Four Seasons Resort and Residences Anguilla

I recently stayed at the Four Seasons Anguilla in mid-February for my third visit, along with my wife and our almost two-year-old daughter as we celebrated a babymoon ahead of the arrival of our second child. Overall, the trip was really enjoyable. We continue to love the lush grounds, beautiful views and rooms, excellent food, and genuinely family-friendly atmosphere. We also received outstanding attention from the management team, who are stellar. That said, a recurring issue, which has persisted since our first visit to the property six years ago, is that routine service often falls short of what’s expected at a hotel of this caliber. While the resort was especially crowded during our stay over Presidents’ Day this time, which may have contributed to some issues, the issues feel systemic and reflective of broader training and service culture challenges. Trip Planning/Pre-Arrival: Well before arrival, I contacted the concierge team via the Four Seasons app and email to arrange airport transfers and dining reservations, which should be straightforward. Unfortunately, the experience was poor. Responses were extremely slow, often taking up to 5 days, with no acknowledgment of receipt prior to that. Once responses came, they were friendly, but sometimes with mistakes, including reservations booked for the wrong date or time. The team was also unable to secure a reservation at one local restaurant for any night of our stay (despite requesting it weeks in advance). Maybe the restaurant was actually full, but compared to other Four Seasons concierges who have successfully arranged far more difficult reservations for us in major cities, and on shorter notice, the assistance here felt notably weak and maybe lacking connections in the local market. In contrast, separate pre-arrival communication I had with the management team was excellent. I first reconnected with General Manager Diego, who I had met after our last stay. He helped ensure a smooth stay and introduced me to Resort Manager Lorenzo and the Guest Experience team, led by Director Jordan and Assistant Director Katie. Front Desk Manager Ghizlane also reached out, as we had met and really appreciated her great help during our previous stay. Everyone in this group was exceptional, but Jordan and Katie worked particularly hard for us, with frequent check-ins and genuine care throughout our stay. Arrival: We’ve now tried all three main arrival options into Anguilla: flying into St. Maarten (SXM) and then transferring to Anguilla by ferry, flying into SXM and then flying to Anguilla, or flying directly into Anguilla via Miami on American Airlines. The hotel’s pre-arrival materials clearly explain each option and associated costs. On this trip, for the first time, we flew into St. Maarten and took a shared charter ferry that the hotel arranges for $115 per adult, each way. Our flight into St. Maarten was delayed, causing us to miss the last scheduled ferry of the day to Anguilla. When I notified the hotel of the delay from our home airport, they handled the situation extremely well, arranging a separate ferry so we could still arrive in Anguilla that night. While this came with an extra cost, everything was seamless and stress-free. At SXM, we received a very friendly greeting after baggage claim and were escorted to a van for the very short ride to the ferry dock (about 2 minutes away, essentially just past the airport parking lot). We knew in advance, but were surprised that no car seat could be provided for this ride, and we just had to hold our daughter on our laps. Even though it was a very short drive, not having a car seat option felt oddly not kid-friendly. It’s not something we’d ever do at home for an equally short car ride, so we didn’t love it. The ferry ride itself was a pleasant 25 minutes, with porters handling our luggage throughout. Upon arrival in Anguilla, another Four Seasons representative escorted us to a disappointing pre-booked “luxury” transfer in a van that cost $145 one-way for a ten-minute drive (we needed a reserved car because we needed a car seat, but a basic taxi is much cheaper and very similar). The van was rundown, several seatbelts were missing, and the car seat we reserved wasn’t installed. The Four Seasons staff member was also surprisingly unhelpful, shrugging her shoulders when we asked who would install the car seat and telling us it was our responsibility. Figuring out how to install an unfamiliar car seat after a long travel day is pretty much the last thing I want to do on my vacation (and has never been the case at other FS properties). Thankfully, the driver knew how to install it and was kind throughout the drive. Once we arrived at the hotel, the experience immediately improved. Jordan from the Guest Experience team was waiting for us, and made check-in warm and welcoming. We enjoyed the recently renovated lobby, chatted about resort renovations, and sipped