Cuisinart Resort & Spa - Anguilla

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Cuisinart was slow, peaceful and tranquil. Visited: May 2007 Posted by travelstar We just got back from Anguilla after spending six nights at Cuisinart. We enjoyed absolutely beautiful grounds, a wonderful room, and we loved the spa and food. However, it was pricy. Just plan to spend money on food and drinks - and don't forget the spa. Our minimum dinner tab came to $200 for two people, and this did not include drinks. We found that this was a great resort for honeymooners and couples. There were not very many singles or kids. We discovered Dune Preserve that was next door to Cuisinart. The owner is Bankie Banx, a Reggae singer. It was perfect for good, inexpensive island food, drinks and friends. 13 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? We loved every minute here! Visited: January 2007 Posted by newbrunswick My husband and I recently stayed at Cuisinart Resort and truly loved it. We had a villa overlooking the ocean, which had a lovely balcony where we had our morning breakfasts. The weekly lobster barbecue was a feast not to be missed. And of course the beach was wonderful. We can't wait to go back. 8 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? It was nice, but we were ready to leave. Visited: May 2004 Posted by junk5 We spent a week on our honeymoon at Cuisinart and it was very nice. We had no idea where to stay in the Caribbean, and searched various sites including this one to get some ideas. After reading the reviews we decided on Cuisinart. What you have read here was true. The fresh salads, the friendly staff, the very high costs... all true. What we didn't read here was what we wished we knew before we went. Anguilla was a very poor island. There was very little to do on the island, and once you're sick of the two restaurants (breakfast and lunch were by the pool, dinner in the main building) your choices are room service or dine out. Have lots of cash handy. The nearest ATM was a 10-minute cab ride. We went out most every night and the cab was $30. That was fine, the food was good, the people were generally friendly. But that's it. We were bored. The beach was very windy and the sand was blowing. True, it kept the bugs down and was good for us when we wanted to sail, but sitting on the beach wasn't much of an option. I felt like I was experiencing what it must be like in Iraq shaking sand out of my ears. We toured the island, swam with the dolphins, took a day trip to St. Martin, but were overall bored. We agreed that it was "okay", but not the honeymoon we wanted or expected. The beaches were very nice (compared to other islands as we flew out) but after six days, we were ready to leave. Given the option, go to Hawaii. There are better sites, more to do, great location, and you'll want to do it over for the right reasons. 17 users found this review helpful. 6 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? We had a wonderful vacation with our 15-month-old son. Visited: March 2004 Posted by adresner We started our vacation in Anguilla at a smaller villa resort just down the beach from Cuisinart, but were not thrilled with the accommodations. So we switched to this hotel and everything about it was heavenly. I was concerned that our very active 15-month-old son might take away from the tranquility of the place, but the guests and staff were wonderful with him and went out of their way to accommodate traveling with a small child. The entire island was that way actually, the people of Anguilla are incredible. We did not love the beach at Cuisinart - it was in a spot where the surf was rougher than most other places on the island - although it was still an incredible beach - but the pool more than made up for it. With the rougher surf came a wonderful breeze though that kept us cool in the hot weather and kept mosquitos to a minimum. My husband took full advantage of the complimentary sun-fish excursions on the beach and the beach staff even took him fishing one day. The infinity pool flowed out in fountains down to the water and made a perfect series of small shallow pools for my son to toddle around in, and the staff even encouraged us to take advantage and swim in them. The room was incredible and the second floor terrace was child-proof. We've stayed at Four Seasons hotels in the past and this was absolutely in that category. 7 users found this review helpful. 1 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? Our honeymoon could not have been better! Visited: May 2003 Posted by aletramiles One week of our honeymoon was spent in this heavenly place. The food was great and the portions were huge. If you need a resort for rest, relaxation and beauty - this is the place. We had a beachfront room which made for peaceful sounds of rolling water and a view of city lights on neighboring St. Martin. The staff was very helpful and friendly. I would go back anytime. 7 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? Good, but not great. Visited: May 2003 Posted by cristine After reading the reviews, I was excited about Cuisinart. But I think that having traveled to and stayed in some amazing places in the last couple of years, Cuisinart did not live up to my expectations. I would really give this resort 3.5 stars, not 4, but this wasn't an option. First, the disappointments, I had a bad experience with a couple of the staff members in the front office and concierge. In both instances, it was about them misquoting me for the cost of things: first the cost of an extra person in our suite, ($90/per night which I think is ludicrous) and then, a snorkeling trip that we took. For snorkeling, do not take the suggested boat trip with the divers. It is better and easier to snorkel off the Shoal Bay East Beach, which is free. There was also an incident where my sister ordered Virgin margaritas, and we ended up with margaritas with alcohol. The pool girl refused to replace them with non-alcoholic drinks so the $24 drinks went to waste. These incidents really made me feel like some of the staff (and locals) felt that tourists were to be taken advantage of. We definitely paid through the nose for everything. Anywhere that we went for dinner outside the hotel grounds was a $36-40 cab ride. Our Junior Suite was nice but very sparsely