Anguilla Great House Beach Resort
Old-school Caribbean charm on one of Anguilla's most famous stretches of sand
Why Go
A cluster of pastel West Indian-style cottages sitting right on the powdery arc of Rendezvous Bay, the Great House has been quietly welcoming beach lovers since 1988 with the kind of unhurried, staff-know-your-name hospitality that's disappearing from the modern Caribbean.
The Experience
There's nothing flashy about this place, and that's exactly the point. Rooms open onto shaded verandas dressed in gingerbread trim, hammocks sway between palms, and the two-mile sweep of Rendezvous Bay is quite literally your front yard - one of those turquoise, powder-white beaches that made Anguilla famous. Days drift by in a rhythm of morning swims, long lunches under the sea-grape trees, and sunset walks toward the St. Martin hills glowing pink across the channel. The vibe is intentionally low-key: no lobby DJ, no beach club scene, just the sound of the surf and the occasional steel pan drifting down the sand. Guests who return year after year come for the staff as much as the setting - housekeepers who remember your coffee order, front-desk crew who'll arrange a boat to Sandy Island with a single phone call.
What to Try
Book a ground-floor beachfront room so you can step directly onto the sand at first light, when Rendezvous Bay is at its most photogenic. Order the lobster pasta at the on-site Caribe restaurant - it's a longtime guest favorite and uses locally-caught Anguillian lobster when in season. Borrow the resort's kayaks and paddle west along the bay for empty-beach coves, or ask the desk to arrange snorkeling out to Little Bay. Sunset rum punch on the beachside terrace is a nightly ritual worth honoring.
Insider Tip
The Great House sits on the same stretch of sand as some of Anguilla's most legendary barefoot beach bars - you can walk (10-15 minutes each way) to Bankie Banx's Dune Preserve for reggae sundowners or to Garvey's Sunshine Shack for BBQ ribs and rum. Do it at least once; a taxi back is easy to arrange through reception.
The Practical Stuff
Address: Rendezvous Bay, Willow Lane, 2640, Anguilla. About 10 minutes by taxi from Blowing Point Ferry Terminal (the arrival point from St. Martin) and roughly 15 minutes from Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport. Cash and major cards accepted; USD is used interchangeably with EC dollars. A rental car is helpful if you plan to explore Shoal Bay East, Meads Bay, or the island's inland restaurants, but not essential - taxis are reliable and the resort can arrange transfers. Bring reef-safe sunscreen; the bay's shallow flats are protected.
Pair It With
- Dune Preserve — Bankie Banx's iconic driftwood beach bar is a short walk down Rendezvous Bay - the definitive Anguillian sundowner spot.
- Sunshine Shack — Garvey's electric-blue beach shack, also on Rendezvous Bay, serves grilled lobster and rum punches with live music on weekends.
- Aurora Anguilla Golf Course — Greg Norman-designed championship course just minutes away, perfect for a half-day off the sand.
- Sandy Island — A tiny sandbar reachable by short boat ride, ideal for a leisurely lunch of grilled snapper and rum punch - the resort can help book the shuttle.