H and I returned from our honeymoon late Saturday night after a sun-filled, serene week spent in the Caribbean’s low-key island of Anguilla. It had been a dream of mine to visit the Caribbean, and I feel so grateful and fulfilled to have experienced this adventure. We just had the best time, and I’m sharing how we traveled and where we stayed, plus all the things we did and saw. I hope this helps with planning your own vacation, or simply wanderlusting and dreaming of a future getaway!
Many of the photos in this post I took with my camera and edited; a few are quick iPhone snaps with no edits. I like to mix it up!
Saturday, March 11
Travel & Arrival
We flew American Airlines and left Nashville around 8:15 am CST (our flight was a little delayed), landing in Miami at 11:30 am EST, then ran through the airport to catch our 12:00 pm flight to St. Martin, and thankfully made it just in time! We landed in St. Martin at 4:00 pm AST.
It was a little confusing getting through the tiny St. Martin airport – possibly because they were under construction – and we waited in a long line for a while that we realized was for those staying on the island. We zipped around to the line for those heading elsewhere and were taken outside to a shuttle and then a dock where we would leave on a boat to Anguilla. The boat was arranged for us by our hotel, Zemi Beach House; they booked us FUNTIME Charters.
Soon, we were on the boat – it was a beautiful sunny day, though the water was a bit rough. Still, the ride was mostly smooth and took around 25 minutes. We were offered drinks on board and accepted waters. Once in Anguilla, we breezed through the immigration and customs line, and hopped in a taxi outside for a 20-minute ride to our hotel. At last, we arrived at Zemi Beach House around 5:30 pm AST.
As soon as we stepped into Zemi’s reception area, we were offered a choice of rum punch or fruit punch, and both of us accepted the rum! Everyone was immediately friendly and welcoming. Our luggage would be taken to our room for us, and we were shown the way. Zemi greeted us with bountiful bougainvillea, palms, and other tropical plants. It was so quiet, just the sound of the warm, gentle breeze, and water – the fountains, infinity pools, and ocean. The name Zemi Beach House made sense, as Zemi has a boutique feel and is composed of small, house-type buildings with condos. We walked to our building, the back left one by the adults-only infinity pool, and up to our third floor room (four being the highest). We had a corner king room with a balcony and ocean view.
The room was lovely, with an entryway area containing a table for storing items, two closets for each of us, a kitchenette, spacious bathroom with two sinks, shower, and freestanding tub, and the main area with the bed, a comfy chair, and small desk. The balcony had a table paired with two chairs as well as two wider chairs for lounging. We were told that the air conditioning would be on when the door was shut, but when we opened the door (there was a screen), the A/C would shut off – pretty cool. We unpacked, and witnessed a gorgeous first sunset from our balcony! It was so quiet on the balcony, too – no noise from people, just the sound of the ocean.
We were quite hungry and walked down to dinner at 20 Knots, Zemi’s beachside restaurant with a great variety of food. We both got a table in the sand facing the palm trees and ocean, which was instantly magical to me. We watched the sky fade from vibrant warm colors to blue. We both got our own pizza (they had GF crust for me!) and shared a salad and ate nearly every bite! I found Zemi such a relaxing place to be; that first night I slept a solid 10 hours, and continued to sleep amazingly the rest of the trip (which sometimes isn’t true for me when I travel).
Sunday, March 12
Zemi, Spa, & Live Reggae
We woke up to being only one hour ahead of Nashville instead of two like the previous day, because the US switched to Daylight Savings Time in the night, while Anguilla did not! Since Anguilla is so near to the equator, there’s no need for DST; they are on Atlantic Standard Time year-round. This actually made the time zone adjustment much easier for us. I was in lazy vacation mode this first morning, still sleepy from our travels, and decided to sit on the balcony and have my tea as well as eat some breakfast items I had in the room, while H slept in longer than me.
By mid-morning, I put on my suit and sunscreen and walked down to the main pool. This walk ended up being one of my favorite things on our trip; it was a brief and easy one, but so beautiful. As I mentioned, our room was located in the back left building, so each day we would exit and walk past the adult-only infinity pool (unless we were sitting there), down some stairs and past the boutique and colorful bougainvillea, then turn and walk through the main area with the restaurants and primary infinity pool (which was lightly heated) overlooking the beach.
