How to Use Points to Travel to Anguilla

Anguilla is a small idyllic island off the beaten track in the Caribbean. It’s overshadowed by other popular Caribbean islands, such as Barbados, St. Lucia, Saint Kitts and Nevis and the Cayman Islands. Yet, its underplayed status makes it the perfect location for a Caribbean holiday away from the crowds.

In this guide, we’ll look at the best ways to fly to Anguilla using points, as well as where to stay in Anguilla on points.

Planning Your Points-Based Anguilla Getaway

As an off-the-radar destination, Anguilla doesn’t have as many nonstop flights to its international airport—Anguilla-Clayton J. Lloyd Airport (AXA)—as other destinations do. However, you can fly with American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, either to Anguilla or to nearby neighboring islands such as St. Maarten, making it still relatively easy to reach on points.

Likewise, while there aren’t any Marriott or IHG properties and only one Hilton-owned hotel, you can still find ways to book a stay in Anguilla using your credit card points.

While your booking options may be more limited compared to other destinations, Anguilla will pay you back with fewer crowds, white-sand beaches, crystal-clear waters and some of the best food in the entire Caribbean.

The season running from December to April tends to have the best weather, with a great balance of sunshine and minimal rainfall without hurricanes. However, this also tends to be the busiest and thus most expensive time to visit. If you don’t mind visiting during the rainy season, May to early June and September to October offer some of the best deals and discounts, as these are typically the shoulder seasons.

Keep in mind that hurricane season runs from June to November, so keep an eye on weather warnings if you end up visiting during this time period and be sure to book your trip with a credit that offers travel insurance protection in the event of disruptions.

Let’s now look at the best ways to get to Anguilla using points.

Getting to Anguilla Using Points

The best way to get to Anguilla on points depends on where you’re based in the United States, as well as which credit card points you have a stash of. Let’s take a look at your options.

Flight Options and Connections

When flying to Anguilla, you have a number of options to choose from. You can either fly nonstop from select U.S. cities to Anguilla or you can fly nonstop to a neighboring island and catch the ferry to Anguilla.

American Airlines is currently the only airline offering consistent nonstop flights to Anguilla. It offers daily flights from Miami (MIA) to Anguilla, with all other American Airlines-operated flights from other U.S. cities to Anguilla connecting through Miami.

The other option is to fly to neighboring St. Maarten and then travel from St. Maarten to Anguilla on the public ferry. You can fly to St. Maarten nonstop with a wider range of carriers from a larger number of U.S. cities, making this a viable option.

Let’s now look at the rates you can expect to pay, your routing options and the best ways to go about securing the lowest award rates possible to Anguilla.

American Airlines

American Airlines dominates the U.S. market for flights to the Caribbean, making it a great option for getting you to Anguilla.

Most of American Airlines’ flights to the Caribbean go through Miami (MIA), which sees daily nonstop flights to Anguilla for most of the year.

American Airlines AAdvantage’s award search tool makes it easy to find the lowest award rates, as you can search by the month using calendar view.

You can find economy award rates for as low as 8,000 miles per way when flying from Miami to Anguilla (AXA).

You can also filter the search calendar by class of service, enabling you to find the cheapest business-class award rates to Anguilla.

The saver level for one-way business-class award fares to Anguilla is 20,000 miles. Having flexibility with your travel dates will enable you to secure the lowest award fares.

If you’re not based in Miami, you’ll need to connect through Miami on your way to Anguilla. American Airlines’ extensive network makes this easy and cost-effective. For instance, a one-way economy award fare from New York (JFK) to Anguilla with a connection to Miami costs just 8,000 miles while a business-class fare costs just 20,000 miles per way.

If you can’t find saver award availability when searching for your travel dates, you could instead book your American Airlines-operated award flight via Alaska’s Atmos Rewards.

For American Airlines-operated flights to Anguilla booked through Alaska, one-way economy award fares start at just 7,500 miles, while one-way business award fares start at 15,000 miles. If you’ve got fixed travel dates during a period of high travel demand, you can avoid the pitfalls of American Airlines’ dynamic award pricing by leveraging the partner award chart of Alaska’s Atmos Rewards to book your flights.

