No Pool, No Kids Club — and That’s the Point: Carimar Beach Club Reviewed

Carimar Beach Club is built around a different premise than most family resorts: no pool, no organised children’s programming, no all-inclusive wristband. What it offers instead is a beachfront apartment on one of Anguilla’s calmest bays, a fully equipped kitchen, and enough complimentary gear — bicycles, snorkeling equipment, kayaks, paddleboards — to fill a week without booking a single excursion. That trade-off works well for families who want a self-directed holiday rather than a structured resort experience. Parents of toddlers get the practical benefits of apartment living plus babysitting on call; families with older children and teens get independence and watersports access with Meads Bay right outside the door. The honest caveat: at from $836.40 per night for a two-bedroom suite in peak season, you’re paying a premium for a 3-star property, and dining out every meal adds up fast when there’s no on-site restaurant.

Key Highlights

• Star rating: 3-star
• Price: $$$$ — from $836.40/night for a Beach View Two-Bedroom suite in peak season (including 10% service charge and 13% GST)
• Beachfront: Yes — directly on Meads Bay
• All-inclusive: No
• Family rooms: Yes — one- and two-bedroom villas with full kitchens
• Babysitting: Available for an additional charge
• Kids club: No
• Waterslide / splash pad: No
• Watersports included: Snorkeling gear and bicycles free to use; kayaks and paddleboards available with a small set-up fee

Apartment Living on the Beach

The core appeal of Carimar is spatial. The one- and two-bedroom villas come with full kitchens — not just a microwave and mini-fridge, but genuinely equipped units with enough capacity to cook real meals. For families with babies or toddlers on restricted diets, or simply for parents who want to control breakfast costs and avoid the logistics of restaurant dining every night, this is a material advantage. Living areas give children room to spread out, and outdoor spaces bring the beach within a few steps.

On-site laundry with complimentary detergent is a small detail that matters considerably on longer trips with young children. Cribs and roll-away beds are available, though both carry an extra charge — worth factoring into your budget if you’re travelling with an infant. Air conditioning is standard throughout, which is relevant in Anguilla’s climate.

Meads Bay: Why the Beach Location Matters Here

Meads Bay is notably calm relative to other Caribbean beaches — the water is clear and the wave action is gentle, which makes it one of the more practical spots on the island for families with younger or less confident swimmers. Carimar sits directly on the sand, so there’s no road to cross or shuttle to wait for. The property supplies beach toys, board games, and a children’s DVD library, which handles the gaps between swim sessions without parents needing to pack entertainment.

The complimentary snorkeling equipment and bicycles are genuinely useful, and the watersports catalogue extends to kayaks, paddleboards, water skiing, and watercraft rental — though the latter group comes with the small set-up fee noted above. For families with active teens, the combination of beach access and watersports variety is a meaningful feature. To find family-friendly tours and activities around Anguilla, it’s worth browsing options in advance — the island’s excursion scene rewards a bit of pre-trip planning.

Getting There and What’s Around You

Carimar is on Meads Bay Road in Meads Bay. The property offers an airport shuttle and private car service, which is useful given that Anguilla requires a ferry crossing from St. Maarten for most international arrivals — the concierge can coordinate logistics from there. Car rental is available on-site, and for a week-long stay with children, having a car is practical: Shoal Bay East is 2.4 miles away (a five-to-ten minute drive), Maundays Bay is 1.8 miles, and Sandy Ground Beach — a hub with beach bars and local atmosphere — is about nine minutes by car.

Families interested in a water park during the trip will find the Aurora Anguilla Resort & Golf Club, which has a water park, approximately 1.8 miles away — a five-minute drive. Grocery shopping is accessible nearby, which is directly relevant if you’re planning to use the kitchen regularly. Walking distance to several restaurants is confirmed by the property’s location data — and by frequent guest feedback — though Anguilla dining tends toward the upper price bracket, so the kitchen becomes a genuine cost-management tool.

Get directions to Carimar Beach Club.

What Recent Guests Say

• Several reviewers consistently praise the beach location, describing the white sand and clear turquoise water at Meads Bay as a standout highlight of the property.
• A common theme in guest feedback is that the well-equipped, spacious apartments feel comfortable and home-like, making them well-suited for couples or families sharing a unit.
• Many guests highlight the staff as genuinely friendly and attentive, with several noting that thoughtful touches — such as reserving beach chairs — add to the relaxed experience.
• The walkable proximity to a variety of restaurants is frequently mentioned as a convenient and appealing feature of the resort’s location.
• Some guests raise concerns about noise and increased activity from neighboring businesses on Meads Bay, noting that day-trippers and loud music can detract from the quiet, peaceful atmosphere they were seeking.

Who This Hotel Suits (and Who Might Want to Look Elsewhere)

Carimar’s Family Preferred rating reflects a genuine fit for specific family types rather than a universal recommendation. Families with school-age children and teens who are comfortable directing their own days — watersports in the morning, cycling, beach time, restaurant dinner — will get good value from the space, the amenities, and the Meads Bay location. Families with toddlers benefit from the apartment format: kitchen access, laundry on-site, and babysitting when parents need an evening out.

Families who want a resort to do the heavy lifting — structured kids club, supervised programming, a pool to anchor the day, all-inclusive dining — should look elsewhere. There is no pool on the property, no kids club, and no on-site restaurant, which are significant gaps if your children expect these things or if the adults are factoring them into the daily rhythm of a holiday. The noise concern raised by some guests is also worth taking seriously: if your family specifically needs a quiet retreat, it’s worth asking the property directly about current conditions on the bay before booking.

At peak-season prices above $800 per night, this is also not a budget decision — the self-catering angle helps offset dining costs, but the nightly rate sets a high baseline.

For the full amenities breakdown and Family Fit rating details, see our full Resort Finder profile for Carimar Beach Club.

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