By this point, the hotel was not crowded at all. In fact, at dinner the night before, we were one of only a few tables. And although more people arrived throughout the week, it never felt too crowded; there was always room for everyone! Anyway, this day we really had our pick of chairs. It was a bit cloudy and windy, but still warm and pleasant. The ocean was still rough, as it had been the day before (and as it would be most of the week, which we were told is very unusual), so I picked two chairs that were by the pool but closest to the beach. It was wonderful to feel I was sitting at both the pool and the beach! I read for a while; then we walked down to the beach to look around.
We popped over to lunch at 20 Knots (you could be served at the pool, too), and after, decided to walk over to sit at the adult-only infinity pool, and the sun came out! This (not heated, but gorgeous) pool had a primary swimming area as well as chairs in the water, and a separate lap pool, which I loved. It was always less crowded than the primary pool on our trip (often, no one was there, or just a few people) and played spa-like music – a very leisurely atmosphere, and an ideal reading spot.
After reading in the sun and swimming in the lap pool, I had a pedicure at the Thai House Spa. The spa was an incredibly soothing place to be; after my pedicure, I lounged by the juice bar where I sipped on a delicious concoction to the sound of a fountain (truly, fountains and the comforting sound of water surround at Zemi, along with all those tropical plants).
From there, I put my swimsuit back on, and walked down to the beach, then took a right where not far from Zemi sat Gwen’s Reggae Grill where my husband was listening to reggae music on a hammock! I joined him, and we had so much fun just sitting in the sand at this very chill restaurant. They have live reggae every Sunday afternoon, and it’s not something to miss. We hung out on the beach a while before heading up to shower, change, and enjoy another dreamy sunset followed by dinner at 20 Knots (then watched the Oscars in our room)!
A note: You need a rental car to do more and eat at other restaurants on the island; nothing else besides Gwen’s is walkable. We had a fun ride coming for us Tuesday, but these first few days, it was nice to adjust to island life and just relax at our hotel. Zemi Beach House does have two other restaurants – Bohio Bar and Lounge (where there was live music each night!) if you like sushi, and Stone, which is more upscale, but being on the beach at 20 Knots – and the menu there – was our favorite!
Monday, March 13
Soaking up the day at Zemi
On Monday, we woke up at a normal hour and went down to 20 Knots for our first breakfast there – a complimentary buffet – and it was truly phenomenal! Breakfast ended up being one of our favorite rituals of the trip. We sat in the sand once again, and I ordered Earl Grey tea with almond milk – my go-to morning cuppa. Then we indulged in the offerings, and there were a ton – a variety of fresh fruit (the watermelon being my daily pick), a smoked salmon station, freshly cut cheeses and cold cuts, hot items including scrambled eggs and more, bacon, every kind of sausage, a wide assortment of breads (including GF) and pastries, a daily smoothie and wellness shot (we drank the shot every morning – always a mix of healthy fruit/vegetable juices and herbs/spices), as well as detox water (fruit-infused). On this morning, and every one thereafter, we took our time and leisurely sipped and ate for an hour or so.
By late morning, we claimed chairs in the sand right in front of the ocean and soaked up the sun. The waves right in front of our hotel were still rough, but we took a long, hour-length walk down the end of the beach and back, in which we found an area with calm turquoise water, and had the beach nearly all to ourselves. After our walk, I retrieved some leftovers from last night’s dinner and ate them for lunch in my lounge chair. The day was hot but perfect.
Mid-afternoon, I returned to the spa for a 50-minute Five Elements massage, which was so relaxing. After, I once again got a juice, sat on the deck at the spa and read my book for a while. Then I went to swim some laps in the upper infinity pool, and I finished out the afternoon by showering and reading on our balcony. It was such a lovely, easygoing day. We watched the sunset from our balcony and went back down for a beachside dinner at 20 Knots. After dinner, H went for a night swim in the main heated pool, open 24/7, while I sat nearby and sipped some peppermint tea.
Tuesday, March 14
Moke Adventures Around the Island & Romantic Dinner
Tuesday is when the adventuring began. After breakfast, our Moke arrived at the hotel! H got a quick lesson on driving the Moke – ours was automatic, and pretty simple – and then we were off. I highly recommend renting a Moke if you visit Anguilla; it’s such a fun and novel experience. You can drive these open-air vehicles anywhere on the island, and they come in a variety of colors. The steering wheel was on the left, as it is in America, but H had to get used to driving on the left side of the road, since Anguilla is a British Overseas Territory.
