I just got all of the hotel special rate information from Jackie (oh...oh! - no, not Jackie the Jokeman, VTOB, Coop,nd Millertime), who is in Anguilla and helping us with all the hotel stuff. I will be posting it shortly, and will also be asking a question over email about who wants to stay at the Frangipani. One of the potential situations is that we rent the whole damn thing - 18 rooms - for the wedding. If people want rooms there, and want different kinds of rooms, we may do it. Anyway, you'll be seeing an email from me shortly on this topic, because we'll need to figure this out before we do so with the rest.
I shouldn't say this since I may want to edit it after Saturday, but...go Irish...beat Southern Cal.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Hotels - Frangipani
Frangipani (http://www.frangipaniresort.com/) is a great little hotel right on the beach at Meads Bay, which is a long stretch of beach on the northwest part of the island. The rest of the hotels that we are recommending are on Meads Bay Beach. It has 18 rooms that include luxury rooms w/ one king or two queens; junior suites; one-, two-, and three-bedroom suites; and two penthouse suites.
Prices are more moderate here, and though the service level probably isn't as high as a Cap Juluca, it has all the amenities that one would need. There's a nice pool that's right on the beach, as well as one of the best restaurants on Anguilla - Straw Hat. The beach is outstanding, and the hotel is literally right on it. There are also water sports and a tennis court. We haven't stayed here, but we've seen a number of the rooms and eaten at Straw Hat multiple times.
We hope to actually secure most if not all of this hotel for your lodging pleasure, and again, we hope to get the wedding special rates soon. The rooms are nice, the views are of the ocean to the north and the beach, and the restaurant has great food and atmosphere. There is one room that has an "island view" that goes for a much lower price than the rest (I can think of a few of you for whom this might work!). I don't have a photo to post because Korinne hasn't downloaded her photos to my computer. But there's a good photo gallery on the website.
Next up...Carimar Beach Club.
Prices are more moderate here, and though the service level probably isn't as high as a Cap Juluca, it has all the amenities that one would need. There's a nice pool that's right on the beach, as well as one of the best restaurants on Anguilla - Straw Hat. The beach is outstanding, and the hotel is literally right on it. There are also water sports and a tennis court. We haven't stayed here, but we've seen a number of the rooms and eaten at Straw Hat multiple times.
We hope to actually secure most if not all of this hotel for your lodging pleasure, and again, we hope to get the wedding special rates soon. The rooms are nice, the views are of the ocean to the north and the beach, and the restaurant has great food and atmosphere. There is one room that has an "island view" that goes for a much lower price than the rest (I can think of a few of you for whom this might work!). I don't have a photo to post because Korinne hasn't downloaded her photos to my computer. But there's a good photo gallery on the website.
Next up...Carimar Beach Club.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Cap Juluca Photo
Here is a photo showing Cap Juluca from the beach below the main house and in front of the restaurants. The villas the furthest to the left are the multi-bedroom big ass places with their own pools, etc. The rest are the ones with six rooms per, as described in the earlier post. Can't wait to be back there in seven weeks.
Short Flight Note
I know, it can't be short based on the other posts. Well, it will be. Just wanted to mention a couple additional notes on flights. Spirit Air flies to St. Maarten from Ft. Lauderdale (not that all or any of you live there). But it's a cheap one. Also, if you have the ability to get to Antigua or St. Thomas (US Virgin Islands), you can get to Anguilla via LIAT, which is a Caribbean commuter airline. Korinne and I flew LIAT last year when we stayed in St. John for a few days. St. John is only accessible by boat from St. Thomas, so we flew American non-stop in and out of St. Thomas and LIAT to and from Anguilla.
Also, based on a couple emails I've gotten, I now understand that there are some flights that arrive in St. Maarten after the last official ferry has left. I'm pretty sure that wherever you stay will arrange some kind of transportation if this is the case, but I will confirm and post.
Also, based on a couple emails I've gotten, I now understand that there are some flights that arrive in St. Maarten after the last official ferry has left. I'm pretty sure that wherever you stay will arrange some kind of transportation if this is the case, but I will confirm and post.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Hotels - Cap Juluca
This post is the first in a series detailing the hotel possibilities for your respective trips to Anguilla. Unfortunately, as I described in a previous post, Anguillians are on "island time" and I haven't received confirmation of room blocks or special wedding rates. Also, everyone is on vacation for hurricane season. I hope to get something soon, but it's been a long damn time and I haven't yet. So, we'll start it off with Cap Juluca (http://www.capjuluca.com/), which is where Korinne and I will be staying this coming November and for the wedding in May. I will post special room rate information if and when I get it.
