Hotel L’Esplanade is a small hotel perched on the hillside above Grand Case, on the French side, looking down over the village and out toward Anguilla. The location is the selling point: you stay above the bustle, with views across the bay and a pool terrace for sunsets, and you can still walk down to Grand Case's restaurants in a few minutes. The tourist office calls Grand Case the food capital of the Caribbean, and having dinner within walking distance of your room is a rare luxury on an island where most evenings involve a taxi. The hotel suits couples and travelers who prefer a boutique scale to a resort crowd, and it works well as a base for exploring the French side, including Marigot, Orient Bay and the boats to Pinel.
Location and getting around
The hotel is above the main village road, so you walk down to restaurants and the beach and take a taxi or climb back up afterward, depending on how much you have eaten. Grand Case Beach is a short walk, and the lolos and fine-dining restaurants line the main road.
Marigot is about fifteen minutes by car, and Orient Bay and the Pinel ferry at Cul de Sac are within a twenty-minute drive. A rental car is useful if you want to explore beyond Grand Case, though taxis work if you only plan a few outings.
The rooms and the feel
Accommodation is mainly in suites and rooms with terraces or balconies facing the sea, and many have kitchen facilities or air conditioning, though categories differ, so check what your room includes. The style is relaxed French-Caribbean, with a boutique, personal feel rather than a large-resort format. Expect stairs and slopes, because the property follows the hillside, and think about this if anyone in your party has limited mobility.
Good to know
Because the hotel is not on the beach, you will walk or drive to the sand, which is a trade-off for the views and the quiet. Dining is the draw, so reserve restaurants ahead for busy evenings, especially in winter. Prices rise in the peak season and fall in the shoulder months, and the hurricane season runs through November, so check cancellation terms and current facilities before you book.
It suits couples, food lovers and travelers who want a French-side base, and it is less suited to those who want to step from the room onto a beach.
Why stay here
- ✓Hillside sea views
- ✓Pool with terrace
- ✓Suites with terraces or balconies
- ✓Air-conditioned rooms
- ✓Kitchen facilities in many rooms
- ✓Walk to Grand Case restaurants
- ✓Short walk to Grand Case Beach
- ✓Boutique, small-scale setting
Good questions
Is Hotel L’Esplanade on the beach?+
No. It is on the hillside above Grand Case, so you walk or drive down to the beach and the village. In return you get views and a quieter setting.
Can I walk to restaurants?+
Yes. Grand Case's restaurants and lolos are a short walk downhill, though the way back is a climb, so many guests take a taxi after dinner.
Do I need a car?+
Not if you stay mostly in Grand Case, but a rental car helps for Marigot, Orient Bay and the Pinel ferry.
