Scotiabank Gold American Express® CardScotiabank Gold American Express® CardEarn up to 50,000 bonus Scene+ points + no annual fee in your first year

Anguilla Travel Guide | Itineraries and Highlights

Anguilla Travel Guide | Itineraries and Highlights
Share

To the east of Puerto Rico and north of Saint-Martin, theisland of Anguilla is surrounded by 33 beaches, some of which are often considered by travel magazines to be the most beautiful in the world.

This destination is still off the beaten track. It has therefore retained a particularly charming character.

The tourism industry is a major source of income for the island, with numerous attractions and outdoor activities for visitors. In addition, its culinary scene and rich festival calendar make Anguilla an attractive island.

Influenced by indigenous peoples, European settlers and African slaves, this Lesser Antilles island boasts a culture and traditions well worth discovering.

How to reach the island ?

Anguilla is accessible from three main gateways: Miami, Puerto Rico and St. Maarten.

Direct flights from Toronto and Montreal to Princess Juliana International Airport (Saint-Martin) are available on certain dates.

From Saint-Martin, the destination can be reached via the Blowing Point ferry terminal, which bridges the short gap between the two islands, just 14 km apart.

Anguilla Travel Guide | Itineraries and Highlights - Blowing Point Ferry Terminal

Save in Anguilla with points

Whether for flights, accommodation, car rental or anything else, points are a great way to reduce the cost of a trip to Anguilla. Simply redeem the points for an account credit. Here are some examples of reward programs to use:

  • NBC Rewards: Through their à la carte travel agency or by reimbursing the expense yourself with your points (every 10,000 to 12,000 NBC points earns $100 in credit).
  • American Express Membership Rewards points: Use your points to reimburse the expense (each 10,000 Membership Rewards points earns $100 in credit).
  • Scene+: By applying your points to the amount spent yourself (every 10,000 Scene+ points gives you $100 in credit)

If payments are made in a foreign currency, do it twice! Take a credit card that :

  • Avoids paying the 2.5% conversion fee
  • Allows you to use points to reduce the total cost of your trip

Like the following credit card:

Our credit card selection
Credit cardAnnual feeWelcome offer
Annual fee$150Welcome offer
Up to 35,000 pointsEnds Nov 1, 2026
Apply Now

Best activities

Les activités à pratiquer à Anguilla sont nombreuses, entre excursions aquatiques, découverte des plages et soins de spa dans les hôtels de luxe.

Découvrir les plus belles plages de l’île

Parmi les 33 merveilles de sable blanc d’Anguilla, une plage en particulier fait tourner les têtes, attirant une attention internationale importante. L’idyllique Shoal Bay a été élue plage #1 des Caraïbes par les lecteurs du USATODAY pour 2023. Il s’agit d’une bande de sable rose et blanc de 3 km où vous trouverez les meilleures vues, en plus de nombreux restaurants, bars et hôtels adjacents d’où contempler le coucher du soleil.

Parmi les autres plages de l’île qui valent le détour, rendez-vous à Meads Bay, Rendezvous Bay, ou Little Bay pour une journée de baignade et de détente.

Anguilla Travel Guide | Itineraries and Highlights - Shoal Bay Villas

Going diving

The waters around this Lesser Antilles island offer a rich diversity of marine life. Many dive sites are accessible from the coast, and visitors can discover coral reefs, shipwrecks and tropical fish.

Anguilla Travel Guide | Itineraries and Highlights - @regina.tagliabue

Experience sailing

Anguilla is surrounded by many small islands, offering an excellent opportunity for sailing. Visitors can rent a sailboat or take a boat trip to discover the nearby islands.

Anguilla Travel Guide | Itineraries and Highlights - Voile au Cap Juluca, A Belmond Hotel

Exploring history and culture

Its capital, The Valley, is a small, charming and peaceful town that offers a relaxed atmosphere and a glimpse of local life in Anguilla. Most of the buildings are in the British colonial style, with red tile roofs and white walls.

