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Anguilla
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Shuttling over from St. Maarten is the normal arrival pattern. |
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Anguilla Travel InformationArea: Anguilla, located only 5 miles from St. Martin , is mostly a flat island measuring 16 miles long and 3 miles across at the widest, a total of 35 square miles. Language: English. No one else ever bothered with Anguilla. Population: Around 12, 500, most around the capital city known as The Valley. Rainy Season: Generally in the summer and fall. Especially August to November, when tropical systems often make their way through the region. Showers tend to be brief. Average annual rainfall is 35 to 40 inches. The warm temperatures vary little throughout the year. Time Zone: Atlantic Standard Time, which is Eastern Standard Time plus 1 hour or GMT -4. Anguilla does not observe Daylight Saving Time. Electricity: 110 volts, 60 cycles, the same at the U.S. Currency: The Eastern Caribbean Dollar, US$1=EC$2.70. American dollars are accepted almost everywhere, though small denomination are not easy to find. Not all hotels accept credit cards, though this is changing. Check ahead. Taxes & Tipping: The room tax is 10%. The service charge is the usual 10% to 15%. Taxi drivers expect 10% of their fare. The airport departure tax is $20. Documents: Passport required for entry. Getting There: This is the great challenge of Anguilla . Its airport runway is too small (3600 feet) to accept large planes and there are no refueling facilities. So most visitors fly into St. Maarten and take the 20-minute ferry over from Marigot on St. Martin to Blowing Point on Anguilla. Or they arrive at Wallblake Airport by small commuter flight from San Juan, Antigua, St. Thomas or elsewhere. Not all planes are able to land if the runway is wet. It is all too common for luggage to be left behind, so bring everything you need for the first 24 hours. Flying here are American Eagle ( www.aa.com ) and LIAT ( www.liatairline.com . Getting Around: Rental cars are readily available at the airport or through the hotel. They are not cheap, plus the cost of insurance and a local driver's license. Weekly rates a better bargain. Driving is on the left. Where to Stay: Anguilla is more upscale than most islands. Its major resorts tend to be expensive and their architecture more Mediterranean and Middle Eastern than West Indian. Cap Juluca and The Malliouhana are recognized as two of the best resorts anywhere in the Caribbean . A week in a 5-6 bedroom unit at Altamer Villas will set you back US$35,000 in winter, only US$25,000 a week in summer. However, there less expensive accommodations but none really ?cheap.? It's not that kind of island. Snakes and Other Venomous Creatures: None Safety & Health Warnings: The hot sun and dehydration
due to lack of water are your major conerns. Generally, this is a safe island
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