My husband and I recently returned home from our trip to Guana Island, a destination about which I have been dreaming for almost a year when I began planning my 60th birthday celebration. It’s funny how so many reviews say that this destination is not for everyone, and I can see that; however, it was paradise for us. We stayed in the Barbados cottage with a picture-perfect view from our back porch. Morning birdsong greeted us as we enjoyed quiet time on the porch. One day we had breakfast delivered to the room, and we ate outside. Glorious! Food: A+ for every meal and snack. Serving sizes were just right, too. Food and drink are important to us when we travel, and we were very happy with all of the selections and preparations. Breakfast selections included a self-service area with a daily fresh-squeezed juice, coffee, teas, help-yourself bar and refrigerator, pastries, meat/cheese, cereals, and fresh-baked breads. The first day, I thought that was it, but then learned that we also had a daily full breakfast or could choose from a menu of the other daily meals. These included eggs, breakfast meats, potatoes, pancakes/waffles, bagels, etc. A filling way to start the day. Lunch: We chose to have lunch at the beach the last two days of our stay, and that was lovely. While others went up to the main house, we had selected our lunch options and enjoyed it from a table at the bar in the quiet of the day. Yes, we had some wind and sand, but no complaints!! The full lunch even included dessert! The same servers worked all day, always with a smile and accommodations for whatever made us happy! Thanks to Marilyn and Kimberly, especially! Snack: The beach bar always had a stash of snacks (nuts, homemade cookies, chips), the refrigerator held cold beer and sodas, water was plentiful, and the bartenders were ready to make us fabulous drinks. We took our own insulated drink cups so that the heat did not melt our painkillers, rum runners, margaritas, etc.! Sampson, Sandra, and Rickie gave us great service! Dinner: What a lovely way to start dinner with the sunset cocktail time with appetizers. From sushi to coconut shrimp to pizza rolls, the appetizers changed daily, and the bartenders poured generously. The first night, we were placed at a four top with another couple with whom we became friendly! I believe all rooms were booked on our first night. Later, we had a choice of eating alone or with a group, and we told the staff that it didn’t matter to us. Some nights, we enjoyed the company of two couples with whom we enjoyed talking (thanks to the staff for noticing that!), and other nights, we enjoyed a quiet table for two, all of the time with the two bottles of wine we could select. Dinner began with a soup of some kind, always with ingredients grown in the gardens (don’t miss the garden tour!), and was followed by some sort of salad (beet, vegetable, green), then the main course (your choice of three) and its accruements, and then an Instagram-worthy dessert. I had read reviews that dinner could take a long time through and in between the courses. We only had one night when the dinner stretched longer than we usually like, but how can you complain when the table has wine and water, and the sounds of the island surround you while you wait? – Thanks to Lennon for a fabulous garden tour. We were comparing notes with another couple who had taken the tour, and my husband and I knew more than they did from what Lennon showed us and told us about! BTW, Lennon, redolent is the vocab of the day ; ) Beach: We stayed at the White Bay beach for the most part, enjoying the clear kayak that we took out one day along with the snorkel and float equipment. I enjoyed paddling out the big blue float (often against the wind) to the buoys and ropes that identified GI, holding on for a bit against any wind, and then gently floating back to the beach. It is so quiet with a gorgeous view along with all of the amenities of food, drinks, RR, water toys, etc. We were going to do the lunch on the beach outing but decided not to since that little private beach area was not that far from where we were on the White Bay beach. (The other private beach area for lunch had a lot of seaweed, so they weren’t using that one.) Don’t worry about running down to reserve chairs; there are plenty with umbrellas along with a few sets under the big tree – our favorite spot. A couple of times, tourists from the sailboats moored in that water area would ride in to the GI beach on their dinghy. The bartenders were very polite and friendly as they told the visitors that this was a private island, instead directing them to the area down the beach that is public. (All beaches are public in the BVI.) Clothing: We packed three nicer outfits for dinner that we rotated through for our seven-night stay; I am not one who needs a different outfit every day. It is not dressy dressy for dinner, but what a beautiful location just to put on pretty summer clothes and enjoy! I used absolutely no make up the whole