Anguilla
Table of Contents: Villages / Other destinations / Culture and History / Geography / Travel to Anguilla, visa requirements Flights to Anguilla, airtickets By boat / Get around / Talk / City tours / Shopping, Anguilla souvenirs / Costs / Good restaurants and cheap meals / Budget / Moderate / Splurge / Anguilla nightlife, bars, clubs and pubs. / Hotels, youth hostels, lodging / Budget 2 / Moderate 2 / Splurge 2 / Learn / Stay safe / Stay healthy / Respect / Contact More from Caribbean: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Haiti, Hispaniola, Jamaica, Martinique, Montserrat, Navassa Island, Netherlands Antilles, Puerto Rico, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, St Barthelemy, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, Virgin Islands More from North America: Canada, Caribbean, Cascade Mountains, Central America, Great Lakes, Greenland, Mexico, Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, United States of America, Waterton Glacier International Peace Park |
Anguilla is a small island nation in the Caribbean, a few miles north of Saint Martin.
Villages
- The Valley - the capital
Other destinations
Culture and History
Anguilla was colonized by English settlers from Saint Kitts in 1650, and administered by Great Britain until the early 19th century, when the island - against the wishes of the inhabitants - was incorporated into a single UK dependency along with Saint Kitts and Nevis. Several attempts at separation failed. In 1971, two years after a revolt, Anguilla was finally allowed to secede; this arrangement was formally recognized in 1980 with Anguilla becoming a separate UK dependency.
Anguilla has few natural resources, and the economy depends heavily on luxury tourism, offshore banking, lobster fishing, and remittances from emigrants. Increased activity in the tourism industry, which has spurred the growth of the construction sector, has contributed to economic growth.
Geography
Anguilla is a flat and low-lying island of coral and limestone. The highest point is Crocus Hill, at 65 meters.
Travel to Anguilla, visa requirements
Flights to Anguilla, airtickets
American Eagle (the commuter subsidiary of the largest airline in the world, American Airlines) provides non-stop, 72 seat aircraft, service to San Juan, Puerto Rico. Once in San Juan, one may connect using American Airlines, or their Oneworld Alliance partner Iberia (to Madrid Spain), to 35 destinations in the United States and in the Caribbean. Liat provides once daily service to St. Thomas, and onwards to other destinations in the Caribbean.
It may be easier to access Anguilla via St. Maarten, which can be reached non-stop from many eastern U.S. cities, as well as European cities. From there, Winair operates flights which can take 8 minutes to reach Anguilla from St.Maarten. Many visitors charter boats privately from the pier near Princess Julianna Airport in St. Maarten to Anguilla.
By boat
Get around
- Driving is on the left-hand side of the road. Speeds are low, but the island is small. Taxi service is unmetered, with set rates. Taxi drivers offer island tours lasting several hours. Fares must be paid in cash. The roads on the western part of the island are horrendously rocky and extremely difficult to drive on. Unless you have four-wheel drive, or you know where you're going, you shouldn't drive on the western end of the island without a guide.
- The ferry from Blowing Point to Marigot, St. Martin runs all day on the half hour. The last ferrty departs Anguilla at 6:15pm and final ferry departs St. Martin at 7:00pm. Connections and charters are available to other islands.
- Cars, bikes, and mopeds can all be rented. Rental cars are available in The Valley, and most of them are manual. Automatic cars are available at a high price (about $250USD per week as of 2006).
Talk
English is the official language, spoken everywhere.
City tours
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Shopping, Anguilla souvenirs
The East Caribbean dollar was fixed in 1976 at an exchange rate of 2.7 per U.S. dollar. U.S. dollars are accepted everywhere but change will be in East Caribbean currency. Credit cards are taken at hotels and restaurants. Stores will have all prices listed in East Caribbean dollars.
Costs
Good restaurants and cheap meals
Budget
Moderate
- Uncle Ernie's on Shoal Bay beach; inexpensive local BBQ;
- Smitty's [1] in Island Harbor.
- Scilly Cay in Island Harbor; pronounced Silly Key; take a boat or swim out to this tiny island off the island.
- Roy's [2] above Crocus Bay; started by a British expat and his wife. Great bargain lunches on Fridays. Very well known for their fish and chips.
- The Pumphouse in Sandy Ground next to the old salt flats
- Johnno's is an Anguillan landmark, run by John (Johnno) on Sandy Ground beach. It is an open air bar, restaurant and at night a dance club on the beach, often with live local bands.
- Cora's Pepperpot formerly Pepperpot, is a restuarant serving some of the most authentic local dishes.
Splurge
- Michel Rostant at the Malliouhana [3] Incredible view, an awesome view and great food. Conde Nast traveler rated this restaurant 100 out of 100.
- Hibernia [4] Unique food, gracious hosts and a wonderful time always. Worth the drive!
- Blanchard's [5] Great decor, which is unfortunately undermined by the bland food.
- Mango's [6] Directly on the beach, with wonderful seafood.
- Straw Hat [7] Don't miss the crayfish here!
- Altamer [8] Delicious lobsters big as orbiting moons, great service.
- The Overlook [9]Formerly Cyril's Ovelook of Montauk/NY fame but now in the trusty hands of Deon. Fabulous seafood and great gazpacho soup!
Anguilla nightlife, bars, clubs and pubs.
Hotels, youth hostels, lodging
Budget
Moderate
Anguilla Great House
Splurge
Learn
Stay safe
Anguilla is a safe island with a low crime rate.
Stay healthy
Respect
The beautiful people of Anguilla are incredibly friendly and hospitable.
Contact
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