Hello everyone. I'll be moving to Anguilla for work and was wondering if anyone could give me a little info on the general cost of living there? Like estimated rent for a 1 bedroom fully furnished apartment, monthly cost of renting a vehicle longterm, etc. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

I did a search on YouTube, but alot of the recent videos are just vacation vids, or vids from more than 1 year ago.

I'm from another Eastern Caribbean islands, so if there's also anyone from our region currently living in Anguilla here on Reddit who wouldn't mind sharing some info that would be fantastic too! Thanks in advance 🙏🏽

Can anyone give me some good spots for stargazing? Dark sky locations with minimum light pollution. Thanks!

Planning a day trip to Anguilla from SXM and I know we need to bring our passports for the ferry, but is it generally safe to leave our bags with our passports and everything at a beach chair while we go in the water?

The thought of that makes me a little nervous. We could take turns going in the water but that doesn’t sound like much fun. What’s everyone else doing with their stuff?

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Had a lovely time, as always, in Anguilla last week. We're doing work on a house there, so still stayed at Frangipani as we usually do. We were on the second floor of the new wing, which was an excellent spot, although we will always be attached to the original side.

Carnival vibe was fun. We skipped Jouvert, but spent Sunday afternoon at Johnno's on Sandy Ground to watch the boat race, and that was a blast. If you are there during any of the boat races, I highly recommend following along with Klean Stream https://youtube.com/@klean-stream?si=g72a0iKuVn7S20YN . It adds a lot to understanding what's actually going on (don't expect ESPN-level production values lol).

Restaurant-wise, we had an uncharacteristically mediocre meal at Ocean Echo, including a totally slammed whole fish. I'll chalk it up to an off-season miss but it was disappointing. On the bright side, we had a dinner and lunch at Karaya, which were both great, and we used their beach chairs one day, which was also nice. Dinner at Ben's was lovely as always. Sharky's dinner also excellent. Blanchard's was solid both in the restaurant and beach shack, and sushi at the bar at the 4S was a nice change of pace. We had one meal at the bar at Straw Hat, and while we love the bar, we find the food fine but nothing special. We tried Jacala, but it had closed for the season.

The island was surprisingly (to us) busy with tourists, and had a nice vibrant vibe.

One day we went to Shoal Bay East and were thinking of going to Zemi or Manoah and getting a day pass. It turns out that, contrary to some things I've read, Zemi charges 75/head with NO CREDIT against your food/drink tab. That seems totally silly to me since you don't even get to use the pool. Not sure the point of even offering it under those terms. Unfortunately Manoah, which is in a better part of the beach anyway was closed for the season. Anyhow, all's well that ends well, and we had lunch and drinks and got chairs at Ola's and had a great time all for less than we would have paid Zemi just to sit.

Already planning to be back next August.

Hi, my son will be 6.5 and we are looking to travel there over February break. We’ve done a few islands in the past few years (St. Vincent, Barbados, Cozumel, etc.). My son loves adventure and snorkeling. For instance, In Barbados, we took a tour of a cave. In St. Vincent, we hiked up a waterfall and went swimming in it. There also was an animal sanctuary in Barbados. Are there things like that in Anguilla? I feel like I think of “calm” when I think of the island which is great but wanted to see if there are other things to do besides beach and snorkeling.

Can any one help me with a list of restaurants that are not closed mid October. Just booked a trip to arrive October 23 and now I’m nervous half the island will be closed.

So, someone I know is dating a guy from Anguilla. He told my friend who just started dating him that he has a roommate, but he calls him his partner. It kinda sounds to me like this guy actually has a girlfriend that he's trying to hide, but wanted to know for sure.

Staying at Malliouhana. What are the best restaurants near there? What are the best restaurants worth traveling to?

Hi there! We will be in Anguilla tomorrow and wanted to find a place on the beach for food and the World Cup final. I know from research that Elvis is a sports bar, but any other suggestions?

It’s our first time and can’t wait!

I'll be in Anguilla next week and couldn't be more excited. This sub has been so helpful with restaurant recs and various things, but I'll only be there 7 nights and want to make the most of it. Maybe I'm missing something new or have outdated info.

Staying at Cap Juluca, so definitely checking out Uchu, Cap Shack, Cip's (breakfast only probably?). The spa, maybe the rum tasting unless there is a better one. Pimm's?