We also stayed there for our first trip to Anguilla, and tried to stay there for our second. Alas, Hurricane Omar swept through the island last fall, and Cap Juluca was unable to open by the time we went in November. Basically, there was some minor damage to the less permanent structures, but most importantly, the beach was essentially washed away by the rain and surf. Fortunately, Mother Nature naturally replenishes the sand, and it is back to being the unbelievable beach that it was before.
Cap Juluca is, in our collective opinion, the best luxury resort on the island. The others, not far behind, are Malliouhana and CuisinArt, and from what we hear everyone that goes to Anguilla has differing opinions as to which is the best. (By the way, we've stayed at the other two as well, and were engaged at Malliouhana - I know, aww, how romantic!)
The hotel has about 100 rooms spread between 14 or so Moorish-style villas along a crescent-shaped beach at Maundays Bay (southwest end of the island). Each villa has six rooms - three upstairs and three downstairs - steps from the beach. Well, that's not entirely accurate - the villas furthest down the beach from the main house are individual villas with multiple bedrooms and their own pools. Robert DeNiro was there the first time we went there. No, we did not hang out with him, but we did meet his personal chef at the hotel bar/lounge.
There are two great restaurants, a bar/lounge at the main house, and a more casual restaurant for breakfast and lunch (and a beach BBQ/buffet dinner once a week). There's a pool, which we did not even use, but apparently it has been upgraded since we were there. One doesn't need the pool, though, with a beach like the one at Maundays CJ also has all the watersports and Hobie cat boats and kayaks for people to use, plus a spa, gym, tennis, and over-water driving range Great service, great rooms, great food, great beach, etc...
This resort was recently purchased by Adam Aron, former Chairman and CEO of Vail Resorts, along with a couple partners. The new owners have invested something like $20 million in the resort in the last year or so, on everything from new beds and TVs, to solar powered golf carts for every room to get around the resort, to refurbishing the main house and restaurants. The place looks great, and is the most recently renovated of the big three resorts.
Cap Juluca isn't the cheapest place to stay, but is definitely worth the expense. All the other hotels we'll be suggesting, at a wide range of pricing points, are on the same beach at Meads Bay on the northeast side of the island, and we'll have transportation from all recommended hotels to the wedding events. It is in the tentative plans now to have a Friday night welcome event at Cap Juluca. Check out the website, and look for more information from me about this and other hotel options.
We also stayed there for our first trip to Anguilla, and tried to stay there for our second. Alas, Hurricane Omar swept through the island last fall, and Cap Juluca was unable to open by the time we went in November. Basically, there was some minor damage to the less permanent structures, but most importantly, the beach was essentially washed away by the rain and surf. Fortunately, Mother Nature naturally replenishes the sand, and it is back to being the unbelievable beach that it was before.
Cap Juluca is, in our collective opinion, the best luxury resort on the island. The others, not far behind, are Malliouhana and CuisinArt, and from what we hear everyone that goes to Anguilla has differing opinions as to which is the best. (By the way, we've stayed at the other two as well, and were engaged at Malliouhana - I know, aww, how romantic!)
The hotel has about 100 rooms spread between 14 or so Moorish-style villas along a crescent-shaped beach at Maundays Bay (southwest end of the island). Each villa has six rooms - three upstairs and three downstairs - steps from the beach. Well, that's not entirely accurate - the villas furthest down the beach from the main house are individual villas with multiple bedrooms and their own pools. Robert DeNiro was there the first time we went there. No, we did not hang out with him, but we did meet his personal chef at the hotel bar/lounge.
There are two great restaurants, a bar/lounge at the main house, and a more casual restaurant for breakfast and lunch (and a beach BBQ/buffet dinner once a week). There's a pool, which we did not even use, but apparently it has been upgraded since we were there. One doesn't need the pool, though, with a beach like the one at Maundays CJ also has all the watersports and Hobie cat boats and kayaks for people to use, plus a spa, gym, tennis, and over-water driving range Great service, great rooms, great food, great beach, etc...
