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Welcome to Anguilla, the best Caribbean island.
The mere mention of Anguilla vacations tends to conjure images of mega yachts, a life of super luxury, the ultimate in fine dining, talcum-powdery white sand beaches, and no-limit budgets.
Is it because of all the celebrities who make Anguilla their vacation hideaway? Is it a tightly held secret amongst the world's multi-millionaires and billionaires? It could be, but the "secret" is getting out!
This introduction to Anguilla vacations shows you both sides of Anguilla, with the emphasis on affordable. You can spend a week or two here as inexpensively as any other tropical island, or you can "max out your AMEX Black card."
Welcome to Anguilla Vacations, Your Way!
Need help planning your Anguilla vacation? Contact us here!
Anguilla is "known" to be hard and expensive to reach. But flights to Anguilla can be, in fact, cheap and non-stop.
First up? American Airlines flies direct from Miami to Anguilla weekly.
If those flights are too expensive or don't time well with your city, fly into St. Maarten, the major hub of an island just a few miles south and catch a boat to St. Maarten. It's so easy.
We learned the hard way not to fly into Anguilla. The secret to saving costs and time on Anguilla flights is to fly into Anguilla's neighboring island, and Caribbean hub, St. Maarten's Princess Juliana International Airport ("SXM"). Many cheap charters fly from major American, Canadian, and even some European (Paris) cities regularly. From the NorthEast (ex., New York, Boston, Montreal, Toronto), fly non-stop to SXM.
From there? Arrange a charter ahead of time or catch the ferry to Anguilla. If you arrange a charter, they will meet you at the airport, help you with the Customs stuff, and you'll be Anguilla-bound in no time!
If you are flying from St. Maarten, the journey is ultra-smooth thanks to Anguilla Air Services and Trans Anguilla. Anguilla Air Services operates flights daily on a schedule. Trans Anguilla offers private charter flights. Both have terrific reputations and come highly recommended!
So many folks either don't know about this option or are afraid that the boat won't be there to pick them up. It will be. Once you have done it the first time, you will do it every time. It's that much easier, cheaper and faster.
There are other ways of getting to Anguilla of course...
Flying to Anguilla directly...
Anguilla Airport... Wallblake Airport
The Anguilla airport is a charming Caribbean airport, simple and breezy. It's such a special, "small-island" feeling to land in Anguilla.
If you are flying from San Juan, Tradewind Aviation and Seaborne fly to Anguilla directly.
There are also flights from St. Thomas and Dominican Republic.
And I would be remiss if I did not mention the "rich and famous" options...
A valid passport is generally all that you need for short stays in Anguilla. Certain countries require a visa for entry. Courtesy of the Government of Anguilla, click here for the list of visa requirements.
The next step is finding a place to stay. Anguilla vacations offer, to oversimplify a bit, three ranges of accommodations...
First, Luxury Anguilla Villas & Hotels
Anguilla is known for its luxurious accommodations!
Staying at a villa? Some of the villas on Anguilla are truly mind-blowing. No expense is spared to pamper you. And no expense is spared by guests for the privilege... rates run as high as $80-$100,000 for one week during the island's hot season, Christmas.
Ultra-Luxurious Long Bay Villas
One of the most luxurious ways you can enjoy Anguilla is via a luxury Anguilla villa. The villa owners and management companies truly think of it all. From private chef services, to helicopter landing pads... luxury villas are the utmost in privacy and personalized experience.
What about hotels? Anguilla's luxury hotels provide high-end comfort, service and dining, all with unparalleled beach access. Anguilla boasts some of the finest five-star hotels in the entire Caribbean, including the sophisticated Four Seasons Anguilla (previously Viceroy)...
Malliouhana is one of the most famous resorts in the Caribbean. It has long been known for delivering classic Caribbean elegance and outstanding dining.
View of Meads Bay From Luxury Room in Malliouhana
Malliouhana was built in the 1980s, a product of passion, a labor of love. Gracing one of Anguilla's most beautiful beaches, Meads Bay, dotted with many five-star restaurants for fine dining, you can't go wrong. A junior or full suite (on private Turtle Bay Beach) at Malliouhana is a top pick for Anguilla vacations.
Finally, Cap Juluca rounds out top Anguilla resorts today.
Breathtaking Cap Juluca
A Belmond hotel, Cap Juluca exudes Caribbean luxury at every turn.
Second, Mid-Range Anguilla Hotels & Villas
Between luxury and low cost there is a plethora of wonderful villas and hotels.
Best value hotel? The highest value, mid-range Anguilla hotel is Carimar Beach Club, directly on Meads Bay's sparkling sand, just a few doors down from one of our favorite Anguilla restaurants, Straw Hat.
