Caribbean Travel Guide: Anguilla
Anguilla is a heaven of islands lying in the Lesser Antilles. With the world renowned island of Anguilla itself, and many others around the region, Anguilla has made rapid leaps on the popularity charts of tourism circuits around the globe, and especially the Caribbean region. Anguilla is a store house of wonderful beach side locations that match the best in the British West Indies. The 26 km long stretch of sand path that lines the Anguilla beach is an absolute treasure trove of sensations for first time visitors. Frequent travellers find it hard to resist the temptation of doing a repeat trip to Anguilla rather than explore any other part of the world.
Despite not being the most expansive territory in the Caribbean region, Anguilla is so well endowed with sand on its beaches that the sea side experiences one gets here are a class apart from others. Imagine the sensation of your feet trotting on a pampering and caressing sand bed as a light breeze runs past your face and the scents of the waters and land enliven your nostrils! A walk along the beach side in Anguilla is an absolutely stunning and soulful experience, and such expressions are becoming a regular feature of the travel anecdotes of travellers to this place.
Food is something inseparable from the Caribbean culture, and Anguilla succeeds in adhering to the high standards set by this part of the world. The beaches of this place are lined with such a huge variety of restaurants, eating joints and cafes that one could easily be overwhelmed by the share magnitude of the number of choices. From a wholesome meal in a specialty restaurant to a laid back session of drinks with friends along the beachside with some snacks from a beach shack to complement, food in Anguilla comes in all shapes, sizes, textures and tastes. Anguillan cuisine is a delectable cocktail of Caribbean, African, Spanish, French and English cuisines.
Travellers often tend to believe misconceptions that Anguilla is among the more expensive and hard to reach Caribbean destinations, but there could hardly be anything as distant from truth as these misconceptions. On could easily book for a flight to the neighbouring major hubs and then take a boat to Anguilla rather than spending much on a flight straight to Anguilla. This is such an enjoyable route to Anguilla that you might even be tempted to repeat the route every time, in spite of having the resources of getting on to direct flights.
Accommodation and lodging in Anguilla spreads far and wide, the result being that visitors have ample options to pick from considering their requirements and budget. There are luxury resorts for the more resourceful travellers, and affordable options for those who do not mind doing away with the sauna bath and take a closer look at life in Anguilla, especially when one chooses to stay in a privately owned lodge.
Anguilla Hotels
World class seaside experiences that are different from anything anywhere in the world are just a part of your adventure in Anguilla. There isn’t anything that can obstruct your intentions and the reality of sandy beaches with splashing water waves in Anguilla. This place is the ideal getaway for an experience of sheer Caribbean pleasure. Let the stunning scenes and sounds of this amazing part of Lesser Antilles mesmerize you into a sense of sheer ecstasy. Welcome to Anguilla. It is time now to introduce you to some of the best resorts and hotels you can get your hands on in Anguilla.
Recently renovated Deluxe beachfront One, Two and Three Bedroom Suites of Frangipani Beach Resort await your presence on Meads Bay Beach in Anguilla. An oversized swimming pool, king size beds in rooms, complimentary floats, fully loaded technological and gadget menu for rooms, and stunning sights all around are part of your package at Frangipani Beach Resort. The beach is literally a few steps away, and so is a beachside bar where you can literally sip your evenings away.
Carimar Beach Club, The Valley
Carimar Beach Club’s amenities include two tennis courts where you can have some great time with family and friends, and swimming and snorkelling. This 2.5 star hotel is a nice option on Mead’s Bay Beach. For comfortable living and hassle free services, you can easily depend on Carimar Beach Club. One and two bedroom units with nice ocean views are up for grabs here. The characteristic orange tiled roof of Carimar Beach Club adds to its beauty.
If you happen to be on the lookout of an accommodation facility that includes contact with nature, consider the attractive Shoal Bay Villas. The swimming area of the resort is literally guarded by an offshore reef. The snorkelling and swimming opportunities are irresistible here. The silence all around is becalming, and is occasionally disturbed by the trade winds blowing across. The services are quick and sincere, so you’d not face any problem staying here.
Not only does Cap Juluca count among the premier hotels in Anguilla, but also gets noticed as one set in a natural setting that can compete with any in the world. The domed buildings of the hotel unfailingly cast an impression of beauty on the visitors. All bedrooms are air conditioned and the bathrooms are all marbled. Continental breakfast of the finest quality and flavours is served hot for you as breakfast every day. The luxury rooms are overwhelmingly beautiful and a pure serving of luxury and comfort.