This resort was recently purchased by Adam Aron, former Chairman and CEO of Vail Resorts, along with a couple partners. The new owners have invested something like $20 million in the resort in the last year or so, on everything from new beds and TVs, to solar powered golf carts for every room to get around the resort, to refurbishing the main house and restaurants. The place looks great, and is the most recently renovated of the big three resorts.
Cap Juluca isn't the cheapest place to stay, but is definitely worth the expense. All the other hotels we'll be suggesting, at a wide range of pricing points, are on the same beach at Meads Bay on the northeast side of the island, and we'll have transportation from all recommended hotels to the wedding events. It is in the tentative plans now to have a Friday night welcome event at Cap Juluca. Check out the website, and look for more information from me about this and other hotel options.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Getting to Anguilla
It's been a while since I've posted. I wanted to get the hotel info up so you could make your reservations; alas, Anguilla moves on "island time" and it's been very slow getting the hotels blocked off and the wedding discounts squared away. Plus it is now hurricane season - after the Carnival festival, everyone goes on vacation for two months and most of the hotels/restaurants shut down. Oh well. In lieu of hotel info, below is a bit of a summary of how to get to Anguilla from various metro areas in the US.
For the most part, the easiest way to get there is to fly to St. Maarten and take the 20-minute ferry to Blowing Point in Anguilla - more details at the bottom of this post. Then you take a short taxi ride to your hotel destination. You can fly directly into Anguilla from San Juan, PR, on American Eagle, which can be easier if you can get a direct flight to PR. When Korinne and I are going in November, we're going through St. Maarten, but we've done Angulla airport (AXA) via San Juan (SJU) as well. The flight from SJU to AXA is at 1:05pm, so as long as you can get to SJU in time, you're fine.
Air Travel from Cleveland:
It appears the best way to get to Anguilla is through St. Maarten. There's a Continental flight out of Newark but it is first thing in the morning, so unless someone wants to stay in NYC overnight, another airline will probably be the best way to go. This would be either Delta connecting through Atlanta or USAirways connecting through Charlotte. Both would entail an early flight out of CLE and arrival in St. Maarten (SXM) around 1 or 2pm.
Air Travel from DC area:
There is actually a direct American flight from BWI to SJU, and then on to AXA on American Eagle. This may be a better, but slightly more expensive, option than flying into SXM and then taking the ferry over, because there are no direct flights to SXM from any of the DC area airports. But one can get from Reagan, BWI, or Dulles to SXM with one stop on almost any of the major airlines.
Air Travel from NY area:
A couple options here: Newark (EWR) direct to SXM on Continental, take ferry over to Anguilla. Also JetBlue flies direct to SXM from JFK. Or, fly American through SJU to AXA or to SXM then ferry, both from JFK.
Air Travel from Chicago:
Direct to SXM on United, then ferry to Anguilla. There's a direct flight from ORD to SJU on American, but it arrives after the AXA flight leaves.
Air Travel from Houston area:
Unfortunately for all of you members of Korinne's family, this is one of the more difficult ones. Why don't people from Texas like to go to the Caribbean? Anyway, you will likely need to fly American through Miami or Delta through Atlanta, both to SXM, then take the ferry over. There are Continental flights to SJU but they don't get in until after the AXA flight departs. Fortunately, it looks like MIA has multiple flights to SXM, and I think they are regular sized planes, as opposed to regional jets or props.
Air Travel from LA:
Looks like your best bet is to fly American through MIA to SXM, then ferry it over. Will be a long day for you folks, as you'll have a 6:30am flight from LAX and you'll get to SXM around 8:30pm. Hey, thanks for coming!
Air Travel from Atlanta:
Murph, you have one option - 10am Delta to SXM, arrive at 2pm, take the ferry over. Sorry if I forgot anyone else that lives in the ATL.
Air Travel from Dallas area:
Unfortunately, there are no morning flights to SJU from DFW, so you'll probably have to fly to SXM. Aren't there any Puerto Ricans in Dallas? You'll have to fly through MIA to SXM and ferry it. I guess people from Texas really don't like the Caribbean. Stick to Cancun, I guess.
Air Travel from Boston:
Lots of options for Blodge and Margaret, and possibly Derek and Maura if they fly from Boston just because. To SXM, you can take American via SJU, MIA, Continental via EWR, or USAirways via Philly (PHL) or Charlotte (CLT), then take the ferry. But you are among the lucky ones - you can fly right into AXA via SJU on American. There must be Puerto Ricans in Boston...
