Also should put that we are looking to go away from anywhere between 10-12 nights!

There are lots of great hotels in Anguilla. They are all on different beaches, and all the beaches in

Anguilla are great. Cap Jaluca - if you can afford it - is one of the nicest for honeymooners looking for seclusion, but also check out the websites for Cuisinart, Malliouhana, and others. Depending on whether looking for a more social atmosphere or total seclusion, you'll get different recommendations here in this forum.

Note that Anguilla is very uncommercialized. It has no casinos, almost no tourist shopping, and little nightlife other than a strip of lively beach bars in Sandy Ground on Thursday - Saturday. But if you like fine dining, amazing and uncrowded beaches, snorkeling, sailing, and generally slowing down, Anguilla is great.

If you think that fits the bill, then try these links:

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g147238-i388-k2307…

www.tripadvisor.com/SearchForums…

Can't speak for Antigua, but St. Thomas and St. Martin/Maarten are very developed, mountainous and more densely populated than flat, arid, uncommercialized Anguilla. In general, Anguilla's constant breeze will be more comfortable in July than the more humid, still air around mountainous islands. Anguilla is also a safer island in terms of tourist crimes like car breakins, etc. There are so many nice beaches and restaurants that you could easily spend 10-12 nights in Anguilla (maybe split between two nice hotels for variety). If you fly in via St. Maarten, you could spend some days there, but get recommendations on where to honeymoon; there are a lot of contrasting parts of that island.

St. M is a quick boat ride away from Anguilla, but the others will require air service on a local airline such as WinAir or LIAT. And those airlines can be very unreliable and lose baggage more often than what you might be used to in the US, so try to go carryon. You only need flip flops, tshirts and shorts :).

If you want help and info on Antigua try the link below.

www.antiguaforums.com

We are doing a similar, (albeit only a week) trip in December. I did much research and ended up choosing Anguilla over T&C for its great beaches and after reading the recommendations of its many loyal visitors, who frequently post here. We are also staying in St. Martin since we fly in there and it has a great restaurant scene in Grand Case. We are staying at Ku in AXA and L'Esplanade in SXM.

Hi STB,

My husband and I recently honeymooned in Anguilla. We stayed in Cap Juluca (excellent!), then ferried over to St. Barths for the remainder of our honeymoon. The islands are very different, which made for a unique experience.

Let me know if you want more info.

By the way, congratulations!

If finances are not a problem for you, go for Cap Juluca. It doesn't get more "romancy" than that resort.

As for traveling to get there, it really is not that difficult at all (depending where you are departing from, of course).

From the usual haunts like NY or Philadelphia you might want to consider flying to Antigua non-stop first and staying at either the top-notch Jumby Bay in Antigua (5-minute boat ride) or Coco Point Lodge in Barbuda (their own very short private plane ride to their exclusive resort) and then taking the short flight to Anguilla for the rest of your honeymoon.

Having been a Caribbean specialist I can say this: pick and island and go from there. Find one that has easy connections. Once you find that you can then research the best possible property. TA is a great resource. The forums too. Being a Caribbean specialist for 21 years I am of course biased in saying use a travel agent. It is free and a good one knows that they sell. The attend fam trips and stay at many places they market.

Combining islands works IF you stay longer than 2 weeks and choose islands with easy connections. St. Martin and Anguilla is a good idea. Barbuda and Antigua another.

Beach, I too chose Grande Case and Anguilla last week as a matter of fact. Wow, the USD exchange rate is bad BUT you can find 1=1.

Caribchakita, I've been following your posts. Have any "Must-dos" or "Must-nots" to impart on me? We will be renting a car on both islands and the only activity we are definitely doing is the Full moon party on Friar's Beach in SXM. Can you tell me more about the Shauna Ferry? I guess it works out money wise b/c you skip the taxi fare from Marigot to SXM right? So Shauna takes you directly from the SXM Airport (or close enough to walk) to Blowing Point? I am thinking we might take the public Ferry back to SXM b/c we are going to Grand Case and Marigot is closer than the airport. Can you buy one ways on Shauna?

I highly recommend www.lepetithotel.com in Grande Case. It is a 15 min walk mostly on sidewalks to the dining/shopping areas. The beach is lovely with views of AXA. Tell Stephanie I referred you. The rooms are immaculate and fully equipped with kitchenettes, dinign table, balcony outside, lovely apothocaries and thirsty towels and bathrobes. The bedding is divine but the bed itself is very firm.

We dined somewhere I would not recommend. Try and find 1=1 exchange with cash of course. We loved Le Source for lunch in Marigot. I heard Belle Epoch is great.

We took the public ferry Link with an open top from Marigot. Thank GOD as I would get seasick down below. Upon arrival I saw the Shauna and had to cancel as it appeared too small. Others here swear by it.

We booked the 7:30 Link Mini ferry back to the airport. It was the school bus run so very low key and adorable to see the kids. It took 45 min. The shuttle from the ferry to the airport was free. Naturally we tipped.

Do's in AXA:

Sunday Johnno's Jazz at 1 and then Dune Preserve at 3?

Smokey's Sat. afternoon and Roti

Elvis's at Sandy Ground ANYTIME

Rum Punch at E's Oven and dinner

Meade's Bay and Maunday Bay..you got to see these beaches to believe it..

I am a newbie so my must do list is new and developing..if I can get Mom and Maggie down in Nov. and meet me there, we are going back.