TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Day Trip to Anguilla

On our last trip to SXM we did an Aqua Mania trip to Anguilla. It was a wonderful experience, but this trip I was thinking about taking the ferry over from Marigot and taking a cab to a beach for the day.

What beach do you all recommend? I was thinking about Bankie Banx Dune Preserve or Blanchard's Beach Shack. But I don't have much that I'm basing that on - just that those are places I've heard about.

I'd love to hear some of your experiences.

Thanks so much!

We have taken the ferry many times. I have done a few island tours when with new visitors. We usually hit 2-3 or the resorts and then end up at Shoal Bay East. If I were just going to a beach, I prefer Shoal Bay East but it is hard to go wrong with any beach on Anguilla.

You can get a cab/van at the ferry terminal and negotiate a tour or just go to the beach. Prices are pretty much set and the dispatcher should have that information.

Here is a link for Anguilla information and there is also a link for taxi rates under the "activities" tab.

Shoal Bay East is the place to go for a perfect beach day. The other beaches are nice, but if only spending one day it is best not to travel around too much. Save the others for another day!

Does Shoal Bay East have beach bars with chairs/umbrellas, etc?

We just got back from a week in SXM and 2 nights on Anguilla. We stayed on Meads Bay and absolutely loved it. Its a quick ride from the ferry. Taxi cost us $18. We stayed at the Carimar Beach Resort but had lunch at Blanchards Beach Shack which was great. They have chairs and umbrellas for a small fee of $3 (if they even collect it). There is also a fairly new beach shack that we walked to that is near the Viceroy called the Bamboo Beer Box which has a great local vibe and has chairs, food and a great bar. Enjoy. I wish I was there now!

Public ferry from Marigot. Taxi to Shoal Bay East - tell the driver you want to go to Elodias, and you want picked up at 4pm.
Elodias rents chairs, umbrellas, towels, snorkeling gear, and they also have showers.
There are plenty of chair rentals on Shoal Bay east - but Elodias is the best, quietest area and big stretch of beach, good food and drinks.
Take cash for the ferry and departure tax and don't forget your passport.
Have a great trip.
Ellen

Shoal Bay is a beautiful beach. Elodia's was pretty full during our recent stay, but also depends on the day you are visiting. Think the chairs with umbrella are $10 for 2? Food is very good and there are other beach bars along SBE to visit. Mead's Bay is also nice and we love to visit Blanchard's Beach Shack. Chairs there were renting for $3 each. We have taken many day trips to Anguilla but now prefer to stay overnight. We use the public ferry. Cheapest option and pretty easy to use. Lots of taxis at Blowing Point that will take you wherever you want to go! We recently had friends who came over for the day to visit and the time went by very quickly! I can't imagine visiting more than one beach on a day trip. Anguilla is beautiful! Enjoy!

You will not have any trouble finding any of the above.

We always go to Shoal Bay East and the driver drops us off at Elodias. Great place and a gorgeous beach! We have a certain cab driver we use. His name is Nell. We just tell the person that takes the money at the ferry to call Nell that we are on the ferry and he meets us at the dock.

We have used Nell several times also. He was mentioned in the Blanchard's book, A Trip to the Beach. Toppy is another driver we have used multiple times.

We loved Trattoria Tramonto on Shoal Bay West. Quality Italian food like Grand Case, excellent drinks and calm beautiful blue water with a view of SXM. There is a reason why the Chef is pictured with DeNiro, Bill and Hillary, Uma Thurman, Conan Obrien, Liam and Natasha Neesom and more. We saw Anne Hathaway on the beach

If you want to go to Bankies "The Dune" Sunday is a great day to go.....live music & a sweet beach.....Garvey's Sunshine Shack....just up or down from the Dune is good as well.....my favorite is always Shoal Bay at Elodias.....and Bankies on Sunday.....kate <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/canada.gif" alt="" />

Yes, chairs at different places all along the beach. Madeariman is a nice place to hang out and it has good food and service.

looks like the votes are in for Shoal Bay. But I'll throw in another option just for kicks. We really like Smokey's at Cove Bay. The food is great, they have inside tables as well as under the big tent, and the chairs and unbrella are free if you have lunch. They have live music on Sunday (maybe other days). Very quiet, beautiful clean beach.

Sadly, since Uncle Ernie's went downhill, Madeariman is now our choice also. Get a set of chairs from Raymond at Skyline Beach Rentals and you are set.

Uncle Ernie's is now owned by the guy who runs Hungrys food truck in the Valley. We actually ate lunch here twice last week and found the food was very good as was the service. A little bit of island time waiting for the ribs/chicken combo but no one had anywhere to go so no big deal! I love their lobster pocket! A little pricey but lasts me for 2 meals! We ventured over to Madeariman's for the rum punch which really packs a punch! Also, had pizza there a couple nights- no complaints about the food! You really can't go wrong anywhere on SBE! We made the rounds everywhere except for Zemi and Gwen's. Looks like Manoah's bar will be open soon as well. Can't wait to try them next year!

Glad to know Uncle Ernie's is coming around. We first went there when Uncle Ernie was actively involved. Once he passed, things seem to not be right, even with a lot of the same staff initially. With "a drunk" often hanging around and not in a good state and the deterioration of the food, it became difficult for us to go there.

JD, last time we went to Ernies, "a drunk" was falling off the bar stool, and two gals got in a cat fight behind the counter - they were literally rolling on the floor pulling each others hair. We got out of there and have never been back. I have heard the food and service is good again, and "the drunk" is now on the wagon <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Laugh.gif" alt="" />

I believe it has been under new ownership for at least the last few years? We've been going every visit since '07 so did see the decline several years ago. Give it another try!

Ellen, I just about threw "a drunk" over the railing several years ago. He was a mess. Urinated on himself while barely being able to stay sitting on a barstool and then came to our table and slobbered on a friend while peering at her chest and trying to hit on her. It was not a pretty sight and I was pi$$ed and have not personally been back since. He was a true menace and did the place no good at all.

loislynn - Let me see if I can help you make your decision...


Meads Bay


Shoal Bay



Rendezvous Bay

I am not sure you can wrong...

OMG that picture of Meads Bay is killing me. I was there this past weekend and it was just so beautiful!

SHOAL BAY SUCKS. Not really but we love it for it natural setting and great beach. Trying to keep all the tourist away. Best beach in the Caribbean.

You scared me for a minute!! LOL Most beautiful beach although we also love Mead's Bay. Missing Anguilla right now....been cold and rainy all week and more rain next week. Guess I should be glad that it isn't snow!!

Thank you.

Randy