The languid community of Road Bay, also known as Sandy Ground, is the improbable deep water port for Anguilla, a Caribbean island blessed by a preponderance of silky beaches and a dearth of cruise ship visits. Just 16 miles long and no more than 3 miles in width, this British Overseas Territory lies just across the channel from bustling St. Martin.  

Built in the late 1980s, the Moorish architecture of Cap Juluca helped set the style for resorts to come on Anguilla. The hotel's 19 villas are broken into individual units of varying sizes, many with private swimming pools, all opening onto exquisite Maunday's Bay.  

Of Anguilla's 30-some superb beaches, perhaps none is smaller than Little Bay. But it is a special hideout, just big enough for a snuggling couple or two, accessed by boat from Crocus Bay.  

Although Anguilla's population of 12,000 is increasingly involved in the island's growing tourism, fishing remains a livelihood for a number of residents, with a local specialty being spiny lobsters that favor these cerulean seas.  

The lively shoreside restaurant at the modestly priced resort Ku is a fine place to while away a day alongside shimmering Shoal Bay Beach.  

On an island comprised of one stunning beach after another, Shoal Bay is a favorite—no small claim to fame—with easy-going beach bars that pulse with gentle reggae and delicious grilled fare.  

Built by the same-named kitchenware company, CuisinArt Resort straddles sumptuous Rendezvous Bay. The hotel has an excellent new spa and the cuisine is supplemented by produce grown in the sprawling hydroponic farm on property.  

The chic and subdued Malliouhana Resort overlooking ravishing Meads Bay was Anguilla's first luxury property, lending a refined European style to the island.  

New York-based architect Myron Goldfinger built his resort CoveCastles with a futuristic interpretation of Mediterranean 'castles in the sand' in mind. This and other Anguillan villas recall the whitewashed style of Greek islands, but the vibe, warmth, and beaches at CoveCastle remain unmistakably Caribbean.  

The sweeping arc of Maundays Bay—almost a mile in length—is ideal for beach strolls morning, noon, and night, especially with the bars and watersports of Cap Juluca close at hand. St. Martin shimmers across the channel, just a 20-minute ferry hop away.