Spend your fall, winter, or spring in Anguilla: is Anguilla a good snowbird location?

Anguilla, a British Overseas Territory in the Eastern Caribbean, comprises of a small main island and several offshore islets. Anguilla is only 16 Miles (26 km) and 3 Miles (5 km) as well as a 20-minute ferry ride north from Sint Maarten, immediately east of Puerto Rico.

The main economic activities revolve around tourism and financial services. The steady increase in tourism has bolstered the construction industries and stimulated the improvement of transport facilities. Fishing is the traditional livelihood, and both deepwater fishing and aquaculture have expanded.

Other traditional industries, especially shipbuilding and the raising of livestock, also continue. To further its economic growth, Anguilla became an associate member of the Caribbean Community and Common Market in 1999.

Why should people visit during the fall, winter, or spring?

Anguilla's relaxed pace and remote island vibe allow winter visitors to unwind and escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life. It truly is a Caribbean sanctuary for the soul. The winter period normally does not see hurricanes (the hurricane season is from June to November).

Climate

Anguilla has a tropical climate, hot all year round, with a slightly cooler period from December to March and a hotter, muggy period from May to October. Luckily, sea breezes are able to relieve a bit of the heat of the day. Anguilla enjoys an average annual temperature of 80°F (27°C). The winter period normally does not see hurricanes (the hurricane season is from June to November).

For more climate information visit Meteoblue

Safety

Anguilla is one of the safest islands in the Eastern Caribbean. The same general tips that apply to any beach vacation – such as using the hotel safe to guard your valuables instead of bringing them with you to the shore – apply to enjoying your time here as well.

Snowbirds should also be aware, petty theft does still exist here, as it does nearly everywhere. Personal possessions should not be left unattended.

Communication, Internet, and cellphone in Anguilla

The majority of the population of Anguilla is of African descent. English is the official language. Snowbirds can get their phones unlocked and can buy a sim card from Digicel (or other providers). They can add on a 4G data plan to their phone to gain internet access but should ask about available plans and prices. Quite a number of restaurant/bar establishments also offer free Wi-Fi so, snowbirds can also use that, although the connection can be sporadic at times.

Things to see in Anguilla

Anguilla has notable places that are worthwhile visiting:

• Museum: Heritage Collection Museum
• Tennis: The Anguilla Tennis Academy
• Golf: Anguilla has one main luxury golf course which is the CuisinArt's Golf Course. The island's only current golf course delivers a five-star experience and has been named one of the top golf courses in the Caribbean
• Uninhabited offshore islands: The largest of which are Dog, Scrub, and Sombrero islands and the Prickly Pear Cays.
• The Beaches: Shoal Bay East, Meads Bay Beach, Rendezvous Bay Beach, Maundays Bay Beach.
• Nature & Parks: Fountain Cavern National Park, East End Pond wildlife conservation site, and Dolphin Discovery Anguilla.

Activities in Anguilla during winter

• Kayaking
• Sailing
• Fishing
• Horse-riding
• Play golf
• Birdwatching & Wetland Tours
• Sunning & swimming
• Spend a Day On The Beach
• Visit Dolphin Discovery Anguilla
• Visit Fountain Cavern National Park
• Visit the Heritage Collection Museum
• Paint by the beach and create your very own Anguilla souvenir.
• Make a trip to Scrub Island- a beautiful beach on its western side, with great snorkeling.
• Have a taste of an Anguillian drink (rum punches are the best)
• Explore The Shoreline From The Sea on the Tiger boats
• Explore the Sea Caves of Scrub Island
• Take a round trip to Sandy Island, a small cay off of Anguilla on a boat shuttle named "Happiness" for $10 (approx. €8, £7, $13 CAD, $13 AUD).
• Go on a tour through the Heritage Trail and visit beautiful old churches and interesting historic features of the island.
• Tour the Anguilla National Trust, with exhibits on the island's natural and cultural history.
• Make a day trip to Saint Barthélemy (St. Barts) which sits just south of Anguilla,
• Explore the Wallblake House, a plantation home built-in 1787.
• Attend late the Festival Del Mar in late March. It is a two-day "celebration of the sea," with a mix of entertainment, competitions, food, music, activities, and (of course) a fishing contest. Take a 3-minutes trip by boat from Island Harbour to the small private island of Scilly Cay.

Shopping + Restaurants. Are they open in the fall, winter, or spring?

Anguilla is an island whose people are dedicated to great eating. From a local neighborhood bar-b-q to "haute cuisine", almost all Anguilla restaurants are bound to please snowbirds palate. Anguilla has excellent dining options at all price levels.

