Zemi Beach House, LXR Hotels & Resorts

What a place. We stayed in a deluxe oceanfront room and it was superb. We were upgraded to a room with a plunge pool—which was a nice gesture, though we never used it. The pool is accessed by very steep, winding stairs, and a high wall blocks the ocean view. That said, the room itself was gorgeous: spacious, a good-sized deck with excellent ocean views, and a huge bathroom. The outdoor spaces are terrific, with plush beach chairs and plenty of shaded seating under umbrellas. The water and surroundings are absolutely beautiful. A large National Park borders the property on the east, creating a wonderfully secluded feel. We had a top-floor, corner unit adjacent to this forested area, which made the setting even more special. We had dinner at 20 Knots, the hotel’s beachfront restaurant, and it was excellent. The setting—dining in the sand with low lighting—felt private and relaxed, and the food was terrific. The shrimp appetizer was outstanding, as was the octopus. I had originally planned to dine at Stone, their higher-end restaurant which was closed that night, but 20 Knots exceeded expectations. This is a smaller hotel with around 80 rooms, and it truly feels like a hidden gem. Wonderful in every way.

The staff here are mostly amazing and a highlight of our trip. Anguilla is a great island and we will come back next year, although probably not to Zemi. I feel bad giving a 3 star rating so will do 4 stars. The beach here is lovely and being walkable to Gwen’s and Olas is a huge plus. The breakfast each morning was great and the service always spot on. This is our second stay at Zemi. We stayed 5 nights and overall it was nice. Although there are a few things that made this not a 5 star experience. First, you need to arrive at 6am when they open to get beach chairs in the front row. I arrived just before 7am 2 days in a row to find towels on all the chairs in the first row. I like to be down at the beach in the morning and read. Since nobody was at any of the chairs I just chose one to read it. I was asked to move by the beach crew as the chair was saved. So I read for 2 hours on the beach in the second row of chairs and was literally the only person on the beach from 7am to 9am. This left a really poor taste in my mouth. I did send a short email while we were down there, but it was ignored. Second, Our luggage was lost and the gentleman at the airport let me know he could bring it to us the next day no problem. This was very kind, but we were a bit surprised to find a baggage delivery fee on our bill. Not a huge deal. The flight from Axa to MIA leaves around 6pm. When we were here in 2024 we were able to use the spa area to change and shower. We were told this has changed and there are now no showers to use after checkout. Again not the end of the world but not what you’d expect from a 5 star hotel. Overall it’s a beautiful beach and very nice staff. I think management needs to make some changes.

While I enjoyed my trip while I was there, there are several reasons why I will not return. First of all, there is a 2% tax that you will be charged at arrival. This was not disclosed to me at check-in and upon calling Chase Travel, this tax is not disclosed to booking agents who sell hotels/airfare and state that all taxes and fees are included. Note this is not disclosed anywhere on Expedia, Amex travel, etc who all quote prices inclusive of taxes and fees and explicitly note which fees, if any, will be charged and collected at check-in. When I noticed this erroneous charge on my credit card statement, I had to contact the hotel to find out what this charge was for as it was not included in my hotel folio at check out (with meals and services) nor was I given a receipt for the charge. Secondly, the beach directly on site is rough. The water was rough and the sand was not soft. My group had to walk down towards Madeariman’s to enjoy the beach where the waves were calmer and the sand was much more tolerable. The hotel staff were warm and lovely so I don’t fault them at all. The evening entertainment and quality of drinks/food were also great (but the breakfast was just okay and not worth it IMO). However, these two issues alone are enough for me to not return. It’s completely unacceptable to discover additional taxes are not included nor disclosed at the time of booking and given this is a beach resort, the beach was less than ideal.

I have nothing but amazing things to say about the Zemi Beach House and my Anguilla experience. I’ll be back in December 2025, as my forth visit. Paulo, the GM and his extraordinary staff pay attention to detail and have the safety / enjoyment of everyone in mind. It’s become my home away from home. Shoal Beach is the best beach on the island offering walking, exploring and trying some dining options as short walk up from the property. It’s not surprising that Anguilla has been rated one of the safest/best islands in the Caribbean. The people, culture and places like the Zemi Beach House are all part of that magic! Great job and can’t wait to be back! Rob

It just doesn’t get any better. I love Anguilla. The laid back vibe and friendly people. The absolutely stunning beaches and fantastic food. But Zemi makes it even better. Quiet luxury with fabulous service. The property is gorgeous and has character, unlike, the larger resorts. This was my 5th stay and we will be back. The spa is second to none (thank you, Indri). We love to lounge by the pool, steps from the ocean and the service from T, Hector, Kit Kit and Chino is personal. The very best, though, is Michael - he has been there for years and you can truly feel the difference when he’s off. His genuine desire to make our days special is such a big part of why we come back. Pay him well and keep him, promote him! Already searching dates for a trip next year.