Korinne and I just arrived in Anguilla this afternoon. We're very much looking forward to all of your arrivals. All the welcome bags are packed, the plans are set, and all you have to do is show up (and follow the instructions/itinerary in your welcome letter...unless you don't). The first of you arrive tomorrow (Wednesday) and we're sure you'll all have a good time.
If you need any last minute refreshers on travel or island info, the blog archive on the right below the Angulla crest and welcome note has links to every post in chronological order. Click on the month and it will show the names of the posts. The welcome letter will also have plenty of info on paper, so if you forget or don't have time to look, don't worry.
Well, we're going to enjoy the next couple days (though tomorrow is all wedding prep) and then the big show starts. See you soon...
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Dune Preserve
You really cannot say that you've been to Anguilla unless you've been to Dune Preserve, the bar/restaurant owned by the legendary Bankie Banx. Bankie is a local who is a fairly well-known reggae singer, and he's been the proprietor of the Dune Preserve for over 15 years...and through numerous hurricanes that have caused varying amounts of damage to the sand dunes and the bar itself.
Every March, Bankie hosts Moonsplash, a music festival that draws bands that you have heard of. Also, Jimmy Buffett's "Live in Anguilla" concert CD was recorded at Dune Preserve. And Bankie usually plays live himself every Wednesday. In fact, if you're going to be on island on Wednesday, we will all be lucky enough to witness it in person.
Dune Preserve is (say it with me now) right on the beach next to the CuisinArt resort - very convenient if you're staying there, though none of us are for the wedding. When there isn't live music, it's just a relaxed beach bar where everyone is friendly, especially a few rum punches into the night. Korinne and I actually saw Lucy Liu there one time, enjoying the musical stylings of Bankie Banx. Despite that sighting, we highly recommend hanging out there...and we all probably will. Trust me.
Here's Dune Preserve from the beach at CuisinArt:
Every March, Bankie hosts Moonsplash, a music festival that draws bands that you have heard of. Also, Jimmy Buffett's "Live in Anguilla" concert CD was recorded at Dune Preserve. And Bankie usually plays live himself every Wednesday. In fact, if you're going to be on island on Wednesday, we will all be lucky enough to witness it in person.
Dune Preserve is (say it with me now) right on the beach next to the CuisinArt resort - very convenient if you're staying there, though none of us are for the wedding. When there isn't live music, it's just a relaxed beach bar where everyone is friendly, especially a few rum punches into the night. Korinne and I actually saw Lucy Liu there one time, enjoying the musical stylings of Bankie Banx. Despite that sighting, we highly recommend hanging out there...and we all probably will. Trust me.
Here's Dune Preserve from the beach at CuisinArt:
Trattoria Tramonto
If you're looking for some good standard Italian fare in a relaxed setting right on the beach (imagine that!), Trattoria Tramonto is your place. The locals call it "TT" because for some reason nobody seems to be able to pronounce the word "trattoria." Kinda funny. It's located at Shoal Bay West, right next to the Blue Waters villas and close to all the hotels where we're all staying.
The food is really tasty and it's one of the few (only?) Italian places on the island. I won't stick my neck out and judge it relative to the cooking of Mamas Ryan or Murphy (despite the Irish married names, they are both of Italian descent...and make some mean chicken cutlets). But it definitely does the trick. It must, because TT is a favorite of the celebrities that make their way to Anguilla - check out the photos on the wall when you walk in. Maybe Denzel will be having another birthday party there.
Actually, I just checked out the website (http://www.trattoriatramonto.com/) and it looks like they've posted all the celebrity photos on the restaurant's home page. TT was one of our backups for the wedding ceremony/reception in case Smokey's fell through. You'll certainly enjoy the food and the atmosphere if you make it up to TT. Here's a shot of the restaurant during the day:
The food is really tasty and it's one of the few (only?) Italian places on the island. I won't stick my neck out and judge it relative to the cooking of Mamas Ryan or Murphy (despite the Irish married names, they are both of Italian descent...and make some mean chicken cutlets). But it definitely does the trick. It must, because TT is a favorite of the celebrities that make their way to Anguilla - check out the photos on the wall when you walk in. Maybe Denzel will be having another birthday party there.
Actually, I just checked out the website (http://www.trattoriatramonto.com/) and it looks like they've posted all the celebrity photos on the restaurant's home page. TT was one of our backups for the wedding ceremony/reception in case Smokey's fell through. You'll certainly enjoy the food and the atmosphere if you make it up to TT. Here's a shot of the restaurant during the day:
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Ferry Information
Here is another go-round for the ferry instructions to get you from SXM to Anguilla. You have two options - the regular public ferry or a private ferry service. Each takes about the same amount of total time. The public ferry is slightly less expensive (including cab from the airport to the ferry terminal) and the private ferry is slightly more convenient.