furnished. Do not expect luxurious accommodations, despite the cost. The bathrooms are nice, though. There was a huge tub and marble shower. The toiletries are really nice, too. The only thing about the bathroom was that the wall was made of blocks of glass so showering in the evening with the lights on, was a great peepshow for anyone walking by. The food was just okay. Santorini was very expensive; dinner for 3 without alcohol was $250. The bouillabaisse was terrible, but the Spiny Lobster was delicious (and huge, too). The Spa was one the more memorable things about our stay. We really enjoyed the massages and wraps. Most of the wait and the beach staff were very customer friendly and helpful. All in all, if you're hoping to go to an exclusive resort, try one of the others on the island. As for the island, it's not as exclusive as the reviews make it sound. Perhaps, it is exclusive relative to the other islands. For the amount that I spent, I would rather revisit Bora Bora, which is every bit as exclusive as it sounds. As mentioned early, I really felt ripped off staying on this island. Every time that one leaves, whether on a plane or visiting neighbor island, St.Martin, you have to pay a departure tax. Totally not worth it. 8 users found this review helpful. 3 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? Cuisinart is an extraordinary resort! Visited: May 2003 Posted by ten My husband and I just returned from a five-night stay. Upon arrival, we were greeted as we stepped out of our taxi, handed cold towels, and escorted to the lobby lounge where we were given a complimentary rum drink. We were immediately pampered. The resort grounds were lush and perfectly manicured. We stayed in a luxury room which was in the least expensive category. The room was fabulous. It was very large and decorated with beautiful artwork. The room had a huge bathroom with a large tub and separate shower, double sinks, and a separate dressing room. The room was located in the main building, which I liked. It was close to the restaurants and had a view of the pool and ocean in the distance. You could not be disappointed with this room category. The more expensive rooms were closer to the beach. There was also a large balcony where you could have the complimentary continental breakfast served (there was a $5 surcharge per person). We decided to have breakfast by the pool in one of the restaurants (no charge). The breakfast selection was great for a continental breakfast- the usual pastries, bagels, English muffins, and a selection of juices, coffee, teas, plus fresh fruit, cheeses and cold cuts. Everything was laid out buffet style. The service in the restaurants was very good- it wasn't the slow "island service" you would expect. Everyone was friendly and accommodating. Mediterraneo offered a great lunch selection by the pool and Santorini was the more upscale restaurant for fine dining. The restaurants were expensive- but in line with others on the island. Lunch for two people could easily be $50. On Tuesday, the resort held a lobster barbeque around the pool. The food was great and the setting was beautiful. A local band played during dinner- this was a fun night. The beach was amazing with soft white sand, comfortable lounge chairs and umbrellas were provided. As soon as guests picked their spot, a beach attendant appeared with towels and bottled water. At 3:00 pm every day, sorbet was served in blue plastic wine glasses - it was a treat! There was a beach bar that had happy hour at 4:30 pm. The ocean at this beach was clear and beautiful. However, it was not perfectly calm- a little choppy, but still great for swimming. This beach was not good for snorkeling- there was no reef right off the beach. We stayed at another top resort on the island for three nights- just to compare. I liked Cuisinart better and hope to return someday. It was a relaxing vacation. 3 users found this review helpful. 1 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? They have the most beautiful beach I've ever seen. Visited: November 2002 Posted by fanciepants817 If you're looking for vacation that includes nothing but relaxation, Cuisinart is the place to go. The resort is stunning, and the beach is truly the most beautiful I've ever seen. The sand is like powder and, unlike many beach fronts in the Caribbean, the shoreline is long enough to take a leisurely stroll. Beware, though, some of the guests at Rendezvous Bay (a neighboring resort) like to sunbathe topless … if you’re not expecting it, you could be caught off guard! The resort staff is pleasant and accommodating, moreso than some hotel staff I've ever encountered on other islands. From the poolside staff serving the mid-afternoon sorbet to the staff on the beach bringing water and towels, everyone is more than willing to do whatever was necessary to ensure comfort and relaxation. The only thing that is a bit of a disappointment is the fact that this nearly perfect resort offers only one restaurant for evening dining. The addition of a second, and perhaps a third, eatery would serve the resort well. While the food is quite good and the prices at Santorini are similar to those at most of the restaurants on the island (nothing on this island is inexpensive), I'm sure that many hotel guests would appreciate the option to enjoy a good meal for less than $65 a person. Beware of the ridiculously overpriced $15 Hydroponic salad. Admittedly, it was the best lettuce I’ve ever had, but no bowl of lettuce with a touch of goat cheese on the side is worth $15. Also, if you intend to indulge in the Spiny Lobster Barbeque, take full advantage of the fact that it’s a buffet and load up on the lobster; otherwise, you may not feel as though you’ve gotten your money’s worth. Taxi fares are also quite high, so be sure to have a good supply of cash on hand if you plan to do any day tripping or travel off the resort. Be sure also to take advantage of the tour of the Hydroponic Garden. It’s quite interesting and you’ll get to sample the most delicious cherry tomatoes you’ve ever had in your entire life. 2 users found this review helpful. 