The beaches are both glorious -- can't go wrong with either. RBH is closing for good this summer (high end villas will be replacing it) so this would be your one & only chance to stay there. Rendezvous Bay is less crowded although in Anguilla, that doesn't mean much because no beach is really ever crowded (except for during boat races, of course). Shoal Bay East has a number of beach bars and restaurants (mostly open for lunch) -- Rendezvous doesn't. Cedar Grove at RBH is a wonderful restaurant that we go to even if we'e not staying there. Many of the restaurants that we frequent are in Sandy Ground (Pumphouse, Sunsets, Barrel Stay, Roys, Johnnos) which is much closer to RBH. We also love Tasty's & E's Oven -- closer to RBH and Trattoria, Lucy's, Smokey's & Picante on the west end -- closer to RBH. Shoal Bay East has live bands at some of the beach bars on some afternoons and has far better off-the-shore snorkeling. The management at RBH (especially Bart) is the best on the entire island but the people at SBV are very nice as well. RBH has gorgeous views of St. Martin; SBV looks out at a whole lot of water.

If you want a little more activity & don't want to drive for lunch -- Shoal Bay Villas would be the one.

What a wonderful and complete comparison! I do appreciate your taking the time to give a complete answer. Surely I cannot go wrong either way. Our focus and priority is the beach, accomodations, service and food.--pretty much in that order. We are not big drinkers or big on night life. We are interested in seeing the island and plan to rent a car. The first few days of the vacation will be in St. Martin where we hope and expect to be busy. The week in Anguilla is to just kick back and relax and enjoy the beach. I understand RBV does not have a pool. If we occasionally laze around the pool, is the one at SBV worth it? Thanks.

I recently attempted to stay at RBH and I left without even staying the night. I thought that the rooms were pretty awful. I've never stayed at Shoal Bay, so I can't compare. I would ask yourself this question, however. "Would you maintain and spend money on rooms that were going to be torn down in a couple of months anyway"? That's what is going on at RBH. I know that people love the beach and the manager and all the other stuff. But the rooms we saw were in a total state of disrepair. The place is coming down and that's the way they are treating it.

You have an excellent point. Our primary focus is the beach, but it is really important that the accommodations are nice. Can you givve me an idea of what exactly was the turn off for you? Did they try to fix the problem or offer to make things right for you>

We stayed three nights at RBH in January and the next three nights at Ku (next door to SBV). It was VERY difficult to leave the beach at RB and go to Shoal Bay. Shoal Bay was MUCH more crowded and got more crowded towards the weekend (I can't imagine what it was like on the weekend). There is a boat anchored right off the beach at Ku as there is a dive place there...that was a MAJOR eye sore for me....it's anchored about five feet from shore...not way out there. People get dropped off by boat and hang around on the beach all day (they are not supposed to use the resorts beach chairs, but if nobody tells them not to, they will). That didn't happen at RB. RB is MUCH quieter. In my opinion, the beach at RB had MUCH softer sand and was MUCH bigger with less beach traffic. We stayed in BeachFront Villa 12 and didn't have any problems with the room. It was super clean. It was just basic...no frills...how much time do you plan on being in your room? I can not comment on SBV because we did not stay there...however SBV's part of the beach was always meticulously maintained and cleaned up every single morning (unlike Ku) but they are side by side so you'll see the messy beach of Ku anyway.

For food: RBH is in walking distance to Anguilla Great House, Cuisinart and The Dune Preserve. RBH restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch & dinner but is pricey and, in my opinion, not the best the island has to offer....it definitley pays to rent a car. If you do have a car while at RBH you are within minutes from the majority of the good resturants on the island. Whereas if you rent a car while you're at SB you are only within minutes from very few restaurants and then rest are a 20 - 30 min. drive. If you stay at SB you have many options for lunch (Uncle Ernies, Gwens, Elodias) but limited walking options for dinner (Zaras, Serenity....I don't want to even mention Ku's restaurant as I found it pretty bad...for food & service).

About the pool: I would normally consider myself a "pool person". We did not even go near the pool at Ku nor did we see anyone else in it. Not because it wasn't clean or anything...but because the beaches are fabulous. It didn't bother me in the least bit that RBH didn't have a pool...I don't think you'd find yourself sitting by it anyway when you have the gorgeous beach literally right outside your door.

My vote goes to RBH. You'll never have another chance to experience it...spend the extra money and take the beachfront villa.

In all fairness to RBH, we didn't see the beachfront rooms. For all I know, they may be OK. We saw the garden rooms and the problems were so serious they couldn't have fixed them even if they wanted to. Broken windows, doors leading to adjacent rooms that wouldn't lock or even close, major stains on the ceilings, stains on the floors, mosquitos all over the room, etc. It wasn't good! Plus we didn't even like the grounds that much. I know that in life "you get what you pay for", but there should be at least some minimum standard and there didn't appear to be at RBH. I also know that you're not paying for Cap Julaca or Cuisinart, but c'mon! I guess everybody has different standards.

In all fairness to RBH, we didn't see the beachfront rooms. For all I know, they may be OK. We saw the garden rooms and the problems were so serious they couldn't have fixed them even if they wanted to. Broken windows, doors leading to adjacent rooms that wouldn't lock or even close, major stains on the ceilings, stains on the floors, mosquitos all over the room, etc. It wasn't good! Plus we didn't even like the grounds that much. I know that in life "you get what you pay for", but there should be at least some minimum standard and there didn't appear to be at RBH. I also know that you're not paying for Cap Julaca or Cuisinart, but c'mon! I guess everybody has different standards.

The garden rooms have been run down for awhile, not just this rebuilding period. The beachfront rooms are very spacious, light, airy, with well-kept rattan furnishings, large baths, and good a/c. I believe they were just re-done late 2005, just before the 2006 season. Also from your very large porch, you can walk 20 feet into the most glorious water on the island.

Thank you so much each of you for your feedback. But it appears that the "plot" thickens!!!. I am concerned when I hear that RBV would offer-- even the garden view rooms-- in the condition just described. All customers expect a certain level of accomodations, whether it be garden view or beachfront. If the lower priced accomodations are unacceptable, it does not matter . Each vacationer wants to have a certain level of comfort.

I would think that if management could "care less" about the garden view customers, it would also become evident in other areas of managing the hotel. So---this information does complicate the decision a bit more.

Here is something else to consider. I think the best beach is definately RB. Have you thought of staying at Cuisinart? It's wonderful. On our vacation we walked that beach about four times a day from Cuisinart down to RBH and back. Often times we were the only ones walking!!! Check out Cuisinart. It is certainly more expensive, but a great experience.