Air Travel from Cincinnati area:
Surprisingly, Cincy seems to have more options than most places. No offense. No AXA options, but to SXM you can fly USAirways via PHL or CLT, Delta via ATL, or American via MIA. And if you couldn't tell by now, you need to take the ferry from SXM. Leave your kids at home. That includes you, Mulligan.
Air Travel from Columbus, OH:
I had to clarify Ohio because Korinne's sister and brother-in-law live in Columbus, TX. Go Cardinals! Columbus seems to have lots of options too - basically the same as the Cincy folks.
Air Travel from Birmingham:
No AXA option for the Zarzaurs. You can fly USAirways to SXM via CLT or Delta via ATL. Oh, and the ferry to Anguilla. Almost forgot.
Air Travel from Austin, TX:
I take back what I said before about Houston being the most difficult place from which to travel to Anguilla or St. Maarten. I only found two options - Delta via ATL to SXM, or Continental via EWR to SXM. But guess what - you have to stay overnight for a morning connection! Actually there is one option that has two connections that get you there on the same day - American to DFW, then to MIA, then to SXM. And of course, finally, the ferry. And a cab to your hotel. You will be excused from any wedding-related events on the day you travel.
Air Travel from Seattle area:
Well, Seattle, looks like you're screwed even more - only overnight layovers or a redeye and no same-day one-stop options. To SXM via CLT on USAirways, Delta via ATL, or Continental via EWR. Presumably if you're staying overnight, you could fly right to AXA through SJU from wherever you're staying overnight. There are two-stop options on American that can get you there the same day.
Air Travel from San Diego:
A couple same day options, which includes going through DFW to SJU, then on to SXM, or to LAX, MIA, and finally SXM. There are one-stop options that require an overnight layover or a redeye on American, Delta, and USAirways.
Ferry from St. Maarten/St. Martin to Anguilla:
Wow, you had to read through all that BS for cities that you don't care about just to find out how to take the ferry over. Again, there are a couple of options here. Exit the airport and to the right there is a line of taxis. Take a taxi to the main ferry terminal at Marigot (Frenchy pronunciation - ask Racz if you can't figure it out) and there is a ferry there that leaves for Anguilla every half hour or so (they do not have rigid schedules down there). The taxi will cost about US$20, the ferry will be US$15 per person, and each is about a 20-25 minute ride. Neither requires a reservation and they take US$ down there. No dumb Euros required, fortunately (the currency, not the people).
Alternatively, there is a ferry for which it is better to make a reservation. It is a little more expensive ($35 or so) but is closer to the airport (less than 5 minutes) and a van will take you there. This one is scheduled at certain times and I'll need to get more info on it. Finally, some of the nicer hotels will arrange a private ferry or get you on a separate charter boat.
For the most part, the easiest way to get there is to fly to St. Maarten and take the 20-minute ferry to Blowing Point in Anguilla - more details at the bottom of this post. Then you take a short taxi ride to your hotel destination. You can fly directly into Anguilla from San Juan, PR, on American Eagle, which can be easier if you can get a direct flight to PR. When Korinne and I are going in November, we're going through St. Maarten, but we've done Angulla airport (AXA) via San Juan (SJU) as well. The flight from SJU to AXA is at 1:05pm, so as long as you can get to SJU in time, you're fine.
Air Travel from Cleveland:
It appears the best way to get to Anguilla is through St. Maarten. There's a Continental flight out of Newark but it is first thing in the morning, so unless someone wants to stay in NYC overnight, another airline will probably be the best way to go. This would be either Delta connecting through Atlanta or USAirways connecting through Charlotte. Both would entail an early flight out of CLE and arrival in St. Maarten (SXM) around 1 or 2pm.
Air Travel from DC area:
There is actually a direct American flight from BWI to SJU, and then on to AXA on American Eagle. This may be a better, but slightly more expensive, option than flying into SXM and then taking the ferry over, because there are no direct flights to SXM from any of the DC area airports. But one can get from Reagan, BWI, or Dulles to SXM with one stop on almost any of the major airlines.
Air Travel from NY area:
A couple options here: Newark (EWR) direct to SXM on Continental, take ferry over to Anguilla. Also JetBlue flies direct to SXM from JFK. Or, fly American through SJU to AXA or to SXM then ferry, both from JFK.
Air Travel from Chicago:
Direct to SXM on United, then ferry to Anguilla. There's a direct flight from ORD to SJU on American, but it arrives after the AXA flight leaves.