We headed for the other end of the island and ate lunch at Blanchard’s Beach Shack, a casual beachside spot with gluten-free and vegan options. Our food was pretty good, but the frozen mango drink we got was the highlight. When we finished, we drove to the Anguilla Arch, a scenic spot and great photo opportunity. It was a little tricky to find and is located on a random grassy road. Just keep your eye on the map, drive right up to the coast, and you’ll see it.
From there, we drove to the opposite side of the island to the Rendezvous Bay beach, which our taxi driver had recommended if the water was still unusually rough at Shoal Bay (the bay in front of our hotel), which it was. Rendezvous Bay was more crowded than our quiet beach, but it was stunning, with the clear, gentle, brilliant light turquoise water we had been hoping to see, as well as nice flat sand for sitting and walking. We set our towels down and had a glorious swim followed by a walk down the beach.
When we returned to Zemi, we showered and then walked down to our private dinner on the beach, which you can book through the hotel. This was a dreamy honeymoon experience. They had torches and fairy lights lighting a path in the sand and surrounding our table. We were able to view the sunset as we sat down. We had a server who brought us wine, and the chef himself delivered our dinner to the table – sea bass for two with potatoes and salad. We had this stretch of beach to ourselves, and it felt surreal, yet wonderful and romantic.
Wednesday, March 15
Sunset Horseback Ride & Festive Dinner
Wednesday morning, we snagged the same two front beach chairs that we had on Monday. It was a hot day, and we lazed in the sun as long as we could, but Shoal Bay was still too rough for swimming. After taking a short beach walk and getting some lunch, we sat by the adult infinity pool where we could dip in as we got hot, and read for a few hours.
At 4:40, we got in the Moke, and H drove us to our sunset horseback riding excursion with Seaside Stables, which would take place from approximately 5:15-6:15 pm. We parked at the small stable area and were greeted by Tonia, the owner, as well as the man who would be our guide. They briefly introduced us to our gentle horses – H would be riding Manny, and I would ride Willow. As a beginner rider, I was given a couple quick instructions, but told that Willow would just follow Manny (and she did). Our guide led us out into the road and then onto the Cove Bay beach, which had terrific views and no people. By this time of day, the temperature was ideal.
We had a slow, easy ride down the beach and back, and saw another amazing sunset. At the very end, H even rode through the water with his horse! I decided not to as I was wearing pants and shoes, and we had dinner reservations immediately after. If you’re interested in riding in the ocean, wear clothes that you do not mind getting wet! Our ride ended up wrapping up around 6:30 pm.
After our ride, we were a little dirty and dusty, but brushed ourselves off as best as we could and drove just a few minutes to Blanchard’s Restaurant (beside the Beach Shack) for dinner. When making the reservation, I noted that it was our honeymoon, and they made it so festive for us. We were given custom paper menus; at the top, they read, “CONGRATULATIONS BLYTHE & HARRISON!” Our server handed us complimentary glasses of champagne as well. We loved this sweet, casual open-air restaurant, overlooking twinkle lights above the sand. We finished our meal with gelato, and on the bowl was “Congratulations” written in chocolate. They made us feel very special! While we dined, there was also a family celebrating a birthday and a couple near us doing the same for their anniversary. It’s a great spot to celebrate.
Thursday, March 16
Sandy Island & Treehouse Dining
Thursday brought another adventure. We checked out snorkel gear and towels from our hotel, and drove the Moke to Sandy Ground Beach in search of the dock where we had an 11:00 boat reservation to go to Sandy Island, a tiny island in Anguilla. Thankfully, the ocean was the calmest yet on this day, which made the trip possible. However, we didn’t know where to go and got lost, missing the boat; we finally found our way, but had to wait for the next boat to depart at 12:00 (they come and go every hour). If you decide to do this, look for Johnno’s. The boat leaves right beside this restaurant!
At last, we were on our way to Sandy Island. It took less than 10 minutes to arrive; we pulled up and hopped out into the water and sand. It is a tiny island with nothing but a little restaurant on it as well as beach chairs and umbrellas. It was quite crowded when we arrived, and since we were late, we missed our lunch reservation, though I’m not even sure we needed one. It was super low-key and casual, and they were able to serve us. We ate our lunch in a lounge area, and then got two chairs in front of the water. The water here was a little more wavy than expected, but calmer than Shoal Bay, so we were able to enjoy a nice swim.
We walked all the way around the island, which took around 10 minutes, and on the other side noticed some rocky areas and potential snorkeling spots. By the time we got back around to our beach chairs, shortly before 2 pm, many people had departed. It was a much different and more pleasant experience when the island was less crowded; we finally felt relaxed. We grabbed our snorkel gear and swam around the rocks we’d seen, and we saw a variety of fish. Then we sat in our chairs for a bit before getting on the 3 pm boat back to the mainland.
