Zemi Beach House, LXR Hotels & Resorts

My wife and I spent 8 wonderful nights at Zemi Beach House last week. Having never been to Anguilla, we were excited, but not 100% certain on what to expect. I am Hilton Lifetime Diamond and we were able to piece together all 8 nights with a combination of points and certificates. After a long day of travel...planes, taxis, boats, car, we finally arrived around 530PM to Zemi. Much to my surprise, as we pulled into the parking lot, Raquel from guest services immediately greeted us BY NAME! This caught me off guard, as we didn't tell anyone who we were prior to parking the car, but started off our trip with what continued to be countless, exceptional, customer service experiences. After checking-in, we were given a brief tour of the property and then shown to our room. We were upgraded to an Ocean View King on the 2nd floor of building 2. The ONLY complaint that I have for our entire 8 nights is that our room was directly above the gym. With that, we were greeted with the noise of weights hitting the floor starting around 6AM each morning, it sounded like someone was intermittently hammering. I didn't figure this out until the latter half of our stay, but it is worth mentioning. I'd avoid room 212, unless you are an early riser. The view from that room, however, is beautiful! The resort never felt crowded, it was extremely peaceful and relaxing. Even though there were some families there, with younger children, we never seemed to notice. The beach in front of the property is stunning. The water was a bit rough for our first couple of days, a yellow flag on day 1 and red flag on day 2. We did leave on the red flag day and spent our time at Tasty's Rendezvous Bay instead (recommended, good food and service, nice beach). The ocean at Zemi/Shoal Bay was calm the remainder of our stay, with green flags flying each day. Huge shout out to Michael (beach club team) for setting up our chairs and taking care of us each day, such a nice guy and asset to the resort and Hector, who did a great job running the water sports booth, with kayaks, paddle boards and snorkel gear, while also bartending at night! We enjoyed Zemi's breakfast options each morning and the entire breakfast team was fantastic! We ended up having a few dinners on property, at the Bohio Bar, ust because we didn't feel like driving 20-30 minutes. They were all delicious and the evening service was equally as great. Another huge shout out to Stacey, Garmin, Tiffany and Tichelle from the F&B team. Everyone does such a great job and is so kind! Most nights the resort had a band from 630-930 and all were very good. Zemi Beach House is a beautiful resort on a stunning beach. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to get away and relax, I cannot stress how peaceful it is. My wife and I are already planning our return for next year!

As a long-time Hilton Diamond member, I’ve had the pleasure of staying at many properties around the world, but nothing compares to the unforgettable experience we had at the Hilton Zemi Beach House in stunning Anguilla. Even before arriving, I used the Hilton mobile app to chat with the front office staff to set up a few birthday surprises for my wife. Janelle, Shellian, Neller, & Brenique were so gracious and responsive. They gave me great options from which to chose. I was very happy and thought to myself, “this is going to be a really great trip”. We were not disappointed. From the moment we arrived, we knew we were somewhere truly special. We were greeted with warm smiles and a refreshing Zemi Rum Punch by the outstanding manager Lisa Josef and her incredible team, setting the tone for what would become one of the best vacations of our lives. The check-in process was smooth and personal, followed by a brief orientation and a guided tour of this spectacular property. The grounds were absolutely pristine—lush greenery, colorful flowers, and perfectly manicured landscapes that looked like something straight out of a postcard. It’s clear that the resort takes great pride in maintaining its natural beauty. When we arrived at our room it was incredible. We had a, spacious ocean view room with a stunning view of the ocean as well as the beautiful, lush grounds. The staff was nothing short of exceptional. Every team member we encountered was professional, warm, and attentive. Special thanks to managers Tracey, Stacey, Luna, and Raquel, who went above and beyond to make our stay extraordinary. They made my wife’s birthday truly memorable with special touches and thoughtful surprises. They also gave us fantastic suggestions for exploring the island, which added even more magic to our trip. We had several couples treatments at the incredible Zemi Thai House Spa. The therapists, Surya, Indri & Petal were skilled and professional leaving us completely relaxed and rejuvenated after each treatment. Lachalya & Jean got us prepped for each treatment and prepared incredible smoothies and drinks for us after our treatments at the Thai Spa bar. The entire spa staff was outstanding and very accomodating. Dining at the resort was a real highlight. The Stone fine dining restaurant offered exquisite meals in an elegant atmosphere, while 20 Knots was our go-to for delicious, laid-back breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The breakfast buffet was outstanding with lots of options from which to choose—and as seasoned travelers, that’s saying a lot! Special shoutout to Whitney, who made the most incredible omelettes, and to Tiffany and Narkesia for their top-tier service and attention to detail. Evenings were a delight at their sleek, modern bar, where we enjoyed perfectly crafted cocktails and nightly live entertainment that added just the right amount of energy and charm. And of course, the beach is pure paradise—powdery white sand, crystal-clear turquoise waters, and the kind of serenity you can only dream of. It’s hands-down one of the most beautiful beaches we’ve ever experienced. In all honesty, this was the best vacation we’ve ever had, and we’re already planning our return. The Hilton Zemi Beach House is a gem, and as loyal Diamond members, we felt appreciated, pampered, and truly at home. Five stars aren’t enough. Thank you, Zemi Beach House—see you soon!

