoped to go to Mediterranea but don't want to fly that far now especially since youngest is only 7!

 

[slesgold]

I'm still a few weeks away from my first visit to SBH, so I won't/can't compare, but I'd have to say that my experience with the locals is the exact opposite of rkenneken's. I'd agree with DAL. Of the several islands we've been to, Anguilla was the firendliest and I felt like we were a part of the community and not just tourists who help the economy. Especially with regard to safety, I feel that Anguilla is at the top of the list and not at all like Jamaica or a number of other places.

It is very relaxing indeed and the restaurants are great. The beaches are wonderful and the Cap Juluca is dream-like.

 

[LindaP]

I agree that Anguilla has some of the nicest, friendliest people I've ever met.We were there last Xmas with our family(3 teens) and they loved the relaxation, great restaurants(Trattoria Tremonto, great Italian)....and Bankie Banx...reggae guy, with a funky sand-dune place. I agree the beaches are the best, although we chose SBs over Anguilla last May for our 25th anniversary. Next year we want to spend 4 days on Anguilla and 4-5on SBs in Jan. or Feb......this 30 below with wind chill is RIDICULOUS !!!! Fortunately, we are off to explore Mustique next sat for a week, .....anyone ever been?

 

[Lauren]

Mustique

Please post a trip report upon your return...I understand that other than the villas, the Cotton House and Basil's Beach Bar are the main places for social gatherings....of course there is always Mick Jagger's or David Bowie's place....

 

[Island Visitor]

Re: Mustique

There is also the Firefly on Mustique which is a nice place to stay. Have not been there (yet) but have done some research on it and chatted with folks who have. Apparently the Firefly is a pretty decent bargain and a nice place to boot. Cotton House looks fun as well.

 

[LindaP]

Re: Mustique

Thats where we are staying, at the Firefly. I will post a report on our return.....they give you a "mule", kinda like SBs topless buggys(forgot the name).....to explore the island. Maybe I will see Mick......

 

[Peter NJ]

rkenneken,your thoughts on anguilla are way off base,thanks to the 5 previous posts,i dont need to say much..i had a cottage in sandy ground,200 yards from johnnos,for 3 years..the people are the nicest,and proudest people in the caribbean...maybe you day tripped from sxm,or something...while crime is on the rise,even some murders,99% of those people would give you the shirt off there backs,if you needed it...the beaches? they put sbh to shame...not even in the same league...trust me,but there is little else in the way of activity..shopping? hmm,the tire store,the peoples market,the poultry farm,ect....get my drift? but funky beach bars,and great places to eat,all price range...axa rules!!!

 

[noel]

I've never been to Anguilla and don't have strong opinions one way or the other, but Peter, in your criticism of rkenneken did you really say that crime in Anguilla is on the rise, with some murders???

Yikes!!

"Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how did you like the play?"

 

[andynap]

Have never stayed there, but visited dozens of times doing the Scilly Cay trip from SXM and I must say driving the entire length of the island to get to Scilly Cay there are a lot of depressed areas in the interior to say the least and the appearance is one of poverty. I have not seen anything like that in SBH. To be sure the beaches in AXA are great- Shoal Bay, et al., and the resorts are luxurious- but one stays on the entire island not just in their room, IMHO.

 

[slesgold]

Yes, there is poverty, although not in the sense that breeds problems, i.e., there is neither homelessness nor a lack of basic needs for the people who live in somewhat simple means. I'd call the interior a bit blighted, I suppose, but that's from the perspective of an American urban dweller and I'm not sure that the same standard applies. As a result, there is little discontent. As for the crime rise, I'm not sure that 2 murders in about 20 years is a statistically valid enough amount of data to call it a rise, even thought they both occurred in the last couple years. Note that all were shocked by the murders, thus indicating that they are not the norm. You wouldn't assume some small farming town has suddenly become a dangerous place rampant with crime just because a murder occurred and I don't think it's fair to treat a small island any differently. Anguilla is a very, very safe place to vacation, safer almost certainly than wherever you travel from.

 

[MIke R]

Steve brings up a very good point...when i lived in St Croix in the late seventies, I met many people, who by our standard and by our definition, would be considered to be living in poverty.....I can tell you this.... they were very happy people living a very simple life and wanted for nothing more then they already had......and found it quite funny that some mainland Americans thought they had the right to impose their value system and standard of "good" on the native Cruzans

 

[andynap]

Mike- wasn't this right after the killings on the golf course that devastated tourism for years to come? I am not denigrating the islanders for their lifestyle I am commenting on the perception to outsiders. If I go on vacation I do care what the place looks like. When we were in Rio De Janeiro the shacks were in the tourist areas- not pleasant and similar to areas in Mexico that I have been to.

 

[MIke R]

Andy I hear you and agree at least in priciple in what you are saying...my point was, let's not neccesarily equate what we call poverty with automatic crime and degenerative behaviors....crime exists everywhere and it eventually will rear its ugly head on SBH....especially given the growth and exponetially increased popularity which currently exists...and to think not is to think in a bubble of fantasy as far as I am concerned...you cant go backwards once you take that leap forward...and crime comes with the package

 

[andynap]

I didn't and do not equate crime with looks- the original poster wanted to know the difference between AXA and SBH and that was my perception. I happen to think as does my wife that the Anguillans are the nicest people there are regardless of their habitation.

 

[Cheri]

I believe there have been two murders in the past year (both were residents from what I have read) and I know one of the murders was of a long time resident Pressure King who was adored by many who knew him. From what I have read there is a dark side to his life, a story that is yet to totally be unearthed.

That said, when we went to Anguilla three years ago we felt safe but whoever stated that the island has an appearance of poverty is correct. The beaches are beautiful, the restaurants fabulous and resorts first class but it is lacking in the charm that is ever present in SBH. The very flat scrubby terrain and many half built homes just do not lend themselves to beautiful landscapes and vistas. We would go back but probably only for a couple of days on our way to SBH.

 

[slesgold]

I'd like to emphasize the point about crime reports not necessarily indicating a less safe locale than many places we take for granted as being safe. In fact, most, if not all, Caribbean islands are safer than our cities in the States, especially if you consider motor vehicle accidents. I can understand wanting to choose the safer of two alternatives for a vacation regardless of the relative risk compared to one's home, however. In that regard, I'm not as comfortable in Jamaica as I've been elsewhere. And I can also understand an uneasiness with looking poverty (regardless of the happiness of the people) in the face, particularly in direct contrast to plush luxury resorts. However, Anguilla simply doesn't make me uncomfortable and I believe it is because the people are so glad to see me and make friends with me. I can only hope I feel as wanted on SBH when I get there in another couple weeks.