Four Seasons Resort and Residences Anguilla is the big-resort choice on Meads Bay: a Forbes Five-Star property on 35 acres of headland, with one beach on each side and infinity pools facing the sunset. For a honeymoon, the room to book is the entry Deluxe Ocean-View Room, which comes with its own plunge pool on a private sundeck. That alone sets it apart from most Caribbean resorts at this level.
About 80 percent of the accommodations look out to sea. Meads Bay stretches east toward Malliouhana, while Barnes Bay curves away to the west, so you can pick a beach by mood or by the wind. Five restaurants, lounges and cafés cover everything from a seafood dinner on the bluff to a Mexican lunch on the sand.
This resort suits couples who like modern design, polished service and plenty of choice without leaving the property. It is also popular with families and villa groups, so couples wanting an intimate, kid-free retreat should look at a smaller hotel instead.
Highlights at a glance
- Forbes Five-Star resort on 35 acres
- Plunge pool on the sundeck of every Deluxe Ocean-View Room
- Two beaches: Meads Bay and Barnes Bay
- Blufftop SALT restaurant and the Sunset Lounge
- Private boat cruises to Sandy Island and Prickly Pear
Why Couples Choose the Four Seasons
The headland position gives this resort a split personality that works well on a honeymoon. Meads Bay, one of Anguilla's most celebrated beaches, is long and calm, with beachside cabanas for the day. Barnes Bay is smaller and wilder, good for a quieter swim.
The architecture is clean and contemporary, all white walls, pale stone and glass framed around the sea. Pools step down the bluff with cabanas and the evening scene centers on the Sunset Lounge, where a DJ or live music plays while the sun drops into the water.
Then there is the Four Seasons polish. Things simply happen when you ask for them, from a beach setup to a last-minute boat day, which takes the planning off your plate.
Rooms and Suites to Book
- Deluxe Ocean-View Rooms are the honeymoon sweet spot. Each has a plunge pool on a private sundeck, so you can swim at midnight with nobody else around.
- One-Bedroom Ocean-View Suites add a separate living room and come with either a private plunge pool or a balcony. Confirm which you are getting, because the pool is the point.
- The Three-Bedroom Ocean-View Penthouse has a big terrace and a large plunge pool, more suited to a celebration with friends.
- Four-bedroom and five-bedroom villas, including a beachfront villa a few steps from Barnes Bay, are for groups.
Ask for a room facing Meads Bay for the longest beach view and the best sunset line.
Food, Drink and the Spa
SALT sits on the bluff with views across both bays and serves breakfast and seafood-focused dinners. Lima-Limon brings coastal Mexican cooking to Barnes Bay, with dishes such as carne asada and octopus. Bamboo Bar & Grill is the relaxed lunch spot on Meads Bay.
The Sunset Lounge pours rum and serves sushi and small plates as the light goes and Café Nai covers coffee, pastries and gelato. Private dining can be set up by the ocean and in-room dining runs day and night.
The spa overlooks the sea and offers a focused menu of treatments. Anguilla calls itself the culinary capital of the Caribbean, so plan to eat out a few nights too. The concierge can map out a restaurant itinerary for you.
Why guests fall for it
Things to Do
The resort runs a private Anguilla Cays cruise that takes you to Sandy Island and Prickly Pear for snorkeling and sightseeing. It is the best day out on the island for couples. A sunset cruise and custom private boat trips are also on offer.
On the property there are water sports off the beach, pools to rotate between and the spa. Off the property, walk the length of Meads Bay to Malliouhana at sunset, spend a lazy afternoon at Shoal Bay East or snorkel the reef at Little Bay. Sandy Ground has live music most nights in season. For a change of scene, a day trip by boat to St. Martin brings French bistros in Grand Case and duty-free shopping in Philipsburg.
Getting There
Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) on St. Maarten is the main gateway, with nonstop flights from several US cities. A boat crosses from St. Maarten to Blowing Point in Anguilla in about 25 to 30 minutes, then the drive to the resort takes around 20 minutes. Book a private boat transfer if you can, because the timing lines up with your flight and you skip the queues. Ask the resort about current transfer options when you book.
Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport (AXA) in Anguilla is only about 15 minutes away by car, but it handles mostly small regional flights from San Juan, Antigua and nearby islands. Bring your passport, since you cross from St. Maarten into Anguilla on the way.
Is It Worth It?
Expect four figures a night. A Deluxe Ocean-View Room typically starts around $1,100 outside the winter peak, as a rough estimate and rates climb sharply from mid-December to April. Food and drink add up quickly on Anguilla, where a dinner for two at a good restaurant runs well into three figures.
The value case is the private plunge pool in the entry room, the choice of two beaches and the sheer range of restaurants and services. If you want a modern resort where everything works, it earns its price.
Pick elsewhere if you want a small, quiet hotel where the staff know you by the second day. Frangipani Beach Resort, along the same beach, is more intimate and far cheaper. Malliouhana has more old-school character on its bluff.
Good to Know
The resort welcomes families and villa groups and school holidays bring more kids to the main pools. Ask at check-in about quieter pool areas and lean on your own plunge pool when the main deck is busy.
The property spreads across a headland, so there are slopes and walks between rooms, restaurants and beaches.
December to April is dry and breezy with the highest prices. May and June are a sweet spot with good weather and better rates. Late summer and autumn carry hurricane risk, so consider travel insurance. Mosquitoes come out at dusk and dengue occurs in the Caribbean. Pack repellent and if you're pregnant or hoping to be soon, check CDC travel health notices before you travel.
Insider tips
- Book a Deluxe Ocean-View Room rather than a suite with only a balcony if a private pool matters most.
- Ask for a Meads Bay-facing room for the best sunset line.
- Reserve the Anguilla Cays cruise early in your stay so you can move it if the wind picks up.
- Eat off property at least twice; Anguilla's restaurant scene is a big part of the trip.