The unmatched elegance of the French Riviera is on exhibition for you in the form of Malliouhana Hotel and Spa in Anguilla. 25 acres of greenery surround the resort and cast stunning shades of beauty all around. The bedrooms are spacious and the bathrooms are all marbled. Most rooms have entrance lobbies as well. One bedroom suites are wonderful for couples. These rooms offer sights of the ocean and unmatched comfort with that. The Malliouhana Hotel and Spa is easily one of the special accommodation options for the uncompromising visitor in Anguilla.
Turtle’s Nest Beach Resort, West End
The beachfront apartments of Turtle’s Nest Beach Resort, West End are pretty close replications of your dream house in the Caribbean. The private patios that overlook the breathtaking beauty of Meads Bay’s expansive stretches of sands and waters are another great feature of the resort’s menu of offerings. Turtle’s Nest Beach Resort is the perfect place for honeymooners and newly wed couples in Anguilla as the resort’s accommodation facilities are both luxurious and extremely comfortable.
Meads Bay Beach Villas, West End
How about living in a room offering unbelievable sights of beauty and sounds of splashing waters! And what if the stay includes amazing interior designs in rooms, unmatched comfort and privacy! Welcome to Meads Bay Beach Villas, your date with luxury in Anguilla. Your private pool eagerly awaits you to have all the fun you want. The bedrooms add to the Caribbean feel of the place. Each villa has a nicely made and sufficiently endowed kitchen area as well.
Viceroy Anguilla, West End
For beauty on the outside and beauty inside, Viceroy Anguilla is a perfect example. The top class resort in Anguilla combines marvellous interior designing with a domineering presence from the outside and sets itself apart from several high end accommodation facilities in Anguilla. Viceroy Anguilla is 35 acres of sheer beauty and luxury. Relaxation is in the air that flows around Viceroy Anguilla. The oceanfront villas and beachfront rooms of Viceroy Anguilla are loaded with all contemporary amenities, and are complemented by the world class services from the staff. The awe inspiring views of the Meads Bay are another great addition to the package you get at Viceroy Anguilla.
Anacaona Boutique Hotel, West End
Anacaona Boutique Hotel is a few steps’ walk from the stunning Meads Bay in the hot and happening West End of Anguilla. The architecture derives a lot from the Mediterranean styles, and that comes with a well deserved seasoning of Caribbean colours. The hotel has a couple of swimming pools where you can have some great moments of relaxation on your stay in this wonderful resort. The poolside bar is a place where you would want to spend as much time as possible. Of course, you have a world of fun and pleasure in the form of the beach that beckons you in the vicinity.
Major City
Anguilla’s administration shifted to St. Kitts in 1825, and left behind some really wonderful colonial architecture in the form of the centres and offices in The Valley. That said, the colonial charm is just a small part of the delectable recipe that The Valley has in store for tourists in Anguilla. The climate is pretty hospitable for tourism, and this remains so throughout the year. Months of February and April are dry, whereas the rest of the year is considered wet. Temperatures remain close to 26-29 degrees. The lengthy wet season is not accompanied by heavy precipitations, and this makes the weather pretty comfortable.
The past century has seen rapid development in the region, with new and renovated buildings coming up. West Indian styled cottages are all over The Valley. Several new shops have cropped up in the market places and these add a lot of life to the local living apart from providing interesting shopping options for tourists.
Crocus Hill is the highest point on the island of The Valley. The historic remains of the Old Court House are also located here, although there is not much that actually ‘remains.’ One can still enjoy the fascinating sights of the broken walls of the jail cells that once held nefarious criminals. Photographers might consider carrying sufficient memory and battery as the sights provide great incentives in being captured on lens. Cross Roads is a nice place for visitors in The Valley, and is at the western edge of the island.
The Catholic Church of The Valley is a place you will not want to miss out on, as the architectural importance of the place as well as the adjoining Wallblake House (which is a plantation house built around 1778, and is now under the ownership of the church) is well recognized and acknowledged. Apart from the Catholic Church, St. Gerard’s Catholic Church is also worth a visit. Its characteristically original facade of stones, tiles and wood deserve an extended stare and a word or two of appreciation. Anguilla Wallblake Airport serves The Valley, and there are some international flights as well.
