Getting to Anguilla
 

I went to Cap Juluca last year and am going to do so again this summer. Last year the way to get there from Washington, D.C. was on American Airlines. You went from DC to San Juan Puerto Rico and then to Anguilla. That flight no longer exists and you have to make multiple stops. Does anyone know the most expeditious and affordable way to fly to anguilla from either National or Dulles airports? Thank you, Karen

You don't say when this summer you are travelling but I checked random dates on American Eagle in June & July and there is still one flight a day from SJU to AXA (leaves at 1:05PM). I don't know if you can make that connection from Washing DC but you should explore that possibility.

The only other viable option would be to route yourself to St. Martin (SXM) then take the ferry to Anguilla.

Whether either of these options it's affordable or not depends on your definition of "affordable".

There is an AA non-stop from BWI to SJU; AA dropped the nonstops from IAD and DCA. Might arrive early enough to connect right to AXA, but if not, you can make it to SXM and ferry over.

BWI may not be optimal for you, but it beats the heck out of multiple connections and the risk of misconnecting.

There's also another charter airline operating out of Anguilla that runs between Anguilla and San Juan. I believe it's pretty pricey per roundtrip -- something like $350 pp -- but it's convenient for folks who can fly nonstop to SJU but can't make the connecting American Eagle flight because it leaves too early.

Most folks these days seem to be flying into St. Maarten and then taking either the public ferry or one of the other private boat transfers.

Your budget and how you value your time can dictate whether it's worth it to you--I'm not sure we can say.

Thanks roams around. I am aware of that flight, but you still have to make a stop in either Miami or Dallas Fort Worth on your way to San Juan.

The problem with flying to St. Martin and then ferrying over to Anguilla is on your way home you have to go through customs 3 times!! Anguilla, St. Martin and then in the US It may be that driving to BWI is a good option. Thanks, everyone

I just got back from Anguilla. I flew into SXM for the first time...we usually fly into AXA but they cut the afternoon flight and I didn't want to waste an entire day. We booked the Shauna and it was very easy. They greet you at the airport, shuttle you across the street to the dock, collect passports for immigration, put you on the boat and you're on your way. We were in Anguilla within 45 minutes of landing at SXM. You don't go through customs till you get back to the US. Shauna staff takes care of immigration both ways. You sit on the boat and wait while they go in with everyone's passport.

A couple of questions:

1) The BWI-->SJU American Airlines flight lands about 55 minutes before the American Eagle connection to AXA. This seems like it's cutting it close, but maybe American has it figured out? Any insight?

2) What is the ferry from St Martin like? Open, choppy waters? Not recommended for someone prone to seasickness? How long? Thanks.

1. One hour is suppose to be the legal connection, I guess they're cheating with the 5 minutes. There use to be tons of connections all day to AXA, but now that they've cut them down, you might get stuck in SJU!

2. Ferry is 20 minutes or so. I've done it when it's calm, I've done it when it's choppy. Chop only lasts about 10 minutes.

Without many connections anymore from SJU, I fly from DC area--I would fly direct to Miami and either do the ferry, or the above recommended Shauna who takes you through everything smoothly.

where are you staying? They can also make suggestions as to the best way.

We live in Washington DC and have been taking a reasonable (8:00 am) flight to Charlotte on USAir & then going on to SXM & Shauna or public ferry. Last year, we went Spirit to SXM out of Lauderdale -- great flight but they only fly on Saturdays. I HATE Miami immigration & customs -- it's the worst on the East coast (Charlotte being the best!).

found this just now on kayak.com it says you'd book w/aa.com for $551 i can find it on aa.com as well.
American Airlines $466.00 $85.20 $551.20 select
See airline fees

Depart – Sat Jul 11 2009
American Airlines
Flight 1859 Departs: 8:25a
Baltimore/ Washington (BWI) Arrives: 12:10p
Luis Munoz Marin (SJU)
Coach | Boeing 737-800 (Narrow-body Jet) | 3h 45m
Layover in San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU) for 0h 55m
American Airlines
Flight 5034 Departs: 1:05p
Luis Munoz Marin (SJU) Arrives: 2:08p
Wallblake (AXA)
Coach | Aerospatiale/Alenia ATR 72 (Turbo-prop Plane ) | 1h 03m

Return – Sat Jul 18 2009
American Airlines
Flight 5005 Departs: 2:34p
Wallblake (AXA) Arrives: 3:40p
Luis Munoz Marin (SJU)
Coach | Aerospatiale/Alenia ATR 72 (Turbo-prop Plane ) | 1h 06m
Layover in San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU) for 2h 10m
American Airlines
Flight 792 Departs: 5:50p
Luis Munoz Marin (SJU) Arrives: 9:29p
Baltimore/ Washington (BWI)
Coach | Boeing 737-800 (Narrow-body Jet) | 3h 39m

Anyone have the contact info for the Shauna? I want to use them to go from AXA to SXM

On the return through SXM, you don't have to go through customs until you get to your final destination in the US. The ferry from St Martin isn't bad at all. From the airport I would recommend Shauna or Funtime, which leave from the airport. It's cheaper but more timeconsuming to take a taxi to Marigot and take the public ferry

Here's thier website:
http://www.best-stmartin.com/detail....D=32&typID=177

thanks for the info on Shauna. I suppose if I have a 12 noon flight from SXM, the 9:30 a.m. departure from AXA will get me there. Do I really need the $3 shuttle once I get to SXM or can we just walk form the dock? How far is it?