The Ultimate Anguilla Travel Guide: The Hidden Gem of the Caribbean
- the30atravelguide
- Jun 2, 2024
- 13 min read
Anguilla is the best kept secret of the Caribbean. It has some of the best beaches in the world and it has the best food scene in the Caribbean (calling all foodies!). Anguilla is not the place to go if you are looking for an all inclusive resort. But that's why we love Anguilla. You will definitely want to leave the resort and explore the island here - it's a very safe island and the people that live here are truly awesome. There must be something about about Anguillian culture where everyone is raised to be friendly, helpful, and kind. I could give so many examples about how random locals here went out of there way to help us with one thing or another. The local vibe here is awesome.
Anguilla's restaurant scene is top notch, and part of the fun is exploring all of the great places to eat. Anguilla is known for it's luxe accommodations such as The Four Seasons, however, there is lodging options at all price points here! In this Anguilla Travel Guide, I'll review my favorite places to stay, favorite things to do and favorite places to eat.
Meads Bay - Anguilla
Where to Stay:
We've personally stayed at Malliouhana Resort & Spa, Carimar Beach Club, and the Frangipani and loved each one of them for different reasons. These resorts are all located on Meads Bay, which is our favorite beach on the island.
Malliouhana Resort & Spa - the OG of Anguilla....if you want the ultimate luxe resort, this is it. I can't even begin to explain how beautiful this place is. The rooms are perfectly curated, the pool looks like it is from a magazine, and entrance into the hotel is gorgeous and grand. They have plenty of water toys you can use for free if you stay at the resort. We stayed in a beachfront room and it was fabulous. The views were perfection! The spa and gym here are also fantastic.
There's 3 restaurants in the Malliouhana:
1. Leon's which is directly on the beach and has beach bar vibes
2. Celeste which is more upscale and sits on a cliff overlooking the water
3. Bar Soleil which is an incredibly beautiful bar/lounge which has drinks and smaller bites. This a great place to watch the sunset.
There's also a handful of other great restaurants within walking distance of the Malliouhana, and the Mini Moke Rental Shop is walking distance from the resort in case you want to cruise around the island. (I highly recommend renting a car or Mini Moke.)
Additional Pictures of Malliouhana Beach Resort
Carimar Beach Club - Carimar is truly right next door to the Malliouhana and is on the same great beach, but is a fraction of the price. Carimar is not the same level of luxury as Malliouhana or The Frangipani, however it is (in my opinion) the best deal on Anguilla. You can stay in a 1 or 2 bedroom unit that includes a kitchen, bedroom, dining area and living area. The units are technically all 2 bedroom units, however, if you reserve a 1 bedroom they lock the second bedroom and second bathroom. There is no pool here or restaurant on site, however, Anguilla is a foodie's paradise, and there are so many amazing food options walking distance away! (Blanchards, Jacala, Straw Hat, and any of the Malliouhana's restaurants!) We've stayed at Carimar multiple times because we love the beach, we love the price, and the units are always so clean! We also love having a kitchen in case we want to make breakfast. Carimar also has water toys (kayaks and paddle boards) available for free if staying on property. If you like tennis, Carimar has tennis courts available to use. There's also a small gym and laundry room on site. The Mini Moke Rental shop is also walking distance away from Carimar. (Like I said above, a car rental or Mini Moke rental is a must to fully explore the island!) The landscaping is kept up so well here - the team here works so hard to keep everything clean and well landscaped.
Sunset at Carimar Beach Club
The Frangipani - the owners here are the coolest and have another hotel in Italy! They truly understand hospitality and the team here works hard to ensure everyone has a perfect vacation. They have options here from single rooms to multi bedroom suites with kitchens. They also have a villa option as well. The Frangipani is a great option for families due to the multi bedroom options and villa options! They have a spa, tennis court, basketball court, and a pool right on the beach! Oh - and their fitness center is fabulous. You'll get to take in some serious ocean views while working out. They also have water toys at the resort to use for free if you stay there. The restaurant on site is called The Straw Hat and it is wonderful. I dream about their plantain chips. They also have a boat called the Frangicat and you can book boat charters around the island if you stay here. We love The Frangipani! We stayed in the Grand Penthouse Suite when we were there. My pictures below don't do it justice. It was absolutely marvelous.