The private ferry is a smaller boat that seats about 10 and costs between $50 and $70 per person. When you get through customs at SXM, a representative will meet you in the airport terminal and put you in a car that drives three minutes to their ferry dock. They will load your luggage, take your passports, and put you through customs at another marina a few minutes away. It's a very easy transition if you have a lot of baggage (not including the emotional kind). The water can be a bit rough if you have a tendency toward seasickness since it's a smaller boat, but once you walk out of the airport you can basically relax with a drink until you get to Anguilla. Here are a couple private ferry options, or just call your hotel and they can take care of it:
http://www.funtime-charters.com/anguilla-ferry.html
http://www.anguillaferryandcharter.com/home.html
The public ferry is a much larger boat so seasickness is less of an issue. When you arrive at the airport, exit to the right and there is a taxi line. Take a taxi to the public ferry at Marigot (again, silent T Frenchy pronunciation), about 25 minutes depending on traffic. At the terminal, go through customs again (takes 30 seconds) before boarding. The cab will run you $20-25 and the ferry ticket is about $15 per person.
Again, they both take about the same amount of time, so it's really up to you. Neither is more confusing or difficult than the other, so it's a matter of price and convenience. I understand that Jackie has been reaching out to those of you who made reservations through her re: arrival info. Either via Jackie or yourself, please let your hotel know when and how you are arriving. Some of the hotels will have representatives at the airport and the Anguilla ferry terminal to direct you. There are cabs at the terminal - get in one and go to your hotel...and start the relaxation!
Returning to SXM: If you're taking a private ferry, don't forget to have a reservation made in advance. If taking the public ferry, just be mindful of the scheduled departures. You will want to make sure you get to the airport about 90 minutes before your flight departs. Make sure your ferry will get you there in time. We typically leave our hotel around 2.5 to 3 hours ahead of our flight time, just in case there is a snafu. You can also ask your hotel when they suggest you depart.
The private ferry is a smaller boat that seats about 10 and costs between $50 and $70 per person. When you get through customs at SXM, a representative will meet you in the airport terminal and put you in a car that drives three minutes to their ferry dock. They will load your luggage, take your passports, and put you through customs at another marina a few minutes away. It's a very easy transition if you have a lot of baggage (not including the emotional kind). The water can be a bit rough if you have a tendency toward seasickness since it's a smaller boat, but once you walk out of the airport you can basically relax with a drink until you get to Anguilla. Here are a couple private ferry options, or just call your hotel and they can take care of it:
http://www.funtime-charters.com/anguilla-ferry.html
http://www.anguillaferryandcharter.com/home.html
The public ferry is a much larger boat so seasickness is less of an issue. When you arrive at the airport, exit to the right and there is a taxi line. Take a taxi to the public ferry at Marigot (again, silent T Frenchy pronunciation), about 25 minutes depending on traffic. At the terminal, go through customs again (takes 30 seconds) before boarding. The cab will run you $20-25 and the ferry ticket is about $15 per person.
Again, they both take about the same amount of time, so it's really up to you. Neither is more confusing or difficult than the other, so it's a matter of price and convenience. I understand that Jackie has been reaching out to those of you who made reservations through her re: arrival info. Either via Jackie or yourself, please let your hotel know when and how you are arriving. Some of the hotels will have representatives at the airport and the Anguilla ferry terminal to direct you. There are cabs at the terminal - get in one and go to your hotel...and start the relaxation!
Returning to SXM: If you're taking a private ferry, don't forget to have a reservation made in advance. If taking the public ferry, just be mindful of the scheduled departures. You will want to make sure you get to the airport about 90 minutes before your flight departs. Make sure your ferry will get you there in time. We typically leave our hotel around 2.5 to 3 hours ahead of our flight time, just in case there is a snafu. You can also ask your hotel when they suggest you depart.
Travel Tips
As you prepare to head to Anguilla in a few weeks, we wanted to give you a few tips for getting to and living your lives on the island. Feel free to reach out to either of us if you have any specific questions.
Korinne and D.J.’s Anguilla Travel Tips:
1. DON'T FORGET YOUR PASSPORTS!
2. Cash and Credit Cards - Anguilla's currency is the Eastern Caribbean Dollar, which is pegged to USD at EC$2.70 per dollar, but everyone typically uses US dollars down there. In fact, I don't know that I've even seen an actual paper XCD except maybe on the wall behind a bar. So you'll be fine with whatever is in your wallet/purse/fanny pack/European man-satchel.
