The Caribbean side's endless beach, Rendezvous Bay, lays out a stunning 2 1/ 2 - mile arc of sand facing St. Martin. One of the world's great walking strands - with Dune Preserve, the region's most artistically eclectic beach bar, conveniently located at the midpoint - Rendezvous is also a superb swimming beach when the water is calm.
The buzz on the bay is the sound of construction equipment pounding a large chunk of real estate behind the beach into what will become a golf course, villa community and Anguilla's largest resort--all under the Tenemos Estates moniker. Though the new development will eat up the western end of the bay, Rendezvous Bay (like all of Anguilla's coastline) is a public beach and its entire length will remain open to all.
Where to Stay
Opened in 1962 by a local hero, the late Jeremiah Gumbs, and still owned and operated by the Gumbs family, Rendezvous Bay Hotel and Villas (Doubles from $255, villas from $800; 800-274-4893; www.rendezvousbay.com) attracts a loyal following to its 60-acre setting and waterfront Cedar Grove Café ($$$). Anguilla Great House ($250 to $280; 800-583-9247; www.anguillagreathouse.com) is another modestly priced (for Anguilla), family-run beachfront resort. Its alfresco Old Caribe restaurant ($$$) is open daily and hosts weekly poolside barbecues. Until Tenemos comes online, Mediterranean-style Cuisinart Resort & Spa ($550 to $3,150; 800-943-3210; www.cuisinartresort.com) is the big fish of the bay - its 93 rooms and suites range from 900 to 7,500 square feet, and it's the world's first resort to have its own hydroponic garden growing fresh produce.
Where to Play
Bankie Banx's Dune Preserve ($$) is the artistic expression of one man and the chosen place to chill for many. Bankie keeps it real in the kitchen ("No burgers or fries, just genuine beach-bar barbecued chicken and ribs") and onstage, where he performs three times a week (there's live music most other nights as well).
Hot Stuff
Find Dune Preserve by driving past Cuisinart's gated entry and taking the first left. New this season, Bankie and his bartender Elvis have beached a boat in front of the Dune in order to add bar service right on the sand.
RENDEZVOUS BAY
