By Robin Hutson
With soft, white-sand beaches and a strong local culture, Anguilla has everything you want in a Caribbean vacation. And with multiple five-star resorts to choose from, it makes for a serene and stylish getaway. While Anguilla used to be a destination that took some effort, direct flights from Miami have now made it an easier place to visit, even for a three-day weekend.
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The friendly locals, delicious culinary options, and calm, turquoise waters make Anguilla one of my favorite island destinations. While there are plenty of luxurious properties to choose from, I think three of them stand out above the rest.
Cap Juluca, A Belmond Hotel, Anguilla
Cap Juluca, A Belmond Hotel, Aguilla has been welcoming guests since opening in 1988. The resort’s distinctive white Moorish architecture evokes a European glamour that makes this the perfect property for a romantic getaway. With 64 rooms and 44 suites, it’s a mid-sized luxury resort on one of the best beaches in Anguilla, just 10 minutes from the airport. And its private setting on Maundays Bay is perhaps the best thing about this serene, sophisticated resort.
Rooms and Accommodations
Rooms at Cap Juluca are spacious, with big, beautiful bathrooms with soaking tubs and outdoor showers. All room categories have private terraces, four-poster beds, and colorful, French-Caribbean-inspired accents.
Even the smallest room category, either a king or two twins, starts at around 700 square feet and includes a sleeper sofa. Room categories range from standard rooms to suites, villas, and casitas, all with private pools. Signature suites include airport transfers and bespoke activities. Connecting rooms are available, and all rooms are beachfront, just steps from the sand.
When Luxe books your stay, you will have access to complimentary amenities like resort credits, welcome amenity, daily breakfast for two per bedroom, and put you in the highest available category for upgrades. Learn about these perks.
Amenities
My favorite thing about Cap Juluca is the beach. Private, expansive and serene, this truly is the best beach on the island. That’s important because the outdoor pool at Cap Juluca is modest in size and understated. This is a resort for beach people and older children. This is an important aspect to consider if you have kids who are looking for water features or a lively atmosphere.
Since the resort is made up of two-story low-rise buildings and villas, the sandy beach is literally just outside your terrace. Beach attendants set up your private chaises each day and stock your cooler with cold drinks.
On the beach, guests can go horseback riding, opt for a boat ride, or try watersports like snorkeling. You can also enjoy outdoor activities such as kayaking or fishing. There is a small kids’ club, fitness center and tennis courts. The Spa by Guerlain has seven treatment rooms, a sauna, plunge pools and a rooftop infinity pool. Open-air relaxation spaces take advantage of the stunning beachfront views.
Dining
The dining at Cap Juluca is one of the resort’s strong points. The vibe is sophisticated Caribbean, with diversity among the four restaurants and lounges. Uchu is the resort’s Peruvian restaurant, with a delicious menu of ceviche, grilled meats and Peruvian dishes.
As one of the best restaurants on the island, I recommend you visit Uchu, even if you are staying at another property. Pimms is the original signature restaurant with a romantic vibe and a Caribbean menu. Cips by Cipriani is a casual Italian restaurant serving pizza and pastas, while The Cap Shack is the beachfront casual spot serving rum punch, tapas, and sandwiches.
Belmond Cap Juluca is a beautiful resort with large, luxurious rooms, elevated fine dining and a sophisticated vibe. It is a stylish property that would make the perfect location for a romantic getaway, honeymoon, or vacation spot for older children. Occupying one of the best stretches of sand in the island of Anguilla, it’s a resort for anyone who puts a beautiful beach at the top of their wish list.
Aurora Anguilla Resort & Golf Club
Aurora Anguilla has so much going for it that it’s hard to pick what makes it stand out. Is it the waterpark for kids? The wide variety of accommodation options and huge private villas? Or is it the seasonal charter plane that provides direct flights from New York for resort guests only? Whatever the case, Aurora Anguilla (the former Cuisinart Resort in a past life), offers a little something for everyone. As one of the most family-friendly properties on island, Aurora has a vibrant beach and poolside scene perfect for little ones or families who want action.
Accommodations
Aurora Anguilla Resort & Golf Club is a big resort. Not exactly a mega-resort, but the property is expansive and divided into several sections, so it’s important to know where to book for your family. And it’s set across 300 acres, so know in advance that some of the beaches and restaurants require a shuttle to get around.
Rooms in Merrywing Beach are a very short walk to the water park. So, if the water park is a priority for your family, book here. This wing has massive connecting rooms, and you can connect a regular room with a junior suite. You can even expand to a multi-bedroom setup. The oceanfront suites are enormous and many of them have large 1,100-square-foot patios with hot tubs overlooking the ocean. Décor is neutral and serene, with large bathrooms and soaking tubs. The Merrywing Beach area has two restaurants and its own family pool.
Rendezvous Bay Beach is the original section of the resort, and these premium rooms and spacious suites are directly on the beach. It’s also part of the resort where the spa, fitness center, main pool, and three restaurants are located. Rooms are neutral with blue coastal accents, large terraces and bathrooms with soaking tubs. The smallest room starts at 800 square feet. Room categories start with double rooms and junior suites and expand to 1, 3, and 5-bedroom villas. The largest five-bedroom villa is 3,700 square feet.