Before you leave, you will want to hit an ATM or pick up some travelers checks though. There are a number of ATMs around Anguilla, including a few you'll see along the side of the road as you are driving around, but they tend to run out of cash on weekends. The ATMs in town (The Valley, center of the island and east of where we're all staying) at the main bank offices seem to be the most reliable, and we've used an ATM in Sandy Ground along with a few at banks alongside the main road. In terms of having cash on you, every hotel room has a safe. Crime is very low in Anguilla anyway (Cap Juluca does not have room keys).
Believe me, though, this isn't something to stress about. Most of the restaurants, bars, and shops take all credit cards. You'll need cash for taxis (though some hotels let you charge them to your room), things like the banana boat, tips (see below), and a fish sandwich and beer at the little beach shack at Shoal Bay East if you make it up that way. And actually last time we were there, we were out of cash on the last day and the hotel let us charge cash to the room with no fee at all. That was nice of them.
Oh yeah - one more thing you will NEED cash for. When you leave Anguilla from Blowing Point ferry terminal, you'll need US$20 cash per person for departure tax. Hey, they don't have income taxes there, so they have to tax the hotel rooms and other tourist stuff. (No income tax? Arrrgh.)
3. Getting Around - Generally there isn't a need to rent a car in Anguilla. We've done it for a day, just to drive around and explore a bit. Cabs are plentiful, and we're going to be providing transportation for most of the official events. But if you do want to rent a car, the hotels should be able to take care of it for around $60 for a whole day. And don’t forget to drive on the left side of the road!
4. Beaches - All the beaches are public, meaning if you're staying somewhere like Paradise Cove, you can come to Cap Juluca and hang out on the beach. Anguilla is best known for its beaches, so we encourage you to explore as many as you have time to see. We will recommend some of the best beaches to hit in later posts so stay tuned.
5. Bug spray - Use it. Fortunately May is less buggy than later in the year when we usually go (post-hurricane season), and we don't anticipate it being too bad. Your hotel room should have a can of Off and that should do the trick.
6. Tips - When you go to a restaurant, they will typically include an 18% service charge on the check, so just be sure to check before you add an additional tip. Otherwise, it's the customary amount (10-15% if you're cheap, more if you have a conscience).
7. Cell Phone Service - Service can be spotty, so don't expect everything to work. My blackberry is AT&T and it usually works fine (unfortunately). Cell is Verizon and it usually doesn't work. If you really need a phone, usually the hotel can provide one for you for a small cost, or check if your providers offer international service.
Korinne and D.J.’s Anguilla Travel Tips:
1. DON'T FORGET YOUR PASSPORTS!
2. Cash and Credit Cards - Anguilla's currency is the Eastern Caribbean Dollar, which is pegged to USD at EC$2.70 per dollar, but everyone typically uses US dollars down there. In fact, I don't know that I've even seen an actual paper XCD except maybe on the wall behind a bar. So you'll be fine with whatever is in your wallet/purse/fanny pack/European man-satchel.
Before you leave, you will want to hit an ATM or pick up some travelers checks though. There are a number of ATMs around Anguilla, including a few you'll see along the side of the road as you are driving around, but they tend to run out of cash on weekends. The ATMs in town (The Valley, center of the island and east of where we're all staying) at the main bank offices seem to be the most reliable, and we've used an ATM in Sandy Ground along with a few at banks alongside the main road. In terms of having cash on you, every hotel room has a safe. Crime is very low in Anguilla anyway (Cap Juluca does not have room keys).
Believe me, though, this isn't something to stress about. Most of the restaurants, bars, and shops take all credit cards. You'll need cash for taxis (though some hotels let you charge them to your room), things like the banana boat, tips (see below), and a fish sandwich and beer at the little beach shack at Shoal Bay East if you make it up that way. And actually last time we were there, we were out of cash on the last day and the hotel let us charge cash to the room with no fee at all. That was nice of them.
Oh yeah - one more thing you will NEED cash for. When you leave Anguilla from Blowing Point ferry terminal, you'll need US$20 cash per person for departure tax. Hey, they don't have income taxes there, so they have to tax the hotel rooms and other tourist stuff. (No income tax? Arrrgh.)
3. Getting Around - Generally there isn't a need to rent a car in Anguilla. We've done it for a day, just to drive around and explore a bit. Cabs are plentiful, and we're going to be providing transportation for most of the official events. But if you do want to rent a car, the hotels should be able to take care of it for around $60 for a whole day. And don’t forget to drive on the left side of the road!