That evening, we drove the Moke on our final outing, to Veya for dinner. Veya was the one spot we ate not on the beach; rather, it has a jungle, treehouse-like setting. I loved the atmosphere, and there was live music with an excellent singer. H loved the bread that was given – Johnny cakes (a flat bread served at most restaurants in Anguilla, including our hotel), banana bread, and pumpkin bread – and they brought me delicious crispy plantains since I am GF. Unfortunately, my entrée wasn’t the best, but I enjoyed the sorbet and mint tea for dessert.
Back at the hotel, we both went for a night swim in the main heated pool, which brought back fond childhood memories of swimming in the evenings at my grandmother’s pool with family.
Friday, March 17
A Leisurely Last Full Day
While the beginning of our trip was nice and slow, the end of the week flew by way too fast. I could not believe it was our last day! We both agreed that we could use a couple extra days at Zemi, but we would just have to soak up every last minute. Our Moke was picked up at 9 am; thankfully, we didn’t have to do anything, just leave the keys in the back, and they came to retrieve it.
This day was extremely windy, and the ocean was as wild as we’d seen it. Thankfully, it was still warm, and the sun was shining. After another fantastic breakfast, we hurried to claim two sunny spots by the main pool (where we had only sat our first day!), sitting back from the beach a bit and away from the wild wind. This turned out to the perfect place for us, and we stayed there all day. We swam in the perfectly heated water – still refreshing, but warm enough to not get chilled. We ate lunch right there on our lounge chairs and ordered cooling beverages. We were served complimentary mini fruit skewers in the morning and fruit smoothies in the afternoon (such a nice touch!). We even went to walk on the beach (and managed not to get blown away). We stayed until the sun started to dip behind the buildings.
A note: The sun is very strong in Anguilla, so apply sunscreen everywhere, even places you might not normally think of, and reapply regularly (at least every 2 hours and after swimming)! Zemi had plenty of Sun Bum available.
On our way back to our room to shower and change for dinner, we went inside the Out of the Blue boutique at our hotel, each buying a Zemi Beach House t-shirt and a few gifts to take home.
That night was “Sunset Sessions” at our hotel, an evening with fun music and tapas in the sand at 20 Knots. After watching the sunset on our balcony, we headed down for this event. String lights were hung above the sand with lounge seating, and they had set up an additional bar. By ordering a drink, we each were served three tapas to try. It was still super windy, so we ate quickly and then got a table a little farther back from the beach at 20 Knots, but still with a great view. For our final night, we wanted to eat at this restaurant that we’d loved so much over our trip! They were doing a special in which the chef was grilling on a Big Green Egg right out in the sand, which we could watch from our table. We ordered and shared delicious Mahi-mahi. It was a wonderful finale.
Saturday, March 18
Departure
Our last day arrived too quickly! Thankfully, we did not have to rush off. We took our time eating our final breakfast, and then I changed and went for a last swim in the central pool. I showered, and they came to get our luggage. The last thing we did was walk on the beach and say goodbye. Before I knew it, we were in the taxi driving away from Zemi Beach House, this hotel we loved so much. Everyone at Zemi was so friendly; the entire trip, everywhere we turned, there was a kind greeting and brief conversation to be had. It’s a very special place that I highly recommend to anyone looking for a special-occasion vacation.
We arrived at the dock at 12:00 to depart on our boat back to St. Martin. The ocean was pretty rough this day, and I was glad when the boat ride was over and we were back on land! Our flight left St. Martin around 3:00 pm AST and arrived in Miami at 6:30 pm EDT. We left Miami a bit after 8:30 pm EDT and were back in Nashville shortly before 10:00 pm CDT. It was a long travel day, but so very worth it!
This was the best honeymoon for us. Each day had about a high of 82 degrees and a low of 74. Days and nights were warm, not too humid, but pleasant. The hotel was absolutely the highlight; it was quiet and relaxing, and the pools, fountains, and lush plants made everything feel like magic. Everyone on the island was very kind, and easygoing. Even though the ocean was rougher than expected, it was still so beautiful, the bright turquoise water filling us with awe and wonder.
Have you traveled to Anguilla, or anywhere in the Caribbean? What were your favorite parts?
P.S. What I packed for this trip and more warm-weather vacation inspiration: Miami and the Florida Keys, Southern California, and 30A.