week. While many other women did the same, I saw some in full makeup and lashes. You do you! My husband wore nicer shorts and either floral shirts or Polo-type shirts to dinner. Otherwise, we lived in our bathing suits/cover ups and casual shorts/tees. We did have a few items laundered one time during our stay, and that is so convenient. Thank you for offering that! The housekeeper will take your laundry bag, and clean clothes are returned in 24 hours. The evenings can be muggy, especially as we get into summer months. We visited the first/second week in June and were beginning to feel the evening heat. While hiking, my husband did get one of the pricklies that GI website warns you about, and he used a stick to roll it off of his leg. Do NOT use your fingers! We had brought pants for hiking, but he was wearing shorts. If you want to hike, definitely bring water! The cottages have refillable water bottles in them in case you forget yours. And as others have said, these are well beyond leisurely strolls. Take your poles and wear your boots. Cottages: Many have mentioned the minimalistic, Greek style of these, and I would agree. Your home-away-from-home includes a small refrigerator filled with water (and in our case, six Diet Mtn. Dew that I had previously requested since my husband drinks one every day! Thanks, staff, for going out of your way to make that happen!). Mosquito spray and coils, bug spray, a flashlight (handy for coming back after dinner), and an umbrella are in the room for your comfort. We heard a couple tell of the many mosquitos they had in the porch area which would swarm into their room at night, feasting all night long. Someone was sharing the “Bug Bite Thing” suction tool with another person who was getting bitten; bring one if the mosquitoes like you. You will see lots of tiny ants since sand is everywhere. We had a line of them coming from the top of the bathroom area down to the window. The housekeeper did something the first day to stop the trail, but each day, it came back. The cottage must have branches close to the roof where they are marching in. All I did was spray well and then smash any remaining wanderers with my finger; these few were in the sink, so no problem. That is one of the reasons this luxurious vacation wonderland is not for everybody. But really, what a small price to pay for paradise. On my actual birthday, my husband had coordinated with the head waitress Kathleen and put up a Happy 60th Birthday sign over the table he had chosen for our breakfast. At dinner, both Kathleen and another lovely singer serenaded me with the evening’s dessert tiramisu, which happens to be my favorite. Getting there: We live in Atlanta, and AA had just begun a route from Atlanta to Miami, and then from Miami to EIS. Otherwise, we would have had to go Atlanta – Miami – San Juan – EIS. The flight from Miami to EIS was delayed because of weather, so we didn’t get on the island until two hours beyond our expected arrival. I kept the staff updated with texts, so the taxi driver and boat were ready when we arrived. You will pay $10 cash per person at the Tortola airport customs area. WHEN YOU LEAVE the island and go through customs, you must have any/all purse items in a QUART-sized bag; no bag or a gallon Ziploc will not be accepted. This means small hand lotions, small hand sanitizer, etc. Be prepared!! We were leaving the island on their boat at 12:30 p.m., and the staff made us a lovely to-go lunch of ham and cheese sandwiches, fruit and cookies. What to pack: sunscreen, beach cover up, coozie/insulated drink bottle, books to read (although their library offers a good selection of titles along with games), a nightlight for the bathroom (otherwise, you are turning on the bright lights in the middle of the night), Tums/charcoal in case the extra drinks and food affect your tummy as it does mine (I like to be proactive), charger cords to plug in by the lamps at your bedside, and the knowledge that you are going to R E L A X. This is where you go to turn off. No need to bring shampoo/conditioner, body wash or body lotion. Their products are first class! Tips: All of the information on the website reads that all tips are included in the payment. We stuck to that rule. However, upon arrival, when the young lady was showing us our room, I asked about extra tips. She said that they would gladly accept them. Oops. We brought no extra bills for tips other than what we gave to the taxi driver. However, I had brought two big bags of Ghirardelli chocolate for the staff to enjoy as our own welcome gift! She was happy to take that to a staff area where everyone could enjoy it. Additional shoutouts: K’cei provided us with a highlight of the trip, taking us in the boat to a snorkeling area! Thanks, K’cei! We both had beachside massages with our Romance Package, which also included a bottle of sparkling wine in our cottage! Massage therapist Nicole did a masterful job, and the sounds of the waves crashing on the beach almost put me to sleep! …