Rendezvous Bay. Meads Bay. Shoal Bay. Maundays Bay. In just about any other destination, each of these would be the best beach on the whole island. In Anguilla, they’re all here.
They run long and pale, edged by calm water and just enough development to make a day feel complete without ever feeling crowded. You move between them easily, sometimes by design, sometimes just because the light looks better a few miles down the road. This is what Anguilla does better than anywhere else: space, consistency, and beaches that never feel overused.
Getting here has always been the tradeoff. That’s now changing.
The News
Anguilla has added three new nonstop flights from the northeastern United States, with AnguillAir, operated by BermudAir, launching direct service from Boston, Newark, and Baltimore/Washington. The inaugural flights began rolling out in mid-December, adding new nonstop gateways from the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic into the heart of the winter season.
Each route operates twice weekly, expanding access to an island that has traditionally required a connection through nearby hubs. The new flights also arrive at a pivotal moment, coinciding with the opening of Anguilla’s new Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport terminal, which officially began welcoming passengers just days before the first arrivals touched down.
Together, the routes and the terminal represent one of the most meaningful upgrades to Anguilla’s arrival experience in years.
Why This Matters Now
Anguilla’s appeal has never been about volume. Fewer flights helped protect the island’s calm, but they also made travel days longer and shorter stays harder to justify. These new nonstops change how the island fits into your travel calendar.
If you’re coming from the northeastern United States, you now spend less time stitching together connections and more time on the island itself. Five-night trips feel natural instead of tight. Long weekends become possible without turning travel days into endurance tests. The journey begins to match the pace of the place.
The timing matters, too. Winter is Anguilla’s prime season, when humidity drops, the water clears, and the beaches look almost unreal in clear light. Demand is strong, but the island never tips into chaos. Easier access during this window doesn’t change the atmosphere. It simply removes friction.
The Arrival Experience
The flights are operated by BermudAir using Embraer 190 aircraft, configured without middle seats, so you always have either an aisle or a window. It’s a small detail, but it sets the tone. Boarding feels calmer. The cabin feels less compressed. The flight feels like the beginning of a vacation rather than something to get through.
On arrival, the experience is noticeably smoother. The new terminal is modern and efficient without feeling oversized for the island. You move through quickly, collect your bags, and step straight into warm air. Taxis are waiting just outside, and because Anguilla is compact, you’re usually at your hotel within minutes.
You don’t lose half a day arriving here anymore. That changes how the trip feels from the start.
What the Island Gives You
What I love about Anguilla is that you’re never locked into one version of the island. Beaches stay wide and uncrowded, even in high season, and you don’t need a plan for every hour. You can move easily from Shoal Bay East to Meads Bay to Maundays Bay without changing the pace of the day or the feel of the trip.
Shoal Bay East stays bright and shallow, ideal for swimming and long walks along the waterline. Meads Bay runs wide and steady, with room to settle in without feeling watched or managed. Maundays Bay feels almost sculpted, framed by low development and calm water that holds its color throughout the day. Rendezvous Bay stretches long and open, with a way of slowing you down without asking.
Distances are short. Traffic never defines the day. You’re free to let the island guide the rhythm.
The Food Scene
Food is one of Anguilla’s quiet strengths, and it reveals itself slowly. For an island just over 30 square miles, there are roughly 100 restaurants, a number that surprises most first-time visitors once they start eating.
Seafood anchors the menu culture (hello, Jacala), but the range is broader than you expect. You’ll find beach shacks serving grilled lobster steps from the water, casual lunches built around snapper and rice and peas, and dinners where Caribbean flavors meet French, Italian, and Asian influences. Many of the best meals happen in small, owner-run restaurants, where consistency and reputation matter more than scale. Of course, then there’s Veya (if you know, you know).
Beachfront dining is part of daily life here. Tables sit close to the sand. Shoes stay optional. You can decide where to eat without locking in plans days ahead, especially outside the busiest holiday weeks. Meals stretch. Conversations linger. The sound of the sea does most of the work.
Where to Stay
Aurora Anguilla anchors the island’s resort offering on the southwest coast. The property combines a long stretch of beach with one of the Caribbean’s most complete resort setups, including a championship golf course, multiple pools, and a wellness program designed around actually slowing down. It’s a strong choice if you want room to settle in and the option to stay largely on property without feeling boxed in.
On Shoal Bay East, Zemi Beach House delivers a more intimate experience on one of Anguilla’s most consistently beautiful beaches. Rooms are refined without feeling formal, the dining scene is thoughtful and well-paced, and the spa draws on Thai wellness traditions in a way that feels natural rather than themed.
Tranquility Beach offers a different rhythm altogether. Set directly on Meads Bay, the 15-unit property focuses on beachfront villa-style suites that feel residential rather than resort-driven. Days unfold at your own pace, with space to spread out and a setting that feels closer to living on the island than visiting it briefly. (It’s a great family resort, as one of our editors found).
Easier to Reach, Same Anguilla
What’s changed is the journey, not the destination. With new nonstop flights and a modernized terminal, getting to Anguilla is faster and simpler. Once you arrive, the island behaves exactly as it always has.
Beaches remain uncrowded. Evenings stay quiet unless you want them otherwise. The pace never feels rushed. You’re not navigating crowds or schedules. You’re just on the island.
That balance matters. Many destinations change once access improves. Anguilla has made the trip easier without making the place busier.
The Bottom Line
With new nonstop flights from Boston, Newark, and Baltimore/Washington, Anguilla has made a meaningful move to simplify the journey while keeping the destination itself unchanged. For travelers drawn to wide beaches, understated luxury, a world-class dining scene, and a smoother arrival, these new routes open the door to one of the Caribbean’s most consistently rewarding islands.
Prices on BermudAir
So what do these flights cost? As an example, we found fares from Boston to Anguilla roundtrip for about $1,198 roundtrip. That’s pretty steep. Of course, this is the only way to get nonstop to Anguilla from any of these three cities. If you want to fly from Boston to Anguilla through Miami on American Airlines, for instance, it will only run about $594 — but it will take you about nine hours of flight and layover time. That’s the trade off. But the idea of being able to board a plane in one of these cities and arrive directly in Anguilla, well, it’s compelling.