Alternatively, if you want to see another Caribbean island on your way to Anguilla or if you want to avoid a connection in Miami, you could consider flying with American Airlines to the neighboring island of St. Maarten. From here, you can take the public ferry across to Anguilla.

You can fly to St. Maarten from Miami, Charlotte (CLT), New York (JFK) and Philadelphia (PHL). However, not all of these flights run regularly so be sure to use calendar view to check your departure options.

Charlotte (CLT) has nonstop flights to St. Maarten on weekdays.

You can find nonstop economy award fares from Charlotte (CLT) to St. Maarten (SXM) for 8,000 miles per way.

You can search for business award fares by filtering the calendar overview by class of service.

While there’s not that much saver award availability, you can sometimes find business award fares for as low as 20,000 miles per way.

You can also fly nonstop from Philadelphia (PHL) to St. Maarten. Nonstop flights run every Saturday and you can filter the calendar to show you nonstop flights only.

You can find economy award fares for as low as 10,000 miles each way from Philadelphia.

It’s difficult to find saver award availability for business-class fares from Philadelphia, which is where booking through Alaska would score you better rates.

You can also fly nonstop from New York (JFK) to St. Maarten for around 10,000 miles in economy per way.

However, this route is seasonal, being available during the winter months only, with one weekly flight departing on Saturdays.

Overall, American Airlines has a ton of options for getting you to Anguilla on points.

Delta Air Lines

Unlike American Airlines, Delta Air Lines doesn’t offer any flights directly to Anguilla. However, you can fly nonstop to St. Maarten with Delta from a number of U.S. cities.

You could fly from Minneapolis St. Paul (MSP) to St. Maarten (SXM) for just 11,000 miles each way in basic economy or 14,000 miles in main cabin.

You could also fly nonstop to St. Maarten from New York (JFK) for 11,000 miles in basic economy or 14,000 miles in main cabin each way.

Likewise, you could fly nonstop to St. Maarten from Atlanta (ATL) for 27,000 miles each way in basic economy or 35,000 miles in main cabin.

When trying to secure the lowest rates with Delta, use its calendar search function to find the lowest award rates by the month.

If you don’t mind island hopping on the ferry to Anguilla, Delta is another great choice, particularly if your hub airport is Minneapolis St. Paul or Atlanta.

United Airlines

While United Airlines doesn’t operate flights to Anguilla, you can fly with United nonstop to St. Maarten from a handful of U.S. cities. You can also fly with Star Alliance partners such as Copa Airlines, opening up a wider number of connection options.

You can find economy saver awards with United from Newark (EWR) to St. Maarten from 13,100 miles nonstop per way.

You can also find business saver award fares from Newark to St. Maarten from 38,500 miles per way.

United also operates nonstop flights to St. Maarten from its hub in Washington-Dulles (IAD). You can find economy saver award fares from 20,000 miles per way from Washington (IAD) to St. Maarten.

You can also fly to St. Maarten from a number of other U.S. cities with a connection in San Juan (SJU) or Panama City (PTY).

For example, you could fly with Copa Airlines from Los Angeles (LAX) to St. Maarten with a connection in Panama City, for 22,000 miles in economy per way.

Alternatively, you could fly with Copa from Chicago (ORD) to St. Maarten with a connection in San Juan (SJU) for 22,000 miles in economy per way.

Because United is a Star Alliance member, you have tons of options for getting to St. Maarten from the U.S. with United or one of its partners, and for low rates if you can find saver award availability. Just be sure to log into your United account before searching for award fares as United displays more saver award availability to its members.

Best Hotels and Resorts for Point Redemptions

Once you’ve scored yourself award flights to Anguilla, the next task is to find a hotel to spend your vacation in.

Anguilla isn’t as flush with hotels that you can book with points as some other destinations, so even the best luxury hotel credit card won’t get you far. But its relaxed atmosphere and island charm more than make up for its slightly limited range of properties. And with some luxury hotels on offer, you can still score yourself an idyllic beachfront stay.

