Isn’t the Viceroy Anguilla so amazing? If you didn’t get a check to check it out in yesterday’s post, you’ve got to click here and see it. Now I’ve got a little guide to all of the ins and outs of Anguilla for anyone traveling to the beautiful island paradise.
GETTING THERE
- Flying: There are no direct flights to Anguilla, so like St. Barths, you have to fly into a bigger surrounding airport. I recommend St. Marteen. Then you’ll need to take a ferry over to Anguilla.
- Ferries: One name, GB Express. These ferries are speed boats that leave directly from the port by the airport and are a much more comfortable and scenic route than the larger ferries. They take you in a shuttle from the airport to the dock, and get you quickly over to Anguilla. Its so convent! $35USD per person each way. Keep in mind, these ferries are cash only.
- To your hotel: Once you arrive at the ferry dock in Anguilla, there are representatives from most of the hotels on the island to welcome you. They will get you in a taxi directly to your hotel.
GETTING AROUND
- Getting around on Anguilla can be a tad difficult. They drive on the left side of the road and there are roundabouts all over the island. Taxis are pretty expensive. If you do want to get a rental car, I would recommend waiting a few days to get used to being in cars driving on the opposite side of the road.
RESTAURANTS: For such a small island Anguilla has no shortage of great restaurants! Many of them are funky little places set right on the beach.
- Smokeys: Great hidden gem located on a little beach down from the hotel Cap Jaluca. Good lunch spot. Set on Cove Bay with sweeping views of St. Marteen.
- Straw Hat: Casual beach bar and grill. Their fish sandwich and rum punch are a must! If you’re looking for a casual but romantic dinner, make reservations here for dinner literally “under the stars” on Meads Bay.
- Blanchards: Probably one of Anguilla’s most famous restaurants. Sometimes closed on Sundays, so make sure and call ahead.
- Mango’s: Another great dinner place. Mango’s has a prime location located on Barnes Bay. Closed on Tuesdays.
- Oliver’s: Overlooking Long Beach Bay, Oliver’s has great views & some of the best homestyle Caribbean grub.
- Coba: Delicious Italian fine dinning at the Viceroy. You’ve got to try the tomato basil bread and the snapper. When you’re making your reservation, ask for a table overlooking the water.
- Veya: One of Anguilla’s most talked about restaurants, this is the ideal place for foodies. It’s also argued as one of the prettiest restaurants on the island.
BARS:
- Elvis’ Beach Bar: A must see on Anguilla! Try Elvis’ rum punch. The bar is a boat right on the beach!
- Pump House: Fun beach bar with dancing most nights. Us with Elvis himself
BEACHES:
- Shoal Bay East – Best beach on the island! Filled with lots of great beach bars and grills and also fun beach activities like snorkeling.
- Meads Bay – Another fantastic beach where the Viceroy Anguilla is located.
- Sandy Island – A little island just a few miles off the shore of Sandy Ground Beach. There is a shuttle called Happiness that goes to the island frequently. There’s a restaurant and bar on the island- perfect place to spend an afternoon!
View of Meads Bay from the Viceroy Anguilla
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To say that I was excited about staying at the Viceroy Anguilla is a little bit of an understatement. Since the resort is a Kelly Wearstler design space, I knew we were going to be in for a treat. From the moment you set foot on the property, Viceroy Anguilla guests are all treated like VIP. The design aesthetic of the hotel is just to die for and is the true definition of laid-back-luxe.
I couldn’t get over the incredible design throughout the hotel! So many cool little details, especially in the rooms! Oh and a bonus- almost every room has a large balcony with a private pool! If you want to venture outside of your room, the resort has three pools, one of which is a designated Adults pool, so honeymooners don’t have to deal with little rascals running around. Plus there are a few gorgeous beaches with white sand and bright aqua water.
Another awesome aspect of the Viceroy is the food. It was all so delicious! The Sunset Lounge is the only place on the island that serves sushi and will even bring it to your beach chair while you soak up some rays. They also have incredible mojitos- I loved the blueberry one! The breakfast at Aleta really offers anything you could want, and then the poolside Bamboo’s Bar & Grill serves up delicious lunches and afternoon snacks by the beach.
The hotel also has a Managers Cocktail hour every Monday & Friday evening in the Sunset Lounge and we had an absolute blast! There’s a DJ, appetizers, rum punch and dancing! It was a really fun way to mingle with the other hotel guests and the staff.
