My boyfriend and I visited Dominica for 4 nights in November. Our primary reason for the visit was Scuba Diving. We loved the island. It is a gorgeous island - lush and green, mountains and rainforests.

We stayed w/ Anchorage and dove with them as well. I would recommend this hotel/dive center and would return to them again.

Pros:
- Hotel was clean, simple.
- Great location on the water.
- Open-air facilities and public areas (lounges, pool, restaurant) were bright, airy, and colorful.
- Clean bedroom and maid service daily
- Cheap: we paid $80/night for an ocean-front room with balcony.
- Air-conditioned bedroom (window-unit)
- Dive Center is onsite and the boat launch is steps away from your room.
- Diving spots in Soffiere/Scott's Head are only a 5 minute boat ride away
- Convenient to many hiking spots
- Good food & drinks in the lounge and restaurant. We usually had fresh local fruit & homemade banana bread for breakfast; and grilled fish, fries and salad for lunch.


Cons:
- Beds were rather uncomfortable, towels were stiff, and the shower temperature was lukewarm at best.
- Bedroom decor was rather stark, plain.
- Balcony door did not have a screen, so we could not keep it open at night (my paranoid fear of critters!)
- Dinner is prix-fixe, you cannot order a-la-carte items. I do not like to eat huge meals, so I would have preferred ordering an entree only.

We did not opt for the all-inclusive or partial inclusive meal plans, but chose to pay for our meals individually. This was better value for us, because we usually do not eat a big breakfast.

In summary:
We would return again in a heartbeat. The water-front
rooms all have balconies and you can listen to the water crashing on the rocks all day. Very convenient for scuba diving (5 minute boatride). The dive center at Anchorage was quite personal/intimate. Each day, there were 4-5 divers total on our boat including us.

The diving itself was lovely. Lots of gorgeous coral reef formations, steep wall dives. Lovely small critters and pretty fish, lobsters, crabs - but no large fish/sharks/etc. The hiking opportunities are endless - a true adventure island.

Note of advice:
Dominica is amazing - one of my favorite islands -- but it's not for everyone. More geared to the road-less-travelled folks, off-the-beaten-path, solitude-seeking travellers. It is not for those with high expectations or those looking for 4-5 star conveniences and services.

Also, be advised there is no nightlife. Bring a book, a scrabble board, or checkers and relax and have fun! Chill out by the pool or lounge area, have a Kabuli beer and kick back.

Driving on the island is scary. We rented a 4X4 (a must in case you slip off the road). The roads are typically single lane, twisty, turny, mountainous and terrifying. But fun!

And plan to stay at the hotel for dinner. Why? The driving! Unless you are courageous enough to brave the scary roads in the dark. Then again...in February it might be lighter around dinner time.