Anguilla
| General Information
General Info, Travel Info, & FAQs are provided to assist with your vacation.
ATMs Not all ATMs in the Caribbean operate like those in your home country. Some may only accept a four digit PIN number, so if yours is longer you may want to change it before your trip. Ensure you keep your travel money in your primary chequing account as some ATMs default to this account and will not allow you to choose another. Withdrawal fees are generally much higher outside your home country.
The main banks are Caribbean Commercial Bank (tel 264/497-2571), FirstCaribbean International Bank (tel 264/497-2301), National Bank of Anguilla (tel 264/497-2101) and Scotiabank (tel 264/497-3333). Generally they accept MasterCard and Visa on the Cirrus/Maestro and Electron/Plus networks and dispense Eastern Caribbean as well as US dollars. (FirstCaribbean only dispenses Eastern Caribbean dollars.)
BANKING AND BUSINESS HOURS Banks Mon-Thurs 8am-3pm (First Caribbean is only open until 2pm on Wed) Fri 8am-5pm
Post Office Mon-Fri 8am-4pm
CHURCHES/RELIGIONS Mostly Protestant, including Anglican, Methodist, Seventh-day Adventist and Baptist. Roman Catholic is also represented.
CURRENCY AND CREDIT CARDS The local currency is the Eastern Caribbean dollar (EC$ or XCD), which is divided into 100 cents. Paper money runs in denominations of EC$5, EC$10, EC$20, EC$50 and EC$100 bills, and coins in 1¢, 2¢, 5¢, 10¢, 25¢ and EC$1 pieces. US dollars are widely accepted and prices on menus and for hotel activities are generally quoted in US dollars. Most shops, hotels and restaurants accept major credit cards.
To ensure hassle-free purchases during your trip, you may want to contact your credit card company and let them know you will be travelling abroad.
EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS American Express: lost or stolen card, 336/393-1111 (call collect); lost or stolen cheques or cheque cards, 800/452-0519 Discover Card: 801/902-3100 MasterCard: 800-1561 Visa: 410/902-8022 (call collect)
DEPARTURE TAX A departure tax of US$25 is payable in cash at the airport.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS All visitors must present a valid passport with at least six months validity remaining on it, and must also have an onward or return ticket. Visitors holding green cards must present a valid passport from their country of origin with at least six months validity remaining on it, as well as a valid green card.
Nationals of countries other than Canada, the UK and the US may require a visa or Direct Airside Transit Visa (DATV). Consult your nearest Anguilla consulate/embassy or call the Anguilla Immigration Department at 264/497-3994.
Note: As of January 8, 2007, all persons travelling by air to the Caribbean, Mexico and Bermuda will require a valid passport, Air NEXUS card or US Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Document to enter and/or re-enter the United States in accordance with the US Government's Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. For more information visit the US Government's Bureau of Consular Affairs website at www.travel.state.gov.
Some countries require single/lone parents or other adults travelling alone with children to provide documents showing evidence of parental/custodial and/or access rights, and/or documents authorizing consent from the parents, legal guardian and/or the court for the children to travel. Parents of adopted children, particularly those of a different nationality, should carry the proper documents.
NEAREST FOREIGN REPRESENTATION British High Commission: 246/430-7800 (Barbados) High Commission of Canada: 246/429-3550 (Barbados), 888/949-9993 (toll free in Anguilla), 800/387-3124 (toll free to Ottawa) US Embassy, Consular Section: 246/431-0225 (Barbados)
EXCHANGE RATES
As of October 26, 2006
US$
EC$/XCD
British pound sterling
1.87562
5.11106
Canadian dollar
0.88765
2.41885
European Union euro
1.25755
3.42682
Japanese yen
0.008390
0.02286
Swiss franc
0.79009
2.15299
US dollar
--
2.72500
HEALTH STANDARDS Princess Alexandra Hospital (tel 497-2551), located in Sandy Ground, is the only hospital on the island. Hotel de Health (tel 497-4166) is a private facility located in Palm Court, Seafeathers Bay. Outside the capital medial facilities are limited. Serious cases may be transferred to neighboring islands or Miami, Florida. Your home medical program may not provide payment for medical services outside your home country. Obtaining adequate medical/travel insurance, including air ambulance coverage, and consulting a physician or travel medicine specialist six to eight weeks prior to your trip to determine health risks and necessary vaccinations is recommended.