fruit punch at check-in (offered with or without rum). We continue to love the look and feel of this property. The lush, impeccably maintained grounds, seamless indoor-outdoor design, and constant ocean views are stunning. Walking through the lobby and spaces like the Sunset Lounge always makes it feel like you’ve arrived somewhere truly special. Room: Our room (322) was centrally located in Building 35. Although we booked a standard Resort View Room, we were so excited to receive a complimentary upgrade to a Deluxe Ocean-View One Bedroom Suite, several categories beyond the single category upgrade that came with our room rate. Our view overlooked the Aleta Pool and ocean, and was our favorite room we’ve had at this hotel. The suite’s spacious interior, large travertine bathroom, and huge balcony with heated plunge pool were highlights. The little pantry area was really helpful for us too, since it had a microwave and some fridge space in the mini-bar that we could use to store and re-heat some food for our daughter. Thoughtful in-room amenities were waiting for us, including a welcome note, desserts (one themed for our babymoon), and a bottle of Sancerre. The room was also impressively prepared for our daughter, fully baby-proofed and stocked with truly useful items: a high chair, diaper genie, baby toiletries, and stuffed animals. The team even offered to completely remove a heavy glass-topped table with some hard edges if needed. We declined, but appreciated the thoughtful offer. We continue to like the rooms here, since they’re spacious, neutral, and comfortable. At around ten years since the last renovation, they feel slightly less fresh than newer Four Seasons properties, but also don’t register to us as particularly dated either. We were told that a room renovation process is expected to begin within the next year. I’m sure that will only improve already great rooms. We did appreciate that when we experienced a late-night maintenance issue involving a loud banging noise coming through the air vent one night, it was handled professionally and resolved quickly. Minor critiques of the room are: -There was no lighting on the balcony at night, which would be nice to have -A dining table would be helpful (either inside or outside), particularly in suites, which have the space -Adding some plates and silverware in the little pantry would be helpful, especially since it was full of empty drawers and cabinets. -There was an occasional food smell in our room coming from an unknown source (maybe a kitchen was nearby that we didn’t know about - we never figured it out) -While housekeeping did a fine job, timing was often off. We’d request service in specific time ranges using the Four Seasons app, would be told they could meet the request, but the request was missed on multiple occasions. Beach & Pool: We love the variety of pools here, which include the adults-only infinity Sunset Pool, family-friendly Bamboo Pool with zero-entry areas, shallow ledges, and a grassy play area for kids, and the very pretty and quieter (but still family-friendly) Aleta Pool. The pools were quite cold in the winter and should really be heated, but they were still usable. The resort also has access to two beaches: Meads Bay on the hotel side of the property, and Barnes Bay on the villa side of the property, about a 10-minute walk away from regular hotel rooms. A major disappointment this trip (mid-February 2026) was beach erosion. Meads Bay was essentially gone, eliminating the ability to use the beach at all, and isolating the resort so it wasn’t possible to walk on the long stretch of beach to nearby restaurants, which we’ve enjoyed doing in the past. Of course, erosion is not the hotel’s fault and seemed to surprise the staff as well, but it’s helpful to know it can be an issue if the beach is your main focus. The other beach at Barnes Bay remained open and usable, and we generally prefer it anyway for its more private, picturesque feel and greater chair space. However, it too showed increasing erosion, with limited space for chairs by the end of our stay. The ocean was also very rough (for the Caribbean), with multiple double red-flag days, which we understand is common in the winter. Beyond erosion, a widespread practice of guests reserving chairs early in the morning was incredibly frustrating and not something we had experienced here previously. We could see the Aleta Pool from our balcony, so we’d see people come as early as 7:00 am, have chairs set-up by the staff, leave a couple throwaway belongings, and then not return for hours. We happened to notice one particularly egregious family reserving chairs 7 hours before they actually arrived to use them. We struggled to find chairs even around 9:00 am, and my wife was turned away from the Aleta Pool one day due to “no availability,” despite many visibly unoccupied chairs that had been reserved. Despite noting the issues to the Guest Experience team early on, who were