Caribbean dreamingOK! heads to idyllic island of anguilla for sun, sand and star spotting…

on Anguilla for six years and the first to be situated on Shoal Bay East. The boutique beach-front hotel, featuring 54 rooms, nine two and three bed-suites (all have a balcony

or terrace) and six restaurants, has a distinctly Asian feel, with stone-carved reliefs and lanterns. The spa is pretty special too, being

housed within a 300-year-old ancient timber teahouse, as well as a yoga deck and the island’s only hammam.

After an al fresco breakfast on the terrace, OK! liked to relax on one of the turquoise-cushioned sun loungers – which perfectly match the colour of the sea – before cooling off in the infinity pool that has an underwater window. We were also a fan of the hotel’s Rhum Room, which

offers 100 different varieties of rum – OK! only sampled a few, but that gives us the

perfect excuse for a return visit!

What Can i do?The best way to see the island is on a boat trip. From the jetty at Sandy Ground, OK! set sail

The sunshine isle of Anguilla used to be a well-kept secret among its fans. A tiny slither of an island set adrift in the eastern Caribbean, where goats

outnumber the 14,500 inhabitants, it’s now a firm favourite with the American A-list. And, although Brits may not be as familiar with Anguilla – an island so small it’s home to just six sets of traffic lights – it’s a British Overseas Territory and English is the official language.

Surrounded by tiny islets and cays endearingly named Prickly Pear, Sombrero and Seal, OK!’s Zoë Hill packed her sunnies, swimwear and SPF and discovered that Anguilla boasts some of the world’s best beaches, fab bars and a laid-back vibe which locals call ‘liming’ – otherwise known as the art of relaxing and doing nothing at all…

WhiCh stars might i see?Small but perfectly formed, Anguilla has an army of loyal celebrity fans, including Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Liam Neeson – who has dined at Trattoria Tramonto on Shoal Bay West – Beyoncé

and Jennifer Lopez. Justin Bieber saw in the New Year in Anguilla, jamming on stage with local reggae legend Bankie Banx at his driftwood beach bar, the Dune Preserve. He was also photographed banana boating with his family and hanging out with model Hailey Baldwin. Also on the island over New Year were Harry Styles and Kendall Jenner, who were spotted having a cosy dinner at Blanchards.

Where Can i stay?OK! stayed at two places during our trip, checking in first to Ani Villas, two white cube-shaped villas perched in majestic isolation on a rugged peninsula overlooking Little Bay. The adjoining villas can be rented together or separately and come with their own staff to cater for your every need. The cliff-top terrace

in the garden became our favourite place to spot sea turtles swimming in the ocean below and also to watch the spectacular sunsets while sipping a rum punch. The balcony of our suite offered more incredible views of the infinity pool, lush gardens and the sea beyond. There’s a tennis court and mountain bikes for active types, or you can head down to the secluded Little Bay beach at the base of the cliffs.

Our second stop was Zemi Beach House Resort & Spa – the only new-build hotel to open

Main: The beautiful white sandy shores and clear turquoise sea of Shoal Bay. Below: Hit the

pool at the idyllic Zemi Beach House Resort & Spa. Below centre: Anguilla fan Kendall Jenner

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OK! stayed in the lap of luxury at the

plush Ani Villas

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aboard Tradition, at 50ft wooden sailing boat, under the capable hands of Tradition Sailings’ owners Laurie and Deb, who are passionate about the island and regaled us with plenty of stories – as well as keeping our glass topped up! On our journey we were fortunate to have several sea turtles for company, before being dazzled by stingrays and a host of colourful fish when we stopped to snorkel at Little Bay.

Also on the water, we tried our hand at paddleboarding, under the patient guidance of one of Anguilla Watersports’ instructors, who kindly encouraged our amateurish efforts. More confident paddleboarders can enjoy a tour of hidden lagoons along the coastline, but our aim was just to remain (mostly) upright!

Elsewhere, learn about the history of the island at the Heritage Museum in the East End, or explore the great outdoors – there are around 20 wetland areas, home to pelicans and flamingos – with Nature Explorers Anguilla.

If you’re looking to buy a souvenir from your trip, head to Limin’ Boutique in the West End Village – we loved the pieces of jewellery made with local sand, the spicy jams and preserves from local company Anguilla’s Jammin’ and the stylish bags made from boat sails. Where Can i eat?One of the most memorable places OK! had lunch was on Sandy Island, just a short boat ride from Sandy Ground. It’s a tiny island, completely deserted apart from one bar serving the most incredible seafood. Place your order (our top tip – go for the lobster), then head for a swim or chill out on a hammock until lunch is served.

For lunch with a view, head to Smokey’s At The Cove, located on one of the island’s most beautiful beaches, Cove Bay. Grab a table outside and enjoy a Smokey’s burger with Creole sauce and a refreshing ice-cold Ting – a grapefruit-flavoured fizzy drink, a favourite in the Caribbean.

