Malliouhana Hotel And Spa Anguilla

Our family of four spent $600 plus for a room at Malliouhana. I cannot tell you how absolutely overrated this hotel and restaurant are--especially compared to our experience at Cap Juluca.

The staff here is always rated highly for service and we found service at this hotel (both food and otherwise) virtually nonexistent. Upon arrival, you have to even pay for your cab to the resort after you are greeted by someone from the resort (no courtesy transports here). We didn't bother to eat at the restaurant after our room service food upon arrival was flavorless and not fresh (how can you not have fresh snapper in the Caribbean?). We had breakfast at the restaurant and it was equally uncreative and the service appeared to be equally uninterested in our needs. Other local restaurants told us they hear similar complaints regarding food quality. The concierge service at this hotel offers little in the way of suggestions for activities or restaurants and even managed to not make our reservations at another local restaurant. Don't expect much activity at this hotel either. No steel bands, no buffets, no beach Bar-B-Q's and little local flavor. You are treated to a single snorkel trip (about a 1.5 to 2 hr trip) with your stay. Book early because there is little room available and, for our snorkel, no one bothered to tell the boat captain there was a trip until we asked what time we should be there.

Rooms are acceptable but in need of updating. Our one bedroom suite should have been airconditioned and we found only one vent in 1100 sq ft. Needless to say, only the bedroom was cool enough to sleep in. Bathrooms are a sauna in the evening when you are dressing for dinner.

Hotel grounds were overgrown and this resort is definitely in need of some serious updating. Kids pool area is definitely great, though. Although the activities in the kids area are supposed to be supervised, the person supposedly watching was napping on some occassions and reading a magazine on others.

Meads Bay is fabulous. Plenty of beach umbrellas and lounges but very few other beach amenities. A boat does offer some limited skiing, weather and seas permitting.

This resort is milking its reputation before finally putting some money in for updates. Cap Juluca is a much livelier and luxurious resort and it's staff is friendly and helpful. Don't waste your money here.

We went from the 7th of June to the 12th, for our Honeymoon. After a lot of research through the internet and travel agencies I finally decided for the Malliouhana. I was a little bit scared because of the mixed impression I read through the internet, but I can assure you that after staying at the hotel I was very impressed. Everything was perfect, the room, the beaches, the food and specially the personel. One thing that impressed me was that we where received by the owner of the hotel, that shows how interested they are in you. I chose one of the packages, the Romantic interlude and added an extra night and stayed at the junior suite. The room was bigger than I expected, the bathroom was awsome and the view to the beach below (turtle cove) was simply perfect. Since we went on the low season, all the beaches where deserted and there where not many guest at the hotel,just perfect for the occasion. Right at the front desk, thay can arrange anything you ask for, from car rental, to reservations at other restaurants of the island. I would recommended without any doubt. And if someone from the hotel is reading this, I just want to say thank you and keep the good work.

We had been Anguilla dreaming for some time and finally decided on the Malliouhana. Although the hotel was 3/4 full, it was never crowded, cramped or noisy. Our room overlooked private turtle cove and, with the exception of a few passing sailboats and a wayward pelican, we were the only souls around. Emerald waters, constant breezes, impeccable service, mango daiquiris...the Malliouhana is a gem. As to the dining...prepare to leave a few pounds heavier. Heaven.

The setting is superb, the beaches (there is one on each side of the hotel) are great, the water wonderful, the food terrific. And the kids playground (with waterslide and pirates ship) is about the best I have seen anywhere. So what's wrong? The service is only good (not great) and, at the rates they charge, you should get perfection. Towels are slow to appear at the pool and beach (if ever), service at lunch and breakfast is slow (although dinner service is first class). Also the room design and furniture, probably very chic in the 80s, is becoming tired.

All in all, a very good place. At more reasonable rates, I would highly recommend it. If you can get the idea of Four Seasons-type flawless service out of your mind (along with the high rates), it would be a much more enjoyable place. This management needs to become less complacent, less self-congratulatory and adjust to the new competitive landscape -- at these rates I can get a Four Seasons or an Aman Resort.

And I will. Malliouhana is no longer the only game in town and certainly not the best one.

The hotel is beautiful and the food outstanding (if expensive -- I know, the chef is French) The dining experience was, however, marred by indifferent, sullen,slow service; as if the staff simply could not be bothered. When I pay over $200 for dinner for two, I expect better. The difference between attitudes at comparables like Cuisinart and Cap Juluca is stunning. Don't waste your money

In June, we will be making our fourth trip to Malliouhana. First off, the reviewer who described the food as garbage was either extremely unlucky (any restaurant can deliver a single bad meal) or just flat uninformed or without tastebuds.

Having had countless meals at Malliouhana, we have been astounded at the consistency of the experience. Malliouhana's restaurant is the finest in the Caribbean and rivals the great restaurants of Europe.

When you combine that with a level of service that other resorts can only dream of replicating, it is an extraordinary combination. Yes, we've tried Cap Juluca - it's not even in the close. Malliouhana is and always will be the standard against which all other resorts are judged.

We returned yesterday from Anguilla and the magnificent Malliouhana. No better combination of setting, facilities, service, accomodation, restaurant, beach exist either on the island or perhaps in the Carribean. Yes, it is expensive.... all things of quality are these days. But for 5-7 days of adult decompression at the highest level, I have found no equal. Great new spa, still incredible food and wine, engaging staff, marvelous beach and rooms to enjoy each other in. Leave the kids with someone you trust, and escape only once to this idyllic retreat. Even better than our first trip in 1989.

My husband and I have just returned from an idyllic fortnight on Anguilla, where we celebrated my 33rd birthday and our 1st wedding anniversary. For this momentous occasion we decided to have dinner at the Malliouhana, as it is supposed to be the best restaurant on the island. We were very disappointed. The attitude of the staff was the worst I have ever experienced (even allowing for them being French), the food was abysmal and the whole experience was a waste of $500. Overpriced overblown garbage - I cannot say how disappointed we were, especially with it being our wedding anniversary. This hotel will have to go a long long way to beat any of the other superb restaurants on the island. I don't expect it deserves to retain its star...

December 2002 - From the moment we were greeted at the airport the hotel did everything possible to anticipate our every need. My husband prefers shade to full sun so on our second day at the beach they had our lounges set up waiting for us with two umbrellas instead of one. On another day, a motorboat came out to meet us with trays of hot hors d'oeuvres while we enjoyed a sunset cruise. This is service unlike I have ever experienced in the Caribbean. The grounds and rooms are immaculate. 4 maids came to clean our room every day! Breakfast on our terrace with fabulous coffee, hot croissants and Limoges porcelain. The spa is brand new and great. The food is very good if not a little too "classic French". Simply grilled meats and fish are made on request. This is a first class resort for a discerning crowd. No Water Aerobics or "manager happy hours" here. If that's your style than this is not your place. If a hand written card and personal greeting from the resort's owner is than your in business!

A delightful resort with a unique personality. Ideally organized to cater to families with children on one end of the property and couples on the opposite end. If spending the day alone on a deserted beach (Turtle Cove), having a large & pleasant room with a spectacular ocean view, and 3 fantastic pools appeals to you, then this is your place. And there are not too many places in the Carribean where you can dine at night with a Michelin-rated Parisian chef.