Anguilla

Anguilla is a long, narrow, flat island and a British Overseas Territory, just north of St. Martin. There are no casinos, no cruise ship pier and no high-rise hotels. What it does have is beaches: more than 30 of them, many with soft white sand and calm, turquoise water.

Shoal Bay East, Meads Bay and Rendezvous Bay are regularly named among the best in the Caribbean. The island's national sport is boat racing, with locally built wooden sailboats competing in big races around Carnival in August.

The usual route is to fly into Princess Juliana Airport on St. Martin and take a ferry or private boat to Anguilla, a trip of about 20 to 25 minutes. Anguilla's own small airport also has some regional flights.

Check entry requirements for your passport before you go.

Anguilla is small, quiet and safe, with a population of only around 15,000 people. You will not find Jamaica's mountains, rivers or busy towns here. Instead, days are about the beach and nights are about food: Anguilla has a strong restaurant scene for its size, from upscale dining to roadside barbecue on weekends.

It is an expensive island, especially for accommodation. The people are English-speaking and famously friendly, and live music, including local reggae, is easy to find at beach bars.

Photo: AnguillaGirl via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0

• Beach-hop from Shoal Bay East to Meads Bay and Rendezvous Bay in a single day.
• Take a boat to Prickly Pear Cays for snorkeling and a beach lunch.
• Watch a boat race, especially during Carnival in early August.
• Eat at the roadside barbecues on weekends, as well as the island's top restaurants.
• Catch live music at beach bars in Sandy Ground.
• Explore Little Bay, a tiny cove below the cliffs that is best reached by boat.

December to April is the dry season. Many businesses close in September and October, the quietest months.

Anguilla's best-known resorts line Meads Bay, Maundays Bay and Rendezvous Bay, with some of the highest prices in the region. For better value, look at villas and small guesthouses in Sandy Ground, Shoal Bay and Island Harbour, a fishing village on the east end. Since the island is small, you can stay almost anywhere and reach every beach within 20 or 30 minutes by car. Many visitors rent a villa with friends or family to split costs.

• Currency: Eastern Caribbean dollar (XCD); US dollars are widely accepted
• Language: English
• Driving: left-hand side
• Best for: beach lovers, food lovers, couples and anyone wanting peace and quiet

Renting a car makes it easy to beach-hop from one end of the island to the other. Day trips by boat to the small offshore cays of Prickly Pear and Sandy Island are popular for snorkeling and lunch.