Carimar
Photo From: Official Carimar Site
A small hotel with comfortable furnishings and updated modern bathrooms, each room has a flat screen TV. Your room is either on the beach or has an excellent view. Tennis courts and beach chairs and outdoor grills. At $300-600, Carimar is the best deal on the island and books up fast for Anguilla vacations!
Looking for best-buy villas in the mid-price range?
Jackie & Me
This is where Jackie Pascher really comes in handy and shows you how much she knows about Anguilla and how hard working she is!
She will work day and night to find you the best Anguilla villa. She is dedicated, knowledgeable, and all business aside, a wonderful person.
By the sea, on the beach, 2 bedrooms, 5 bedrooms, she will find you a villa that fits your budget and your other Anguilla vacations needs!
Personally, we've stayed at Tortue Villa several times and loved it.
And, Low Cost Anguilla Villas, Hotels & Accommodations
A search for cheap Anguilla accommodations starts with cheap Anguilla hotels. As you will discover, Anguilla has many charming low-cost Anguilla hotels of great value, like Ferry Boat Inn, right near the Anguilla ferry in Blowing Point
Is there such a thing as low-cost villas in Anguilla? Contrary to what you may believe, Anguilla villas are not just for the likes of Jay-Z and Beyonce!
Quaint Anguilla villas can be found that are a fraction of the price of the ones that attract the big celebrities. If you contact Jackie Pascher, she will find you something in your price range.
And here's another, little-known option...
Anguilla Apartments Renting an Anguilla apartment may be the most economical approach to Anguilla vacations. Klasher Apartments, are located in North Hill, inland Anguilla. They are simple, clean and close to the island's capital, The Valley, and the popular beach Sandy Ground. Klasher apartments provide a very affordable approach to Anguilla vacations and definitely is the way to go for long-term stays!
For shorter-term stays, try Sydans, right on Sandy Ground.
Do a Google search of this site to find more availabilities for your Anguilla vacation.
It still surprises me to hear that many travelers to Anguilla rarely leave their resort or beach where they are staying. Anguilla is safe. You can explore anywhere without any worries.
Many spend their Anguilla vacations shuttling between beaches and restaurants in hired taxis.
Anguilla taxis can be found at Blowing Point ferry terminal and at the airport. Taxi drivers are kind, hospitable and friendly. Many offer tours of the island, and can be hired to pick you up from your hotel and take you out for dinner, or to the beach, wherever you please. The only drawback to taxis in Anguilla is the cost. They can get expensive.
More on Anguilla taxis.
Taking a taxi is one way to get around, but it's not the economical one and for those seeking to really see the island and get in touch with all that Anguilla has to offer. So that brings us to...
Anguilla car rentals!
Island Car Rentals is our favorite Anguilla car rental agency on the island. They are friendly and easy to deal with, setting up so much of the paperwork in advance and making it as effortless as can be.
Hop in your Anguilla rental car with a map of Anguilla and you will be on your way to experiencing all of the hidden beauty and adventure this tiny gem of an island has to offer.
For example, we recently found a little-known road that takes you out to the western-most tip of Anguilla where you can find an unknown beach and see Anguillita Island. Best part of it all. The adventure is free!
Eating in Anguilla is an experience. It is relaxing, calming, an event that can last an entire afternoon, or go on all night.
Like Anguilla villas and hotels, Anguilla restaurants are not all the super-high-end budget-breakers you've heard about. Again, to keep matter simple, let's divide them into three categories.
First, Anguilla's Fine Dining
It is easy to fall in love with da'Vida on Crocus Bay. It screams, "This is Anguilla." A must-eat.
da'Vida, Crocus Bay
Dinner is exceptional, accompanied by the rhythmic waves of Crocus, which is particularly pleasing. Their late afternoon/sunset tapas? To die for! And what's extra-special about da'Vida?
Beach day lunches! Dining at their luxurious Anguilla beach bar for lunch, devouring a delicious hot dog, burger, grilled fish sandwich or a chicken wrap.
Followed by a snooze under the sun, a swim in Crocus Bay's calm still water, or some sea kayaking around the bay and into the secluded Little Bay next door... One day is never enough at da'Vida!
More favorites include: Straw Hat, Trattoria Tramonto, and Jacala.
Click here to read about five-star Anguilla restaurants.
Next, Anguilla's Mid-Range Restaurants
Among the best mid-priced Anguilla restaurants is Ferry Boat Inn.
Ferry Boat Inn is on Anguilla's south shore. There is nothing more peaceful than gazing out at the shiny lights of St. Maarten...
Ferry Boat Inn's Juicy Burger
This family-run restaurant and inn is owned by warm and wonderful people who will make you feel right at home.