The Tower is the contemporary section of the resort nearer to the water park. Though this section is the more affordable wing of the resort, the rooms are still incredibly nice. For a family looking for space at a great price point, this section offers a nice value. Clean lines and contemporary furnishings with bright colors define these king and double-bedded rooms.
For the ultimate indulgence, book one of the resort’s estate villas, with a private swimming pool, full kitchen, dining room, concierge, and butler service.
When Luxe books your stay, you will have access to complimentary amenities like resort credits, welcome amenity, daily breakfast for two per bedroom, and put you in the highest available category for upgrades. Learn about these perks.
Amenities
The resort’s activity center offers excellent amenities, including a tennis court, pickleball, mini golf, a basketball court, volleyball, bocce ball, a climbing wall, a kids’ club and a dedicated teen center.
The water park has a zero-entry pool, lazy river, splash pad, swim-up bar, cabanas and three waterslides. There are also smaller pools within each accommodation wing. A fitness center, spa, and two Greg-Norman-designed golf courses round out the extensive amenities.
Dining
With seven restaurants and multiple bars and lounges on-site, the dining at the resort has something for every palate. Tokyo Bay is the sushi restaurant, while D Richards offers a classic steakhouse experience. Oliva is an Italian-inspired poolside restaurant, while Breezes and the Chef’s Table serve classic, elevated cuisine.
As the largest resort in Anguilla, Aurora has an endless amount of activity options for families who want to stay busy. Though the resort is very luxurious, there are accommodations at more affordable price points, in addition to ultra-luxe villas with private pools. One of the best things about the resort is its prime location on island, with convenient access for exploring and enjoying local boutiques and restaurants. In fact, two of the most authentic beach shacks are within walking distance on either side of the resort, including Banky Banx’s Dune Preserve, an Anguilla institution.
Four Seasons Resort Anguilla
While Belmond Cap Juluca is the perfect place for serene sophistication and Aurora is all about kid-friendly fun, the Four Seasons Resort Anguilla is a blend of the two. With ultra-luxe accommodations in a refined setting and plenty of family-friendly activities, including a complimentary kids’ club, this resort offers the perfect combination for a luxury vacation.
Accommodations
Rooms at the resort are design-forward with a sleek aesthetic. Celebrity designer Kelly Wearstler did the interiors, and this is reflected in the driftwood lamps, contemporary art, and clean lines. There are multiple room categories with 70 guest rooms, 50 suites, 24 beachfront villas, 4 townhomes and 33 residences. Standard rooms are spacious with terraces and have large bathrooms with soaking tubs.
For more space, opt for one of the suites, which have large lounge areas and oceanfront plunge pools. My favorite option at this resort is the villas and townhomes.
With a full gourmet kitchen, private pools, and airy, open designs that capitalize on the oceanfront views, these are the best option for families and larger groups checking in to this resort. And every townhome and villa comes with its own golf cart for getting around and exploring the resort.
When Luxe books your stay, you will have access to complimentary amenities like resort credits, welcome amenity, daily breakfast for two per bedroom, and put you in the highest available category for upgrades. Learn about these perks.
Amenities
The Four Seasons Resort has everything you would expect in a five-star resort: a top-of-the-line fitness center, three oceanfront pools, tennis, and complimentary non-motorized watersports. The 8,100-square-foot award-winning spa has 13 treatment rooms and oceanfront relaxation areas, plus a lovely infinity pool for relaxing before and after treatments.
But it’s the little things that take this resort to a whole other level of luxury. There are on-site Mokes for rent to explore the island, weekly beach barbecues, and one of the prettiest resort boutiques I’ve seen anywhere.
The Four Seasons Anguilla also has incredible family-friendly amenities. In addition to the complimentary kids’ club, you’ll find child-sized chaises on the beach and buckets of sand toys laid out for little ones.
Dining
Salt is the resort’s blufftop signature restaurant, serving breakfast and elevated seafood dishes during the evening. The Half Shell Beach Bar is a beachfront casual spot for lunch, and the Bamboo Bar and Grill is an open-air dining room serving breakfast and lunch.
Come evening, the Sunset Lounge is the place to be. With a menu of sushi and small plates, as well as craft cocktails and rare vintage rums, it’s a chic spot to wind down your evening. Also, the lounge’s adults-only oceanfront infinity pool is truly a must-do experience.
As the sun begins to set over the ocean and soft reggae tunes play overhead, you’ll think it can’t get any better than this. But that’s before the champagne butler comes around with a floating tray of champagne for everyone in the pool to enjoy as they watch the sun go down. Luxurious? Yes. Sublime? Absolutely.
The Four Seasons Anguilla combines the best of everything on the island. The top-rated oceanfront resort offers great Caribbean cuisine, soft, serene beaches, and a family-friendly vibe that doesn’t sacrifice style. It’s a mid-size resort that is spread out and never feels crowded. And the resort’s incredible oceanfront villas are some of the nicest I’ve seen anywhere. It’s also ideally situated for exploring the island. It’s located next door to the Savi Beach Club, a stylish beachfront bar and restaurant that is also one of the best dining spots in Anguilla.
Getting the most out of your Anguilla trip
Reach out for help planning your trip to Anguilla, and we can share our expertise on helping you choose the right resort, the right room categories, and we can VIP your stay with complimentary amenities.