Frequently asked questions

British Caribbean Anguilla is the most northern member of the Leeward Island chain in the Eastern Caribbean and less than ten miles north of Dutch/French St. Maarten/St. Martin and 200 miles east of Puerto Rico.

You can fly direct to Anguilla on Amercian Airlines from Miami, or from St. Maarten, Puerto Rico, Antigua, St. Barth’s, Dominican Republic, St. Thomas and other islands.

Most travelers fly to international gateway St. Maarten (SXM) and then book an 8-minute local flight on Anguilla Air to Anguilla (AXA) or take a 25-minute shared or private sea shuttle. The sea shuttle companies pick you up at the St. Maarten airport and drive you across the street to the boat docks. You can also take a taxi from the St. Maarten airport to the French side of the island and take a public ferry over to Anguilla’s Blowing Point Ferry Terminal. Our concierge can assist with pricing and arrangements.

Anguilla’s average temperature is 80 F.  The island receives 35 inches of annual rainfall, mostly from September to November.  But even then it’s usually never all day. Hurricane season is August to October.  Hurricanes are rare, but to ensure your peace of mind Villa Alegria offers a generous hurricane policy.

Anguilla is 35 square miles, 16 miles long and 3 miles wide at widest point. 14,886 people live in Anguilla.

The Eastern Caribbean Dollar is the official currency, but most hotels, resorts, restaurants and other travel-related businesses price in US Dollars. Grocery stores will typically list in EC, but you can still pay with US currency. Visa and Mastercard are accepted at larger businesses. Banks and ATMs are available but hours can be limited.

Anytime is a good time to visit Anguilla.

Holiday “Festive” Season: Mid-December to mid-January.  The island is more crowded and rates for accommodations and activities may increase, but airlines add more flights. These weeks book quickly, so book several months or even a year in advance.  Best time for celebrity-spotting!

High Season:  February through Easter and then again in early December.  Less crowded than the holidays, this is a good opportunity to escape the winter.

Middle “Shoulder” Season: After Easter and before May and again during the week of Thanksgiving.  It is an ideal time to visit the island in terms of weather on the island (and cold weather back home) without the holiday or high season crowds.

Low Season: The low season is from May to just before Thanksgiving and offers less crowds and more affordable rates.  This is a great time for a family vacation, friends’ getaway or to hold a destination wedding.  While Villa Alegria is open all year round, some restaurants and businesses go on hiatus during late September and October.   .

Neither Anguilla nor St. Maarten have any COVID-19 related entry requirements. You can enter both countries without providing any vaccination or testing documentation.

You will need a valid passport (with at least six months before expiration) and return and onward tickets are required for all visitors to Anguilla.  Green card holders must have a valid green card and valid passport from their country of origin.  Depending on your country you may require a visa.  It’s best to confirm requirements with your country of origin and the Anguilla Tourist Board.

In the case of a medical emergency, please dial 911. Princess Alexandria Hospital in The Valley offers routine medical and surgical care (including dialysis), as well as a 24-hour emergency room. For major medical emergencies, patients will be evacuated via air ambulance to St. Maarten, Puerto Rico or Miami, Florida. There are also several dentists, eye doctors and other medical clinics around the island. Phone: 264-497-2551.

Police/Fire/Ambulance/Emergency: 911

Police Headquarters (Non Emergency): +1 264-497-2333

General Post Office: +1 264-497-2528

Many couples, including same-sex couples, get legally married at home and then hold a symbolic wedding or commitment ceremony in Anguilla.

A man and a woman can be legally married in Anguilla by the Magistrate at the Court House or by a Minister of religion who is a registered Marriage Officer for Anguilla.

Both persons must do the following:

-Come into the Court Registry two days (the latest) prior to the day of marriage to make application for a marriage licence. NOTE: Check availability with the Court Registry in advance as appointment times are limited and are not offered every day of the week. You may need to arrive on island earlier than two days before you are married. Another reason many couples get legally married at home instead.

-Present both passports or original birth certificate along with drivers licence or some other form of identification, (all passports should be valid).

-If divorced, present original divorce documents (Decree Absolute) bearing a Seal of the Court of divorce. Anguilla also accepts copies of the divorce documents but they must be Certified True copies and signed by a Registrar or Clerk of the Court of divorce.