The Frangipani ... Fun Fact: We got Married Here!
Other notable properties that we haven't stayed at but have heard great things about: Aurora Anguilla on Rendezvous Bay, Zemi Beach House on Shoal Bay, Four Seasons on Meads Bay, Belmond Cap Juluca on Maunday's Bay
Where to Eat in Anguilla:
The Village Bakehouse - I dream about this place. The pastries here are unreal. Their coffee is great. This is a MUST for breakfast! They also have a cute wine shop connected to it. If you need to get work done, they do have wifi.
Jacala - great for lunch or dinner! Located in a prime location on Meads Bay. For lunch, I love their grilled watermelon and goat cheese salad. For the tartare lovers...the Jacala steak tartare is great.
Blanchard's - Blanchard's has a die hard following and is one of the most famous restaurants in the Caribbean. They have a wine list of over 300 selections and a Rum list with over 200 selections! It's really good and you can't go wrong here!
Blanchard's Beach Shack - This place is right next door to Blanchard's and has the best mahi bowls, rum punch, mahi bites, cornbread (I could go on...) and we are always shocked by how reasonably priced it is! It's open air seating in the sand with string lights. This place is awesome. You can walk here from any of the hotels on Meads Bay, and it's super close to Carimar Beach Club, Malliouhana and Tranquility. If you aren't staying on Meads Bay, you can come here during the day, eat lunch and rent their beach chairs to make a day out of it. The past few times we have been to Anguilla their sign said $5/chair. Just FYI - most beach front restaurants in Anguilla will give you the beach chairs for free if you get lunch. Blanchard's is a little different in that they rent out chairs for a small fee. But.... their food is so reasonably priced and it's a fabulous location so I personally think it's worth it to pay for the chairs if you aren't staying on Meads Bay.
Blanchard's Beach Shack - Meads Bay, Anguilla
Mango's - great place for seafood. It's right on the beach near the Four Seasons.
Bar Soleil - Located at the Malliouhana on Meads Bay. Bar Soleil is great for small bites and drinks. This is my favorite place to watch the sunset with drink in hand. If you like to take pictures of beautiful places, this is a must visit! It is very aesthetically pleasing. You're in for a treat if you visit while the fire tree is in bloom! (See pictures below.)
Bar Soleil - Malliouhana at Meads Bay, Anguilla
Scilly Cay - This is an experience and a lunch all in one! Make sure to plan ahead if you want to visit Scilly Cay. This restaurant is on a private island and it is only open certain days of the week. Find the days it is open along with the menu here. This is my favorite place to get lobster and crayfish on the island. The food here is so good. You have to take a small boat to get to Scilly Cay. I believe it's $5 round trip and the boat is always there running during the days the restaurant is open. It's only takes a few minutes to get there via boat and it's almost swimming distance from Anguilla, however I wouldn't swim it. While you wait for your lunch, you can relax with beach loungers and snorkel. There are incredibly cool conch shell walls here. This is another place you will want to bring your camera.
Scilly Cay - Anguilla
Tropical Sunset - Located beachfront on Shoal Bay, this is a wonderful restaurant and bar right on the beach. Tropical Sunset is walking distance from Zemi Beach House and the other lodging options on Shoal Bay. Their Pina Coladas are amazing!!! I hear their food is fabulous but we have yet to eat there! If you get lunch, you can use their beach loungers and umbrellas. Perfect for if you are staying on a different part of the island and wanting to explore Shoal Bay!
Sunshine Shack - one of our favorites! Look for the 30A flag while you're there and send me a picture if you see it! The best barbecue made by Garvey. Plan to go here for lunch and spend the afternoon here. It's right on Rendezvous Bay and you can use the loungers and umbrellas if you get lunch. It's a great way to spend an afternoon in Anguilla! You'll also get to take in some wonderful views of the neighboring island St. Martin here! Rendezvous Bay offers some pretty amazing views of St. Martin.
The Sunshine Shack on Rendezvous Bay + Garvey putting up the 30A flag I packed!
