March 15, 2017

Anguilla – Barefoot Luxury

Anguilla is probably one of the least known islands in the Caribbean and whilst only 16 miles in length and 3.5 miles in width, this spectacular island has an abundance of beaches, activities and luxury accommodations. It is also referred to as "barefoot luxury" - simply kick off your shoes, venture onto one of the many beaches and enjoy a refreshing cocktail as the sun sets.

I was lucky enough to be invited on a trip with the Tourist Board recently and here is my experience!

We arrived into Antigua's new airport and were met and transferred to our internal flight for the short trip to Anguilla - only 40 minutes but time did literary fly as we enjoyed the glorious views. The highlight was passing over St. Martin before flying over the beautiful island of Anguilla. It has never been easier to travel to Anguilla thanks to CHL Airlines which now connect with BA and Virgin Atlantic. The CHL Airlines route into Anguilla operates two return flights per day on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Or if you are a group, you can even charter a private plane.

There is a wide range of accommodations on Anguilla as well as affordable and luxurious villas in Anguilla. For the first three nights we stayed at The Beach House - a truly stunning modern villa located in a prime beachfront location.

This magnificent property has been home to some celebrities, thanks to its serene location.  Offering eight bedrooms and a full team of dedicated and friendly staff, this is the ultimate holiday villa. We were welcomed with delicious canapés prepared by the chef as well as a refreshing cocktail. Even after flying across the Atlantic Ocean and then enjoying a short hop across to Anguilla, we could not sit still - we were keen to not only explore the house but also take a short stroll along the beach and soak up the stunning ocean views and feel our feet on the soft powdery white sands of Meads Bay. It was soon time to freshen up and enjoy a dinner at the villa prepared for by the chef - there was a range of International cuisine to choose from including fresh seafood.

After a relaxing nights sleep, it was time to wake up - which is not difficult when you have one of the finest beaches in front of you. Anyone who knows me will say I enjoy my sleep and struggle to get up in the morning - however, I could not wait to get out of bed (as luxurious and comfortable as it was), jump in the sparse rain shower and get out onto the beach. It was soon time for breakfast - there was a choice of freshly cooked pastries, eggs, bacon, juice....I was starting to realise why Anguilla was renowned for its cuisine - and this was before I had even ventured out to one of the restaurants.

During the day, we visited other villas and it soon became apparent that Anguilla has a wide range of villas to suit everyone - whether it be couples, families or a group of friends and also villas to suit all budgets.

Le Bleu Villa and Villa Indigo are the sister properties of The Beach House and they don't disappoint. Le Blue Villa is modern and contemporary in style and overlooks the waters of Little Harbor on the south coast .

The villa comprises two properties - Le Bleu and Petite Le Bleu - and combined offers 10 bedrooms. The property is the perfect place for a large gathering or a wedding and can cater for up to 100 guests.

Days can be spent lounging around the pool and enjoying the magnificent views of the ocean as well as St. Martin in the distance. The villa has a host of staff on hand to ensure you have a memorable stay.

Villa Indigo is located next door and can be rented in conjunction with Le Bleu Villa and offers an additional 10 bedrooms. Indigo lies in 1.5 acres of stunning landscaped Tropical Gardens with breath-taking views out to the Caribbean Sea.

Villa Indigo is also contemporary but with classic Caribbean decor. There is an abundance of indoor and outdoor seating areas.

After such a sumptuous meal the evening before and a heart breakfast that morning, it was hard to see how we could possibly fit in a lunch. The intention was to have a salad and a refreshing lemonade...but this is virtually impossible given the tasty menu we were provided with at The Place in Rendezvous Bay. This beachfront bar and restaurant is open for lunch and dinner and guests can spend the day at this beautiful white sandy beach and grab one of the limited, but comfortable, beach chairs.

So far we had experienced the finest villas Anguilla has to offer but there are smaller, more affordable options that still offer stunning views of the surrounding area. Spyglass Villa has four bedrooms and is perched up on a hillside and looks down onto the beach at Sandy Ground. Prices range from £130 per person per night (plus tax) for 8 persons occupying the four bedroom rate. The villa is classic Caribbean in style with an infinity edge swimming pool. Or why not relax in the comfortable swing chair as I did and just enjoy the surrounding vistas.

After a short tour around the island, we headed back to The Beach House to freshen up ready for dinner at Ani Villas at Little Bay. Ani Villas comprises 2 villas which can be rented individually or as a whole estate. The North Villa has 4 bedrooms and the South Villa has 6 bedrooms. One of the unique selling points of this estate is not only the spectacular views from its cliff top location but the fact that the rates include food and beverages. The staff are on hand to ensure a memorable villa holiday and the chef will prepare gourmet cuisine, whether you choose to dine indoors or alfresco overlooking the calm Caribbean Sea. Anguilla is a small island and the perfect place to stargaze - I was blown away by the clear skies and the abundance of twinkling stars.

Nearby to Ani Villas is a small cove beach and the butler will be on hand to shuttle you down and set up some sun loungers.

After another magnificent relaxing evening, we were transferred to one of the most spectacular villas on Anguilla - Cerulean Villa and Private Spa located at Barnes Bay on the west end of Anguilla. Boasting an impressive 9 bedrooms. Cerulean means deep blue and the interiors have splashes of various blues throughout. Four bedrooms are located on the ground floor and a further five bedrooms are located on the upper level. Rates are inclusive of all breakfasts, lunches, snacks, afternoon tea and 5 dinners per week. Again, the intention was to enjoy some fruit but the chef had laid on an impressive spread to cater for all tastes - fresh pastries, fruit and hot options.

We visited a range of other villas including Santosha, Beaches Edge, Arushi, Kishti Villas (located next to The Beach House Anguilla so perfect for large groups looking to rent several villas) and Nevaeh which is heaven backwards (not difficult to see why).

Probably one of my favourite on-island activities was the sunset sail on a historic sailing sloop which departs from Sandy Ground. Only smaller groups are permitted and you can enjoy a BBQ and some cocktails and make new friends. Watching the sun set over Anguilla was spectacular and then you can enjoy relaxing on the deck under the millions of stars whilst moored at the cliff by Ani Villas.

Another recommendation is to take the boat to Sandy Island for a leisurely lunch. Sandy Island is a small island with one restaurant and only a 15 minute leisurely boat ride away.

Sandy Ground is home to several beach bars where you can enjoy lunch and soak up the views or enjoy some rum punch in the evening. Elvis Beach Bar is highly recommended where you can meet some of the islands visitors or the friendly locals.

The first three nights of our stay was spent in the impressive Beach House before moving on to Elements Villas - a collection of three villas that can be rented individually or as an estate - Sand Villa Elements offering four bedrooms, Sea Villa Elements offering five bedrooms and Sky Villa Elements offering a further four bedrooms. Elements Villas are stunning and modern in style and located in a prime beachfront setting.

For those who enjoy the privacy of a resort but also prefer the activities of a resort, there is also the option to stay at Cuisin D'Art, Four Seasons Resort and Villas or Ceblue Luxury Villas and Beach Resort.

Anguilla has fast become of my favourite Caribbean Islands - Anguilla offers luxury and affordable villas as well as a multitude of beach bars and restaurants. It is certainly also worth having lunch or dinner at Da'Vida Crocus Bay.

For your next villa holiday to Anguilla, contact The Villa Collection and let us help find you your perfect villa.

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