Fast Facts

Banks -- Banks with ATMs are open Monday to Thursday 8am to 3pm, Friday 8am to 5pm. The most reliable is Scotiabank, The Valley, Fairplay Commercial Complex (tel. 264/497-3333).

Currency -- The Eastern Caribbean dollar (EC$) is the official currency of Anguilla, although U.S. dollars are the actual "coin of the realm." The exchange rate is permanently fixed at EC$2.70 to each US$1 (EC$1 = US37¢/50p). Unless otherwise specified, prices in this section are quoted in U.S. dollars and British pounds.

Customs -- Even for tourists, duties are levied on imported goods at varying rates: from 5% on foodstuffs to 30% on luxury goods, wines, and liquors.

Documents -- All visitors must have an onward or return ticket. U.S., British, and Canadian citizens must have a valid passport.

Electricity -- The electricity is 110-volt AC (60 cycles), so no transformers or adapters are necessary to use U.S. appliances.

Hospitals -- For medical services, consult the Princess Alexandra Hospital, Stoney Ground (tel. 264/497-2551 or 2552), or one of several district clinics.

Language -- English is spoken here.

Liquor Laws -- Beer, wine, and liquor are sold 7 days a week during regular business hours. It's legal to have an open container on the beach.

Pharmacies -- Go to the Health Authority at the Princess Alexandra Hospital, Stoney Ground (tel. 264/497-2551 or 2552), open Monday to Friday from 8am to 5pm and Saturday from 10am to noon.

Police -- You can reach the police at their headquarters in The Valley (tel. 264/497-2333) or the substation at Sandy Ground (tel. 264/497-2354). In an emergency, dial tel. 911.

Post Office -- The main post office is on Wallblake Road, The Valley (tel. 264/497-2528). Collectors consider Anguilla's stamps valuable, and the post office also operates a philatelic bureau, open Monday to Thursday from 8am to 3:30pm, Friday 8am to 5pm. Airmail postcards and letters cost US$1.50 (80p) to the U.S., Canada, and the United Kingdom.

Safety -- Although crime is rare here, secure your valuables; never leave them in a parked car or unguarded on the beach. Anguilla is one of the safest destinations in the Caribbean, but you should still take standard precautions.

Taxes -- The government collects a 10% tax on rooms and a departure tax of US$20 (£10) if you leave the island by air, US$3 (£1.55) if you leave by boat.

Telephone -- Telephone, cable, and Telex services are offered by Cable & Wireless Ltd., Wallblake Road, The Valley (tel. 264/497-3100), open Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm. To call the United States from Anguilla, dial 1, the area code, and the seven-digit number.

Time -- Anguilla is on Atlantic Standard Time year-round, which means it's usually 1 hour ahead of the U.S. East Coast -- except when the U.S. is on daylight saving time, when the clocks are the same.

Weather -- The hottest months in Anguilla are July to October; the coolest, December to February. The mean monthly temperature is about 80°F (27°C).