If you love pristine beaches, a vacation in Anguilla is for you. This 35-square-mile island, the northernmost of the Leeward Islands in the eastern Caribbean, boasts 33 powder-soft, white-sand beaches. Some say they’re the best in the Caribbean. One of the advantages of an Anguilla vacation is judging for yourself.

Those who travel to Anguilla will find a small, laidback island free of the large-scale tourist complexes that exist in many other tropical locales. Anguilla instead features a fine collection of luxury resorts, as well as villas, condos, inns and guesthouses. The exclusive feel extends to dining, which Anguilla takes very seriously. With more than 70 restaurants, many serving gourmet meals, Anguilla is known as the cuisine capital of the Caribbean. It’s also a watersports haven, its calm, clear waters beckoning sailors, fishing enthusiasts, snorkelers and divers (nine wrecks lie offshore). Island-hopping is another popular pastime. St. Martin is a ferry ride away, and charter boats offer excursions to offshore cays and secluded sands.

U.S. citizens require a valid passport, and an onward or return travel ticket to enter Anguilla. There are no direct flights from the U.S. into Anguilla. Visitors fly into Puerto Rico, St. Maarten or Antigua and take a connecting flight. Or they can take the 20-minute ferry ride from St. Martin. Anguilla’s currency is the Eastern Caribbean dollar, but the U.S. dollar is widely accepted. To rent a car, you’ll need to purchase a local driver’s license for $20 after presenting your valid driver’s license. Driving is on the left, and it’s wise to make reservations in advance during high season. Anguilla is a British Dependent Territory and English is the mother tongue. For more information on Anguilla travel, log on to www.anguilla-vacation.com, the Anguilla Tourist Board’s website.