-Present a death certificate if one of the spouses from the previous marriage is deceased.

-If parties are under the age of 18 consent must be presented.

-Produce EC$100.00 or its equivalent of US$37.20 worth of Anguilla stamps, which can be obtained from the General Post Office in Anguilla.

-Make a payment of EC$650.00 or its equivalent of US$241.80 which is the cost of the Marriage license.

-European countries usually stipulate that an Apostile is attached to the Marriage certificate. (An Apostile is a standard certification attesting the validity of a document obtained in a foreign country). The cost of an Apostile is EC$150.00 / US$55.80 cash or by Travellers Cheques. The Apostile can be obtained at The Ministry of Finance in Anguilla.

Contact the Judicial Department for more information at:
(264) 497 2377 or (264) 497-3347

 

Anguilla has one main road that connects one end of the island to the other, with many smaller roads feeding into it. It takes about 30 minutes to drive its length. Driving is on the left-hand side of the road and the speed limit is 30 mph. Apps like Waze are very helpful in Anguilla.

To drive, you must be 18 years old, show a valid driver’s license from your resident country and obtain an Anguilla driver’s license. One can be procured for $25  US from your rental car company. Our concierge is happy to assist you with car rentals and arrange to have you pick up at the airport or have delivered to Alegria. Car seats can be arranged.

You’ll quickly notice that most businesses and accommodations don’t have detailed street addresses, often just listing their location as “The Valley” or referring to the bay or road on which they are located.

Please confirm Alegria’s current pet policy and any related fees with Neil at 312-907-8486 before arranging to bring your pet.

You can refer to the Anguilla government website for island pet rules.

For general customs questions, contact the Department of Customs at +1 264-497-2513.

Tap water at Alegria is potable and safe for bathing and brushing your teeth, but we recommend bottle or filtered water for drinking.

Anguilla observes Atlantic Standard Time all year and does not practice daylight savings time.

You can reach the Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport (AXA) at +1 264-497-2384 and the Blowing Point Ferry Terminal at +1 264-497-6070. You can also contact our concierge with any questions and she can assist you.

When you depart Anguilla for the final time you will pay a per person $28 USD departure tax and security fee at the airport or ferry terminal. You can pay in cash or by credit card. If you are taking a day trip, the departure tax and security fee is $11 to French St. Martin or $16 to Dutch St. Maarten (due to an additional $5 entrance fee). Children pay less. Prices can change, so please confirm with our concierge before you leave.

Yes, you will need to bring your passport with you on any day trips to other islands. Please confirm entry requirements for the country you are visiting as they may be different than Anguilla.

No. Both Anguilla and St. Martin/St. Maarten have removed all COVID-19 testing, vaccination and entry requirements. You can enjoy both countries without any restrictions.

Anguilla is worth visiting for solo travelers, couples, families of all sizes, corporate groups and friends. All 33 beaches are public and open to everyone for optimal beach hopping. And most restaurants and beach bars let you use their beach chairs if you buy food and drink. Anguilla doesn’t have any all-inclusive resorts. This is good news for vacationers, because it means you can eat and drink at any of the more than 100 restaurants on island — including 5-star resort restaurants — without having to be staying there. You’ll quickly taste why Anguilla is dubbed the Culinary Capital of the Caribbean. There also aren’t any tacky tourist traps, pushy vendors, agressive tour guides, fast food chains or cruise ship crowds to spoil your tranquility. The people in Anguilla are warm and welcoming and you can safely explore the 35 square mile island at your leisure — even at night. Visitors and residents forge lifelong friendships. Anguilla doesn’t have any mountains, so the weather is typically a consistent perfect warm temperature and if it rains it’s usually just for a short time. Life is easy in Anguilla. You can have your rental car delivered to you at the villa — no long car rental lines. You can park easily when exploring. Beaches are uncrowded so you don’t have to fight for a spot. The US dollar and major credit cards are widely accepted and there’s good access to medical care, groceries, Wifi, telecom and more. You’ll have the feeling that you got off the beaten path, while still enjoying the modern conveniences. If you read about Anguilla you’ll see that most visitors return again and again and people who daytrip over from St. Martin choose Anguilla for their primary destination the next time they visit the Caribbean.