Isn’t this place just amazing!!! One of my new favorite hotels, for sure!! I would absolutely recommend this for honeymoon couples!
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After our adventures on St. Barths, Summer, Lindsey, & I ventured over to the beautiful island of Anguilla. Thanks to Hurricane Irene, our time on Anguilla was cut a little short, but we finally got there and once again, found ourselves in Caribbean paradise! Anguilla and St. Barths are two very different island experiences, despite being so close to each other.
As soon as we stepped off the ferry from St. Marteen, we were immediately surrounded by a Caribbean vibe. Everyone is so happy and friendly, and gives you a warm welcome to their beautiful island. If you are looking for the quintessential Caribbean island escape, Anguilla is the place for you.
Anguilla has everything you could want in a beach destination: gorgeous beaches, laid-back atmosphere, friendly locals, & delicious food, and Anguilla has all of these things nailed. The island is only 34 square miles, but there 30+ beaches on the island, all with white sand and crystal clear warm water in every shade of turquoise you can think of. The island also has over 70 delicious restaurants ranging from Asian-infused cuisine to scrumptious creole creations.
And the people! I don’t think we ran into a single person without a smile on their face! Everyone was so warm and welcoming and the locals make you feel so comfortable and at home on the island. Now that I think about it, I don’t see how anyone can be unhappy on that island!
I am so excited about another week of Caribbean excellence, so be sure and stay tuned to hear more about the best beaches, hotels, and restaurants on Anguilla!
Also, don’t forget to enter the Ever After Honeymoons & Secrets Resorts & Spas GIVEAWAY! This is the FINAL WEEK of the giveaway!!! So be sure and get all of your friends to enter! The more people you get to enter the giveaway, the better your chances are of winning!
I hope you enjoyed yesterday’s Island Guide on St. Barths! Now here is the fun stuff- beaches, food & drinks! So here’s the lowdown on our favorite beaches, restaurants & bars of St. Barths.
Beaches: St. Barths itself is only 8 square miles, but there are approximately 20 plages (beaches) and even more anses (coves) that will literally take your breath away and are all within 20 minutes of each other (at most). I’ve never seen water so clear!
Bring along your own towels, chairs & an umbrella. Also see if your hotel can put together a picnic for you! (Le Toiny does this!) Or you can do what we did and stop by a local market to grab a few snacks and drinks for the day. As always, don’t forget sunscreen!
- Anse de Grande Saline: A favorite of the locals, this beach is ideal for swimmers. The beach is a 10 minute walk up a rocky trail, so be sure to wear the right shoes for the trek.
- Anse du Gouverneur: This was our favorite beach, hands down. It’s very secluded and serene. There’s also good snorkeling and legend has it that pirates’ treasure is buried in the vicinity. You can park your car right next to the entrance to the beach and while it’s a little farther than other beaches, it is totally worth it. There’s not much else around this beach in terms of restaurants or other services, so plan accordingly.
- Baie de St. Jean: This was another favorite beach of ours. The site of the notorious Nikki Beach and right next to Eden Rock Hotel, this area is filled with beachside restaurants, shopping, sunbathing beauties, windsurfers, and day-trippers who tend to arrive on rather large yachts. You can rent chairs and umbrellas at La Plage or Nikki Beach for about 20 euros for the entire day.
Restaurants: Like the beaches, the restaurants on St. Barths are plentiful to say the least, with more than 80 to choose from!
- Le Gaiac: Delicious cliff-side dining at Hotel Le Toiny. They announce special menus on their Facebook page. Beautiful ocean views from the restaurant. They also have a great Sunday Brunch that many people say is the best on the island!
- Eddy’s: Behind a wrought iron gate sits this open-aired tropical garden dinner setting, known for their French-Creole-Asian infused cuisine and notable daily specials. The restaurant is really hidden from the street and unless you know where to look, you’ll walk right past it….
- Le Ti St. Barths: This is the dinner hot spot in St. Barths and we had an absolute blast when we were there! It’s guaranteed that someone is dancing on the tables by the end of the night! The famous full-moon parties and season openers and closer parties are legendary to say the least. We were lucky enough to be in town for the Moroccan Season Closer Party where belly dancers danced around the restaurant towards the end of the meal and had everyone on their feet once they had eaten dessert. Your best bet for determining the night to go to Le Ti is to ask around. Once you’ve figured out the night to go, make reservations for a semi-late dinner, so there’s no lull between dessert and dancing.