The Valley, apart from being the capital of Anguilla, also makes a name for itself being among the major towns here. Despite the wave of modernization that has activated itself in several essentially old Caribbean islands, The Valley still manages to strike a balance between the old and the new, and thus comes up as a really special island in Anguilla. You might miss a wonderful experience of island living if you choose to skip The Valley.
Anguilla Nightlife
Anguilla’s mornings are witnesses to stunning sunrises and early risers walking on the velvety sands of the numerous beach sides here. The afternoons give way to more activity on the beaches and the buzz intensifies as the evenings converge in. And thankfully, the sunset is not a metaphor for the spirits of Anguilla, as the red hues of dusk are harbingers of interesting nightlife in Anguilla. From candle lit dinners to all night long parties, there is something custom cut for everybody looking to have some enjoyment in the night time in Anguilla.
The Pumphouse
Travel magazines of the world have dedicated pages of their issues to the atmosphere of The Pumphouse. As many as 30 different rums line the shelves at The Pumphouse. The dining room hosts several chirpy guests every night. Snacks ad other food items on the menu are all made to perfection. The ambience in general is simply stunning at The Pumphouse. Grilled chicken continues to be a favourite among locals as well as first time visitors.
Dune Preserve
Bankie Banx did his popularity no harm by opening Dune Preserve in Anguilla. Wednesday, Friday and Sunday nights are particularly entertaining at Dune Preserve as live music sets the place alive. The venue also hosts Moonsplash. Music lovers, especially those who know something about reggae music, can not even think of missing out on a visit to Dune Preserve. Apart from the opportunity of getting a chat going with a musical legend in Banx himself, the place deserves a visit because of the fact that it is a really alluring place in itself, even without the special dose of music.
Uncle Ernie’s
Uncle Ernie’s Shoal Bay Beach Bar is one you’d hear a lot about if you enquire for the happening places of night time from locals in Anguilla. The bar is pretty old, and its history is just one of the unique propositions about the place. Caribbean vibes of relaxation and carefree comfort hardly find a better exhibition in entire Anguilla. The menu isn’t exactly going to blow you apart with its expansiveness, but the fact that all food is great and the setting is perfect more than makes up for it. Uncle Ernie’s is one special bar in Anguilla; a perfect refuge for a night.
Johnno’s Place
If the thought of light music caressing your ears and the tastes of the finest Caribbean flavours massaging your taste buds manages to get your eyes all shining bright, you might want to take out some time for a visit to Johnno’s Place. The staff is warm and courteous, and the food is really special. The setting is perfect for a late night dinner. The breezy conditions of the night complement the ambience of Johnno’s Place brilliantly, and make it a worthy consideration for some night time enjoyment in Anguilla.
Gwen’s Reggae Bar & Grill
How about sandwiches with freshly caught and prepared fish stuffing? Better still, how about shrimp salad? Hit Gwen’s Reggae Bar and Grill for the finest seafood in the region and set the perfect beginning for your night adventures in Anguilla in the form of a sumptuous dinner. Sundays have live reggae performers in the house, and these really are great moment to cherish. Enjoying sandwiches, burgers and barbeque with the melodious tones of reggae music all around is an experience that etches itself on your heart, and this is exactly what you get at Gwen’s Reggae Bar & Grill.
Anguilla Shopping
With a whole new world of beaches to explore, a whole universe of amazing restaurants to dine at, a planet of nightclubs to dance the nights away at and a galaxy of tourist attractions to visit, there might be a case that shopping doesn’t emerge on your to do lists in Anguilla. But does this mean that shopaholics need to come back disappointed? Not at all! Anguilla is a great cocktail of all ingredients that make for the perfect tourism paradise, and that includes shopping as well. After reading this article, readers will be able to get a fair idea about the shopping menu they get to pick from in Anguilla.
Vigilant Divers Anguilla, The Valley
Scuba diving is definitely going to be marked in red on your Anguilla tourism notes and planners. Surely, you will come across several scuba diving opportunities and options in Anguilla. However, one of the services that deserve a special mention is that of Vigilant Divers. The owner and dive master Rob is a great man with a great sense of humour. He insists on taking 4 at a time on the diving tour, and this means that you have a fair share of privacy with Vigilant Divers. The dive is very safe and exciting. Rob’s diligent efforts are reflected in the zeal with which he goes about explaining every detail and instructions to his guests. Diving close to the fascinating shipwrecks of yester years is a breathtaking experience, and Anguilla has a good amount of such ship wrecks. Look out for strange and beautiful turtles (or a sea monster) apart from the coloured fishes.
