xGigi

Kristen1206-nice pictures and you can see more what the different areas look like. Shoal Bay E. and Rendezvous look nice-- palms and tropical and Prickley Pear and Mali Beach- pretty.-- thank you. KXR-- thank you-- very helpful and good info.--nice to know.

xGigi

Another question-- which side of the island is the most windy?-- maybe less mosquitos there? Kristen1206- how did you first hear about and what brought you to the island? How would you compare Anguilla to other islands (if been there)?

Kristen1206

I think it depends on the time of year as which side of the island is windier. When we went in spring/early summer...Meads, Shoal Bay and Rendezvous were all relatively calm. Prickly Pear however was quite rough and windy.

I had initially wnated to go to Turks and Caicos but we were using FF miles and all of the seats were booked. So I asked people on this borad for a good alternative island. Anguilla won because of its beaches and food!

We are big snorkelers/divers so the fact that Anguilla was lacking in that area made me nevous but the island has so much else to offer that we didn't mind on this trip.

Anguilla has the best beaches I have seen with Aruba and Grand Cayman a close second. The locals are the friendliest I have met. The food is the best. The snorkeling as I said cannot compare to Grand Cayman.

The roads are bad, the island is scrubby, not much nightlife and no shopping but it was the most relaxing vaction I've been on. We loved the island for the beaches, food and people and will return again!

MaryD

We've gone every year since the mid-90's. In late October and November, Meads Bay and even Shoal Bay East (both on the Atlantic side) can kick up if there are hurricanes or other big disturbances out in the ocean. In late January - March, Rendezvous Bay gets a little choppy. The great thing about being on an island with 33 beaches is that you can always find a calm one!

The mosquito situation has definitely improved over the years -- in the late 90's, the Gov't. started a "Veto the Mosquito" campaign. Still, you need to put on something to go out in the evening (I always recommend Mosquito Milk -- a roll-on available on the island; 8 hour protection against mosquitoes & sand flies). We've never had a problem during the day on any beach.

xGigi

Kristen1206 and MaryD.- thanks for your responses-- that's so good to know about the wind at the different beaches and also about the mosquitos. I think we might try Rendezvous (in the spring)if the wind is a factor in curtailing the mosquitos. Kristen- Turks & Caicos does also look pretty. Also, are all the roads in Anguilla very bumpy or just slightly so. Or, is it the side roads that are mainly rough?

KXR

The road network in AxA has been continuosly improved thanks to the 8M Euros from the British G'Vt over result the past 4 years. However, heavy rains during storm and hurricane activity do damage the Asphalt and severely gutted the marl roads. Since it's election fever over there, many of the bumpy roads have been taken care off (LOL)

dinga

Kristen 1206 - Thanks for sharing the photos. My husband and I are going to Anguilla for two weeks in Nov. We are staying 1 week at Shoal Bay Villas and 1 week at Frangipani. We've been to T&C four times and always enjoyed it. There has been alot of development there since our first trip 9 years ago.

xGigi

KXR- thanks so much. That's good to know, also. It's really nice that Britain and Anguilla are taking good care of the island.