A First-Timer's Guide to Long Bay, Anguilla
If it's your first time in Long Bay, the essentials are simple. Fly in through St. Maarten or into Anguilla's own airport, plan on a car or a driver, give the trip at least a week, and reserve early if you're coming between December and April. The rest of the guide fills in the details, from arrival day to the homes we'd suggest on the sand.
Long Bay is a beach on Anguilla's northwest shore, and it makes a relaxed first base as long as you plan the logistics before you land.
Where Long Bay Sits on the Anguilla Map
Look at an Anguilla map and you'll see a long, narrow island running from southwest to northeast. Long Bay is on the north-facing side of its western end, in the district our site calls the West End. Meads Bay lies along the same stretch of coast. Our listing for Sky Villa puts Meads Bay Beach 1.6 kilometers away.
For anyone still wondering where Anguilla is: it's a low coral island in the northern Leeward Islands, a British Overseas Territory just north of St. Martin. The capital, The Valley, sits in the center of the island.
Getting There: Your First Time in Long Bay Starts With the Route
Flights to Anguilla usually involve a connection, so the route is the first thing to settle. There are two usual options:
- Through St. Maarten. Fly into Princess Juliana International Airport, then cross to Anguilla by boat, landing at Blowing Point on the south coast.
- Into Anguilla directly. Connect onto a regional flight into Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport, near The Valley.
Our listings for the two Long Bay homes below put the airport at 9.7 and 9.8 kilometers away. We can arrange the transfer from the boat or the plane, so you aren't working out a taxi line with luggage in hand.
Getting Around Once You've Arrived
A car or a driver is the practical answer on Anguilla. The island drives on the left, and the beaches are spread along both coasts, so you'll want wheels for anything beyond Long Bay itself.
If you'd rather not drive, our concierge can arrange drivers for dinners out and day trips. Boat days are the other way to see the island, especially to the offshore cays such as Sandy Island and Prickly Pear Cays, which are reached by sea.
How Long to Stay in Long Bay
We suggest at least a week for a first visit. The connection adds a step at each end of the trip, and Anguilla is a place that improves once you've slowed down. Three or four nights rarely leaves time for that.
A week gives you a rhythm: beach and pool days at the villa, a couple of long dinners elsewhere on the island, one boat day and one day with no plans at all. Ten nights or more suits families and larger groups who want time to settle in together.
What to Plan Ahead
A first trip runs more smoothly when a few decisions are made early. These are the ones we raise with every guest:
- Your dates. December through April is high season, and the Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30.
- The villa. Long Bay's homes vary in layout and service, so choose by who's coming, not only by size.
- Arrival transfers. Settle the route and the transfer before you fly.
- Dinner reservations. Book the evenings that matter to you before you arrive.
- A boat day. Charters to the offshore cays are worth arranging before you arrive.
Two Long Bay Homes for a First Visit
Long Bay has several homes on our site. For a first visit, we'd start with these two luxury homes for rent, which sit side by side and share a beach club house, tennis courts and a gym with the other Long Bay villas.
Long Bay Villas - Sea Villa is a beachfront home with its own private stairway down to the sand, an infinity-edge pool overlooking the ocean and an outdoor grill. A butler, a housekeeper and a daily continental breakfast service are listed, along with a property manager and concierge.
As a family-friendly villa, Long Bay Villas - Sky Villa works well for active groups. It has ocean views, a private stairway to the beach, an infinity-edge pool, a hot tub, a basketball court, and kayaks, paddleboards and snorkeling gear. A butler, daily housekeeping, a beach attendant and a daily continental breakfast service are listed.
Renting a villa in the Caribbean for the first time should feel easy. Every home in our portfolio is personally inspected before it joins us, and we check each one again before you arrive.
Frequently Asked Questions About a First Trip to Long Bay
How do you get to Long Bay, Anguilla?
The usual routes are through St. Maarten, followed by a boat crossing to Blowing Point, or a regional flight into Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport. We can arrange the transfer to your villa from either.
Do you need a car in Long Bay?
A car or a driver makes Anguilla much easier to enjoy. The island drives on the left, and our concierge can arrange drivers if you'd rather not take the wheel.
How many nights should a first trip to Long Bay be?
We suggest at least a week. That leaves room for beach days, a boat trip and a few dinners out without rushing.
Ready for Your First Time in Long Bay?
Your first time in Long Bay comes down to a few early choices: the route, the dates, the length of stay and the right home. Whether you picture yourself at Sea Villa, with its beachfront setting, or at Sky Villa with its water sports gear, we'll help with everything around it.
When you'd like to see the full range of homes in Long Bay, we're here.
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