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Fish Fry, Jumping for Joy

XXAnguilla

Anguilla has the finest sea and sand in the islands – you could say the ‘Caribbean’s best beaches’, but the lack of palms undermines the archetype. But hey, the water is an unbelievable turquoise and the sand so sumptuous that just walking becomes aerobic exercise...

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About Anguilla

In my opinion Anguilla has the finest sea and sand in the Caribbean – I’d say the ‘Caribbean’s best beaches’, but the lack of palms undermines the archetype. But hey, the sea and sand are spectacular – I have seen fish fry seeding their way in and out the glassy faces of rising waves on Meads Bay; and the sand is so sumptuous that just walking becomes aerobic exercise...

Generally Anguilla is extremely low key (there’s not much action beyond the beach bars, unlike St Barts, for example), and this despite a sophisticated clientele with money to spend (Anguilla is pretty expensive, certainly it’s hard to have an inexpensive trip there). They come for the island’s smart hotels and particularly stylish villas and ‘super-villas’. The island’s restaurants are also excellent and have good interest (chefs doing interesting things) and depth. The Anguillians themselves are cool – ever independent minded and unimpressed by worldly fame and glamour and – key on a site like this – Anguilla’s beach bars are superb (and have good variety too).

Some Basic Facts about Anguilla

Any good travel agent or, in the case of European traveller, your tour operator, should tell you all of this, but if you are travelling independently, then here are some helpful facts about arrival in Anguilla

Access - Anguilla has direct flights from the US (Miami) xxtwice a week, but if you are coming from farther afield you will need to change.

The closest airport and easiest transfer within the Caribbean is via St Martin/St Maarten (SXM, Queen Juliana Airport on the western Dutch side). From there the transfer can be made by small plane but equally by boat (a quick/private transfer from xxservice at xxQueen Juliana airport, but and via the regular ferry from Marigot).

Arrival in Anguilla -Your arrival point is likely to be Anguilla airport (AXA, name) or the ferry terminal at Blowing Point. Taxis may be available, but are probably best arranged in advance. XX. xxYour hotel can also arrange a ride for you.

Hire car companies include Tripple K

Money - Cards work pretty well in Anguilla, at least with any business accustomed to contact with visitors. In local shops it is good to carry some cash in small denominations.

The official currency is the EC Dollar (pegged to the USD at US$1 = EC$2.65), which are accepted by everywhere, though at small stores or a beach bar you may receive change in ‘EC’.

Security - There is very little issue with security in Anguilla. Walking around the islands at night is not a problem. Sensible precautions apply. Do not leave valuable visible in a car. Do not flash expensive jewellery at evening events on the beach or for example at a carnival event

Telecoms - The IDD code for Anguilla is +1 264. There are two main mobile/cell service providers – Digicel and xxLime - though with St Martin just a few miles across the sea, you may be able to pick up European service providers.

Internet coverage is generally good and fast. Some restaurants and beach bars offer their customers internet access as well. XX– what of mobile towers and costs?

Interestingly the country code or top level domain for Anguilla (the internet ‘suffix’) is “.ai” which has brought a xconsiderable amount of money into Anguilla in the last xxfive years. This doesn’t mean that the businesses are registered here of course, but companies wanting an ‘artificial intelligence’ suffix have been paying into the island coffers.