Comments on: EDITORIAL: THE SEASON NOBODY LIKES

By: KellyCV

KellyCV — Tue, 04 Oct 2016 12:38:00 +0000

In reply to EllenLV. Thanks for all of the info Ellen! I will try all of these suggestions when I return! I was particularly missing out on fresh salads, fruits and vegetables, except when I ate out of course and the food was fabulous.

By: EllenLV

EllenLV — Mon, 03 Oct 2016 14:22:00 +0000

In reply to KellyCV. Best Buy on the West End, is bright clean and modern. It has a deli with meats and cheeses, and rotisserie chickens. It is a nice store. Proctors in the Valley has the best fresh produce, and is bright and clean. We also go to the east end to Frankies tomatos, he is there Wed and Sat, and we shop at Rainbow Farms, fresh produce. We love all the options on Anguilla.

By: KellyCV

KellyCV — Sun, 02 Oct 2016 13:52:00 +0000

At Christmas, I will be making my 3rd trip to Anguilla in 18 months. I hope to one day spend several months of the year there. I had never heard of an island shutting down for any length of time, until I visited Anguilla and I learned this from some of the workers. While it’s true that the hurricane season will deter some people from traveling, others view it as a great time to travel because of the off-season pricing. I love to travel in May for that reason. I personally think that Anguilla tourism suffers because of how expensive accommodations are. I will probably never be able to stay at one of the nice Anguilla hotels. Instead I have to stay at budget inns or private rentals. There doesn’t seem to be a middle ground on accommodations. Something else that I think Anguilla lacks is a modern, bright grocery store with affordable fresh produce and healthy prepared, take-home food items (e.g., take home fresh seasoned chicken and fish that can be cooked with rice and a fresh vegetable). The two large grocery stores I visited were very dark and drab and lined with shelves of packaged, over-priced foods. The stores had an old warehouse feel. The workers were also not very friendly. I personally think that being cooped up inside a building without bright lighting is a cause. An absence of light, especially natural light, can affect moods and make people depressed. Each time I visited a grocery store, I left almost empty-handed because it didn’t have a freshness quality to it. I observed other vacationers walking through the store looking very uninspired. I instead ate most of my meals out even though I was staying at an inn with a full kitchen. A lot of travelers like the vacation condo experience and cooking their own meals. For that to work for me, I need fresher and more modern grocery options. Fortunately there are a lot of affordable and very good dining choices on Anguilla. If there weren’t, I wouldn’t return because I need to economize when I travel. I can’t afford really expensive accommodations and expensive dining/food costs as well. I know that Anguilla is a small island and many food items have to be imported, but perhaps consider creating a quality-controlled commercial kitchen where local workers can prepare fresh food items for sale in the grocery stores. And at a minimum, upgrade the lighting and modernize the grocery stores, to include well laid out, fresher looking deli-style food counters and refrigerators. Also consider adding outdoor courtyards for those who want to eat their meal at the store. The Epicurean in Antigua is a great model of what Anguilla needs. That store is very popular among locals and tourists. Being able to boast about having modern, fresh food markets will draw more budget-minded travelers to Anguilla. When planning a trip, the two most important factors that travelers consider are the options/pricing of accommodations and food.

By: Chuck

Chuck — Thu, 08 Sep 2016 00:37:00 +0000

I have read “the season nobody likes” and have a thought. First my wife and I have been visitors to Anguilla since the mid 1980’s before the island was really discovered. Staying originally at The Holiday Spa for a weekend, then at La Santee for longer and eventually at Cocoloba for a week it’s opening season and continually until Hurricane Luis closed it. Subsequently we stayed at the Malliouhana every time we stayed in Anguilla until it closed. Since then we have not been back as we have been advised to avoid sun damage. We loved every vacation and looked forward to our yearly excursion to your island. The islanders were truly friendly and welcoming. The restaurants the best and the beaches truly magnificent. I think the problem is taxes and politics. Since I have been visiting Anguilla the same parties and persons have been running the island on and off since the 1980’s. I don’t mean to say that I have followed politics on Anguilla to a great degree but I see the parties and their elected representatives are the same year after year. The island as a financial destination or tax haven has been on the agenda since the 80’s. Now it is too late? What happened to Pyrat? No longer based in Anguilla…? I don’t know enough about other things but I have questions only because I don’t live here and am not daily affected by the consequences of what the politicians do….does any one else have questions? Are there too many hotels on the island but not enough access or the reverse? And on and on. The only thing constant are the politics and the politicians. Hotels, restaurants and bars, and magnificent beaches all need access to the island for vacationers and easier access for those who can’t use privately owned planes or boats. I don’t presume to tell the hard working people of Anguilla what the answer is…..only to add to the conversation. I have met many great, industrious people on the island and wonder how much of their input is accepted. Anyway the goal should be to eliminate “the season nobody likes”. Good luck!!!