Hello,

My husband and I will be traveling to Anguilla in a few weeks and would like to explore another island as well. It's looking like a ferry to St. Martin/St. Maarten or St. Barthelemy are the easiest options.

We're interesting in just exploring a new area, some local culture when we get there, beautiful scenery, short hikes, and a nice place to have lunch. We'd also be interested in nice beaches or an excursion on the island. We're not big shoppers, but would wander the streets and window shop.

We do not speak French (if that's an issue for St. Barth?) and prefer not to spend an entire day elsewhere (thinking 8am-3pm give or take would be sufficient?).

Any suggestions on which island to go to, and also suggestions for how to get around once there? Any other details we need to know for such a day trip would be welcomed as well.

Thanks in advance.

Being unable to speak French is not an issue on either St. Martin or St. Bart's so don't let that worry you.

Going to St. Martin for a day trip from Anguilla is easiest simply because it's a short ferry ride (about 20 minutes) and ferries run back and forth all day long sop you can stay on St. Martin for just about as long as you want. Ferries leave Anguilla every 45 minutes beginning at 7:30AM until 6:15PM. The last ferry returning from St. Martin leaves at 7:00PM. Fare is around $20US/person each way plus a one time "Departure & Security Fee" of $8US/person.

To reach St. Bart's from Anguilla you have to either fly (check Anguilla Air Services or Trans Anguilla Airways for schedules and fares) or take ferry to St. Martin and a second ferry to St. Bart's. With routing will be much more expensive than going to St. Martin.

Both St. Martin and St. Bart's have the local culture (St. Martin offers both French and Dutch vibes), nice scenery, and hiking availability you are seeking and both islands have plenty of opportunities for the "window shopping" you desire. As for places for lunch - that too is a "gold mine" for you as there are close to 400 restaurants and on St. Martin and about 100 on St. Bart's some among the best in the Caribbean.

The biggest differences between the two islands are 1) size - 34 sq. miles for St. Martin and 10 Sq. Miles for St. Bart's; 2) - Population- 75,000 for St. Martin and 9,300 for St. Bart's; and 3) St. bart's is a bit more European/Sophisticated "feel" than St. Martin (think of St. Bart's as the "Paris of the Caribbean".

Either island would make a terrific day trip. One is not better than the other, they are just different places.

Getting around on either island would be similar - you can hire a taxi "driver/guide" for the day or get a rental car. It's really your choice but if going for only one day and you want to maximize your time on island you really should consider hiring the taxi for the day since you won't have to worry about what to see, where to go and how to get there - your driver will do all that for you.

I forgot to mention - you'll find very nice beaches own both islands.

Also, to visit any other island from Anguilla your only options are to fly. Depending on the island you select you'd either have to fly out of Anguilla (there are only a couple of choices) or ferry over to St. Martin and fly out of that airport. Airfares may be high and schedules may be such as you'd have to overnight ignorer to get back to Anguilla.

When we were on Anguilla a couple of years ago we learned of a one day a week boat trip from Anguilla to St. Barts and return. It was through Calypso Charters and it runs on Tuesdays, weather permitting. We don't speak French and we've never had a problem on St. Barts. There are gorgeous beaches and great restaurants. Very expensive but very chic and French.

https://calypsochartersanguilla.com/services/

Here is a blog of someone who lives on Anguilla and took Calypso to St. Barts for the day:

http://www.anguilla-beaches.com/caly...-anguilla.html

If you go to St. Martin I would probably use a taxi driver/guide as mentioned by Roams Around. You'll need transportation of some sort unless you want to just shop and eat in Marigot. Plus the local driver may know a shortcut or two to get around some of the sometimes very bad traffic on St. Martin (usually when cruise ships have just arrived or are getting ready to depart). There was just a thread on a taxi driver recently:

http://www.fodors.com/community/cari...st-maarten.cfm

There are also beautiful beaches and fabulous restaurants on St. Martin. You can hike up to Pic Paradise.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attracti...n.html#REVIEWS

If you like short hikes, There are some options in St Barts but it will be much easier to rent a car.
2 paths for Colombier (where it all started when Rockfeller bought the land)
And 2 on "cote au vent", with wild scenery.