So, I NEVER write reviews, but I felt like I needed to on this one, because people spend a LOT of money to stay here, and I know I always appreciate the input from others when I'm planning our vacations, so I just want to help and give you a little of mine for what it's worth. Make no mistake, the resort itself is ABSOLUTELY IMMACULATE AND STUNNING, quite possibly the most beautiful resort we've stayed in, and we travel a LOT. We are Centum+ members through HGV and lifetime Diamond members on the Hilton hotel side, and therefore stay exclusively in Hilton properties. The last time we went to Sint Maarten we had taken a boat tour through Boomerang Boat Tours (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!) and the instant I laid eyes on Shoal Bay as part of that tour, I told myself that SOMEDAY I would be coming back to this amazing beach when I could stay for a while. Imagine my delight when I discovered there was a Hilton property right there!! I was looking for somewhere to celebrate my 50th birthday, and I decided then and there that this was the clear "winner" in my search. We stayed for 4 nights before transferring to Sint Maarten again for 4 more nights. I traveled with my 55yo husband, my 54yo best friend, my nearly 24yo son, my 21yo son and his nearly 19yo girlfriend. We had reserved garden view king rooms, and I was SO DELIGHTED that they gave us all rooms in the same hallway, ground level as I had hoped for (I hate elevators and long hallways), and looking out onto the adult pool area. That was a big win in my book! We had been greeted at the airport by the van that the resort had arranged and we were treated like royalty through the check in process with wet washcloths, cold rum punches and entirely hands off shuffling of our (ridiculously excessive lol) luggage. We didn't lift a finger :) We are humble, easy to please people, and my oldest son even made the comment that he maybe even felt a little uncomfortable with how much we were being pampered...we didn't quite know what to do with it all! It was all very appreciated, and it didn't stop after check in. Everyone was incredibly helpful and accommodating throughout our stay. Again, it was all very appreciated, so the complaints I'm about to put out there have nothing to do with the service or the hotel... I'll start by saying this...when I sat down to read the most recent reviews of the resort and to leave my own, I was relieved to see that the most recent review before mine (from Kathy O) had the same complaint...SO. MANY. CHILDREN. Ugh. Maybe it was just the luck of the draw as to who was staying at the same time as us and not necessarily a pattern or a good cross section of the typical guest pool, but there were a lot of children. Yes, I brought my "children", but they are all adults, and we as a group of 6 adults were really looking forward to an "adult" getaway where we may run into and strike up conversations with other "like" adults in similar life stages. The young adults in my group were looking forward to maybe meeting and making friends with other young adults...there was zero chance of that. From what we could see, they were the only people on the property in that age group. At this price point, I guess I naively made the assumption that this resort was somewhere couples and reasonably successful younger and older adults alike went to get away from it all...not to come with toddlers, tweens and everything in between in tow. There were several couples that appeared to be on a "baby moon" and several elderly couples, but we were definitely kind of an "odd group out". We are people that like to socialize (especially my best friend, she's a social butterfly) and we literally did not strike up a conversation with ANYONE while we were there. I don't think it was just us...no one was talking to anyone else as far as we could tell, everyone just tended to their kids and kept to themselves. As Kathy mentioned, yes there is an adult pool that we could have gone to, but it was A) Always empty. B) Colder than the main