Sometimes it's where you stay that matters. Welcome to Anguilla!
I've always considered two factors when looking for vacation accommodation: what's the cost and is it comfortable? I'd like to suggest a third consideration: Can these digs get you up close to local culture? On a recent trip to Anguilla I discovered an accommodation option that allows visitors to cozy up a little closer to the community: rental villas.
Anguilla, a British Overseas Territory in the Leeward Islands whose population hovers around 15,000, is a tranquil paradise with no casinos, no annoying jet-skis and no all-inclusives. Its major appeal: authentic, laid-back Caribbean culture at its best. It's the kind of place where most visitors who yearn to connect with the locals can do just that. And rental villas are your best best if that's what you have in mind. That's how I met a Canadian woman named Gayle Enzel.
Villa rental on the island of Anguilla
Gayle Enzel is a Torontonian who has made this tiny island her "home-away-from home" since 1995. Gayle operates a cool, user-friendly web site, myCaribbean.com, where she'll help you find the villa rental that's just right for you. Some are fancy, some are more modest, some are perfect for romantic couple getaways and others are excellent for families who want to bring a few extra friends and relatives, and perhaps cook meals on their own. More importantly, they're your best calling card to the local Anguillan community.
Gayle Enzel embraces Anguillan hospitality.
And you can trust Gayle's judgment of what makes for a great holiday stay in Anguilla. She's had 15 years to get the lowdown on this laidback island and has a roster of bonafide villas at her fingertips (or mouse pad). I asked Gayle for her insider take on what to see and do in Anguilla:
Question: What are the three must-see/must-do experiences when visiting Anguilla?
Answer:
1. Beaches: You can take in as many beaches as you can like during your stay. We have 36 of the best in the world.
2. Spend a morning touring around the island, stopping in at local shops, and visiting a few of the resorts. Each one has its own unique characteristics. (Editor's note: I couldn't agree more with Gayle. I visited CuisinArt resort and spent an hour exploring their hydroponic gardens. Where one resort boasts great spa services, another offers a professional basketball court to play on. If, for example, you're circling the island and are in the mood for a Middle Eastern lunch, stop in at the Half Shell eatery at the Viceroy Resort. There is something for every taste and holiday style on the island.)
3. Find a palm tree on the beach and pull up a chair and watch the world go by and the waves come in. (Editor's beach reading tip: "A Trip to the Beach," by Melinda Blanchard and Robert Blanchard, about the couple's decision to move to Anguilla and open a restaurant. Isn't that what we all dream of?) Don't just read about this amazing couple - try their food at Blanchard's Restaurant.)
Beautiful beaches, languid afternoons beneath a palm tree. That's Anguilla living.
Question: Gayle, what, in your experience on the island, makes Anguilla so special, different from other Caribbean Islands?
Answer: Anguilla is the only place I know where you can make an art of doing absolutely nothing. By nothing I mean spending a week visiting our beaches, swimming, snorkelling, reading and relaxing. Oh and don't forget to eat - we have great beachfront eateries. No pressure to head out and hit the hot spots, because, really, there aren't any. And the friendliest people live here.
Anguilla has 36 of the world's best beaches.
Question: What is your favourite escape on Anguilla?
Answer: My fave beach is Rendezvous Bay, an expanse of white sand at the water's edge. Just pull up a palm tree and stay a while.
Gayle's Pet Project:
Gayle gives back to the community she adopted - or rather, the community that adopted her. She's heavily involved in the Anguilla Animal Rescue Foundation (www.aarf.ai) which encourages visits from tourists to the shelter (Monday - Friday 8:30 - 12, 2:30 - 5, and Saturdays 9 - 12) to cuddle rescued puppies, kittens, dogs and cats, purchase a t shirt or hat or simply make a donation. Scores of travellers have been known to adopt the pets and return home to Canada with a puppy or kitten instead of a T-shirt!
And you can do it all on island time, just like a local.
