Villa Specialists Michael, Steve and Suzanne just returned from Anguilla. Below, they give you their impressions on the island post-Irma including villas, restaurants, and the best routes to get there!
Anguilla: Ready for Visitors
Notes from our Villa Specialists
“We flew into St. Martin and then took the 30 minute Calypso shuttle – and the requisite rum punch – over to Anguilla. The shuttle itself is easy, but unless you’re bringing carry-on bags only, we suggest flying through San Juan.”
“Our home for the trip, this fully-air conditioned villa is very comfortable, and not too far from the restaurants on the West End and Sandy Ground – plus, there are gorgeous views of St. Martin. When we arrived, fresh fruit, cheeses, and beverages were laid out for us, and we quickly got into the Caribbean mode!” – Steve B., Villa Specialist
It’s simple to look at pictures online of a villa, but WIMCO Villa Specialists make regular trips to different regions to deliver you first-hand information. We see what renovations have been added to certain villas, which restaurants are the new new thing, and share tips based on our experiences.
“This beauty has lots of dark wood and lovely gardens, with sunrise views and great breezes. The bedrooms feel separate and private, and there’s a path down to the beach.”
– Suzanne G., Villa Specialist
“To get to this villa, you go through the Greg Norman designed golf course and make your way to a beachfront enclave. Bright and spacious, it has five master suites with marble bathrooms, and a gourmet kitchen. It wound up being one of our favorites.” – Steve B., Villa Specialist
“Sunset views, and located on a great beach. The main draw of this house (other than its cool decor) is that it’s an easy walk to many of the top restaurants, like Jacala, Straw Hat, and Blanchards.” – Suzanne G., Villa Specialist
“With three equal sized bedrooms and lovely views, it’s a perfect spot to call home. I love that the villa comes with daily continental breakfast, and a tequila fountain! It’s also a short walk to the beach.” – Michael C., Villa Specialist
More Anguilla villas?
START YOUR VILLA SEARCH >
Restaurant Recommendations
Anguilla is known as the darling of the Caribbean for great restaurants. From low-key to white tablecloth to funky beach bars, virtually all restaurants in Anguilla are now open. Here are just a few spots we tried on our recent trip.
“The original Straw Hat was in Forest Bay for twelve years, but was moved to the Frangipani Hotel on Meads Bay years back. We enjoyed a great dinner of curried shrimp, and lobster ravioli. The restaurant is actually open for three meals per day, and offers beachside service as well.” – Steve B.
“We had a great Italian dinner over by Cove Castles with some of our hosts for the trip. The food was fantastic (the best pesto I’ve ever had) in a casual beachfront setting complete with beautiful background music. We reminisced and laughed a lot over dinner and it was a real highlight.” – Suzanne G.
“We started each morning with treats from one of the most popular bakeries on the island – Le Bon Pain. The pastries and fresh croissants were amazing.” – Suzanne G.
Looking for more restaurant recs?
SEE ALL OUR FAVORITES >
Have You Tried…
Activities and Things to Do
Your WIMCO concierge can provide recommendations as well as arrange all reservations – we’re here to make your stay unforgettable.
Golf
Try the championship golf course at Cuisinart, open to the public.
Tennis
The Anguilla Tennis Academy offers six hard courts, private lessons and clinics.
Biking
Unlike neighboring islands, the level terrain here is ideal for cyclists.
Sailing
Take a sunset sail on a sloop, or a day trip & bbq lunch at an offshore cay.
SEE MORE ANGUILLA ACTIVITIES >
Pay 6 / Stay 7
Take advantage of these special offers for Anguilla villas. Many larger villas can be rented for fewer bedrooms, at a lower price. Have questions? Contact WIMCO here.
Steve
“Anguilla was hit quite hard by the hurricanes last September, but is almost fully restored and has been welcoming villa guests for months. The island is very clean and happy to have guests. Compared with St. Martin and St. Barths, Anguilla is quite flat and dry, but many of the 35 beaches are outstanding. And many of the 100 restaurants are open now.”
Michael
“Anguilla has never had a reputation for being ‘pretty’ in the way that St. Barths or St. John is. But what it has is these wonderful beaches fringing the low lying 35 square mile island. Irma, like many hurricanes before certainly did a number on the island but the overall appearance does not seem to have changed that much. Overall, the island is in great shape, and our island team looks after guests very well. I for one do not feel any guest would be disappointed.”
Suzanne
“The overall condition of the island is very good. It has been experiencing a drought, though, and some seaweed could be seen on some but not all beaches. There are a few missing roofs off the old Cases (traditionally Caribbean style houses) and some areas with downed trees or shrubs. Despite this, Anguilla is a great beach destination and has many great restaurants open. The island actually seemed much cleaner to me than it has in the past. My one piece of advice is to bring carry-on luggage only!”
Getting to Anguilla
There are 4 hubs for Anguilla: St. Martin, San Juan Puerto Rico, St. Kitts and Antigua. We tend to favor San Juan (SJU), as the airport in St. Martin is still heavily under construction. Seaborne Airlines has non-stop service between SJU and Anguilla, and for a completely seamless experience, try our friends at Tradewind, who offer non-stop flights as well as private charters. CONTACT OUR AIR DEPT >