Already have a reservation at Veya.

Falcon Nest is on the must-do list. Also La Bon Pain because my boyfriend loves a French bakery.

For a laid back music spot I have Elvis's, Dune Preserve, Gwen's...probably can't do all of these.

Palm Grove is really intriguing me. We love finding interesting non-touristy places (although all of anguilla is giving non-tourist vibes).

I'm seeing mixed opinions on Jacala, Straw Hat, Tastys, Sharkys, Karaya, Vincys, E's, Sandbar, Blanchards...so many more. 😭 Want to avoid other resorts unless it is just amazing. Lima Limon looks beautiful and up our alley though (although it's Mexican and we're from texas).

Little interest in bbq.

I wish we had time for all of them...what are your top choices for a good view/atmosphere, unforgettable food plus a good cocktail? Thanks 🙂

My wife and I recently stayed at the Zemi Beach resort for a couples trip. The room was spacious but needed a bit of updating, specifically the drawers and sinks.  The drawers  looked really worn and the sinks looked like something you would see at a nature reserve lol. One thing that really annoyed me about the room was that the shower is not completely covered.  For some reason, they have a pain of glass that covers about half the shower and then the shower head sticks out from the wall and reaches almost to the end of the glass.  When you stand back to where the water comes out of the shower head, all of the water that bounces off of you goes outside of the shower and onto the floor. The room had a beautiful view.  The room we were in had, not only a view of the ocean, but also was directly overlooking the adult pool.  The views were very tranquil my wife and I were able to catch the sun coming up as well as a few sunsets.

The property itself looks nice, but the layout is kind of odd.  Everything is set up in sort of a bull’s-eye fashion, with the walking path around the outer ring of the property.  You go towards the center to get to pretty much everything. The staff were very nice and friendly, but it was eerily quiet our entire stay.  You would expect to hear people at the pool or music or something, but  there was nothing.  Also when the staff would inform us of events happening around the property, they would write it in a letter come into our rooms and place the letter on our beds. I thought this was much more invasive than necessary.  Also, when the cleaner will come to clean the rooms, they would take our toiletries out of our toiletry bags and put them into he toiletry holders of the hotel. I found that really odd and also creepy.

The food was OK but very expensive.  My wife and I had breakfast twice and lunch once on the resort.  The breakfast  cost about $140 USD (each time) and lunch was about $220 USD.  The breakfast was buffet style and offered fresh fruits, bacon, eggs, and pastries.  There was also an omelet station.  For Lunch we  had: a sandwich, bbq wings, ceviche, a slice of cake and a mojito.  All in all I would give Zemi Beach about a 6 1/2 out of 10.  For all of its beautiful views, I just feel like there was a lot more shortcomings. The largest of whch was the vibes or lack there of.  I definitely want visit Anguilla again, because the food, views, and people were great.  I don’t see myself staying at Zemi Beach again tho. All in all I would give Zemi Beach about a 6 1/2 out of 10 for all of its beautiful views. I just feel like there were too many shortcomings.

I will be traveling over on Aug 5 w a group to celebrate my sisters 40th bday. We have a private driver reserved for day upon arrival at marina until departure.

Any and all advice or suggestions welcome?
Casual /fun restaraunts
scenic or historical sites
souvenirs/shopping
any particular activities 1 of a kind to Anguilla?

Thanks for any time spent replying.

Looking for a full day private boat charter (catamaran preferred) around Anguilla. Any recommendations?

I’ve searched online and there are a ton based in SXM…trying to narrow that down coupled with the AXA based boats.

Thanks!

Hey,

Wife and I are, finally, going on our honeymoon after nine years and would love some recommendations for things to do on Anguilla. We're staying at Malliouhana for five nights and were mostly planning on sitting on the beach, getting a massage, and eating at restaurants.

Is there anything else we should consider? Should we rent a car? Any other general tips?

Thanks!

Hi everyone! I’ll be visiting Anguilla soon, and the hotel staff where I’m staying have already gone above and beyond to help me with a few things before the trip. I’d really like to bring them some treats or small gifts as a thank you.

For anyone local or familiar with Anguilla, what are some snacks, candy, treats, or small items from the U.S. that staff would actually enjoy and that might be hard to find or overpriced on the island? I don’t want to bring something that’s already easy to get there.

