vuittonsofstyle, have you been to altamer or temenos on anguilla? also, what about food on st barts?

mktozd, seems to me its caribbean < hawaii < south pacific in terms of price/value. south of the US has best value, with banyan tree getting rave reports, and both FS also well regarded.

No, not been to Altamar or Temenos. Very rarely go to the Caribbean as it is generally so sub-standard to other resort destinations.

Some of the food on St Barts is good, as like Malliouhana, it has a French emphasis. Le Toiny was pretty good, but that was a while ago. I found that the restaurants were better than the hotels on St Barts. I find the 'scene' tiresome there. Why bother when you can go to St Tropez?

I had originally asked about FS Costa Rica and Little Dix Bay but since you mentioned it, I would love your insight between FS Costa Rica and Malliohana!

What Little Dix Bay has for us after approx 8 visits in last five or six years is setting setting setting unmatched on any of these other islands - 500 acres or so with less than half of that developed - amazing beach options on Virgin Gorda and the resort provides comp water taxi's to eight different ones - the question of food and other stuff is all about priorities - We go to disconnect / recharge and it is remarkable for that - some of other posts I read seem really to want to be cushioned from the caribbean VS really experience the best of it - indeed, go to Hawaii which for us was totally flat - schlep for hours to stay in another high rise, nothing hawaiian about any place we stayed and we certainly spent as much or more
Tried Sandy Lane after it re-opened and again it was not a fit for us - do not travel for electric curtains, butlers and flat screen televisions, travel to these parts to escape all that !! Little Dix did spend considerably to upgrade things and built villa's, stayed last time in the one on very end of the beach - seven steps off the sand - it was a home run for me and my family and there is a tight team of mostly europeans running things these days - spa set up on the cliff if really amazing - sit at infinity pool watching sail boats float by and you almost don't need the treatment, stress floats away with the boat .... amen, to each his own
The bed bug comment was cute - sure it was not what locals call "no see 'ums" ?? Sand fleas that get you whilst at the beach but you have no idea at the time etc
Happy Travels ......

why little dix (virgin gorda) over a private island resort?

my understanding is turks and caicos has best beaches and water in caribbean. st lucia has mountain views.

also, FS hualalai has 37 1/2 story bungalows, not a highrise.

edit - speedbird001's report http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/luxur...pointment.html

not for me - again personal preference - private islands I have visited (Maldives / Neckar) feel too small, literally / figuratively - if it is not working more challenging to step away .... LDB felt like a pvt island, no keys - just a safe for your valuables etc, apparently no problems w/ that. Founded by L Rockefeller who seemingly got spacing / privacy / setting / simplicity

FS on big island so well run, the lava fields stunning but beach was pretty bad and architecturally for me felt like "why leave orange co ?" etc - very CA pool scene which again not my fit

T & C had stunning white sand and crystal clear blue waters but virgin gorda has reefs and granite boulders as well so means the former when you snorkel has you swim hard for a while to find a sand dollar VS the latter has remarkable sea life - in the bay that is little dix there lives about 6 sea turtles, follow one for 10 minutes and does great things for perspective etc
cheers

I'm w/ you on this. Actually next family vaca i'm thinking Little Dix.

I'm assuming you're coming from NYC. How did you arrange your air travels? Did you fly into EIS? Or do you get charter from STT or San Juan? I'm thinking of just getting an air charter from San Juan.

Most people fly to SJU and then commerically to Tortola. Little Dix yacht picks you up at the airport dock for 25 minute crossing directly to Little Dix. Personally, I fly to STT to avoid the chaos of SJU. Then I charter directly to Virgin Gorda and hotel is 10 minutes from airport. It may also depend on how many in your party as to whether this is worthwhile.

Four Seasons Costa Rica is in a different league because it is a Four Seasons, and because staff in Costa Rica (especially at FS) tend to be a bit more motivated than in the Caribbean.

If you want classic French food and old world service then Malliouhana fits the bill, but if comfort, design and service standards are more important then FS Costa Rica is better by far. Also, the rooms/suites are much more up to date and the bathroom are better at FS. You really cannot compare the two.

[QUOTE=Kagehitokiri;12044845]vuittonsofstyle, have you been to altamer or temenos on anguilla?

I just realised what Altamar is - I never stayed but took a look at it. it felt like a typical Spanish package holiday resort with ugly architecture.

Temenos? Didn't this project go bankrupt? I think it started as a St Regis then moved to Barry Sternlicht's Baccarat group, but I didn't think it opened, apart from the private residences. Am I wrong?

[QUOTE=vuittonsofstyle;12068965]Re Temenos - I think that's right.

i was talking about the 3 temenos villas. similar to altamer. all the reports ive read elsewhere for both have been great, as opposed to all the other anguilla resorts / private villas. although just noticed one saying altamer is better, so there might have been a change after st regis deflag.

altamer was also building 6 new villas and a marina. dont know where that stands, but perhaps interior design is different from original 3 villas.

I'm actually planning on chartering a plane -- to minimize travel time. Thanks for the advise, but there are no direct flights to STT the time of year I'm planning (Oct.)
I'm looking into SJU b/c of direct flights and close proximity. Am I looking at a world of hurt (w/ 2 small ones) transferring through San Juan?

What is your final destination? STT?

Sorry Virgin Gorda airport -- the one that is closet to the resort.