very sympathetic and agreed that chair reservations aren’t permitted, nothing changed throughout our stay. That said, they did handle the issue so thoughtfully by offering us a complimentary cabana at the Aleta Pool on our last full day to make it up to us. This was a generous gesture and a great solution. The cabana itself was excellent, and we appreciated the great space. The pools and beach seemed understaffed, with slow and spotty service (buttons to press to request service would be very helpful). Staff often seemed stretched thin between chair setup and food and beverage service. Even when we had a cabana, service was poor, actually the worst of any of the days. Finished plates of food weren’t cleared for hours, extra towels we requested after it had rained were never delivered, and the staff members simply weren’t friendly or present. Interestingly, service noticeably improved immediately after senior management stopped by the cabana that afternoon to say hi and check-in with us. The same issues occurred on the beach. On two of our three visits, we were ignored entirely for towels for the entire time we were there, and food and drink service was essentially nonexistent. There were, however, two standout exceptions. Jackie at the Bamboo Pool was consistently wonderful and even remembered our daughter from a prior stay. This was impressive, especially given how much she had grown in the interim. Del at Barnes Bay Beach was also excellent, working tirelessly, even when understaffed, to ensure guests were well taken care of. On the day he was there, service on the beach was wonderful and should be the exemplar for the entire property. Spa: My wife and I each visited the spa separately, and we both had good experiences and great, relaxing massages. The spa is beautifully situated right on the water in a light, airy building, and the outdoor relaxation area is great, with multiple seating areas and an infinity pool overlooking the ocean. Steam rooms in the locker rooms are also available to hotel guests at any time. When we reserved our treatments, the spa indicated that outdoor massage cabanas were available for an additional $75, and we confirmed this upgrade for both of us via email in advance. However, in person, my wife was told that the table for a prenatal massage couldn’t be accommodated outdoors (fine, but it could have been flagged earlier). In my case, they claimed there was no record of my request when I asked before my massage. It was disappointing that there was then no attempt to correct the mistake in real time, especially since the outdoor cabanas were still open and I’m sure could have been set-up pretty quickly. The spa’s additional amenities could also improve. None of the nice teas, champagne, or small snacks often expected at a luxury spa were offered here. Dining: We enjoy the dining options at the resort and consistently find food quality to be very good. SALT, the main restaurant for breakfast and dinner, has been renovated since our last stay and looks fantastic. The update adds warmth, botanical elements, and more separation between seating areas. The lobby renovation follows a similar aesthetic, suggesting this will be the overall design direction going forward. It’s a departure from the former minimalist look, but a nice change. We had breakfast at SALT every morning, which was included in our room rate and offered as a buffet. There’s a wide selection, and most of it is fine to good, including a made-to-order egg station and a DIY mimosa bar. The fresh juices available to order were a highlight. The Sunset Lounge, however, is the most popular dining spot and the nighttime hub of the resort. We really love the food and atmosphere, with gorgeous sunset views, live music or DJs several nights a week starting at 8:00 pm, and an excellent, but very expensive sushi/Asian menu. Mocktails were also great and not just an afterthought, which my wife greatly appreciated while pregnant. On this trip, the Sunset Lounge was far more crowded in the evening than on prior visits, with a packed bar and often a wait for a table, and staff seemed to have trouble keeping up. I’ve also found the servers at the Sunset Lounge to have a bit of an attitude on two of our three stays now. We also made a point to dine at Lima-Limon on Barnes Bay, the resort’s Mexican restaurant, and it was a great meal. The food is outstanding (arguably the best at the hotel), the sunset views are incredible, and the service is warm and friendly. It’s a bit tucked away on the villa side of the resort, but absolutely worth a visit. Bamboo Bar & Grill by the family pool serves a breakfast menu as an alternative to the buffet at SALT, as well as poolside lunch (the snapper sandwich is one of our favorite dishes on property). The restaurant also hosts the weekly “Captain’s BBQ” on Monday nights, which we really enjoyed. It’s a fun, family-friendly buffet with meats, salads, carving stations of beef and fish, desserts, a