Loblolly Art Gallery, The Valley
The captain of St. Kitts – Antigua mail ship is said to have built the renowned Loblolly Art Gallery in Crocus Hill. The building is poplar for its beautiful wooden interior decor and the fact that many artists of international and national acclaim exhibit their paintings and sculptures here. Contemporary artists have the perfect opportunity of exhibiting their take on the Caribbean art forms in the events held in Loblolly Art Gallery. The fascinating tales and anecdotes about the origin of the building add to the air of importance about Loblolly Art Gallery. Local artists are a regular feature of the menu at Loblolly Art Gallery. Of course, internationally recognized artists too turn up with some of their new designs. This place has been and continues to the ideal hunting ground for anybody interested in getting up close and personal with the local arts and crafts of Anguilla.
Cheddie Richardson Carving Studio
It is hard to compete with success, and it certainly is hard to compete with certified success. Several traveller reviews acknowledge Cheddie Richardson Carving Studio as the best shopping destination in Anguilla. Enjoy the unique tones of reggae music as you fumble through all kinds of crazy yet attractive looking pants, shorts, caps and footwear. If you have been looking for the ideal beach apparel, this is the place to get your stuff from. Tropical and vibrant prints are particularly popular among the store’s clientele.
Travellers often tend to believe misconceptions that Anguilla is among the more expensive and hard to reach Caribbean destinations, but there could hardly be anything as distant from truth as these misconceptions. On could easily book for a flight to the neighbouring major hubs and then take a boat to Anguilla rather than spending much on a flight straight to Anguilla. This is such an enjoyable route to Anguilla that you might even be tempted to repeat the route every time, in spite of having the resources of getting on to direct flights.
Accommodation and lodging in Anguilla spreads far and wide, the result being that visitors have ample options to pick from considering their requirements and budget. There are luxury resorts for the more resourceful travellers, and affordable options for those who do not mind doing away with the sauna bath and take a closer look at life in Anguilla, especially when one chooses to stay in a privately owned lodge.
Anguilla Restaurants
You’ll definitely have some great time enjoying the Caribbean sunshine in Anguilla. But what do you do when the evening pangs of hunger start making their presence felt? Of course, you could buy all the raw materials for the barbeque party in your garden kitchen in the villa. But just in case you are too tired for that and wish to eat at a comfortable restaurant serving some delectable food, this article might just of use. Here are some of the fine and well known restaurants in Anguilla.
Serenity
Serenity Restaurant has been counted among the popular restaurants in Anguilla for quite some time now. The garden dining area is a favourite with locals, and also manages to impress first time visitors. Special gatherings like weddings and other ceremonies are best one here. Lunch and dinner are served daily from 8 in the morning to 9 p.m. The Serenity bar area is another great place to be in, especially when with friends. Do not even consider skipping the Serenity Rum Punch. The service is awesome, and the food is absolutely mouth watering. What more can anybody ask from a restaurant!
Cote Mer
How about some French-Creole delectable cuisine with astonishing views of the beachside? Impressed? Head off to Cote Mer for the experience of your lifetime. The chef succeeds in making the menu both special and surprising. The rather unique setting within which you get served the eclectic tastes of the restaurant’s menu is a laudable addition to the impact of the place. There is a sense of careless relaxation about Cote Mer, and this makes the restaurant the perfect hangout with friends and family members.
Oliver’s
Though not quite announced with the usual waves of music and the flashy neon signs that are generally associated with good restaurants these days, Oliver’s still qualifies for a place in this list of Anguilla’s best restaurants. You might need to plan it out to taste some of the dishes. For instance, it is advisable to order the Home Style Rock Oven Baked Whole Chicken 4 hours before you land at the place. This is one place where you get your food fresh and perfectly made.
Veya Restaurant
For all those of you who do not mind taking the odd risk with your bellies, Veya Restaurant in Sandy Ground is a place worthy of your interest. The young couple running the show here ensures that the menu keeps on springing up surprises for guests. Dishes from several parts of the world with interesting twists in the recipes are the order of the day here. Of course, there are select wines and cocktails on offer as well.
Hibernia
Intimacy and elegance find a perfect exhibition in Hibernia, a unique dining point in Anguilla. Set in an open air house by the seaside, the restaurant now boasts of an art gallery as well. Seafood lovers can be hard to get off their tables in Hibernia. Not many places serve as special and fresh seafood as Hibernia does. Even the other dishes on the menu are great.
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