Leon's - Located on Meads Bay right in between Malliouhana and Carimar. This is a cool spot to hangout and there's live music on the weekends. Leon's has upscale beach shack vibes (it's not exactly a shack but goes for the beach shack vibe) with casual eats. There's an adorable pirate ship playground here which makes it great for families!
Pimms at Belmond Cap Juluca - Located on Maundays Bay on the Belmond property, this is a gorgeous setting and great for a special occasion. It is definitely a more upscale option on the island but the atmosphere here is wonderful and the views are breathtaking.
Pimms at Belmond Cap Jaluca - Fabulous Views!
Roti Hut - so you definitely don't need to eat in restaurant here - the place is unassuming and definitely more of a to-go vibe. But....if you like Caribbean Roti then you've got to get some Roti to-go here. It one of my favorite Roti spots in the Caribbean. For those who don't know what Caribbean Roti is, it's basically a flatbread wrap that has curry inside. It originated in India but is a staple in many Caribbean islands. I like trying Roti at every Caribbean island we visit and this is my favorite! (If you have a favorite Roti spot in the Caribbean - please send me an email at the30atravelguide@gmail.com with the name and location so I can put it on my list to try!)
Straw Hat - Located on Meads Bay at the Frangipani Beach Resort. It's right on the beach with fantastic views. They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. Every meal is great. We especially love the plantain chips!
DaVida Beach Club - Located beachfront on Crocus Bay, DaVida is a cool hangout spot. I enjoyed their lunch and if you get lunch you can use their loungers. They also have water toys you can rent. DaVida is the meeting spot for Calvin if you are using his boat to get to Little Bay. (See below section for more information on this.) Crocus Bay is not my favorite beach on Anguilla, but if you are planning to utilize Calvin to take you to Little Bay, it's a great place to hangout and have a meal before or after your boat ride to Little Bay.
Davida Beach Club - Crocus Bay, Anguilla
Sunset Lounge -
The Sunset Lounge is located on site at the Four Seasons. It's called the Sunset Lounge for a reason - it's a fantastic spot to watch the sunset! We really enjoyed our sushi here. The Four Seasons is on the opposite end of Meads Bay compared to the Malliouhana and Carimar.
Other notable restaurants that we hear amazing things about but haven't gotten to dine at yet include:
Veya and Sharky's
What to do during your stay:
Traditions Sailing: This is one of my very favorite things to do!! We've done the Half Day Little Bay Sail and Snorkel (HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!) and The Sunset Sail where we saw dolphins! They also have a Day Trip to Prickly Pear - we haven't done this but it's on our list for next time!
Visit Little Bay: Little Bay has some of the best snorkeling in Anguilla, however, you can only access Little Bay by boat, kayak, etc.... Okay - so technically you don't have to use a watercraft, but in order to get there by foot you have to climb down a sketchy rope on a cliff. Not kidding. I don't recommend this. I saw a couple do this once, and it did not look fun. The going back up part looked rough. The best way to access Little Bay for snorkeling includes:
1) Tradition's Half Day Little Bay Sail and Snorkel Trip which is my favorite way to get there. They feed you a great meal, serve you wonderful rum punch, and take you to Little Bay in style and give you plenty of time to snorkel. 2) We've also used Calvin to take us to Little Bay. He has a boat and charges $20 per person to take you there and back from DaVita on Crocus Bay. If he's not there when you arrive to Crocus Bay, just ask someone from the DaVida restaurant to call him and he will be right over. We've used him before and he will let you stay to snorkel as long as you like and then comes back to pick you up at the time you specify. Not as fancy as Traditions, but it's less money and gets the job done! 3) If you are looking for more exercise, you can try a Kayak Tour to Little Bay. We have not done this, but have talked to several people who have kayaked over and enjoyed it. I would only do this option if you are looking for a workout though!
Little Bay, Anguilla - great for Snorkeling. Far right picture is what Calvin's boat looks like.
See the Famous Arch -
The Arch is located on the very west end of the island. It's a pretty neat sight to see. There are signs on the west end of the island that will lead you to the arch. You can walk out on the arch if you desire, or you can view it from the road where there is a spot for viewing the arch. If you want to view the arch from the water, consider chartering a boat and customizing a trip to see this natural wonder.