gelato cart, and basic drinks included (certain beer and wine, rum punch, and fresh coconuts with or without alcohol). The food was solid (especially the ribs and BBQ chicken), and the lively band and kids’ coloring table made it especially laid back and enjoyable with a toddler. We also chose in-room dining once for dinner. While the food was good, the menu felt generic, and we wished it included items from the restaurants, such as sushi from the Sunset Lounge. To have that in our room, we had to visit in-person and ask for take-out. Finally, Café Nai, the coffee and pastry shop off the lobby, is a convenient option for grab-and-go coffee, though we didn’t stop in this time. Kids: The resort is genuinely very family-friendly, and our daughter was treated wonderfully throughout the stay. Staff members were so nice to her, and were consistently kind and patient, even in interactions where she was potentially in the way. While it’s certainly possible to enjoy the resort without kids, and we have in the past, it attracts many families. In this context, the Kids for All Seasons kids’ club was a surprise disappointment. While geared toward kids 5 and older, we were told younger children could visit with a parent. While the indoor space had some toys appropriate for toddlers, the room with those toys was dark, messy, and clearly not reset from the previous day when we visited first thing one morning. The toys also felt more like random hand-me-downs than a more nicely curated set I’d expect at a Four Seasons. However, the true disappointment was the staff’s attitude. When we arrived, there was no greeting or acknowledgement of our daughter at all. The two staff members barely looked up from a private conversation they were having and didn’t offer any information about the available activities. The experience was so off-putting that we didn’t return, and the club also feels overdue for renovation. Staff Service: Service remains the most inconsistent aspect of this property. While most staff members are very nice, it often feels like an intangible extra factor is missing. As noted throughout this review, many staff members just don’t have true high-end service instincts and were too comfortable saying no, rather than finding a solution to say yes. The ultimate result was service that felt indifferent and sloppy at times. This by no means applies to everyone, as we encountered many, many staff members who were lovely and completely helpful. However, there were enough exceptions that it’s noteworthy, particularly since it’s been an issue since our first stay here dating back to early 2020. However, we’re lucky that the management team is so excellent, since that definitely helps. The Guest Experience team and other managers listened to any and all issues we had, offered solutions, and went out of their way to help. Due to their help, the service shortcomings were just a small blip in a truly great vacation. The service charge structure is also frustrating. An 18% mandatory service charge pooled among staff is added to everything, yet receipts still include a separate tip line. Staff occasionally directly ask for those additional tips since they receive them individually. This setup feels awkward, and it’s unclear what is customary. We tipped a bit extra (in the range of 10% more) when service was strong, but didn’t when it wasn’t. Departure Experience: Our departure was smooth. We were granted a late checkout until 2:00 pm, which made a big difference in enjoying our last morning and letting our daughter have a quick nap before leaving. Jordan from the Guest Experience team was then at check-out to see us off, which was really nice. The trip back to SXM via ferry was well timed and seamless. The only frustration was the same as on arrival: a beat-up “luxury transfer” vehicle, the car seat we had paid for not ready in the car, and staff looking at us like it was our responsibility to figure out. Jordan stepped in to help, which was greatly appreciated. However, it is absolutely standard at a hotel of this caliber to have the car seat installed for you when you arrange a transfer with a car seat, so the repeated confusion was odd. We were also surprised that no one from the Four Seasons met us at the Anguilla ferry terminal on the way home to help with luggage or guide us on where to go, which they had done in the opposite direction. However, it’s an easy enough process, so it was not a big deal. Overall: Despite the service inconsistencies, and what may sound like a lot of complaints, we actually really enjoyed our stay and truly enjoy the Four Seasons Anguilla. We have great memories there and keep coming back for a reason. Anguilla itself is special, and this is a beautiful, well-designed resort with great amenities and a family-friendly atmosphere. The management team is outstanding, and with more consistent service execution across the rest of the staff, this property could be truly exceptional.