4. Beaches - All the beaches are public, meaning if you're staying somewhere like Paradise Cove, you can come to Cap Juluca and hang out on the beach. Anguilla is best known for its beaches, so we encourage you to explore as many as you have time to see. We will recommend some of the best beaches to hit in later posts so stay tuned.
5. Bug spray - Use it. Fortunately May is less buggy than later in the year when we usually go (post-hurricane season), and we don't anticipate it being too bad. Your hotel room should have a can of Off and that should do the trick.
6. Tips - When you go to a restaurant, they will typically include an 18% service charge on the check, so just be sure to check before you add an additional tip. Otherwise, it's the customary amount (10-15% if you're cheap, more if you have a conscience).
7. Cell Phone Service - Service can be spotty, so don't expect everything to work. My blackberry is AT&T and it usually works fine (unfortunately). Cell is Verizon and it usually doesn't work. If you really need a phone, usually the hotel can provide one for you for a small cost, or check if your providers offer international service.
Barrel Stay
If you're lucky enough to stick around until Monday, hopefully you'll be joining us at Barrel Stay on Sunday night for dinner. As previously noted, Korinne and I usually hit Barrel Stay on our first night on island. So it's a great spot for a relaxing Thanksgiving dinner with easy access to the fun down the road at Pumphouse and Elvis'. Though Barrel Stay actually does serve a traditional Thanksgiving dinner (despite being owned by Brits), neither of us has partaken because the rest of the menu is so good.
It's an open air, welcoming spot right on the beach in Sandy Ground. The proprietors are Jill and Graham - Jill hosts the guests and Graham is the chef. You can see the menu for the Sunday dinner in the post below, which is a subset of a broader offering. I have eaten the stuffed chicken, and I highly recommend it. The seafood is caught fresh, and the menu has lots of different types of influences. It's definitely one of the best restaurants on the island. We're really looking forward to having a relaxing dinner with everyone there, and if you won't be around Sunday night and are looking for somewhere to dine another time, you can't go wrong here.
It's an open air, welcoming spot right on the beach in Sandy Ground. The proprietors are Jill and Graham - Jill hosts the guests and Graham is the chef. You can see the menu for the Sunday dinner in the post below, which is a subset of a broader offering. I have eaten the stuffed chicken, and I highly recommend it. The seafood is caught fresh, and the menu has lots of different types of influences. It's definitely one of the best restaurants on the island. We're really looking forward to having a relaxing dinner with everyone there, and if you won't be around Sunday night and are looking for somewhere to dine another time, you can't go wrong here.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Sunday Night Dinner Menu
This is the dinner menu for the Sunday night outing to Barrel Stay, which is a great restaurant right on the beach at Sandy Ground. We described it in the agenda below in more detail. The food is fantastic and it's an ideal setting for a relaxing dinner...plus it's walking distance from Pumphouse and Elvis'! Don't forget to RSVP on the website listed below. You can see the prices listed in the menu, and the restaurant will do separate checks for each table.
DINNER AT BARREL STAY
SUNDAY, MAY 2
STARTERS
TEMPURA OF SHRIMP
SERVED WITH AN ORIENTAL SALAD WITH MANGO, PINEAPPLE MELON
SALSA $22
LOCAL PUMPKIN SOUP
DRIZZLED WITH CHILI OIL $11
GREEN SALAD
WITH FRESH ASPARAGUS $13
MAINS
CATCH OF THE DAY
SERVED WITH STIR FRIED VEGETABLES IN A HOISIN SAUCE, PYRAMID OF
COCONUT RICE & FINISHED WITH A LEMON BUTTER SAUCE $36
CHICKEN BREAST STUFFED WITH MOZZARELLA, FRESH BASIL IN
PANKO BREADCRUMBS
SERVED WITH GARLIC MASHED POTATO WITH FRESH VEGETABLES WITH A
MUSHROOM JUS $29
CHAR GRILLED US PRIME ANGUS STRIPLOIN
ROASTED POTATO SHALLOT CAKE FRESH VEGETABLES SERVED WITH A
PEPPERCORN SAUCE $39
DESSERTS
HOME MADE CHOCOLATE TART
BUTTER BISCUIT SPOON WITH FRESH VANILLA ICE CREAM $14
ICED MANGO PARFAIT
WITH A WILD BERRY COULIS $14
FRESH VANILLA BEAN CREME BRULEE
WITH HOMEMADE RASPBERRY ICE CREAM & BUTTER BISCUIT $14
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