pool. C) There were never any towels there. D) There was never any attendant there. E) Shaded by the buildings at numerous times throughout the day and F) Even the sunblock container was empty (neglected). I did use the lap pool to swim laps a couple times and that was a really great perk for someone who actually likes to swim, but it was COLD. Long story short, to us in our experience, it felt like this resort has an identity crisis. Is it a family friendly resort that caters to kids with the kids club and the kids activities? Or is it a luxury resort for which adults pay a premium for the luxury and reasonably(?) built in expectation of being able to escape to paradise and relax without kids everywhere? This was my main complaint and probably the only one to really consider if you are adults looking for a quiet, peaceful, luxurious get away...you may not get it. For us personally, I paid for all of our rooms with Hilton Honors points so it's a little more "whatever", but if I had shelled out the approximate $25,000 cash for the 4 rooms for 4 nights expecting quiet luxury, I would have probably had a pretty sour taste in my mouth in this aspect. A couple other things to mention that aren't necessarily complaints, just things to note. This is so silly, but I'm someone who REALLY LOVES my showers and my bath products, so I was really looking forward to the Malin + Goetz products that everyone raves about. Yikes. I don't know if my sniffer is broken, but I thought they downright STANK, as did the other females in the group. When we got to our room I immediately headed to the sink to was my hands, cracked open the box of rum bar soap, washed my hands, smelled them, then dug through my stuff to find some of my own shower soap to re wash them to get the stink off. My best friend said she did the same thing but with the lotion...she used it, realized it stank as well then had to find some of her own to get rid of the smell. The shower products are the same. The same stinky rum body wash, peppermint shampoo and cilantro conditioner. I LOVE cilantro...I would gladly roll in a mountain of it any day of the week, but peppermint and cilantro together?? Yuck. Sadly disappointed on that one :( Some of the guys in the group liked it, but it's very masculine and not in a good way, like when your significant other comes stumbling through the door with rum on his breath after a long night of drinking with his buddies lol! Another note. I would really love to sit down with the executives at Hilton and see who it was exactly that OK'd the bathroom shower design that seems to have popped up in every singly renovated Hilton. I would like to have a show of hands of WHO IT IS EXACTLY that thinks an open shower design is a good idea. NOT ME. Who likes to freeze to death from the cold breeze that blows on you the whole time because the air conditioning is on and you can't build up steam and warmth from a closed shower? NOT ME. And who loves battling the water that inevitably splatters all over the bathroom floor, soaking your bath mat? NOT THIS GIRL. Unfortunately I have lots of experience with these open showers, so fortunately I have configured a solution that I take with me on every vacation when I know this is the shower situation. I have a 36"x60" shower curtain (with grommets of course), command hooks and command strips to hang it with and weights for the hem to keep it from blowing in that I fashion across the opening. Worked perfectly. Just irritating that it's necessary due to the open shower design. Also, as someone who is only 5'3", I did NOT love that the shower head was approximately 9' high on the wall. The water has no pressure by the time it finally hits you. I ended up just turning the handheld shower head on. It pivots at the head too btw to angle down. Took me a couple showers of having it spraying me directly in the face to figure that one out :) Also in the bathroom, one other note...don't go to this luxury resort expecting luxury TP lol. Worlds. Thinnest. Paper. So thin that ALL of us commented on it and