Anguilla and its wonderful beaches - Viceroy Hotel

     Just recently back from a week on Anguilla and a wonderful stay at the new Viceroy Hotel.

     Anguilla is now easy to reach by flying non stop to St Maarten/St Martinn, with its new wonderfully modern airport,  and taking the Funtime power boat for the 30 minute hop across the water to the Customs House on Anguilla.  Cost is approximately $80 each direction. 

      Funtime is right at the airport. They operate a very efficient meet & greet service and makes for an enjoyable ride over to Anguilla.  They even serve cold drinks and have a very friendly staff.  Entering Anguilla requires a bit of paperwork but there is a nice West Indies feel to arriving at the Customs House and then a short taxi ride to your hotel.

     The Viceroy Anguilla just opened in November 2009 and is part of the growing Viceroy Hotel Group, (formerly Kor Hotel Group).  The group is focused on distinctively styled properties with remarkable design elements and stylish flair.  The first ones were in Santa Monica, Palm Springs and West Hollywood.  The collection has now established  The Tides as one of their signature brands and as a leading force of the contemporary hotel scene will be growing the collection.

     The Anguilla property has very sophisticated and glamorous interiors done by Kelly Wearstler, a highly respected designer who brings a sensual style to her design.Everywhere you look there are interesting sculptures of organic materials from around the world and a feast for the senses.

Viceroy Anguilla sits on 35 acres between Barnes Bay and Meads Bay. and there are magnificent.sea views from the dramatic lobby area and most rooms.  The beach club which offers lunch as well is a 5 minute shuttle ride away,  Once the the final phase of the construction is complete it will be a short stroll down to Meads Bay.  The hotel has managed to keep most of the construction from interfering with guests.

With any new property in the beginning there are some glitches along the way, and let's remember this is the Caribbean after all.  All of these things will be worked through under the watchful eye of Jan Tibaldi, the hotel's Swiss General Manager.  Jan was very visible throughout our week in all parts of the hotel, especially when some large seas required closing the main dining room for several days, and the second restaurant needed to be used for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

   

    
Dining at Viceroy - , the restaurants have a good menu selection and use high quality ingredients with nice presentations.  Coba, the premier dining room gives water views on all sides as it sits out on the promontory.  The dining room staff are very friendly and all eager to please.  I particularly like the trend for cafe presse in individual pots - nice full bodied coffee.

The rooms are very spacious and elegantly appointed in creams, and serene neutral tones with fine design furnishings and objets d'art throughout.  The spacious terrace of a one bedroom has a plunge pool and both the bedroom and the living room give way onto the terrace.

The beaches of Anguilla are legendary. The Viceroy sits on a promontory flanked by Barnes Bay and Meads Bay.  One has wonderful views of the azure Caribbean waters from most rooms.

The best way to do Anguilla is to have a car rental so one can experience different dining spots around the island.  For a list of the best restaurants, please contact me and I will be happy to give you the scoop.

Barbara Herrott - barbarah@travelexchange.net

Restaurant Scene in Aruba - January 2010

Luisa McGrath has spend the last 20 years in Aruba during the month of January.  Here's her report on the latest restaurant scene:

A new, terrific "open-air mall" has been built, across and very short walk from the Hyatt, where they have shops, restaurants, and even a fountain that has a light show at 8pm.  Dancing waters (very mini Bellagio) but fun and does attract a lot of people.  One can see it from any of the restaurants in the mall. 

There are several restaurants with outdoor dining, a Mexican, a seafood, etc., also  one of called Taste of Belgium,  they have indoor and outdoor dining, looked really nice but did not have time to get back there for dinner.  My group  had dinner (10 of us) at the new Mr. Jazz (indoors) with big windows overlooking the square, and they do have a jazz band starting at 8pm (great band) and a dance floor as well. Great looking place and the food was excellent.  We all had different food choices and each one of us loved our meal.  Highly recommend it.Not terribly expensive.

