Expanded Airlift, Resort Developments, Unique Experiences,
Spa Launches, Food and Festivals –there’s a lot to talk about in 2024
WHAT’S NEW ON ISLAND?
Aurora Anguilla, located on beautiful Rendezvous Bay, is slated to open its new Entertainment Park in late 2023, complete with a world-class tennis center, pickleball courts, climbing wall, beach volleyball, clay bocce and basketball courts, a 9-hole mini golf course, and a stunning family-friendly pool complex. Elsewhere on the resort, accommodations feature spacious suites, multi-bedroom villas and estate home options in the resort’s Merrywing Bay area, perfect for larger families or groups traveling together. Home to Anguilla’s only golf courses, there is also a new clubhouse for the 9-hole Avalon Links short course which opened in November 2022, to complement the redeveloped Greg Norman-designed 18-hole International Course.
Kokoon Villas is a private enclave of 6 two- and three-bedroomed homes overlooking the Caribbean Sea and the hills of St. Maarten. The new properties, which are currently in construction, will be fully powered by solar energy and include rainwater collection, water treatment and filtration systems. ÀNI Private Resorts’ two existing villas overlooking Little Bay are also set to be joined by an additional 15-suite estate on Shoal Bay Beach, due to open in 2024.
The new Cap Juluca Spa by Guerlain is set to open at Cap Juluca, A Belmond Hotel in Spring 2024. The new US$8 million spa facility is inspired by the Arawak Indians, Anguilla’s earliest inhabitants, who celebrated the renewal and rejuvenation of each new day and will offer a full menu of exclusive Guerlain treatments.
At Four Seasons Resort & Residences, wellness specialist Melissa Fox will be offering her signature facials during her residency from December 17 – 22, 2023, while Stefanie DiLibero, founder of the legendary Gotham Wellness in New York City, will be in residence from December 26 – January 1, 2024. On the culinary front, famed TV personality and celebrity chef Geoffrey Zakarian will take over SALT, their signature main restaurant, from December 19 – 22, 2023.
FOOD AND DRINK
The island’s reputation as the ultimate culinary destination in the Caribbean remains unchallenged. The third annual Anguilla Culinary Experience (ACE) will take place from May 23 – 26, 2024, where international guest chefs will work alongside local chefs across four days of parties, dinners, barbeques and tastings at various resorts and restaurants.
Anguilla’s grande dame, Malliouhana, celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2024. A new wine program is on offer, led by James Beard award-winning sommelier Shelley Lindgren, offering elevated wine experiences at each of Malliouhana’s signature dining concepts.
Local restaurants continue to be among the most popular dining spots. Tasty’s POV, overlooking Sandy Ground and led by chef Dale Carty, has expanded its menu to include sushi, alongside his signature menu using the finest fresh and local ingredients and flavors served in colorful and traditional Caribbean surroundings.
At Arawak Beach Club Mediterranean-inspired tapas is now on the menu at their new eatery, Arawak’s Taverna. With indoor and outdoor tables, diners will enjoy dinner with a view of Island Harbour, followed by cocktails around the firepit.
MUSIC AND FESTIVALS
In addition to the return of ACE in May 2024, a host of established annual festivals will be taking place in 2024.
Island legend Bankie Banx will be bringing Moonsplash music festival back to the iconic Dune Preserve beach bar from March 22 – 24, 2024. The lineup is yet to be confirmed, but with the likes of Maxi Priest, the FAB 5 Band and Big Mountain among recent headliners, it’s sure to be another memorable weekend.
The island will be celebrating 50 years of carnival with Summer Festival 2024, taking place from August 1 – 11, 2024. The island will be a kaleidoscope of color for ten solid days of non-stop festivities ranging from the J’Ouvert parade set to a soundtrack of soca music, to the spectacular Parade of Troupes, calypso competitions, beach barbecues and the Miss Anguilla pageant.
INFRASTRUCTURE AND ACCESS
Anguilla’s new Blowing Point Ferry Terminal opened in January 2023, welcoming travelers arriving by private charter and public ferry. While the island does not permit cruise ships to dock, construction is also set to commence on Anguilla’s first yacht marina in December 2024 to expand its welcome to those arriving by smaller marine craft.
For travelers arriving by air, Phase Two of the expansion of Clayton J Lloyd International Airport is well underway, with build of a new Cargo Facility starting in November 2023. The third phase will comprise a new terminal, slated to begin construction in January 2024, and the final stage will be a runway expansion to accommodate larger aircraft.
A new FBO terminal operated by Lloyds Aviation Services is slated to open in 2024, and over at the Princess Juliana International Airport in St. Maarten, a key gateway for Anguilla, the new Departure Hall and expanded Check-In Hall are both scheduled to open this winter.
It’s easier than ever for US travelers to access Anguilla this winter. American Airlines is currently operating daily direct flights from Miami International (MIA) to Anguilla (AXA), with two flights on Saturdays, and increasing to twice-daily service from December 20, 2023 through the summer of 2024.
For travelers from the New York area, the Aurora Anguilla Resort & Golf Club is offering charter service flights direct to the island from the Westchester County Airport (HPN). The Aurora Charter Air Service will operate from mid-December through April 2024, and is available to Aurora guests as well as travelers to and from Anguilla who are not staying at the resort.
Intra-regional service has also expanded with new routes between Anguilla, Antigua and St. Barths. Anguilla Air Services (www.anguillaairservices.com) is operating scheduled flights between Anguilla (AXA) and Antigua (ANU) three times per week on Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday, from November 3, 2023 until April 2024.
In October 2023, Tradewind Aviation announced a codeshare with British Airways to offer interline booking. Flights between Antigua (ANU) and Anguilla (AXA) will operate from mid-January 2024 to early April, on Saturdays and Sundays. The carrier will also run a scheduled service from St Barths to Anguilla three times per week between January 18 and April 8, 2024, while their regular scheduled service from San Juan (SJU) to Anguilla will operate five days a week from December 14 through April 8, 2024.
For information on Anguilla please visit the official website of the Anguilla Tourist Board: www.IvisitAnguilla.com; follow us on Facebook: Facebook.com/AnguillaOfficial; Instagram: @Anguilla_Tourism; YouTube; Twitter: @Anguilla_Trsm, Hashtag: #MyAnguilla.
Editors’ Note: About Anguilla: Tucked away in the northern Caribbean, Anguilla is a shy beauty with a warm smile. A slender length of coral and limestone fringed with green, the island is ringed with 33 beaches, considered by savvy travelers and top travel magazines, to be the most beautiful in the world. A fantastic culinary scene, a wide variety of quality accommodations at varying price points, a host of attractions and exciting calendar of festivals make Anguilla an alluring and entrancing destination.
Anguilla lies just off the beaten path, so it has retained a charming character and appeal. Yet because it can be conveniently reached from three major gateways – Miami (MIA), Puerto Rico (SJU) and St. Maarten (SXM), and by private air, it’s a hop and a skip away. Romance? Barefoot elegance? Unfussy chic? And untrammeled bliss? Lose The Crowd. Find Yourself. In Anguilla.
