Anguilla is a compact island in the Caribbean perfect for a restful getaway. Many people who do not permanently live on the island own private residences that they offer for rent. Visitors therefore have a wonderful selection of Anguilla villas from which to choose rather than stay in a hotel.

Anguilla was first settled in 1650 by English colonists from St Kitts and Nevis lying some 70 nautical miles south. For its first century and a half, Anguilla was administered by Great Britain. Early during the nineteenth century, the three islands of Saint Kitts, Nevis and Anguilla were grouped into a single British dependency.

Most visitors arrive by airplane. The island has a small international airport situated near the capital of the island known as The Valley. Most flights arrive from a regional location. International visitors to the island generally catch a flight to San Juan on Puerto Rico where they change to a regional carrier that flies to the island. It is about 150 nautical miles east of Puerto Rico.

Some holidaymakers arrive by private yacht. The island is about 100 nautical miles from St Thomas, St John and Tortola that lie to the west. There are no marinas on the island but there are several quiet anchorages. Along the south coast, Blowing Point, Little Harbor and Forest Bay are all safe anchorages. Along the north coast, Island Harbour as well as Sandy Ground have safe waters.

The island is five nautical miles north of St Martin and St Maarten. St Martin is clearly visible across the channel. These two islands are connected by a commercial ferry service. On Anguilla, it docks at Blowing Point jetty. On St Martin, it docks at Marigot.

The island is intimately tiny with an area of only about 35 square miles (90 square kilometers). Its length is oriented southwest-to-northeast over a distance of about 16 miles (25 kilometers). At its widest, the island has a distance of 3.5 miles (5.5 kilometers). It is not easy to get lost.

The 60 kilometers (40 miles) of coastline is dotted with fine villas with even finer views of the turquoise sea. Beautiful bays, cosy coves and thirty-three sweeping beaches are perfect for swimming and exploring. Blackgarden Bay, Little Bay and Limestone Bay are particularly popular.

The island, particularly its north coast, has a large selection of notable scuba diving spots. One is Frenchmans Reef just west of Shoal Bay Village. The dive is on an interesting section of the fringing reef, quite shallow at only 3 to 10 meters (8 to 30 feet) with a steep drop-off to about 30 meters (100 feet). A distinctive feature of this site is that its sandy bottom is populated with multiple coral heads. They add visual interest and variety to the marine life, including many lobsters that scurry from coral to coral and stingrays that bury themselves in the sand.

In summary, Anguilla villas are a logical accommodation option to consider when visiting the island. They mostly are situated along the coast with fine views out to sea and often close to a quiet stretch of sandy beach. The villas represent attractive good value for a wide range of budgets in terms of privacy, space and entertaining flexibility.

Author Bio: For exciting holiday choices, a traveler has the option to live at the beautiful Anguilla villas, as well as the atmospheric Turks and Caicos villas. The best vacation hot spots can be enjoyed when you are living luxuriously at the Caribbean villas.

Category: Travel
Keywords: travel, vacation, tourism, villas, real estate, property, island, business, leisure, recreation