The Hyatt itself has several restaurants, my favorite Ruinas del Mar.  Try to get a table outside.  Only about 6 tables and fun to watch the swans floating on the little river while you have dinner.  Cannot make reservations for an outside table, so recommend going early for better chance.  Food and service there  excellent.  On the high-priced category.

In that area there is a fun place, "Smoky Joe's" their specialty being ribs - Dick had them and they were fabulous. They have everything, from Cuban style chicken, to terrific burgers with gouda cheese, to fish and chips (they use the catch of the day - Lisa had it and it was Mahi-Mahi. )   Casual and fun.  (outdoor seating) Not expensive.

Chez Matilde is back and wonderful!  Pricey but fabulous. For the past couple of years it has undergone ownership/management changes and they finally put their act together again. It's downtown, but worth while the drive down. I always have the escargot and Lisa loves their onion soup. Lisa and Dick had fillet and some other kind of steak. I had a wonderful veal picatta.  Lisa had a banana souffle for dessert - to die for.

Also downtown and specializing in fish is The Driftwood. We go there every year. It is a favorite of all our friends from our time-share. All of us go back and back again. Highly recommended. On the expensive side, but not terribly.

Another downtown restaurant we never miss is El Gaucho.  Argentinian beef.  Try the Churrasco. They don't make reservations, but when you arrive you can have a drink at the bar and they give you a little beeper that tells you when your table is ready. It used to be a long time to get your table, but the economy has take its toll and we just had to wait around 15 minutes this time. Also highly recommended. Average on the high side prices.

Downtown has a Cuban restaurant "Cuba's Cookin" real Cuban food and fun. It can be very noisy because they do have live band, so if you go, do ask for a table in the quieter room. Not sound-proof.... quieter.... If you, or a client goes there, let me know and I will suggest what to eat. Moderately priced.

Marandi has excellent food.  I did not go this year but friends of mine did and they told me food as great as always. But, it used to be on the beach, which was fun, and now they have moved to the land-side. Expensive. 

Madame Janette is very popular, people love it. Somehow it is not one of my favorites, but it is always crowded and very difficult to get a reservation. Also on the high-side pricing.

Chalet Suisse on the low-rise side of hotels, is excellent. They do have excellent Chilean seabass and I have had very good filet.  Not romantic, but simple, elegant decor. Food is great. On the expensive side.

There is a new, casual place - Bingo - I did not go but friends of mine had a burger that they raved about. They do have full menu and it is not terribly expensive.

Marina Pirata, past the airport, a bit of a drive, has always been fun.  Specializing in seafood.  Worth the drive. Moderately priced.

Hostaria Da'Vittorio is a delightful Italian restaurant.  On the expensive  side, but excellent.

Bucaneer is an old favorite. Very fresh fish and seafood. If you go ask to be seated in one of the rooms with the walls line the fish tanks.  One side especially, with the larger tanks, has lobsters and all kinds of strange fish - lots of fun to watch. Casual, on the moderately priced side.

On the low-rise side of hotels, short walk from my place, is Pizza Bob's. Casual, fun, and we had a pizza that I thought I would never like, but Lisa wanted it, so we had it - and I loved it! Barbequed chicken pizza. They have all kinds of pizzas of course and burgers and lots of other simple stuff. They also have wonderful Aruban beer on tap - great combination.

And the one I feel is the most romantic setting is Papiamento with fabulous food and wonderful service. One of the more expensive ones. Tables placed around the original (quite old) house and surrounding the pool with tables also inside, but you really want to sit outside.  I do love this one. 

And a new one (We went for brunch and it was to die for).  Called Windows and it's located at the new Divi Golf Course. Set up high with wonderful views of the sea and the golf course.  If you are drinking champagne they do keep pouring.... I lost track.... I did have a very good nap on the beach that afternoon.... Recommend very highly for brunch on Sunday.  Pricey of course...

Many other  restaurants - it is hard to have a bad meal in Aruba.  Just highlighting the ones I know best.

I'm hungry.... I am going home....  Luisa


Luisa McGrath
Travel Exchange - A Virtuoso Agency
Westport, Ct. 06880
203-221-3500