Family Fun in Anguilla
We recently came back from what is easily my new favorite vacation spot. Today I want to brag about, introduce to you and encourage you to visit what I now believe to be the Caribbean’s best kept secret, Anguilla!
We went as the back end of our five year wedding anniversary trip (see our wedding video here) after being in Saint Maarten for a week and let me tell you, after arriving within an hour we were already in love and knew we would be going back.
Anguilla is a quiet island even described to us by the people in Saint Maarten as the “sleepy island”. It is inhabited by 15,000 people and is 16 miles long and 3.5 miles wide. The people are friendly, welcoming and everyone knows everyone. People even leave their keys in their cars and their homes unlocked. After-all you wouldn’t steal from someone you’re going to see all the time would you?
Where We Stayed
We stayed at Zemi Beach House, which offered the perfect amount of luxury, paradise views and food that had us coming back for more! They had two pools one for adults only and one main pool overlooking the crystal clear Caribbean Sea. There was outdoor and indoor dining available, a sports bar, sushi chef and a rum room/cigar bar featuring a wide variety of perfectly aged rums from around the Caribbean .
They also had a kids club which we utilized to keep Kinsley entertained and engaged with the other kids there.
Getting There
As of now, there are no direct flights into Anguilla. This will change in December when they will begin to offer flights direct from MIA and JFK. For now you are required to fly into Saint Maarten and either charter a short 10 minute flight or take a chartered 20 minute boat ride over to the British Island of Anguilla. We took the boat, GB Ferries. They were clean, efficient and very courteous.
Covid Safe
Getting to Anguilla is quite the experience. They are very strict regarding Covid-19 as their country has maintained little to no cases during the pandemic. Currently at zero cases, you are required to apply for and be approved their government for entry into the country. They are only allowing vaccinated visitors at this time which began in July. While applying you must enter your passport information, details of your stay and upload your vaccination card and negative PCR test within 3-5 days of your stay. Once approved you will print out your documents or show soft copies to the customs departure staff in Saint Maarten. Upon entering Anguilla, you are tested again with a PCR test, your documents are checked in customs and then you can begin your stay. The results are given to you within 24 hours and then you are free to roam the island. It may seem like a lot and it is, but it is so worth the health and safety of everyone.
Once we arrived at our hotel we were given a yellow wristband to identify us as vaccinated persons. It was a lot but all understandable and totally worth it. We did not have to wear masks on the hotel property but we it was required in the local store as the whole island is not yet completely vaccinated. Because of their strict covid policies and ability to keep covid out we were even able to attend a soca fete as it just so happened to also be their carnival week. It was freeing to be safely outside again surrounded by soca and sun.
All in all although we rented a car we really had everything we needed right at the resort and didn’t roam much. We had lunch at the 5 star resort, Malliouhanah one afternoon but other than that we stayed put as paradise was right at our feet at Zemi Beach House.
I absolutely recommend Anguilla as a sexy getaway for you and your boo, a fun, but relaxing girls trip or family vacation. We will definitely be back! It’s never overcrowded we were told even prior to Covid and I find that very appealing! Because when you go on vacay to relax, you want to relax right?
Have you ever been to Anguilla? What are your favorite vacation destinations?
Love ya, Mean it,