JEK
Senior Insider
What to Do in Anguilla
Anguilla has no right to be fabulous. The Caribbean island, a British overseas territory about seven miles north of St. Maarten/St. Martin, is a blip on the radar — a mere 35 square miles with just six traffic lights. It’s dry and flat, and its tourism scene took off only some 20 years ago; until the 1960s, after all, much of the island lacked electricity and telephone service. Yet fabulous Anguilla is home to some of the region’s toniest resorts, epicurean eateries and breathtaking beaches. It has architecturally striking villas like those at Altamer, named for exotic gemstones. And it is a magnet for celebrities like Kevin Bacon and Jimmy Buffett, a kind of British St. Bart’s. Without the pretension, though — Anguillan style is a perfect paradox: unfussy chic, barefoot elegance. There are no cruise ships, casinos or high-rise hotels, but there is a thriving local music scene, headed by notable up-and-coming singer-songwriters like Omari Banks and Ruel Richardson, and showcased at Moonsplash, the island’s annual reggae festival. And the fabulous factor grows with every season: luxe hotel unveilings include Malliouhana, reopened late last year after a three-year overhaul, along with coming debuts of Zemi Beach Resort and Spa, an opulent 115-room resort, and the Reef by CuisinArt, a boutique hotel powered by a four-acre solar field.
Anguilla has no right to be fabulous. The Caribbean island, a British overseas territory about seven miles north of St. Maarten/St. Martin, is a blip on the radar — a mere 35 square miles with just six traffic lights. It’s dry and flat, and its tourism scene took off only some 20 years ago; until the 1960s, after all, much of the island lacked electricity and telephone service. Yet fabulous Anguilla is home to some of the region’s toniest resorts, epicurean eateries and breathtaking beaches. It has architecturally striking villas like those at Altamer, named for exotic gemstones. And it is a magnet for celebrities like Kevin Bacon and Jimmy Buffett, a kind of British St. Bart’s. Without the pretension, though — Anguillan style is a perfect paradox: unfussy chic, barefoot elegance. There are no cruise ships, casinos or high-rise hotels, but there is a thriving local music scene, headed by notable up-and-coming singer-songwriters like Omari Banks and Ruel Richardson, and showcased at Moonsplash, the island’s annual reggae festival. And the fabulous factor grows with every season: luxe hotel unveilings include Malliouhana, reopened late last year after a three-year overhaul, along with coming debuts of Zemi Beach Resort and Spa, an opulent 115-room resort, and the Reef by CuisinArt, a boutique hotel powered by a four-acre solar field.