Air Travel from Houston area:
Unfortunately for all of you members of Korinne's family, this is one of the more difficult ones. Why don't people from Texas like to go to the Caribbean? Anyway, you will likely need to fly American through Miami or Delta through Atlanta, both to SXM, then take the ferry over. There are Continental flights to SJU but they don't get in until after the AXA flight departs. Fortunately, it looks like MIA has multiple flights to SXM, and I think they are regular sized planes, as opposed to regional jets or props.
Air Travel from LA:
Looks like your best bet is to fly American through MIA to SXM, then ferry it over. Will be a long day for you folks, as you'll have a 6:30am flight from LAX and you'll get to SXM around 8:30pm. Hey, thanks for coming!
Air Travel from Atlanta:
Murph, you have one option - 10am Delta to SXM, arrive at 2pm, take the ferry over. Sorry if I forgot anyone else that lives in the ATL.
Air Travel from Dallas area:
Unfortunately, there are no morning flights to SJU from DFW, so you'll probably have to fly to SXM. Aren't there any Puerto Ricans in Dallas? You'll have to fly through MIA to SXM and ferry it. I guess people from Texas really don't like the Caribbean. Stick to Cancun, I guess.
Air Travel from Boston:
Lots of options for Blodge and Margaret, and possibly Derek and Maura if they fly from Boston just because. To SXM, you can take American via SJU, MIA, Continental via EWR, or USAirways via Philly (PHL) or Charlotte (CLT), then take the ferry. But you are among the lucky ones - you can fly right into AXA via SJU on American. There must be Puerto Ricans in Boston...
Air Travel from Cincinnati area:
Surprisingly, Cincy seems to have more options than most places. No offense. No AXA options, but to SXM you can fly USAirways via PHL or CLT, Delta via ATL, or American via MIA. And if you couldn't tell by now, you need to take the ferry from SXM. Leave your kids at home. That includes you, Mulligan.
Air Travel from Columbus, OH:
I had to clarify Ohio because Korinne's sister and brother-in-law live in Columbus, TX. Go Cardinals! Columbus seems to have lots of options too - basically the same as the Cincy folks.
Air Travel from Birmingham:
No AXA option for the Zarzaurs. You can fly USAirways to SXM via CLT or Delta via ATL. Oh, and the ferry to Anguilla. Almost forgot.
Air Travel from Austin, TX:
I take back what I said before about Houston being the most difficult place from which to travel to Anguilla or St. Maarten. I only found two options - Delta via ATL to SXM, or Continental via EWR to SXM. But guess what - you have to stay overnight for a morning connection! Actually there is one option that has two connections that get you there on the same day - American to DFW, then to MIA, then to SXM. And of course, finally, the ferry. And a cab to your hotel. You will be excused from any wedding-related events on the day you travel.
Air Travel from Seattle area:
Well, Seattle, looks like you're screwed even more - only overnight layovers or a redeye and no same-day one-stop options. To SXM via CLT on USAirways, Delta via ATL, or Continental via EWR. Presumably if you're staying overnight, you could fly right to AXA through SJU from wherever you're staying overnight. There are two-stop options on American that can get you there the same day.
Air Travel from San Diego:
A couple same day options, which includes going through DFW to SJU, then on to SXM, or to LAX, MIA, and finally SXM. There are one-stop options that require an overnight layover or a redeye on American, Delta, and USAirways.
Ferry from St. Maarten/St. Martin to Anguilla:
Wow, you had to read through all that BS for cities that you don't care about just to find out how to take the ferry over. Again, there are a couple of options here. Exit the airport and to the right there is a line of taxis. Take a taxi to the main ferry terminal at Marigot (Frenchy pronunciation - ask Racz if you can't figure it out) and there is a ferry there that leaves for Anguilla every half hour or so (they do not have rigid schedules down there). The taxi will cost about US$20, the ferry will be US$15 per person, and each is about a 20-25 minute ride. Neither requires a reservation and they take US$ down there. No dumb Euros required, fortunately (the currency, not the people).
Alternatively, there is a ferry for which it is better to make a reservation. It is a little more expensive ($35 or so) but is closer to the airport (less than 5 minutes) and a van will take you there. This one is scheduled at certain times and I'll need to get more info on it. Finally, some of the nicer hotels will arrange a private ferry or get you on a separate charter boat.
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