We have only been here two days on a mini- honeymoon and tried unsuccessfully to move elsewhere. The positives: beautiful ocean views, people are super friendly, food has been fantastic so far, and it has a nice gym. The negatives: way too many people, impossible to get chairs at the adult or family pools without getting there super early, beach is generally unusable on this side of the island during the winter, and for such a great food scene, the wine list is miserable here. Not a very good selection and the few really nice wines they have are at insane prices (example Lynch Bages for $1400 without saying the vintage and we just came from a 5 star in Cap Cana, DR where that bottle is $420). Not really a four seasons feel when there is no availability for pool side seats or a decent wine list.

I am not sure a review will do justice to how special a place this is. The setting is spectacular, food is wonderful, grounds are special and the rooms are immaculate…but the true specialness and magic is the people… I think part is the island culture and part is the “the Four Seasons way”… whatever it is, you feel wanted, welcomed and cared for… it is never intrusive, it is always warm and welcoming. Four Seasons is not inexpensive but if you desire is to be at resort that is truly beautiful with folks that are wonderful people and you can make it work, go and enjoy and you will quickly see what I am talking about. A special acknowledgment to the amazing staff at the Spa who care for you and nurture you… in particular Diga at the front desk is so kind and welcoming and Tamisha, who was my masseuse, was incredible and so very kind with a warm and giving heart. Di-Maria and the concierge team are some of the best in the business. They helped me set up an incredible week, with the right balance of relaxing at the resort and exploring the beautiful island of Anguilla, including some fantastic restaurants. Katie at guest services is perfect in this role as she wants to help you anyway that she can and has a fun and energetic personality and is a great representative of the resort. Rochelle, who looks after the villas took time out of her day on a Sunday to show us the different options for our next trip and she was fantastic and very caring and kind. Anna who is the director for the different restaurants on the property was so helpful and kind when my girlfriend experienced a small situation. She took really good care of us and made sure everything was OK. Lu and the entire team at the Aleta pool is as close to perfect as you can get. They make sure you’re well cared for and anything you could want is taken care of for you. Very special group. I have to acknowledge the amazing hostesses at each of the restaurants and the wait staff with too many names to mention, but people that deserve to have their names mentioned if I could remember them all. Great service done with class and style, and the quality of the food is outstanding reflecting on the chefs and the kitchen staff , here again all is first class. Lastly the valet and welcoming process is great and these folks set the tone of “First class and class” the moment you arrive.. Thank you to the all of staff and folks who make Four Seasons Anguilla come alive and you do it as well as anyone in this world… I will be back and you should go as soon as you can… it is well worth it.

Anguilla is a beautiful country, but only one flight a day out from each hub. If you miss a connection you wont make it the same day. Unfortunately, the Four Seasons is not understanding or flexible to the situation. We missed a connection and notified the hotel immediately that we would not make it in until the next day. We were still charged for the missed day, and they were unwilling to extend a day or even offer a future credit or partial credit. I would recommend either a destination with more flights or one of the other hotels that are more understanding.

Immaculate grounds, amazing customer service you’d expect from a four seasons. We travel extensively, and this remains one of our absolute favorites. The difference here is execution: the food is world-class, the service is seamless, and you are treated like a guest, not a transaction. No aggressive sales or hidden fees, just pure, high-end relaxation. We love it to death.