1 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? If you like Ritz and Four Seasons, you will like Cuisinart. Visited: July 2002 Posted by jmcampbell We stayed for 11 days. It was clean, beautiful and luxurious. The room was huge (a junior suite). We had a sleeper sofa, and the rollaway had the best mattresses we had ever seen on these types of beds for our children. They provided fresh bath robes and slippers with a turndown service each night. The resort's white sand beach was long, with clear, fairly calm water. They also had a big pool. We toured the hydroponic farm where they grew pesticide-free vegetables. We took a cooking class (with a French chef and two assistant chefs). The Cuisinart also had a great workout facility, with a personal trainer and a jogging path. For food, they offered wonderful pizza (just like in Italy), chocolate souffles and a lobster barbeque. The food was expensive, but worth it for what we got. Request a second floor room for a better view. We would go back to Cuisinart. 3 users found this review helpful. 1 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? This is the most amazing resort on Anguilla! Visited: May 2002 Posted by flippee13 Cuisinart is heaven on earth. The grounds are breathtaking, and the food is amazing (both at Santorini and Mediterraneo). The portions are huge, the food is wonderful, and the service is five-star. The beach is wonderful, and the beach service top notch. The set-ups are not too close together, which is good for privacy. You can also enjoy a wonderful breeze (we had sun every day from May 16-June 2). The beach bar is great, too. We had the most exotic Caribbean drinks. The rooms are amazing (we stayed in a junior suite). They include a marble bath with a huge sunken tub, a marble shower for two, a huge main room with a sitting area, a fridge, and screen doors (which we kept open all the time). We did not even need to use the air conditioning, as the breeze and sound of the ocean was calming and just what we like. The spa is fantastic (extremely clean, great products and wonderfully friendly and knowledgable staff). They are very experienced - we can't pinpoint one service as it all is fabulous. The warmth of the Anguillan people and the first-class quality of Cuisinart made our honeymoon an extremely memorable experience. We will return soon. 2 users found this review helpful. 1 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? It was an exquisite Caribbean escape. Visited: April 2002 Posted by Tonigator My husband and I just came back from a week-long stay. We chose the Cuisinart because of the spa and cooking classes which the other hotels did not offer. We can not wait to get back. The rooms were beautiful. The food was beyond anything I expected. The beach was so unique. We enjoyed sugar-like sand, turquoise water and fresh sorbet at 3:00 p.m. in the afternoon. The most outstanding feature was the level of service we were given. The Anguillans are friendly by nature, but the staff at the Cuisinart exceeded all standards. I do not have enough space to personally mention all of the new friends we now have on the island. I was sad as we left the hotel because I will miss them all. Every aspect of our trip was a pleasure. Anguilla has a place in my heart forever. I am planning to return to the Cuisinart as soon as I can. Do not miss this incredible experience. The sentiment among all the other guests was the same. Cuisinart was a special place. 2 users found this review helpful. 1 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? Exceptional Visited: February 2002 Posted by DianeRelan We actually walked out on another hotel in the middle of our honeymoon and came to Cusinart. We made our reservation an hour before arrival, and they had a room ready for us when we arrived. However, we decided at check-in to upgrade and wait for a different room to be prepared. While waiting, the manager chatted with us and offered us breakfast. A few moments later a staff member came over and informed the manager that there was a problem with meeting our request. There was only one suite available for the type we wanted, and it had two double beds. Knowing we were on our honeymoon, the manager didn’t hesitate to instruct the staff to switch the beds with a king bed from another unoccupied room. We watched as a few men carried the beds down three flights of stairs! And then the king bed back up three flights! Talk about bending over backwards for us! The rest of our stay was just as exceptional. Great service from the staff. Gorgeous beach. The room had an incredible view and comfortable terrace where we had breakfast served every day. Musts at Cusinart: Get at least one spa treatment. Have a Hydroponic salad…the tomatoes are sinful. Take the Hydroponic Farm tour. Go to the chef’s degustation at Santorini and do the wine pairing. 2 users found this review helpful. 1 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? This is a wonderful property with mostly friendly staff and a very good beach Visited: August 2001 Posted by lmckenzi Although we had a short three-day stay at the resort, we had a wonderful time. The restaurant was expensive, but definitely worth it. It was quite affordable by New York standards. My husband and I had a good time at the spa. The employees were mostly friendly (not so much at the front desk). We especially enjoyed the beach, which was beautiful. 2 users found this review helpful. 1 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? Great place for a honeymoon. Visited: July 2001 Posted by bro07830 We recently stayed at Cuisinart and it was wonderful. We got incredible service and there were always friendly faces around the resort. The rooms were amazing, very clean, and breakfast on the terrace was very enjoyable. The beach is beautiful and very quiet. Afternoon sorbet is served at 3:30 everyday. I guess the only downfall is how expensive it is to eat at the resort. They are a bit pricier than other resorts we ate at. I would suggest renting a car, as cabs can be expensive. If you're going to Anguilla for a week or so, I recommend going to St. Maarten for a day and do some shopping. The Cuisinart is one of the top 3 resorts on the island, easily. The restaurant does not have an ocean view though—Cap Julaca and Malihouna do. The marble bathrooms are incredible. Overall, I highly recommend Cuisinart. 2 users found this review helpful. 1 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful?

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