Their burger is a favorite item on the menu (best on the island!), juicy and tender, served with hand-cut potato fries. (Ask for the sauce on the side in case you don't like it.)
Yummm, no one beats Christian's (owner and bartender) burger. Their crispy chicken burger is another favorite!
Every Wednesday Christian serves wings with blue cheese sauce.
More favorites include: Roy's and Picante.
Click here to read about more mid-range Anguilla restaurants.
And, The Cheap Eats!
Anguilla's "cheap eats" is the surprise of many Anguilla vacations. From New York style pizza, to Caribbean style pasta, to basic chicken and ribs... Local favorites are favorites for a reason!
Ken's BBQ, B&D's, Sharky's... these are just a few of the island's restaurants that serve up excellent cuisine at a fraction of the price of other restaurants. Tasty's is another who often has crayfish specials for under $15.
Crayfish Specials
More on favorite cheap eats.
With waters as blue as Anguilla's, Anguilla activities should involve the water!
Premier watersports company, Anguilla Watersports is the very best when it comes to activities on the sea. They offer...
Yep, they even have you covered if you're looking for something a little more adventurous. Anguilla is a kitesurfing paradise!
With prevailing tradewinds and calm waters, it's a top spot for beginners, and when the wind and waves really pick up, it's fun for experts, too. One guy who lives and breathes kitesurfing on the island is Judd Burdon, owner of Anguilla Watersports.
Kayaking Anguilla's Blue Waters
More on Anguilla kitesurfing and water sports.
More on Anguilla Watersports here.
Other favorite Anguilla activities include...
And, of course, boating...
Our favorite days on the water have been with the Anguilla boat tour company, Gotcha!
They are reliable, safe and so friendly. Their captains take good care of you and will bring you to explore Anguilla's offshore cays and islands, as well as its hidden coves....
Sandy Island and Little Bay don't require shelling out the big bucks (private charters costs can run high!). There are hourly boats that travel back and forth between Anguilla and these private escapes. Prickly Pear can also be enjoyed for a lower cost by heading over to Prickly Pear with Johnno.
Surfing is one of my favorite things to do in Anguilla. Thanks to Akio and Ravi Lloyd, of Surf AXA, surfing Anguilla is more possible than ever before.
With tours to hidden, secret spots and rentals, Surf AXA has brought surfing to Anguilla!
More on Surf AXA.
Land-based Anguilla activities and explorations are plenty. They range from free to reasonable in cost.
Anguilla golf, interesting Anguilla shopping , and, of course, you can play all the usual sports.
Explore the island by rental car with a good map. Visit the most impressive beaches if this is your first trip. And keep your eyes peeled, you can run into celebrities anywhere, anytime. While we're on the topic of the rich and famous...
If you stay on the larger roads, you won't find the opulent mansions that dot Anguilla. How to find them? Get off the beaten (paved) track and head down to dead-ends at the sea. And do explore the 5-star hotels, just for the experience (it makes sense to be discrete and just a little "tropical dressed up").
You can enjoy yourself immensely for the price of a gallon of gas. Want to spend less than that? For a bottle of water, you can really see Anguilla, an island that was made for easy-hiking...
"Done" the tips of the island and ready for more? Drive down to any dead-end by the sea. Bring your water. Park the car. And start hiking.
Lastly, exploring by air... It may not be the most conventional thing to do on an Anguilla vacation, but it is worth every penny!
Anguilla Air Services will fly you from Anguilla to various Caribbean islands, great for day trips to St. Barths or Saba or other nearby islands. And here's a real thrill...
They also offer air tours of Anguilla. Anguilla from the sky? Talk about blue views!
Seeing Anguilla from the air offers a whole new perspective... It is breathtaking, refueling all passions for the island. Explore, explore, explore... there is so much beauty to see in Anguilla.
There you have it! It is impossible to whittle Anguilla vacations down to an "absolute top ten favorites" list, because they are all favorites, but these are some of our most memorable must-do's. And as you can see, you can have a wonderful time for only a few dollars.
This introduction to Anguilla vacations has barely scratched the surface.
Please share your own magic moments on Anguilla vacations! Everyone loves a great story and a super tip or two.
More on Anguilla Vacations...
Monthly Guide to Anguilla Vacations...
A Good Cause...
A Special Note For Animal Lovers...
A few other good appetizer links for your Anguilla vacation...
All pages below are Anguilla Beaches archive pages, no longer kept up to date.
Past Fundraisers...
Past Businesses & Articles...
Tranquility Beach
(Luxury Hotel & Residences)
Long Bay Villas:
The Ultra-Luxury Villas
Sky, Sea & Sand
Santosha Villa Estate:
Anguilla's Most Sophisticated
Ultra-Luxury Villa
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