- Bar de l’Oubli: Referred to as the “corner bar,” Bar de l’Oubli is across from Le Select and is a great place for pre-dinner drinks. You’ve got to try the waiter’s special martini (strawberry puree, vodka, pepper & champange – deliciousness in a cup!).
- Casa Nikki: The place to be on the weekends! This is a fun restaurant & bar right on the beach!
- Le Select: Said to be St. Barth’s “original hangout,” it was this burger bar that inspired Jimmy Buffett’s “Cheeseburger in Paradise.”
- Le Yacht Club: Advertised as a private club, this is THE place to be on Friday and Saturday nights. With white comfy sofas, a bumping DJ, and a delicious pannini/crepe bar for late night snacks, it’s the ultimate night out.
- Le Piment: Across the street from the famous Nikki Beach, this is a delicious lunch spot. Their paninis are a must!
There are plenty of other great places in St. Barths- these are just a few we came across and enjoyed.
Interested in going to St. Barths? Contact us!
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After a slew of St. Barths Hotel Features (check them out here, here, & here!) I am ready to pack up and head back to the island! So I’ve put together a little island guide for anyone headed that way. Below, you’ll find insider info on getting to St. Barths, getting around the island, what to bring, what to expect and when to go to this island paradise.
Getting There: St. Barths is home to the second shortest runway in the world. There are no direct flights to the island. The best bet is to fly to one of the larger islands nearby (I recommend St. Marteen) and take a small plane or ferry from there to St. Barths. If you’re not the most confident flyer, I would recommend the ferry option. Landing in St. Barths is a rush, to say the least.
- The Great Bay Express: Daily ferries from Bobby’s Marina in St. Marteen to St. Barths.
- Master Ski Pilou: Private boat charters.
- Winair & St. Barth Commuter: These are two popular airlines for shuttle flights from St. Marteen to St. Barths. The flight from St. Marteen is a short 15 minute flight and planes hold no more than 15 passengers. Be sure and tell the gate agent at your starting destination that you are connecting with one of these carriers to see if your bags can be transferred for you, then you won’t have to claim and then recheck your bags in St. Marteen
Getting Around: Only 8 square miles wide, with one “main road,” it’s hard to get lost on St. Barths. I highly recommend renting a car.
- Taxis: two words – scarce & expensive. Taxi fares are 50% higher from 8PM to 6AM nightly, Sundays, holidays, & during high season. They are also pretty difficult to get a hold of.
- Car Rental: Once you get to the island, there are car rental options at the port & the airport. You can also request a rental car at your hotel and they will arrange to have one brought to you (they also sometimes negotiate their own rates that are lower than what you might get if you arrange for the car yourself)
What to Bring & What to Expect: There are a few things that I found pretty necessary for travelers to make sure and bring with them when traveling to St. Barths…For everything else, check out our St. Barths Style Posts (here & here).
- Money: The currency on the island is the Euro. You will get the best exchange rate by getting cash from an ATM. ATMs are about as scarce as taxis… so try and get cash while you’re at the port, airport or downtown.
- Electricity: There are European outlets. So bring converters with you, or check to see if your hotel provides them.
- Bugs: As with any Caribbean island, there are mosquitoes, so pack some insect repellant. My favorite is Off! Smooth & Dry Insect Repellant- it’s not nearly as greasy as the regular kind and smells better too.
- Tipping: Restaurants will have an automatic 15% service charge added to every bill, so in accordance with common French practice, it’s best to leave an additional 5-10% more in cash, even if you’ve paid by credit card. Most taxi drivers don’t expect a tip.
- Timing: The majority of shops and restaurants are closed from around 2-4pm daily. A lot of places are closed on Sundays as well, so be sure to plan accordingly. Also dinner is served much later in European countries, as well as on St. Barths. You will have to ask your server for your check when you have finished your meal.
When to Go: St. Barths has a high and low tourist season and they also have a hurricane season.
- High Season: The highest tourist season in St. Barths is over the holidays (November-January). Rates are higher during this time than any other time during the year. Book far in advance if you want to visit during these months.
- Hurricane Season: Late August through October.
- Spring & Summer is a great time to visit because it isn’t as crowded and the weather isn’t as unpredictable as it can be during hurricane season. What’s more, prices on the island typically drop quite dramatically after March.
Check back tomorrow for tips on beaches in St. Barths and where to eat! Also, don’t forget to enter our fabulous Secrets Resorts & Spas Giveaway!