For fabulous food, don’t miss the charming Straw Hat, with its outstanding location right on Meads Bay. The decor takes its inspiration from the restaurant’s name, with a central chandelier adorned with straw hats and freshly baked bread

served in them too. We loved the blackened shrimp and lobster tacos to start and the grilled local crayfish with plantain, rounded off with Caribbean lime cheesecake.

Sandy Ground is a lovely stretch of white sand with a few low-key beach bars as well as Veya, one of the island’s more stylish

restaurants. Highlights from our five-course dinner were the conch fritters and the red snapper with a citrus garlic sauce, washed down with several fruit daiquiris. It’s famous for its live music and we were lucky enough to enjoy a performance from Bankie’s son Omari Banks. We just had to buy one of his CDs to keep the holiday feeling going on our return home!

hoW do i get there?British Airways (www.britishairways.com) flies from Gatwick to Antigua from £617 return. Liat (www.liat.com) runs a daily connecting flight from Antigua to Anguilla from £190 return.

Prices at Ani Villas (www.anivillas.com/destinations/anguilla) start from £3,600 per night for the four-bedroom villa, £4,500 per night for the six-bedroom villa, and £6,000 to take over the two villas during low season. Room rates at Zemi Beach House Resort & Spa (www.zemibeach.com) start from £467 per night for a double room.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT WWW.IVISITANGuILLA.COM. FOR MORE ON TRADITION SAILING, SEE WWW.TRADITION-SAILING.COM; FOR NATuRE ExPLORERS, SEE WWW.NATuREExPLORERSANGuILLA.COM; AND FOR ANGuILLA WATERSPORTS, VISIT WWW.ANGuILLAWATERSPORTS.COM.

REPORT BY ZOE HILL EDITED BY ANNABEL MACKIE, OK! TRAVEL EDITOR FIVE OF THE BEST AND TRAVELLERS’

TALES BY NANCY BROWN PHOTOGRAPHS BY ALAMY, GETTY IMAGES, REx

OK!

Holiday EssEntials5 of the best1 LabeL Lab tie dye spLit baCk bLouse, £45, www.houseoffraser.co.uk. Perfect post-dip when you’re dye-ing for a spot of lunch! Simply throw on this stylish cover-up and hit the beach bar. 2 marie meiLi ambrosia bandeau bikini, £25.98, www.surfdome.com. This nautical and nice two-piece is ideal for some pool-side posing. Chic and lightly padded, it’s the perfect addition to your holiday wardrobe.3 beLkin mixit Lightning-to-usb Leather tassLe, £24.99, www.belkin.com. Say goodbye to tangles with this discreet charging cable. Simply clip onto your handbag or keys and whip it out to plug in on the move. 4 hotsquash thames boW dress, £85, www.hotsquash.com. Great for high summer, this striped dress is made with CoolFresh temperature-controlled fabric, so as the weather heats up, you stay super-cool.5 beLkin mobiLe WireLess keyboard, £79.99, www.belkin.com. A great little travel find, this keyboard pairs with your phone or tablet via Bluetooth, and makes catching up on your correspondence while on the go an absolute breeze.

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BarBados

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anguilla

Enjoy a boat trip among the sea turtles

Try your hand at stand-up

paddleboarding

traveLLers’ taLes

the ‘strictly’ star on dancing round the med and holiday beauty…

You recently took part in the Strictly Come Dancing cruise around the Med – how was it?It was fun. I was dancing with Giovanni Pernice, we do all our shows together as we’re from the same dance school in Bologna – I lived there for 14 years when I was younger. I’ve also done a Saga cruise with Robin Windsor. It went to Greece and Turkey – we got off in Athens and I was thinking it would be all little white houses and views of the sea, but it really wasn’t. The Acropolis was way up on the top of a hill so we went all the way there and it was closed!

Have you ever had a holiday disaster?Yes. I was 15 and I went on holiday with my first boyfriend and his family but, because I knew I was moving to Italy, I felt like I had to be honest and so I dumped him on the plane on the way there! His parents weren’t happy and he didn’t talk to me, so I spent the ten days by the pool on my own!

Who’s your perfect holiday companion?My two best friends, I’ve known them since I was 11. We went to Paris last year and we want to do that again. Or I’d bring someone who could do my hair and make-up and pamper me. I’ve just discovered a company called Prettly – they’d be good on holiday.

What’s your idea of the perfect holiday?I always say I want to relax, but I get bored easily. I’d rather go somewhere like Disney World in Florida to go on the rides. Disney is the Clifton family’s favourite place, my grandma has been 22 times in her lifetime!

JOANNE uSES PRETTLY, THE ON-DEMAND MOBILE BEAuTY SERVICE. SEE WWW.PRETTLY.COM.

Joanne CLifton