Historic sites on the island include the Sandy Ground salt factory and the Anguilla Museum. You’ll also enjoy interacting with the locals and taking part in cultural festivals such as the Festival de la mer and Anguilla Carnival.

Anguilla Travel Guide | Itineraries and Highlights - AnguillaOfficial Facebook

Playing golf

Anguilla boasts the only 18-hole golf course in the eastern Caribbean, the CuisinArt Golf Resort and Spa, offering a world-class golf experience in a picturesque setting.

Other activities on the island include kayaking, paddleboarding, kitesurfing and fishing.

Anguilla Travel Guide | Itineraries and Highlights - CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa

Where to stay?

The West End is the heart of Anguilla’s tourism industry, home to many five-star resorts. The island also offers a variety of accommodations at different price points, including charming Airbnb properties. Here are some suggestions:

Quintessence Hotel is a charming establishment full of sculptures and works of art by famous artists from all over the region. Quinn was recently launched: elegant new suites in a separate building adjacent to the original hotel and aimed at offering the Quintessence experience at a more affordable price.

Anguilla Travel Guide | Itineraries and Highlights - Quintessence

Zemi Beach House was ranked #1 « Best Destination Wedding Resort (2023) » by USA TODAY.

This is an impressive accomplishment considering that on the island there are luxurious pillars that include the Four Seasons, the Belmond Cap Juluca and the Malliouhana.

Both accommodations can be booked from one or more of the following platforms: Scene+ Travel developed by Expedia, Hotels.com and Booking.com. Depending on the method of reservation, you can get discounts for being a member or collect stamps to get a free night.

Discover the local gastronomy

Anguilla offers a delicious Creole cuisine that blends European, African and Caribbean influences.

The third edition ofAnguilla Culinary Experience will take place from May 23 to 26, 2024, bringing together local and international chefs. TheAurora Anguilla Resort and Golf Club will host the event’s opening party.

You’ll love sampling local dishes such as goat stew, grilled fish and johnny cake.

Here are some good addresses to remember:

Sandbar on the lively beach of Sandy Ground, with live music and great views of Anguilla’s national sport, boat racing.

Tasty’s POV for the incredible panoramic views it offers from its position overlooking Sandy Ground. Specialties include grilled lobster, crawfish or chicken accompanied by excellent cocktails.

Anguilla Travel Guide | Itineraries and Highlights - Tasty’s POV

Ocean Echo, a favorite for dining with your feet in the sand, was completely renovated before the 22/23 winter season with the addition of an extra deck to view Meads Bay from the table. The menu emphasizes local specialties such as mahi-mahi, crayfish and conch.

Mill House Café Bar & Bistro is a café with a charming, rustic location, considered a favorite breakfast spot for locals and visitors alike.

Located in Sandy Ground Beach, Vincy on the beach offers classic Caribbean seafood and comfort food, including burgers with a special secret sauce.

Channeling the energy of vacation every day, Savi Beach Club is a must if you want to enjoy a beach-style restaurant connected directly to beautiful Meads Bay Beach.

Anguilla Travel Guide | Itineraries and Highlights - Savi Beach Club

Getting around the island

In Anguilla, driving is on the left. The main artery of Anguilla runs through the center of the island. You can drive from one end of the island to the other without stopping in about forty-five minutes.

Rent a car

To rent a car, you must have a valid driver’s license. You will also need to purchase a temporary Anguillan driver’s license valid for three months. This one, at a cost of US$25, is provided by local car rental companies.

Anguilla Travel Guide | Itineraries and Highlights - @morgansmith

Cabs

You should easily find cabs. In fact, many visitors use a local cab driver for all their transportation needs during their stay on the island. Cab fares are fixed.

