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British Virgin Islands Hotel, Resort & Villa Reviews Reviews
Guana Island 04/26/2004
Reviewers Rating:  Excellent
My husband and I honeymooned on Guana in June 2003 and it now will be the standard against which all future vacations will be measured. After a large destination wedding on the island of Antigua, we knew we wanted a place that would be a retreat, and Guana certainly delivered. We arrived at Beef Island via LIAT two hours late and starving and were whisked to the dock to catch the boat to Guana. A ten minute boat ride later and we unloaded at the Guana dock and rode up the hill to the cottages and main clubhouse. Brigit, the manager, greeted us with the magic words "We've held lunch for you. Settle in your room and come back when you're ready." This typified our experience at Guana--no request was too large or too insignificant for any member of the staff, and often, as in the case of wanting to get a bite to eat after the "official" lunch time was over, our requests were anticipated.
Our days ended up in a cycle of waking up to the morning sun streaming in and going for a short walk before breakfast. There are trails all over the island, for all levels of hiking. Usually we would take a short stroll and end up at the clubhouse for the morning meal. Breakfast was a typical buffet with lots of fresh fruits (grown right on the island), breads (baked fresh each day), cereals, and one hot entree cooked to order that varied from day to day. After breakfast we would meander back to our cottage and get ready for a rigorous day at the beach. The staff provided rides to and from the beach at scheduled times, but we started off trying to walk. The beach itself was gorgeous and practically deserted with excellent snorkeling just a few strokes offshore. The beach house also provided water rafts, suncats, and kayaks for those who wanted a more active day. There were also plenty of loungers and a full bar for guests to help themselves for those who wanted to pursue a nap under a palm.
Our daily cycle took us back up the hill for lunch, and then back down again to the beach enjoy the last few hours of sunshine before heading up for good at the end of the day. One day we requested a castaway picnic that resulted in four splendid hours on a deserted beach, with an umbrella, two chairs, and a picnic basket filled with sanwiches, fruits, Ting, bottled water, and a bottle of wine.
Our cottage was Anegada, which had splendid views of White Bay beach and over to Tortola. It had a private patio with two loungers, a sitting area inside with a couch and chair, and a sizable bedroom with kingsize bed. Between the breezes and the ceiling fans at night we actually got chilly and pulled the bedspread around us. The bathroom had an open-plan shower with excellent water pressure and provided us with Crabtree & Evelyn toiletries.
Evening meals were very special. Sometimes we were seated with other couples nearby, and on occasion we would have an entire terrace to ourselves. The four-course meals were delicious and fresh--mainly because Guana grows its own fruits and vegetables and when fish is served, it has been caught that day. Cocktail hour before dinner is a convivial time for guests to mingle and chat about their adventures that day.
In short, Guana is the perfect place for those looking for an escape from the modern world without having to give up essential creature comforts. I've never seen a place so harmoniously set with nature, where the environment has been so little intruded on.
E. Crowe
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