Take a day Trip to St. Barts - St. Barts is a quick 15 minute plane ride away from Anguilla. We opted to charter a small plane for a day trip to Saint Barthélemy. It. Was. Awesome. Read more about our experience and the best things to do in St. Barts here!
Day trip to Saint Barthélemy via Anguilla Air Services
Take a day Trip to St. Martin - St. Martin is a quick 8 minute plane ride from Anguilla. (Little known fact: this is the shortest international flight in the world!) You can also take a ferry, and taking a ferry is a much smoother ride than going to St. Barts from what I've been told. We have only flown and it is one of the coolest plane rides ever. St. Martin's airport is world famous for it's runway being just past the beach, so you fly over beach goers waving to you from the beach before you land. Since you are in a very small plane (it's definitely a puddle jumper), you get to see the pilot's view out the front. This landing was unlike anything I've experienced as it almost looks like you are going to land on the beach... and it was definitely one of my favorite plane experiences ever. You don't have to charter a plane in order to go to St. Martin. Anguilla Air Services has a regular schedule to SXM and you can book online easily.
Book a Spa Day: We've tried the Malliouhana Spa and Malakh Day Spa. They are very different and both equally amazing! If you want the ultimate pampering, I highly recommend the Malliouhana Spa. After you finish your spa services at the Malliouhana, you get to enjoy a plunge pool and loungers overlooking Meads Bay. (We didn't know this when we booked - and wish that we had known this. We would have come more prepared to enjoy this and would have planned for more time at the spa!) Malakh Day Spa is literally right on the beach on Shoal Bay. By right on the beach, I mean it's literally outside ... on the beach! It's fenced in, shaded, and private... so you are not getting your massages out in the open. But, you do get to enjoy your services with a coastal breeze listening to the ocean waves. It's very relaxing!
Take a Moke around the Island! I've said this a couple of times already - so hopefully I've made it abundantly clear at this point that I feel like it's absolutely crucial to rent a car or at least get a Moke for a day or two! The Moke shop here is adorable. It's located right in between the Malliouhana and Carimar on Meads Bay. They are so fun to drive around the island! We rented one when we visited St. Barts and had a blast!
Best time of year to visit: If you want to see & be seen, visit Christmas/New Years. If you want to completely unwind and have the beach to yourself, consider summer! Summer is our favorite time of year to visit. We love a less crowded beach!
Best beaches: Meads Bay, Rendezvous Bay, Maundays Bay, and Shoal Bay
How the beaches work here: they are all PUBLIC and it's AMAZING! You are welcome on any beach, including the beaches that the resorts are on. Most of the beach front restaurants have loungers and umbrellas. As long as you buy something from the restaurant, they will let you use their loungers/umbrellas. (With the exception of Blanchards - where the beach loungers cost a small fee.) This makes it so easy to explore the many beautiful beaches that Anguilla has to offer outside of where you are staying! You are more than welcome to bring your own chairs/umbrella to visit the beaches if you packed your own beach gear! I love my Shibumi and I brought it along on my recent trip to Anguilla. I have the mini which provides shade for 2 people. It weighs less than 2 pounds and fits in a carry on bag! Perfect for traveling! Check it out HERE!
Best Snorkeling: Little Bay, Scilly Cay, Shoal Bay
Currency: East Caribbean, however, US currency is widely accepted.
How to get to Anguilla (AXA): There are direct flights from Miami (MIA) using American Airlines. You can also fly into St. Martin (SXM) and take a ferry or a plane over using Anguilla Air Services.
Grocery Stores: We generally go to the Best Buy (this is a grocery store in Anguilla and not an electronics store!) which has everything we would need. They have a great prices on deli sandwiches here, so these can be a great option for easy lunches on the beach. We have never had an issue finding things at the grocery stores, however, it probably depends on when you go. Just like on 30A where we live, if it's peak season and you're going to the grocery store on the day most of the crowds are getting into town, you are going to have less to choose from. I'll include some pictures of what the Best Buy looks like. It's much bigger than some of the mini marts in the Caribbean and resembles a grocery store you would find in the United States.
I hope this has been helpful in regards to planning your trip to Anguilla. We love this island so much, and truly hope you enjoy it as much as we do.
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