Off road

Mountain bikes and road bikes are two popular options for getting around Anguilla, as they allow access to places off the beaten path. The island is composed mostly of coral and limestone, and its topography is generally flat. Traveling by bicycle is therefore rather easy and pleasant.

Anguilla Travel Guide | Itineraries and Highlights - AnguillaOfficial Facebook

Practical information

Size of the island: 91 square kilometers

Capital city : The Valley

Population: about 15,000

Official language: English

Currency: East Caribbean dollar

Anguilla Travel Guide | Itineraries and Highlights - AnguillaOfficial Facebook

Bottom Line

Anguilla deserves its reputation as a « hidden gem ». We love it for its beautiful white sandy beaches and crystal clear waters, but also for its delicious cuisine and great hospitality.

Annual fee
$191.88
Our valuation
$255
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$255Total$255Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Welcome offer
Up to 15,000 points
Apply Now

on American Express's website

Apply with confidence — no impact on your credit scoreApply with confidenceCheck whether your application will be approved before you submit it, with no impact on your credit score*When you apply for a personal American Express Credit Card, we will tell you whether you are eligible without affecting your credit score. So you can apply with confidence.*Instant decisions are only available for consumer Card applications (also called “personal Cards”).

The American Express Cobalt® Card is the best credit card from American Express, whether you want points for travel or cash back.

American Express Cobalt® Card welcome offer

The welcome bonus is paid out monthly over your first 12 months. You earn 1,250 Membership Rewards points for each monthly billing period in which you charge $750 in net purchases to your card, in any category (1X, 2X, 3X or 5X). That adds up to 15,000 Membership Rewards points over the year, a welcome offer we value at $255.

Earning the full bonus means $9,000 in net purchases spread across 12 monthly billing periods. This offer rewards steady monthly spending rather than one large purchase.

You can use these points as statement credits on everyday or travel purchases, at the same rate either way: 1,000 points = $10.

You can also transfer them to Aeroplan, Avios (British Airways and Qatar Airways), Flying Blue, Marriott Bonvoy or Hilton Honors. With the full welcome bonus, that is a choice between:

  • 15,000 Aeroplan points
  • 15,000 Avios points
  • 15,000 Flying Blue Miles
  • 18,000 Marriott Bonvoy points

If hotel points are what you are after, our ultimate guide to Marriott Bonvoy and our complete map of Marriott Bonvoy hotels by category show what those points can actually buy.

American Express Cobalt® Card benefits

Here is what the card gives you, starting with the benefits cardholders use most.

  • 5X points on eligible eats and drinks in Canada: groceries, restaurants and bars, home food delivery and convenience stores. A spend cap applies.
  • 3X points on eligible streaming subscriptions in Canada.
  • 2X points on eligible gas, public transit and ride sharing purchases in Canada.
  • 1 additional point on eligible hotel and car rental bookings made through American Express Travel Online.
  • 1X point per dollar on everything else, with no category restrictions.
  • Points that hold the same value either way: 1,000 points = $10 as a statement credit, or a 1:1 transfer to several airline and hotel loyalty programs.
  • No minimum income requirement, as with every American Express Canada card.
  • Additional cards at no extra cost: the first and every other supplementary card is $0.
  • The Hotel Collection: a room upgrade when available, 12pm check-in and late check-out when available, and up to $100 USD in hotel credit on amenities charged to the room for a stay of two or more consecutive nights, booked through American Express Travel.
  • Front Of The Line® presale and reserved tickets for concerts and theatre performances, plus offers and events curated for cardmembers through Amex Experiences.
  • A soft credit check before you apply: you can see whether you will be approved with no impact to your credit score. This applies to American Express personal card applications.

To see how it compares with the rest of the line-up, read our round-up of the best credit cards from American Express in Canada.

The 5X categories and where they apply

The 5X rate is the reason most people carry this card. In Canada it covers four kinds of merchants:

  • Groceries: Metro, IGA, Sobeys, Super C, Safeway, Whole Foods.
  • Restaurants and bars: sit-down meals, takeout and drinks.
  • Home food delivery.
  • Convenience stores: Couche-Tard, 7-Eleven.

