Anguilla. Simply Luxurious
Caribbean luxury – without the noise
There are some images that sum up the Caribbean: powder-white sand, impossibly clear turquoise water, a warm sea stretching towards the horizon and perhaps a palm tree or two moving gently in the breeze.
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If that is the Caribbean you have on your bucket list, let me introduce you to Anguilla.
This tiny British Caribbean island has 33 beaches, and some of them are quite simply breathtaking. Think brilliant white sand and water in shades of blue that hardly look real. Shoal Bay East, Meads Bay, Rendezvous Bay and Maundays Bay are among the best known, but one of the pleasures of Anguilla is discovering your own favourite.
I’ve been fortunate enough to visit Anguilla myself and I love it. There are destinations I recommend because I know them through my work and destinations I can talk about from personal experience; Anguilla is one of the latter. It has stayed with me.
Anguilla has attracted the rich and famous for years, but it has never developed the showy celebrity scene associated with some other islands. That is rather the point.
Hollywood stars, musicians and sporting legends have been drawn here precisely because Anguilla offers discretion, beautiful hotels and villas, exceptional beaches and an altogether slower pace of life. Over the years its visitors have included names such as Sandra Bullock, Michael Jordan and Mariah Carey.
It feels sophisticated without trying terribly hard to impress you.
And while you could quite happily spend a week doing little more strenuous than deciding which beach to visit next, there is much more to Anguilla than beautiful sand. Come hungry
Come Hungry!
There are more than 100 restaurants across this little island, ranging from relaxed beach bars and places serving freshly caught seafood to genuinely exceptional fine dining. Anguilla was named the Caribbean’s Leading Culinary Destination at the World Travel Awards in both 2024 and 2025.
For me, that is an important part of a Caribbean holiday. Getting out, exploring, finding somewhere for lunch overlooking the water and trying locally inspired food is part of experiencing the destination rather than simply staying in a resort.
Walking, riding and golf and a bit of je ne sais quoi..
There's more to Anguilla than beaches and fantastic food. There are opportunities for hiking, horseriding and, of course, a range of sports on and in the water. There is also excellent golf with Aurora Anguilla home to a Greg Norman-designed championship 18-hole course with spectacular views towards the Caribbean and neighbouring St Martin.
And talking of St Martin, its proximity adds another dimension to an Anguilla holiday. Ferries connect Anguilla with the island of St Martin/Sint Maarten, so you can cross the water and experience the French and Dutch sides of another Caribbean island during the same trip.
Who is Anguilla for?
Almost anyone who dreams of a quieter, more refined Caribbean.
It is wonderful for couples looking for beautiful beaches and fabulous restaurants. I would happily suggest it for a confident solo traveller who wants somewhere small and easy-going where days can be spent exploring, eating well or simply switching off.
And it is particularly good for families and multi-generational trips.
Travel tip: Anguilla’s small airport is not served by direct flights from the UK. Why not enjoy a few days Stateside on your way to the island, or split your Caribbean holiday between two islands?
Get in touch to talk about your options and get your Anguilla adventure started!
Anguilla’s beaches are picture perfect. There are also six nearby islands belonging to Anguilla with equally perfect beaches. Many tour companies offer tours taking you to one or more of these islands for a day of swimming, snorkelling and mouth-watering food.
Scrub Island is the largest of the six, located about 20 minutes away by boat. The island has not been developed and is a great place to get in touch with Anguilla’s wildlife. As well as being home to over 30 species of birds, a trip to Scrub Island gives the opportunity to snorkel with turtles, fish and stingrays.
The ferry takes about 25 minutes from Anguilla to St Martin with departures about every 45 minutes.
The island of St Martin is split in two; one half French (Saint Martin) and the other Dutch (Sint Maarten). The Dutch half is known for its casinos, nightlife and jewelry making. The French side has stunning views, exceptional (high end) shopping and wonderul French Caribbean restaurants.
Once you've had your fill of shopping, you could stop by the Tijon perfumerie and join one of their classes to mix your own perfume. Pre-booking is essential for this. But what an experience!
If you're looking for something more 'back to nature' then pay a visit to Loterie Farm. No, it's not an actual farm! It's an inland oasis of lush tropical jungle with cascading swimming pools, cocktails to die for, a spectacular restaurant and a zip-wire canopy tour for good measure!
And if that's not enough of an adrenalin rush for you, then go stand on Maho Beach and watch the planes come into land at St Maarten's Juliana airport. With only a few yards between the beach and the edge of the runway, this is a spectacular way to go plane spotting!