laughed that maybe we had higher expectations in that department?? Last note. I would recommend that you ABSOLUTELY SKIP the BBQ night. It makes me sad to say that because I was very excited about it and it is such a great idea. They really set up a nice event, but the food was just not good. I was so very disappointed on this one. I was not surprised when my son's girlfriend (who is a picky eater) took about 3 bites and put her fork down, but boy was I surprised when I (who am NOT a picky eater) did the same. I had taken a plate of the sides that looked appealing to me as well as a lobster. Everyone in the reviews had raved about the lobster, so I was super excited about it as I typically LOVE lobster. I took one bite and it was like grill flavored smokey mush with mystery sauce on it, and had I had fewer manners than I have, I would have spit it out. I took one bite of the conch pasta salad and again wanted to spit it out. I took a bite of everything else on my plate and quickly realized I was going to be going home hungry. My son's girlfriend and I sat and watched everyone else eat as they apparently found something they liked. They are all far more carnivorous and have a much bigger sweet tooth than I, so they were enjoying the meats and the desserts. They did all take a lobster though and left theirs mostly untouched as well, it was just not good. Our waitress must have noticed that neither myself nor my son's GF were eating, as she didn't argue at all when I asked if our meals could be taken off the bill. She was truly gracious in being willing to do that, and I don't remember her name, but if she is reading this, I'd like her to know that that was incredibly appreciated. On a good note, we ate several meals at 20 knots and had breakfast every morning and with the exception of the calzone ordered by a couple of us, everyone enjoyed everything that they ordered at every meal. We had pizza that was great and chicken tacos, lobster tacos and fish tacos that were all a huge hit. When people say the breakfast here is incredible, what they really mean is that it is *OUTSTANDING*. So. VERY. Good. I never eat breakfast while on vacation and I ate 2 of the 4 mornings, everyone else ate every morning and loved it. We also walked up the beach to Madeariman's and Gwen's and had great meals and good times at each of those as well. To end on some positive notes, despite our rooms just being basic standard rooms, we really enjoyed them, I don't know that there is even the possibility of a bad room on the property. We enjoyed our balconies, the nightly turn down service with cookies and waters, the attention to our towels and service at the pool. We never had trouble finding a place to sit and the young adults enjoyed the cabanas. My sons played tennis and really enjoyed it, my friend participated in the yoga and enjoyed it, we attended the managers reception and enjoyed that as well. When it came time for checkout, the process was once again flawless with our luggage and transfer to the ferry terminal where we picked up our charter. The place was immaculate and every employee was so amazing. Because we have now checked this resort off the bucket list, we won't likely return but not because it's not a wonderful resort, just because it's off on other adventures. I'm so very happy that we went and everyone overall loved it there. Thank you Zemi!!

Our second trip to Zemi. We are an empty nester couple. Our last trip Zemi was calm, quiet & relaxed. Perfect! This trip, Zemi has lost its intimate, boutique feel and now feels like any Hilton resort w/a primary focus on families w/children. It is noisy & crowded at the beach front restaurant & pool. The surf front & shady chaise loungers are claimed early in the morning by people arriving later. There is an adults pool however it’s away from the beach and not serviced by staff other than setting out water & towels. All the staff are wonderful, friendly & warm. The location is phenomenal. But, if you’re looking for quiet relaxation, this is no longer the place.