The 2X rate covers gas stations such as Esso, Shell and Petro-Canada, along with public transit and ride sharing.

With the American Express Cobalt® Card, you earn between 1 and 5 points per dollar:

Category Points per dollar
Grocery (Metro, IGA, Sobeys, Super C, etc.) 5
Home food delivery 5
Restaurants and bars 5
Convenience stores 5
Streaming services 3
Service station 2
Transport 2
Travel 1
Other 1

That works out to a 1 to 5% return on those purchases. For example, if you spend $1,000 per month across groceries, restaurants and food delivery, you earn $50 back per month, or $600 per year from that category alone. Transfer the points to a program such as Aeroplan instead and the return can be higher.

You can also stack these categories with the hundreds of stores that offer 5x points.

American Express Cobalt® Card insurance coverage

The card comes with a broad insurance package. The amounts below are the coverage limits; conditions, age limits and exclusions are set out in the certificate of insurance linked in the Insurance section above.

Travel insurance

  • Emergency medical: up to $5,000,000 for the first 15 days of a trip.
  • Travel accident: accidental death and dismemberment of up to $250,000 for you, your spouse and dependent children under age 23 when travelling on a common carrier (plane, train, bus or ship) and the tickets are charged to your card. Supplementary cardholders and their families are covered too.
  • Flight delay: up to $500 for necessary hotel, meal and sundry expenses bought within 48 hours when you are delayed or denied boarding for four hours or more and no other transportation is available. This $500 is an aggregate limit per occurrence, shared with missed connection and delayed baggage coverage.
  • Delayed baggage: up to $500 for essential clothing and sundries bought within four days when your outbound luggage is delayed six hours or more. This $500 is an aggregate limit per occurrence, shared with missed connection and flight delay coverage.
  • Lost or stolen baggage: up to $500 per occurrence for all insured persons combined, for checked or carry-on baggage and personal effects in transit, when the airline tickets are charged to your card. Within that limit, jewellery is capped at $300 per occurrence and golf clubs, including golf bags, at $250 per occurrence.
  • Hotel and motel burglary: up to $500 against the loss of most personal items if your hotel or motel is burglarized, when the stay is charged to your card.

Rental car insurance

Theft and damage coverage is included for a rental car with an MSRP, for its model year, of up to $85,000 excluding all taxes, for rentals of up to 48 days. To use it, decline the Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) or any similar option from the rental company and charge the full rental to your card. There is no cost for this coverage, and it replaces the daily insurance the rental company charges, usually $16 to $23 per day.

Mobile device insurance

Your device is covered for up to $1,000 per occurrence when it is charged to the card, for up to two years from the date of purchase. The payout is based on the depreciated value of the device, which falls by 2% of the purchase price for every completed month, less a 10% deductible. Theft and accidental damage coverage starts on the 91st day after purchase, because the first 90 days are covered by purchase protection.

Purchase protection and extended warranty

Eligible items charged to your card are insured against accidental physical damage or theft for 90 days from the purchase date, up to $1,000 per occurrence for all items combined. The card also extends the original manufacturer’s warranty by up to one additional year on eligible items, with indemnification limited to $10,000 per insured item and $25,000 per Cardmember per policy year for all items combined.

American Express Cobalt® Card fees

  • Card fee: $15.99 per month, which equals $191.88 per year, for residents outside Quebec. Quebec residents are billed $191.88 per year.
  • Additional cards: $0.
  • Purchase interest rate: 21.99%.
  • Cash advance interest rate: 21.99%.
  • Foreign transaction fee: 2.5%.
  • Minimum income required: none.

Because the fee is billed monthly rather than in one annual charge, you can stop and restart the cost in step with how much you are actually using the card.

