I’m a single woman traveling to Anguilla at the end of Feb. From what I’ve read, Anguilla seems to be a pretty safe place. I’ll be staying at the Anguilla Great House. Is it safe for me to travel on my own? Any recommendations on where to go or what to see/do or where to eat? I don’t intend on getting a rental car. Also, I’ve read that I could get there by going to Puerto Rico, then flying to Anguilla, or flying to St. Martin and then taking a ferry over. Which is the best way for me to do on my own?

Thanks!

Anguilla is a relatively safe island so travelling on your own shouldn't be a problem. You'd be wise to consider getting a rental car as the various beaches and restaurants on the island are pretty well spread out and nothing is really within walking distance of anything els. Besides taxis will get very expensive (take 2 r/t's to anywhere in one day and you'll spend more in fares than the cost of the car rental. Anguilla is all about beaches (there are 35 of them) and restaurants (about 80). If you use the search feature above (type in Anguilla Restaurants) you'll find hundreds of posts with comments on just about every restaurant on the island. Without knowing your food budget it's difficult to make recommendations. You should know that many of the more well know restaurants are on the pricy side although you can find more modest places. As far as "things to do" other than sitting on the beach, walking on the beach, swimming on the beach, snorkeling along the beach, eating lunch, dinner or a snack, or some modest shopping for t-shirts and souveniers there's not much to do on the island.

I don't think being a single traveller matters one way or the other whether you go to SJU and fly to AXA or fly to SXM and take the ferry to AXA. They are both easy and safe. Pick the one that will get you to AXA in the shortest elapse time possible.

Generally it is safe. However, there have been some crime problems recently. You are perfectly safe at any resort, just lock your doors. The Great House is jsut fine.

It is safe to travel by yourself. Your options are limited if you don't get a car. Taxis are very expensive. One round trip to Shoal Bay will cost the same as a car for a day.

You can get there from both St Martin and Puerto Rico. I usually get ther via SXM. Whatever works for you in air schedules/fare usually determinse how you get there. Both work just fine.

Where to go and what to do depends on your personal preferences. If you want some suggestions, you would need to provide a little more info. You can e-mail me at [email protected]. Do you like dancing, bars, expensive restaurants, cheap reataurants, a book under an umbrella, or someone new to talk to. AXA has most anything you want.

We did not find the taxis to be all that expensive. For our needs, they averaged out be less than a car rental. I guess it all depends how much exploring you want to do.

We chose to fly into Anguilla from Puerto Rico. It worked out quite well. It seemed less cumbersome than the ferry.....but many people prefer that route.

Thanks for your help. I don't really have any plans to explore. I only really have a couple of days because I'll be working. Money isn't really an issue because work is paying for everything. I was just looking for some suggestions on thing that I absolutely cannot miss while in Anguilla.

We have been to Anguilla a total of 5 times and have already booked for the 6th visit...a must do for us is a meal at Trattoria Tramonto on the West End. Don't miss it! Get the lobster ravioli..do die for!

It really depends on what you want to do.

Sundays at Shoal Bay are fun. I think a band plays Sunday at noon at Qwen's Reggae Cafe, at about 3 pm a band plays at Elodia's, and Uncle Ernie's will have Jazz into the early evening. There is usually something going on at Johnno's on Sandy Ground on Sundays, too.

If you want to go horseback riding, you can do that at Cove Bay. The stable is next to the Round House which is next to Paridise Cove Resort.

You should probably stroll down the beach you are staying on and have a frozen mojito (or more) at Cuisennart Resort. They are great!!! Stroll a little farther and you'll run in to Banke Banx'Dune Preserve. It is well worth paying a visit when Banke plays live.

Evening night life is most hopping on Sandy Ground. "Roys" anchors one end of the beach and "The Pump House" the other. In between are several establishments including Johnno's and Ripple's. You may have a hard time getting a taxi late, though it seems they are becoming more available.

Snorkling at Little Bay is nice. The Bay is surrounded by cliffs. You can climb down with the assistance of a rope, go to the end and dive in the water and swim to shore, or take Calvin's water taxi from Crocus Bay. (Very reliable and in the phone book)

You can go Scuba diving. There is a shop on Shoal Bay and a dive boat that leaves from Cove Bay, just up from Rendevous.

Charter boats are available.

No gambling, very limited shopping.

On the East End, far from where you will be staying, there is Scilly Cay in Island Harbor, Captain's Bay where sometimes enormous waves come in, and Nat's bar and restaurant "The Palm Grove" on "Junk's Hole" where the water is usually calm and you can do a little snorkling or stroll the very long beach before it gets developed (as is currently planned)

Straw Hat restaurant is good and expensive. You can get cheap ribs at a number of local establishments for cheap
Koal Keel is good food and a great underground wine cellar that you can have a tour of. Picante's has great Mexican at the highest price I've ever paid for Mexican.

Since you will be staying at The Anguilla
Great House, a short walk east on the beach will bring you to Rendezvous Beach Hotel, they have a very nice casual restaurant, great homemade soups, bread
from Koal Keel bakery, a lovely singer on Tuesday nights---charming low Old Anguilla spot. Also if you see Golden Retrievers on the beach they belong here!

I can also attest to the food at Rendezvous Beach Hotel. Very good food and pleasant, attentive staff. In fact, when our cab driver failed to return to take us home, the manager gladly offered to drive us back to the CuisanArt....at no charge. Of course we paid him for his trouble, which he reluctantly took. My husband wanted to go back another night, but we couldn't fit it in. The atmosphere is much more casual than the other places, but the food definitely compares. A perfect place to go and dine alone and not feel uncomfortable. I loved being able to socialize with the Goldens too. It gave me my dog fix while I was on vacation.