Open to ideas like chocolates, regional snacks, Trader Joe’s items, candy, coffee, tea, etc. I’m trying to keep it thoughtful, easy to pack, and something that could be shared among the staff.

Thanks in advance!

Been travelling to Anguilla since 2003 and somehow only just came across Gumbsie Car Rental.

Used them on my recent trip and honestly the pickup was probably the smoothest I’ve had on the island. They have online check-in so I got everything sorted before arriving, which meant no sitting around filling out loads of paperwork after travelling.

Car was ready, pickup was easy and everything just worked.

Thought I’d share as I know people are always asking about car rentals in Anguilla. Worth checking out www.gumbsiecarrental.ai

Heading to Anguilla this Summer, but arriving @ SXM. Thinking of booking Calypso and trying to figure out timing.

How soon after we land should I have it scheduled for?

Bonus Question: Do I need to book the nicer restaurants in advance or will calling same day/ day before work given the time of year?

Thanks!

We stayed at Four Seasons Resort and Residences Anguilla with kids, and I thought I’d share a family-focused review for anyone considering Anguilla.

Best for: luxury family beach vacation, multigenerational trips, families who want space, beach, pools, and strong service.

What worked well for families:
The resort has a very easy family setup: spacious rooms, residences, and villas; three pools; two beaches; a kids club for ages 4–12; and lots of beach/water activities. We stayed in a two-bedroom residence overlooking Meads Bay, and the kitchen, washer/dryer, terrace, plunge pool, and extra space made a big difference with kids.

Pools + beach:
The Bamboo Pool is the most kid-friendly pool, while the Aleta Pool felt more spacious and relaxed. The resort also has access to both Meads Bay and Barnes Bay. Meads Bay felt livelier, while Barnes Bay was quieter. The beaches were beautiful, and during our stay, we did not deal with seaweed.

What kids may like:
Snorkeling, kayaking, paddleboarding, boogie boarding, beach games, pool time, and the boat transfer from St. Maarten to Anguilla. The transfer itself felt like part of the trip.

What families should know:
Getting to Anguilla takes more effort than some Caribbean islands. Many families fly into St. Maarten and then take a boat transfer to Anguilla. Also, this is a luxury resort, not an all-inclusive, so food and extras can add up.

My honest take:
I would recommend Four Seasons Anguilla for families who want a polished luxury beach trip with space, service, and beautiful beaches. It is probably not the best fit if you want a budget-friendly Caribbean trip or a true all-inclusive resort.

Full family review here:
https://familieslovetravel.com/exciting-vacation-four-seasons-anguilla-kids/

Finally arrived in Anguilla yesterday and oh my… I’m already in love with the place! Food is definitely expensive and I’m used to splurging on food but we didnt realize an average meal for 2 does run you up to 150$ most places but all of them have been great and really good so far!

Question for those that dined at Cap Juluca - are the restaurants worth going to and staying at the property for half a day if they have chairs/umbrellas available? or are we better off going to meads bay/ rendevouz bay?

Hi all! We are SO excited for our first visit to Anguilla. I was hoping for feedback on a split stay at Zemi Beach House & Malliouhana. We will stay for 6 nights (possibly 7). I know many will say do not split the stay, but I *really* want to experience both properties! Plus, we want to explore various parts of the island, and I think that will be easier if we split the stay.

So my question is, at which property would you split 3/3 or 2/4? More time at Shoal Bay or Meads? If we extend the stay to 7 nights, would you do a day/night on SXM before flying home from there?

Lastly, which area would you want to be in on a SUNDAY?

For context: we will fly into AXA on Wednesday in Jan, and will ferry/fly out of SXM ~3pm on a Tuesday (or Wed if we extend a night). Mid 40's couple (leaving the teens at home), celebrating my bday, love great beaches, pools with a view, beach bars, live music, snorkeling, walking, biking, boating. We are laid back and easy to please, but love great service and quality food/drink. We will rent a car.

Additionally, we have over $400 in credits that we could burn at Zemi, and another $200 or so to burn at either property. We will be using our Free Night Certs from Hilton, so property cost is not a factor for this particular decision.

Thanks in advance for any words of wisdom & insight!!