Annual fee

Primary card$191.88
Additional card$0

Annual income required

Individual$0
Household$0

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

  • 5xRestaurants
  • 5xGroceries
  • 5xConvenience
  • 3xStreaming
  • 2xTransit
  • 2xGas & EV
  • 1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$1,828
2nd Year Value$799

Transfer partners

  • AeroplanAirline
  • British Airways ClubAirline
  • Cathay Asia MilesAirline
  • Etihad GuestAirline
  • Flying BlueAirline
  • Hilton HonorsHotel
  • Marriott BonvoyHotel

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Up to $5,000,000 / 15 days
Travel medical (55-64)Up to $5,000,000 / 15 days
Delayed BaggageUp to $500
Lost BaggageUp to $500
Flight DelayUp to $500
Hotel BurglaryUp to $500
Travel AccidentUp to $250,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionUp to $1,000 / 90 days
Extended Warranty+1 years
Mobile DeviceUp to $1,000 / 2 years
Auto Rental Collision (primary)Up to $85,000 / 48 days

Where is Anguilla?

Anguilla is located in the Lesser Antilles, east of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

How to get to Anguilla

Anguilla is accessible from three main gateways: Miami, Puerto Rico and St. Maarten.

What is the capital of Anguilla?

The capital The Valley is located in the center of the island.

What type of hotels are there in Anguilla?

The island, which offers several categories of hotels, is renowned for its luxury establishments, including the Four Seasons, the Belmond Cap Juluca and the Malliouhana.

What language is spoken in Anguilla?

The island’s official language is English.

Our featured card

Annual fee
$150
Our valuation
$350
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$350Total$350Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Welcome offer
Up to 35,000 points
Ends Nov 1, 2026
Apply Now

on Scotiabank's website

With this welcome offer for the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card +* CardMC, you’ll earn 25,000 welcome bonus Scene+ points after charging $2,000 in purchases to your account within the first three months.

Plus, every year, earn an annual bonus of at least 10,000 Scene+ points when you charge at least $40,000 in purchases to your account. In total, the offer represents up to 35,000 Scene+ points and a value of up to $1,250 in the first year, including rewards, savings on foreign transaction fees and airport lounge access.

With the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card, you earn 3 points per $1 spent at Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, Foodland and participating Co-ops, and 2 points per $1 spent at other grocery stores, restaurants, eligible entertainment and eligible daily transit. You earn 1 point per $1 on all your other everyday purchases.

These points can be redeemed against any travel purchase at a rate of 1,000 points = $10 (flights, hotels, all-inclusives and even Airbnb), or as cash back with Scene+ at the same rate.

The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card also offers:

  • No fees for foreign currency transactions
  • 6 complimentary airport VIP lounge passes
  • Excellent insurance for your travels and purchases
  • Visa Infinite* Concierge Services

We have named this credit card the Best Credit Card with No Foreign Transaction Fees in 2024, 2025, and 2026.

Annual fee

Primary card$150
Additional card$50

Annual income required

Individual$60,000
Household$100,000

Conversion fees

0%

Earning rate

  • 2xGroceries
  • 2xRestaurants
  • 2xTransit
  • 2xEntertainment
  • 1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$650
2nd Year Value$397

Card benefits

Concierge service24/7
Airport lounge access$240

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Up to $1,000,000 / 25 days
Travel medical (55-64)Up to $1,000,000 / 25 days
Travel medical (65+)Up to $1,000,000 / 3 days
Trip CancellationUp to $1,500
Trip InterruptionUp to $2,500
Delayed BaggageUp to $1,000
Lost BaggageUp to $1,000
Flight DelayUp to $500
Hotel BurglaryUp to $1,000
Travel AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Auto Rental CollisionUp to $65,000 / 48 days

Our editorial integrity

Our reviews and rankings are based on an objective assessment. Advertisers do not influence our content. We may receive compensation through some links; our analysis and opinions remain independent.