The High-End Restaurants-When it comes to Anguilla's luxury restaurants, there is striking variety in terms of both setting and cuisine. Some amazing places to eat in Anguilla are Sandy Island Restaurant, Veya, Straw Hat, Smokey's, Mango's. They eat a lot of seafood, but the goat is the most popular meat. In Anguilla, the typical Caribbean cuisine staples are beans, rice and plenty of fresh seafood.

Most locals and snowbirds shop online or visit Puerto Rico. The local post office has a US address to make "domestic" delivery easy. But there are not many retail shops on the island so most of the locals head offshore. The lack of sprawling retail landscape also adds to the rustic charm. Supermarket items are priced highly since the majority are imported.

For serious shopping (Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and the like), snowbirds can take the ferry and visit the shops in Marigot on French St. Martin. St. Martin is also a good place to stock up on French wines and cheeses if you're planning a long stay on Anguilla. Clothes are not cheap on Anguilla, and the hotel boutiques do not go out of their way to stock bargains.

Transport

Like other smaller islands, it has its own regional airport, the Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport.

The best way to get around Anguilla is in a taxi, as the island is too spread out to explore on foot. Taxi. Unlike some Caribbean islands, taxis on Anguilla are metered; but they're also expensive. Typical rates are above $20 (approx. €17, £14, $27 CAD, $27 AUD) one-way. Considering how nerve-wracking driving in an unfamiliar place can be, this might be your best option. On the plus side, taxi drivers are excellent tour guides.

Renting a car is more cost-effective than taking a taxi everywhere. But to drive on the island, snowbirds must be issued an Anguillan driver's license, which they can acquire at most car rental agencies, ports of entry, or at the police headquarters in The Valley. It's a fairly affordable exchange: After paying a one-time fee of $20 (approx. €17, £14, $27 CAD, $27 AUD) and showing valid U.S. license, snowbirds can leave with a temporary driving permit and a rental car. However, snowbirds should be prepared for a nerve-wracking driving because besides having to deal with the problems of driving in an unfamiliar place, many of the roads are poorly paved, the street names are nonexistent and driving is on the left.

Frequent ferry service takes snowbirds to and from Marigot, Saint Martin. Wallblake Airport, near The Valley, provides connections to international airports on other islands in the region. If snowbirds are not prone to seasickness, they should seriously consider taking the 25-minute ferry ride to St. Martin-St. Maarten for one day. Boats leave from Anguilla's Blowing Point dock three times a day, and snowbirds will pay $20 (approx. €17, £14, $27 CAD, $27 AUD) one-way. The last boat of the day leaves St. Martin at 7 p.m. On top of the fare, snowbirds will also pay a departure tax of about $20 (approx. €17, £14, $27 CAD, $27 AUD) and a security fee of approximately $3 (approx. €2.58, £2.21, $4.17 CAD, $4.18 AUD).

Health

Health care is the responsibility of the Ministry of Health and Social Development. The island is divided into three health districts that have one polyclinic, four health centers, and the 32-bed Princess Alexandra Hospital, all operated by the HAA. The hospital is the only admitting facility and all births occur there. There are four private health facilities that provide a range of non-emergency services. Tertiary care services are not available in Anguilla and must be accessed overseas.

The national public health laboratory, located at the hospital, is also operated by the HAA. Laboratory services are largely dependent on the subregional laboratory at the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) in Trinidad and Tobago.

     The two largest private Anguilla medical facilities are:

1. Hughes Medical Center founded by Dr. Lowell Hughes, is renowned for its expertise in plastic surgery. They also cover general medicine, gynecology, general surgery and offer specialist visits.
2. Atlantic Star Center, started by Dr. Clyde Bryan, offers family medical care, gynecology and a variety of visiting specialists.

Snowbirds are advised to take out medical travel insurance, including medical evacuation, especially if they have known serious health problems. It should cover ground and air ambulance transport, including ultimate ambulance evacuation to their country of origin, hospital and doctor fees, and a 1-800 phone help number.

The dentists in Anguilla are fine. One dentist can do larger procedures such as root canals. Snowbirds may want to consider St. Martin for major procedures. Snowbirds can find doctors and dentists that speak English as well as other languages.

Accommodation

Anguilla has super luxurious accommodation. While super-luxe hotels are easy to find, snowbirds can also pick up budget-friendly accommodation. Budget prices accommodations range from per night.

Some Mid-Priced Anguilla Hotels include Carimar Beach Club, Bella Blu, Turtle's Nest Beach Resort, Paradise Cove Resort, Ocean Terrace Condos, Blue Waters Beach Apartments, Serenity Cottages, and Shoal Bay, Villas. They cost around $300 (approx. €258, £221, $416 CAD, $417 AUD) per night.