My recent stay at Zemi Beach Club in Anguilla was an unmitigated disaster, a textbook example of how to alienate guests with deplorable service and a staff utterly devoid of care or competence. From the moment I arrived, it was evident that this so-called “luxury” resort had no intention of delivering on its lofty promises. The service was so abysmal it felt like a personal affront—as if they were daring me to complain, only to dismiss me with the same apathy that permeated every aspect of my stay. The trouble began before I even checked in. On March 16, I called to confirm taxi service from the airport upon my arrival in Anguilla. I was assured a hotel representative would meet me after customs and immigration. That promise evaporated the moment I landed. No one was there. Stranded, I had to rely on a rival hotel’s staff—who were graciously greeting their own guests—to help me contact Zemi Beach and arrange a taxi. It took nearly an hour after landing for them to finally send someone. For a supposed “5-star luxury resort,” this was an embarrassing and infuriating start. Upon arriving at the hotel and beginning the check-in process, I asked why no one had met me as promised. Rather than owning the mistake, the check-in clerk deflected blame onto the airline. I was stunned. Our flight had departed on time and landed 10 minutes early—how could this possibly be the airline’s fault? When I pressed, she claimed they couldn’t confirm the flight’s arrival time with the airline, so they simply didn’t bother sending anyone. I asked why no one had contacted me directly, the paying customer, to clarify. Silence. No apology, no accountability—just a stubborn refusal to accept responsibility. It was a disheartening prelude to what would become a relentlessly disappointing vacation. Breakfast each morning at the hotel’s restaurant, 20 Knots, was a masterclass in mediocrity. Service was consistently slow—drinks took 15-20 minutes to arrive—and the staff were forgetful, unfriendly, and palpably indifferent. The atmosphere felt off, like they resented our presence. I raised these issues with the restaurant manager daily, only to be met with blank stares and zero remorse. This apathy extended across the hotel: from the restaurant and bar staff—who coasted on an automatic 18% gratuity—to the elusive beach attendants who were nowhere to be found. The reliance on guaranteed tips seemed to breed a culture of complacency; why bother with quality when your paycheck doesn’t depend on it? Breakfast arrived cold every day, and my complaints fell on deaf ears. The breaking point came at dinner at 20 Knots—an experience so shameful it cemented my contempt for this place. My wife and I planned to eat at the bar, enjoy some cocktails, and unwind. We brought unopened water bottles from our room, intending to sip cocktails instead. Service at the bar was predictably glacial, so we relocated to the restaurant. Seated at last, we ordered two Piña Coladas. Seventeen minutes later—without a single visit from our server—I noticed the manager hovering near our table. I assumed she might finally address the abysmal service. I was wrong. Instead, she instructed our server to whisper to my wife that we’d be charged for the still-unopened water bottles. This, apparently, was her pressing concern—not the fact that we’d been ignored for nearly 20 minutes, still without our drinks. I was livid. To be nickel-and-dimed over unconsumed water while enduring such neglect was the final insult. I pulled the manager aside, away from the dining area, to spare us further humiliation. She was unmoved—cold, unapologetic, and dismissive of our entire experience, not just that night but throughout our stay. The restaurant itself was a culinary abomination: orders arrived late, cold, and often incorrect, delivered by a waitstaff who seemed to go out of their way to avoid us. When I pointed out issues, I got eye rolls and excuses, never solutions or apologies. The food was an overpriced travesty—reheated, flavorless, and unworthy of a gas station microwave, let alone a “fine dining” establishment. I’ve had better meals at truck stops where the staff at least feigned interest. Furious, I marched to the main building and demanded to speak with a manager. How could a self-proclaimed 5-star resort tolerate such incompetence? He offered nothing but excuses, claiming that each of my complaints had prompted “coaching opportunities” for the staff. Clearly, these sessions were as effective as shouting into the wind—service remained atrocious every time we ate. I made one simple request: that the General Manager, Paulo P., call me the next morning before our 10:50 a.m. departure so I could detail these grievances directly. It was a test of his leadership, and deep down, I knew he’d fail it. He did. Someone else called instead, and when I reiterated my request for Paulo himself, I wasn’t surprised he’d dodged it. It was par for the course. Reading the hotel’s 1-, 2-, and 3-star reviews, I see my nightmare reflected in countless others: abysmal service, an uncaring staff, and a systemic rot that starts at the top with Paulo. His responses to negative feedback are jaw-dropping in their tone-deafness and lack of professionalism. Someone needs to scrutinize his leadership—or lack thereof—because he’s clearly incapable of managing this property. His written replies to reviews are so ill-judged that silence would serve him better than the drivel he commits to paper. Even the smallest details underscored their incompetence. After the restaurant fiasco, we ordered room service. The bellhop told us to leave the tray outside our door for overnight pickup. When we checked out at 10 a.m., the dirty dishes still sat there—a fitting final testament to their broken promises. Zemi Beach Club’s management and practices demand a thorough overhaul. Paulo is demonstrably unfit to lead, incapable of instilling the service, quality, or accountability a true 5-star resort requires. I urge Hilton’s leadership to take my feedback seriously. We endured three nights at this sham of a luxury property, where rates soar past $1,500 per night for service that wouldn’t pass muster at a budget motel. This isn’t a 5-star experience—it’s a 5-star swindle.