Anguilla
Oct 17, 2016, 4:05 pm
#1
Suspended
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 2,833
Anguilla
'Er indoors has got it into her head she wants to visit Anguilla after watching one too many holiday programmes.
I'm not really one for staying in resorts and prefer to travel independently or stay in small,low-key resorts without the in your face service which I appreciate many people like on vacation.
I suppose the simple question I'm asking is what is Anguilla like ?
Thanks in advance.
I'm not really one for staying in resorts and prefer to travel independently or stay in small,low-key resorts without the in your face service which I appreciate many people like on vacation.
I suppose the simple question I'm asking is what is Anguilla like ?
Thanks in advance.
Oct 27, 2016, 9:23 am
#2
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 702
Anguilla is lovely. Flat and dry. Gorgeous beaches, better in person than seen on TV.
We rented a house a short walking distance from the beach (Meads) and spent 10 days with a rental car exploring all over the island. There are a number of small, independent resorts to choice from as well as a large rental pool of vacation homes.
We will return again.
We rented a house a short walking distance from the beach (Meads) and spent 10 days with a rental car exploring all over the island. There are a number of small, independent resorts to choice from as well as a large rental pool of vacation homes.
We will return again.
Oct 27, 2016, 12:23 pm
#3
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 16
(First Post!)
Anguilla is awesome but not without its flaws. First off it is maybe my favorite Caribbean island because the people are incredibly sweet. I went every Christmas for about five years and have family who went for about 20 years. Last year I went back after a 10 year hiatus and it was like nothing had changed. Locals (non-hospitality) remembered my name and asked about my family. The beaches are great but local architecture is rustic. Apparently you didn't have to pay property taxes until your home was finished so, brilliantly, no one ever added the "top floor" of their houses. As result all of the houses have rebar sticking out of the roofs. I cannot speak to renting a place the resorts are great but ridiculously expensive. I stayed at one place that was really low key but they used it as the set for a Fox reality TV show so I am not sure of its current status. If you would like I can find out the name for you. Further, the restaurants are insanely expensive and I live in NYC. There are cheap local places that are awesome but take a bit of local knowledge. One other funny thing is that you drive on the left side of the road with left hand drive cars.
I don't know about is getting on island. I am not sure there are commercial flights direct. Flying into St. Maartin and transferring to a puddle-jumper is easy or you can take a ferry from the French side. The airport does accept large private planes so maybe there are more options.
I will go again at some point. Have a great time and tell Banky, Elvis, and Carrol I say hi!
Neil
Anguilla is awesome but not without its flaws. First off it is maybe my favorite Caribbean island because the people are incredibly sweet. I went every Christmas for about five years and have family who went for about 20 years. Last year I went back after a 10 year hiatus and it was like nothing had changed. Locals (non-hospitality) remembered my name and asked about my family. The beaches are great but local architecture is rustic. Apparently you didn't have to pay property taxes until your home was finished so, brilliantly, no one ever added the "top floor" of their houses. As result all of the houses have rebar sticking out of the roofs. I cannot speak to renting a place the resorts are great but ridiculously expensive. I stayed at one place that was really low key but they used it as the set for a Fox reality TV show so I am not sure of its current status. If you would like I can find out the name for you. Further, the restaurants are insanely expensive and I live in NYC. There are cheap local places that are awesome but take a bit of local knowledge. One other funny thing is that you drive on the left side of the road with left hand drive cars.
I don't know about is getting on island. I am not sure there are commercial flights direct. Flying into St. Maartin and transferring to a puddle-jumper is easy or you can take a ferry from the French side. The airport does accept large private planes so maybe there are more options.
I will go again at some point. Have a great time and tell Banky, Elvis, and Carrol I say hi!
Neil
Oct 27, 2016, 1:57 pm
#4
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Naples, Florida
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold, Hyatt Platinum,Marriott Silver,Hilton Honors Gold
Posts: 592
Anguilla is the gastronomic capital of the Caribbean. More "retired" world class chefs working or with restaurants there than anywhere else on earth!
Dec 27, 2016, 8:01 am
#5
Join Date: Oct 2015
Programs: AA Gold
Posts: 89
We are going in May and staying at Carimar on Meads Bay. We typically rent cars in the Caribbean and prefer to explore on our own.
It is a small island, only a couple traffic lights. No casinos or horrid cruise ship shopping.
Easy to transfer from SXM as the new ferry is near the airport--I think 20 minute ferry ride.
Rental cars looked relatively inexpensive. Large variety of restaurants and great choice for a foodie. I expect the food to equal or better St. Martin (which I was not fond of).
Crime is low and I have only heard good things about friendly residents. 30+ white sand beaches.
Go view some videos on YouTube--it will give you a feel for what the island looks like.
It is a small island, only a couple traffic lights. No casinos or horrid cruise ship shopping.
Easy to transfer from SXM as the new ferry is near the airport--I think 20 minute ferry ride.
Rental cars looked relatively inexpensive. Large variety of restaurants and great choice for a foodie. I expect the food to equal or better St. Martin (which I was not fond of).
Crime is low and I have only heard good things about friendly residents. 30+ white sand beaches.
Go view some videos on YouTube--it will give you a feel for what the island looks like.
Jan 1, 2017, 4:46 am
#6
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 857
Here now. We like to try new places and don't repeat destinations, so it's a measure of the appeal of Anguilla to us that we are here for our 15th visit. It is not a physically beautiful island-kind of scrubby and flat-but the beaches are world class and all public.
There is no attitude at all here - restaurants are casual but amazingly good, particularly considering the size of the island. Expensive, yes, but pretty much everything has to be shipped here, so it's to be expected.
That said, if a lively range of tourist sights and nightclubs is on a wish list, it's not for you.
If you want great beaches, lovely people, and a chill island not overrun by cruise ship
excursions, you can't do much better.
There is no attitude at all here - restaurants are casual but amazingly good, particularly considering the size of the island. Expensive, yes, but pretty much everything has to be shipped here, so it's to be expected.
That said, if a lively range of tourist sights and nightclubs is on a wish list, it's not for you.
If you want great beaches, lovely people, and a chill island not overrun by cruise ship
excursions, you can't do much better.
