As the UK starts to shiver, the alluring island of Anguilla, with its paradise beaches, sizzling temperatures and the warmest of welcomes, provides the perfect winter sun escape.
Anguilla’s turquoise waters, pristine white sand and exquisite hotels, resorts and authentic accommodations are accessible to fully vaccinated visitors. Holidaymakers have been welcomed back to Anguilla since July 2021, and as the winter sun season gets into full swing, the daytime temperatures average around 28°C, rarely dipping below 22°C even at night.
The island’s 33 beaches, which are all open to the public, are a major draw, but there’s plenty to do besides lounging in the sun. Visitors can try a variety of watersports including LED light-up sea kayaking, horseback riding along powder-soft beaches, head out on an all-terrain quad bike, hike the island with local guides/experts, or take to the tropical waters on a boat trip. A day spent at the offshore cays, like Prickly Pear or Sandy Island, will never be forgotten. These tiny islands offer a party atmosphere, freshly grilled seafood and cocktails with attitude!
Anguilla is famous for its excellent food scene, with more than 100 eateries spread across the island, offering diverse and quality cuisine. From roadside barbecues to independent family restaurants, toes-in-the-sand beach bars serving the freshest local catches, fine-dining establishments and appearances from visiting celebrity chefs, foodie travellers will be in their element.
By night, visitors can slip on their dancing shoes and enjoy the sounds of singers, bands and DJs, or slip off their flipflops at laid-back beach bars to listen to Caribbean music and the soothing sounds of the shore. The cocktail scene in Anguilla is as hot as the weather, with bars at Sandy Ground, Anguilla’s nightlife hotspot, serving tropical drinks while palms sway overhead and fairy-lights twinkle in the trees. Shoal Bay East is another place for good times, with great bars and restaurants where locals and holidaymakers mingle, including Tropical Sunset Restaurant & Bar, Gwenn’s Reggae Bar & Grill, Madeariman and Uncle Ernie’s Beach Bar.
From 11 December 2021, American Airlines is launching two weekly flights between Miami and Anguilla (increasing to three times weekly from 2 January 2022), which will provide a third route option for British travellers to reach the paradise shores of Anguilla. The new route also offers sunseekers the chance to combine Miami and Anguilla in a twin-centre getaway.
Until now, Anguilla has been accessible via British Airways (Gatwick and Heathrow) or Virgin Atlantic (Heathrow) services to Antigua, followed by a short inter-island flight transfer to Anguilla, or with KLM/Air France via Amsterdam/Paris to St Maarten, followed by a sea or air transfer. KLM’s Cityhopper network makes the latter an excellent choice for those travelling from regional airports via Schiphol Airport.
For information and updates on Anguilla, please visit the official website www.ivisitanguilla.com
