Why Anguilla for a Honeymoon
Anguilla does a few things exceptionally well. The beaches are the first. Meads Bay, Shoal Bay East, Rendezvous Bay and Maundays Bay are all long and calm. Even the busiest feel quiet by Caribbean standards. Smaller coves such as Little Bay, reached by boat or a scramble down a cliff, feel like a find.
The food is the second. Anguilla's spiny lobster and local crayfish are the stars, served at beach bars, roadside barbecue stands and fine dining restaurants. Many couples plan their days around lunch.
The third is calm. Building rules keep resorts low. The island has deliberately avoided mass tourism. Service is personal and warm. The night scene is limited to beach bars with live music, especially around Sandy Ground. That makes Anguilla ideal for couples who want privacy, good wine and long empty beaches. It is less suited to couples who want a buzzing nightlife or lots of organized activities.
Best Time to Visit
The best weather runs from December through April. Expect sunny days in the low to mid 80s Fahrenheit, gentle trade winds and very little rain. This is high season, with peak rates around Christmas, New Year's and Presidents' Day week. Book top resorts many months ahead. Moonsplash, Bankie Banx's reggae festival at the Dune Preserve, has traditionally been held around the March full moon.
May and June are lovely shoulder months. The sea is calm, rates fall and the island feels even quieter.
Hurricane season runs from June through November, with the peak risk from August through October. Anguilla was hit hard by Hurricane Irma in 2017 and has rebuilt. Many resorts and restaurants close for part of September and October for maintenance, so check opening dates if you plan to travel then. The island's summer festival in late July and early August centers on boat racing, Anguilla's national sport. It is a lively time to visit.
Where to Go
Meads Bay, on the northwest coast, is the classic honeymoon base. Its mile-long beach is lined with some of the island's best resorts and restaurants, yet stays calm and uncrowded. Our Meads Bay honeymoon guide covers where to stay and what to do there.
Shoal Bay East, on the northeast coast, is the island's most famous beach. It has soft sand, reef snorkeling near shore and a laid-back strip of beach bars. Rendezvous Bay on the south coast looks across the water to St. Martin's hills. Maundays Bay, home to Belmond Cap Juluca, has a dramatic curve of sand.
Sandy Ground, a small harbor village on Road Bay, is where locals and visitors go for beach bars, live music and the boats to Sandy Island. Island Harbour on the east end has fishing boats and a relaxed waterfront. Offshore, Prickly Pear Cays and Sandy Island make easy day trips for snorkeling and lunch.
Sample 10-Day Itinerary
Anguilla is small, so one base works well, but some couples split the trip between two resorts on different beaches.
- Days 1–3: Settle in at Meads Bay. Beach, spa, dinners at resort restaurants and a walk along the sand at sunset.
- Day 4: Boat trip to Prickly Pear Cays for snorkeling and grilled lobster.
- Day 5: Shoal Bay East for a beach day, snorkel and lunch at a beach bar.
- Day 6: Rent a car and explore: Wallblake House, the heritage museum and Island Harbour.
- Day 7: Little Bay by boat, then a sunset drink in Sandy Ground.
- Day 8: Rendezvous Bay and an evening at the Dune Preserve.
- Day 9: Day sail or a lazy final beach day.
- Day 10: Boat transfer to St. Maarten for your flight home.
If you have more time, add two nights on St. Barts or St. Martin, both a short boat ride away.
Budget and Costs
Anguilla is one of the more expensive Caribbean islands. Figures here are approximate.
Top resorts such as the Four Seasons, Malliouhana, Belmond Cap Juluca and Aurora Anguilla generally start around $800–1,500 a night in high season and climb steeply for suites and villas. Smaller boutique hotels and condo-style resorts can run about $350–700. Rates drop significantly from May through November. Government taxes and service charges add a sizable percentage to hotel and restaurant bills, so compare final totals.
Dinner for two at a top restaurant typically costs $200–400 with wine. Roadside barbecue and beach bars are far cheaper. Car rental runs roughly $50–80 a day plus a temporary driving permit. The ferry from St. Maarten is inexpensive, while private boat transfers from the airport cost substantially more but save time. Many couples budget for a few splurge dinners and balance them with casual lunches.
Getting There and Around
Most visitors fly into Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) on St. Maarten, which has nonstops from many US cities. From there, private boat transfers run from a dock near the airport to Blowing Point in about 25 to 30 minutes. The public ferry leaves from Marigot on the French side. Keep your passports handy, since you clear immigration on both sides of the crossing.
Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport (AXA) on Anguilla has had a nonstop American Eagle flight from Miami. BermudAir has offered seasonal winter service from the US Northeast. Regional carriers such as Tradewind and Cape Air link Anguilla with San Juan and St. Thomas. Check current schedules, since these routes change.
On the island, a rental car gives you the most freedom. Driving is on the left. You will need a temporary local permit, usually arranged by the rental company. Taxis use fixed rates and are easy to arrange through hotels.
Culture and Etiquette
Anguillians are proud, friendly and relaxed. Greet people with good morning or good afternoon before asking a question. That small courtesy matters here. The island's history includes a 1967 revolt against being governed from St. Kitts, which led to its status as a separate British territory. Locals still celebrate Anguilla Day on May 30.
Dress is casual by day, though swimwear belongs on the beach. Nicer restaurants expect resort-casual evening clothes. Nude and topless sunbathing are not accepted.
Boat racing is the national sport, with locally built sailboats competing during festivals. Live music, especially reggae and soca, plays at beach bars on weekends. Tipping is customary, but many hotels and restaurants add a service charge, so check the bill first. Beaches are public, but respect resort loungers and private areas. Support local businesses such as roadside barbecue stands, fishermen and artisans.
Anguilla is welcoming but socially conservative. Bring insect repellent for evenings. If you're pregnant or hoping to be soon, check CDC travel health notices for the Caribbean before you go.
Quick tips
- Book a private boat transfer from St. Maarten's airport
- Get a temporary driving permit with your rental car
- Check which resorts close in September and October
