The Island of Anguilla, the most northerly of the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean, is fast becoming a haven for the affluent and famous. Still a British overseas territory, the island is only about 26 km long and 5 km at its widest point. While it has no international airport, and does not allow the docking of cruise ships, the local airport is adequate for smaller airplanes. With only 26 miles of ocean separating Anguilla from St Maarten, it is a quick thirty minute ferry ride across.
But Anguilla is fairly unspoilt without the wall-to-wall waterfront hotels that most touristy islands tend to have. Instead spectacular villas tucked away in quiet bays and coves are the main tourist accommodation. Celebrities can come and go without fuss and interference and this include bestselling author Dan Brown (he actually bought a villa there) and Robert Di Nero.
The beaches are pristine with powdery white sand that slithers through your toes. It is said if you need to scuba, Anguilla is the place to so.
The Viceroy Hotel is fairly new, and one of the largest on the island. A regular
One-bedroom suite cost US $1,395 and up per night during the high season. While on a tour of this hotel in mid January, from its wide balcony, I looked out at the tranquil turquoise Caribbean Sea only to see the magnificent, $300 Million, 394 foot mega yacht known as “A” owned by Russian billionaire, Andrey Melnichenko glide into the bay. If there was any doubt about the caliber of visitors to the island, this certainly confirms that Anguilla is attracting wealthy visitors.
Billionaire's yacht arriving in Anguilla
