There is only one place in this world which I do not have enough words to explain how amazingly great it is. The place I am referring to is Ferry Boat Inn or “FBI”, which also is the popular and familiar nickname for the place. You instantly feel the warm and loving atmosphere surround you while you are walking up the stairs to the restaurant. What makes this place so special is the lovely family who runs it. Marjorie McClean and her son Christian McClean make you feel at home and totally relaxed by showing their great hospitality and love they give you as soon as you enter.

This is my second time staying at Ferry Boat Inn and without any doubts not my last one. It is my 6th visit to Anguilla and if I had known about FBI at my first visit I would have wanted to stay there during all of my visits. That is how great I think it is. You cannot find a better place to stay on Anguilla. Living in the apartments was a pleasure and they are beautifully decorated and feel like home. My friend and I felt very comfortable and the service was excellent.

The food at FBI is also wonderful and offers you a splendid taste experience. For example is the FBI burger the best burger I have ever tasted and probably the best in the world if I may say so. I truly recommend it! So are their heavenly lobster salad and their delightful grilled snapper in a lemon butter sauce. Christian, who is the bartender, makes superb drinks, and the best and most famous one on the island is his rum punch in which he adds a dash of nutmeg as a top of the notch. It is perfection!

One of the great things which I like the most is the social life when you hang around in the bar. It is an attractive spot on the island, especially on Wednesdays when FBI has its own theme for the night, the so called “Wings night”. It is a time when many locals and tourists go to FBI for mingling with each other and with the big and fantastic family of the McClean’s. It has been one of my favorite moments since I love meeting new people and to learn more about the island from the locals themselves. One more special thing about this night, and probably the most important detail, are the wings itself. The point of coming to FBI this special night is to order as many wings as you possibly can eat. No, I exaggerate a little; of course you don’t need to eat FBI- wings. But they are delicious pieces from heaven and they cook them after your choice of natural, medium or hot including a blue cheese dip. Absolutely amazing! Would be such a shame to miss that!

Personally the family at FBI feels like a second family for me and they have truly taken a special place deep inside of my heart. It is something unique with each and one of them and they all embrace you and make you feel special. Marjorie is a warmhearted graceful woman. She made me and my friends stay to a perfected experience cause of her wholehearted caring and loving personality. We felt so safe in her and her son Christian’s presence.

If you like beautiful views and a relaxing beach, FBI got them both. At the end of the beach pointing to the west the sunset is breathtaking stunning. It is an ideal place for a perfect evening walk on the beach or a peaceful swim in the early morning sunrise.

Finally I just want to say that FBI is a very special place which you just have to visit.

Wow! Anguilla and Ferryboat Inn are the best!

This was the fifth Christmas and New Year trip we spent on Anguilla and this one was the best we have had. (I know that for all you who have been going there 10-30 times that five times is not much…. :-)

Background:
First four trips to Anguilla we always stayed on Shoal Bay East at Madeariman’s small hotel. Now they have closed that and started to build a large new resort there. We really loved Madeariman’s small hotel so very, very much. We felt it would be tough to find anything better for us on Anguilla. BUT we did. We found Ferryboat Inn !!!!

Staying at Ferryboat Inn was the clue to what made this vacation the best ever on Anguilla. The place is small (only six apartments and a beach villa). That is one thing I and my husband really want. A small place. But that is for sure not enough. As my husband tries to explain it: Ferryboat Inn makes you really feel you are on a Caribbean Island. A little of how Caribbean felt many years ago (he has been sailing a lot in Caribbean 25 years ago). And do not understand me wrong here. It is not that Ferryboat Inn feels old! The clue is that it is small and has an extremely great bar and restaurant steps away from your rooms. At this restaurant and bar we could every night meet new friends. People who lives on Anguilla and also other tourists. That small bar and restaurant is really “super” very good!!!

The main thing we loved about it was the truly relaxed feeling there. As a benefit the Ferryboat Inn Reastaurant is known for the “best burgers” and “best rum punches” on the island. We loved them as well. But the relaxed and friendly feeling we felt there, we will take with us for many months now to follow.

Now I almost forgot to mention the most important thing that makes Ferryboat Inn so special: Marjorie and Christian McClean. Their hospitality and friendliness are tough to describe. I will try: We did not feel like tourists visiting their hotel. We felt like members of their family!!!

A little bonus that we did not know about was that at the most western part of the beach outside Ferryboat Inn you can sit and enjoy a truly magical sunset. Maybe that is only now during the winter months. During the summer months the sun probably sets in the ocean more “north” west. So then it will be not seen “landing in the ocean” from the Ferryboat Beach. But we had some great sunsets during our Christmas weeks on that special spot on the beach. (You walk as far as you can (west) on the beach. The beach makes a 90 degrees turn at the end.)

We are counting the days until we are back next time (Christmas 2010)!

"a secret that should not be shared" We stayed at Ferryboat for nine days and absolutely loved it. We loved Margery and all the staff. We are going again this March and cannot wait to experience the beauty of the island and the people.

Special place to us.

We had a wonderful stay in Anguilla and were very happy we chose the Ferryboat Inn as our homebase. We stayed at the beach house for 4 nights with our 3 children who loved every minute of it there. Although somewhat rustic, the value was unbeatable. And the Inn had everything a family really needed: location smack on the beach, tons of space, cable TV, free internet access plus local children who made the stay extra special with their welcome. The Ferryboat Inn may not be for those looking for an antiseptic hotel do nothing vacation but for us it was just right. Although the beach may not be the best, we enjoyed it very much at the beginning and end of the day. Plus, it was just fascinating watching the ferries go back and forth to SMX. Most days we would have a leisurely breakfast, let the kids play and then wander up to Shoal Bay East and in the evening we would either cook at the house or spurge on a really good meal. We had brought great provisions in St Martin (but beware of getting taxed on arrival) and had some fantastic meals out. The Inn really allowed us to do our own thing and everything seemed so easy from there. Don't miss Wings Night - it was really great - the Ferryboat Inn was literally jumping with a great mix of locals and visitors. The kids and I will definitely be back!