The Hidden Gems of Anguilla: Exploring the Caribbean's Best Kept Secret

Nestled in the heart of the Caribbean, Anguilla is a hidden gem that beckons travelers seeking luxury, tranquility, and pristine beaches. With its crystal-clear turquoise waters, powdery white-sand beaches, and a warm tropical breeze that's as soothing as its vibrant culture, Anguilla offers an unforgettable escape for those in search of a paradise retreat. 

Getting There

There are several options for getting to Anguilla.  You can book a more direct route by connecting through Miami with the direct daily flight AA offers to Anguilla.  Other airlines offer similar service through Miami, flying directly to St. Maarten.  Once in St. Maarten, there are several options for transfer: Public Ferry, Private Boat Charter or Air Charter Flight via Anguilla Air Services.  We opted for the flight via Air Anguilla and we were NOT disappointed.  We were immediately taken from the runway in St. Maarten, bypassed customs there (a very long line) and were taken to a connection desk for Anguilla Air Services, bypassing the entire line!  We felt like celebrities and quite a few people made their way over to our line thinking we had some kind of “secret”.... Nope - just direct air tickets vs. boat! :) It is worth it and not that much extra $$.  

Once we landed in Anguilla, there was zero line in customs and we took our pre-booked taxi to our first hotel, Malliouhana, an Auberge Resort.  

Watch us on our flight adventure on the shortest international flight in the world!

Accommodations

First up, is the beautiful Malliouhana.  This resort sits atop an ocean cliffside, with beautiful beachfront villas and suites, restaurant and cliff-side/poolside bar with live music.  They offer a world-class spa on the property as well as many private areas for sun lounging and a dip in the ocean.  We stayed in the Ocean View Premium Room.  It was so spacious with a sitting area, a huge bathroom, in mirror TV (pretty cool) and in room check-in for a more personalized service and stay.  The balcony offered a circle sun lounger and table and chairs.  

There is an infinity edge pool on the property which offers waiter service.  Some unique offerings were wooden key cards, Complimentary bottled water all over the resort in coolers (amazing!) AND Complimentary SUNSCREEN - so amazing to have something like this included.  (I had to pay for both at the next hotel).  

Check out this beautiful resort on our YouTube Channel!

Spots Nearby

Anguilla is a beach lovers paradise and you will want to be on the beach as much as you can.  Right next door to Malliohauna is Leon’s beach bar and they offer great lunch and dinner and is a happening spot after dark.  Continue walking down the beach and you will find Blanchard’s Restaurant and Beach Shack and the Straw Hat, two of the island's most popular restaurants as well as the Four Seasons Resort where you can also dine.  

Travel More Tip: 

If you are looking for a fun vehicle to take around or maybe rent for a day or two while you are there, consider MOKE!  They will deliver the car to Malliouhana if you book in advance. (An International Driver permit is required and can be purchased during booking).  

After staying 5 nights in Malliohauna (and not long enough) we moved to the North side of the island on Shoal Bay to Zemi Beach House, a LXR Resort.  This resort felt more commercial, compared to the artistic and eclectic Malliohauna, but it was still beautiful.  The rooms were closer together and we opted for an ocean view balcony room.  They have a weekly beach lobster buffet, which is amazing.  The views are beautiful and this beach is the best in the Caribbean.  It was VERY Windy while we were there, so we ended up hanging out mostly by the pool. 

*Fun Fact: Zemi beach offers an amazing spa that resides in a 300 year old Thai House that was relocated there from the Chiang Mai region of Thailand and offers the only Hammams in the Caribe. 

We did venture over to Cap Juluca, a Belmond resort two times (once for snorkeling and once for dinner).  For dinner, we met a couple at PIMMS and dined right on the water.  As you enter the restaurant you are greeted with a salt scrub hand washing station and the service was absolutely excellent including an Anniversary dessert with candle and champagne for our friends’ celebration! We also saw a small shark catch some dinner too - very close! 

August Monday Celebration

We got lucky and our trip fell during August Monday and the Anguilla Summer Festival!  There were a lot of businesses that were not operational due to this; for example, the two PADI Dive Master’s that reside on the island were on vacation this week and MOKE was sold out.  But, because of this, we had an amazing time at what is known as the “Best Party in the Caribbean”  We saw nothing but a constant stream of boats arriving into the harbor in the early morning.  It started with a Sailing Race and all the hotels had crews; then finished with a live music party that went on all night!  I felt very safe during all the commotion; the island is so small and it seemed like everyone literally knew each other.  

Island Exploration

We always get out on the water at some point on a trip.  Since there was no option to Scuba dive this time around, we booked a private boat tour via Calypso Charters Anguilla.   This was AMAZING.  The staff basically took us around to different parts of the island including snorkeling by Cap Juluca, Four Seasons and a stop on the private island of Sandy Ground, where we were truly the only ones there.  I highly recommend something like this on your next trip as it allows you to see the beauty of the island from the water! 

Why You'll Be Going Back

We are already planning our next trip to Anguilla…actually deciding if we want to return this year for August Monday again or in 2025!  Last time we stuck to the hotels but I would like to rent a car/MOKE and drive around to eat at some other local spots this time around, as well as get in a Scuba dive around St. Maarten. 

Another property that I am interested in staying at is the Aurora Anguilla Golf Resort.  This resort is newly renovated, and offers unparalleled service, including a University to train all of its staff!  This resort ALSO offers a direct flight from Charlotte and Miami airports to its guests as well as direct transport to/from the airport, making this a truly personalized experience!  

Watch our Anguilla Boat Day Video on our YouTube Channel!

Ready to add Anguilla to your bucket list?

Go to the “Contact” page now to easily schedule an initial discussion with us to get things started!  Thank you for reading and following our travel adventures!  Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube Channel and to follow along @travelmorewithkristin on Instagram for the latest travel tips, tricks and our newest locations visited.  

Thank you!

Kristin & Will

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