On this quiet Caribbean isle, pure seclusion is just a beach away.
If you stroll along any one of Anguilla's 33 white-sand beaches, you'll likely find you have it all to yourself. This tranquil island is so tiny (just 3 by 16 miles) and off the radar that many travelers don't even realize it exists, making it the perfect spot for a secluded getaway. (Celebrities agree; it's been the escape of choice for the likes of Beyonce, Jay-Z, Uma Thurman, Courteney Cox and Jennifer Aniston, to name a few.) Despite its size, this British territory, located just six miles from St. Martin, also boasts numerous high-end resorts and surprisingly diverse cuisine. Here's how to enjoy it A-list style.
Cap Juluca At this acclaimed Moorish-style resort, 18 whitewashed villas (each with no more than six rooms or suites) are prominently situated along two miles of soft, powder-white sand. Interiors are crisp and cool, with grand plantation shutters and marble bathrooms featuring garden showers. Savor complimentary breakfast on your private veranda before strolling a few steps to your room's designated seaside lounges (no battling for beach chairs here). Days are all about enjoying the beach and views of St. Martin. Dinner at Pimm's is a must -- request a table by the ocean's edge to dine on Pan-Asian cuisine as breakers crash against the rocks a few feet away. (The crème brûlée, scented with lavender and honey, is a special treat.) Tennis courts, water sports and a full-service spa round out the offerings. From $400.
A private pool villa at Cap Juluca.
KU This laid-back yet upscale hideaway -- created by the same team that gave Cap Juluca its respected reputation -- features 27 airy suites, each with a full kitchen, living and dining rooms, and picture-perfect views of Shoal Bay East beach. Ku means "sacred place" in Arawak; fittingly, the hotel is located near Fountain Cave, a natural sanctuary with freshwater pools and petroglyphs. Aside from its prime location and killer sunsets, the resort also boasts a 75-foot beachfront bar (the longest on the island). It attracts both guests and locals with its live music, fresh seafood and tantalizing cocktails. From $355.
Covecastles Privacy reigns at this designer retreat, set on its own half-mile of sand. With a remote entrance located off a private gravel road at the southernmost spot of Shoal Bay West beach, just getting here takes you off the beaten path. The Architectural Digest-worthy villas (the resort's been featured twice) range in size from two to six bedrooms and include open living areas with cathedral ceilings and full kitchens, should you decide to cook instead of indulge in Covecastles' restaurant or room-service offerings. From $595.
Shoal Bay Reef Does your partner dive while you prefer to snorkel? Then Shoal Bay Reef is your spot. At this popular swimming site near Shoal Bay East, a coral plateau in just 15 feet of water provides curious snorkelers with close-up views of schools of colorful fish. It then gently slopes to depths of 30-plus feet, perfect for divers on the lookout for lobsters, turtles and Southern stingrays. Shoal Bay Scuba (Karma Charters) Ltd. offers snorkeling from $25 and diving from $50.
Pyrat Rum Tasting Room Sip on samples of aged dark rum at the Pyrat Rum headquarters on Road Bay. Pyrat Rum, the sister company to Mexico's famous Patrón tequila (so you know it's got to be good), is blended and bottled by hand on-island. Our must-have picks: Pyrat Savage, an orange-rum liqueur available only in Anguilla, and the dark-chocolate rum-raisin mini Bundt cake for two.
Malliouhana Spa The spa at Malliouhana Resort is the island's most comprehensive, with 65 treatments on the menu. For a real pampering session, book the Romantic Duet. It begins with a Floating Garden hydrotherapy bath for two (includes a scalp, neck and hand massage), followed by the Oasis Stone couples massage, his-'n'-hers European facials and reflexology treatments, topped off with a bottle of champagne and sugary delicacies -- all enjoyed with a blue-water view of Meads Bay. Five-hour session for two from $1,500.
Adults Only Sometimes you want to go where the kids aren't. Here are six of the best resorts where the playgrounds are strictly for grown ups.
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