Anguilla, a British West Indies Luxury Retreat
Celebrities Flock to Exclusive Caribbean Island Nearby St. Martin
Apr 11, 2009
Celebrities from Brad Pitt to Beyonce frequent world-class Anguillian resorts like Covecastles and Cap Juluca for secluded getaways.
Unlike other Caribbean destinations cluttered with low-quality over-development, the British Overseas Territory of Anguilla caters to a luxury-loving crowd by providing privacy and spacious accommodations designed with rich simplicity.
Most of Anguilla’s 33 beaches are of the classic island paradise variety and many offer living coral reefs swarming with tropical fish just made for snorkeling and diving.
Off Season is Much More Affordable
Nightly rates for the best properties in Anguilla range from $400 to more than $5,000 during the late fall and winter high season. Prices drop about 35 percent during the late spring and summer off-season, said Chris Patrick, owner of the CKIM Group Inc. in Sebastian, a luxury travel provider offering a variety ofCaribbean-island accommodations and charters.
Rooms for $100 or less at three-star hotels are plentiful during the off-season. Another draw of the off-season is the many boat races held May through August.
Anguilla Known for its Cuisine
Resort restaurants concoct gourmet delights that combine French-chef expertise with West Indies and international flavors. Visitors often resort hop during their stay as well as try freestanding restaurants like Blanchard’s and Tasty’s to sample the culinary creations of some the island’s best chefs.
The local waters are filled with wahoo, marlin, tuna, swordfish and tuna in addition to Anguillian lobster and crayfish, offering fresh catch for delicious island cuisine.
Ferry Offers Transport to St. Martin for Shopping and Other Entertainment
While Anguilla offers a limited amount of shopping and entertainment, it allows easy access to such pleasures via ferry to the bustling St. Martin.
Anguilla does boast a newly opened Greg Norman-designed 18-hole championship golf course. The Temenos Golf Club features breath-taking views of the Caribbean and St. Martin.
Many visitors to Anguilla opt to charter boats to tour the island’s waters. Maritza Degagne of Seattle and her family, for example, chartered a catamaran with several other families they were vacationing with.
Covecastles Classic Anguilla Resort
Luxury resort development on Anguilla was originally kicked off more than two decades ago by Covecastles, which has hosted such notables as Princess Diana. Covecastles has successfully stood the test of time. Its classic lines and materials, including terra cotta floor tiles and Brazilian walnut-louvered doors, are apt to keep it so.
It’s no wonder that Covecastles has been featured twice in “Architectural Digest.” Architect Myron Goldfinger, based in New York, is renown for his geometric designs inspired by vernacular Mediterranean structures and recently designed Altamer, just down the beach from Covecastles.
Anguilla beaches can be so dark that the Milky Way glows faintly overhead and a multitude of stars blaze in the inky sky. The island is a great place to watch for shooting stars.
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