Let’s check out some of the best hotels in Anguilla and how to book them.

Zemi Beach House

Zemi Beach House is the only Hilton-owned property on the island, meaning you can pay for your stay using Hilton points. At this luxurious property, award nights start from 110,000 points per night, but the experience is well worth the steep cost.

The boutique resort spans six acres of Anguilla’s stunning coastline, with direct access to Shoal Bay Beach.

Amenities include an award-winning spa, four outdoor pools with private cabanas including an adult-only infinity pool, private tennis courts and a 24-hour fitness center.

When you’re done lounging in the spa, hitting the courts or swimming laps in the pool, you can head on over to one of the resort’s five on-site restaurants, from fine dining and local cuisine to rum tasting.

The kids will also have plenty to enjoy, whether its cooking classes, coconut bowling or treasure hunts with the Kids Club, or a day out snorkeling or exploring the island with the whole family.

Check out our Zemi Beach House review for a detailed guide to its amenities.

Four Seasons Resort and Residence Anguilla

Located on the West end of Anguilla, the Four Seasons Resort and Residence Anguilla offers five-star accommodations in a beachfront paradise, with top-notch dining and activities to match.

The hotel offers a mix of villas, penthouses, suites, residences and guest rooms to choose from, making it suitable for all types of travelers and vacations, whether it’s a romantic getaway or family trip of a lifetime.

From the comfort of your ocean-view room, you’ll have three outdoor pools, a fitness center and a sports pavilion, including a climbing wall, right on your doorstep. Kids and adults alike will be kept busy at the Four Seasons, as it’s easy to organize day trips and watersport activities through the hotel, whether it is sailing, snorkeling or stand-up paddleboarding.

You’ll also be overwhelmed with an array of dining options, from locally-caught seafood to barbecues and more, with five on-site restaurants to choose from.

While you can’t transfer points to Four Seasons properties when booking, you can book the Four Seasons through Chase Travel℠ and American Express Travel, using Pay with Points.

You’ll typically get the best value by using Chase Ultimate Rewards to pay for your stay, through either the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve®.

All information about Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card has been collected independently by 10x Travel. Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card is no longer available through 10xtravel.com.

Aurora Anguilla Resort & Golf Club

The Aurora Anguilla Resort & Golf Club offers guests a luxurious Caribbean escape. Formerly known as the CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa, the property underwent a substantial transformation and now stands as a world-class Caribbean destination.

The resort is based on the shores of the island’s Rendezvous Bay, offering spectacular views of crystal-clear waters and white sand beaches. Aurora Anguilla features a variety of accommodations, from elegantly designed suites to spacious beachfront villas, all equipped with modern amenities. Many of its rooms come with private balconies or terraces, giving you ample space and privacy.

Golf enthusiasts will appreciate the resort’s own 18-hole Greg Norman Signature Golf Course. You can enjoy panoramic Caribbean vistas while hitting a hole in one. And if your golfing skills are a bit rusty, Aurora’s academy of instructors can help you get back into the swing of it.

While the golfers are busy, partners can enjoy a catalogue of relaxation treatments at the resort’s spa, including massages, facials and body therapies.

And for those interested in neither golf nor the spa, the resort’s wide range of water sports, including snorkeling, kayaking, and paddleboarding, will keep them occupied from morning to night.

With five on-site restaurants to choose from and ingredients sourced directly from Aurora’s own organic hydroponic gardens, you’ll have a wealth of options when it comes to dining.

You can book this property through American Express Travel using Pay with Points, enabling you to save on out-of-pocket costs.

Final Thoughts

As any experienced traveler knows, the offbeat destinations are often the best. Anguilla fits the off-beat destination category perfectly, promising fewer crowds and more time spent in peace on the beach and in the water.

With a solid range of affordable flight options that can be booked using numerous credit card rewards currencies, as well as a selection of luxurious hotels bookable with points, Anguilla is well worth a spot on your travel bucket list.