There are a number of pharmacies on the island. The Paramount Pharmacy (tel 497-2366) located on Water Swamp in The Valley is open Mon-Sat 8:30am-7pm and their second location on Lower South Hill (tel 498-2366) is open Mon-Sat 8am-4pm. They also have a 24-hour emergency service. The Anguilla Drug Store (tel 497-2738) has three locations: The Valley, Malliouhana Hotel and the airport. The Princess Alexandria Hospital also has a pharmacy.
For all emergencies dial 911.
ILLEGAL ITEMS Anguilla law imposes harsh penalties for possession, use or trafficking in illegal drugs, and strict regulations for exporting or temporarily importing firearms and certain marine and animal specimens.
For more information call Customs and Excise at 264/497-2513 or 497-5313.
LANGUAGE English
POSTAGE The post office (tel 497-2528), located on Wallblake Rd in The Valley, is open Mon-Fri 8am-4pm. Airmail to North America can take one to two weeks and to the UK, two to three weeks. Courier service is also available.
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS Jan 1 New Year's Day Mar/Apr (varies) Good Friday Mar/Apr (varies) Easter Monday May 1 Labour Day May 30 Anguilla Day May/June (varies) Whit Monday June 12 Celebration of Her Majesty the Queen's Birthday Aug (first Mon) August Monday Aug (first Thurs) August Thursday Aug 11 Constitution Day Dec 19 Separation Day Dec 25 Christmas Day Dec 26 Boxing Day
Note: When a designated holiday falls on a Sun, the public holiday is observed on the Mon.
SHOPPING HOURS Shops are generally open Mon-Sat 9am-5pm, but some may close for lunch breaks. They are usually closed on Sun and public holidays.
TAXES All hotels add a 10% accommodations tax to bills.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS The phone system on Anguilla is modern and Internet and cellular services are available.
The country code is 264. Local phone numbers have seven digits. For local directory enquiries dial 411; international directory enquiries, 555-1212; and international operator assistance, 0. For calls to the US and Canada dial 1 + area code + local number. For calls to other countries dial 011 + country code + area code + local number.
Cable and Wireless/C&W (tel 497-3100) provides telecommunications services. Public coin phones accept either EC or US 25¢ coins for local, international and toll-free calls. C&W also sells prepaid Phonecards at C&W offices or authorized vendors for use in card phones located around the island or on any Touch-Tone phone. Dial 1-800-744-7722 then enter the card number printed in bold on the back of the card.
To use American Express, Discover, MasterCard or Visa dial 1-800-225-5872 or dial the following number based on your language preference and follow the voice prompts: English, 1-800-744-2000 French, 1-800-744-2001 German, 1-800-744-2002 Spanish, 1-800-744-2003 Italian, 1-800-744-2004
To make collect calls dial 1-800-744-5555 and follow the voice prompts.
You can also dial 1-800 CALL USA to use US calling cards, major credit cards or to make collect calls.
For more information see the section in FAQs: Can I use my calling card from here?
Cable & Wireless and Digicel (tel 498-3444) provide cellular roaming services. Check with your service provider to see if they have a roaming agreement with them.
TEMPERATURES Temperatures vary between the high 70s to high 80s with a monthly mean of 80°F.
TIME ZONE The island is on Atlantic Standard Time year round, which is four hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). During the summer the time is the same as on the east coast of North America and during the winter, the time is one hour ahead.
Disclaimer: Information is provided as a service to visitors and is updated regularly. All
information should be verified prior to travel.
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GENERAL INFO
