BUSINESS HOURS:

Commercial: Mon - Fri 8.00 am - 5 pm Sat 8.00 am - 12.00 noon.

Banks: Mon- Fri: 9.00 am - 3 pm Monday-Thursday. Until 5pm on Fridays. Closed at weekends.

Post Office: Open 8:00 am to 3:30 pm Monday to Friday.

CLIMATE: The average daytime peak temperature is 83 Degrees Fahrenheit (29 Degrees Centigrade) with little seasonal variation. Rainfall averages 36 inches (910 mm) per annum. Low by the region's standards.

COMMUNICATIONS: A range of communication services including cardphones, payphones and credit card calling facilities arecurrently provided by Cable & Wireless. They also provide a number of internet services.

CURRENCY: Eastern Caribbean Dollar (EC$) U.S. currency generally accepted throughout the island.
Fixed exchange rates: US$1.00 = EC$2.70. EC$1.00 = US$0.37¢

DRESS CODE: Casual dress is normal although some hotels and restaurants require 'elegantly casual' in the evenings. Please ensure to cover up if you are venturing into the shops from the beach.

DRINKING WATER: Bottled water is most popular and is readily available in shops or at your hotel. Cisterns with underground storage facilities plus desalinated water are used for non-drinking purposes.

ELECTRICITY: 120/240 Volts AC (60 cycles) - same as that provided in the U.S.A.

GOVERNMENT: British Crown Colony. Westminster-style system of government with a Governor, an Executive Council and a House of Assembly.

LANGUAGE: English, with a distinct Anguillan accent.

LOCATION AND GEOGRAPHY: Latitude - 18.2 Degrees North Longitude - 63 Degrees West. Most northerly of the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean. The island is made primarily of coral limestone and therefore has no rivers. There are a number of ponds, however, supporting a diverse array of birdlife. The island's highest point is 213 feet (70 metres).

NIGHTLIFE: Take a look around the local bars and hotels as they provide a range of entertainment. The front desk at your hotel will be able to tell you which nights certain bars and nightclubs are popular. Be sure to ask about the Mayoumba Folkloric Theatre, made up of the best singers in tha Anguillan Choral Circle performing song and dance skits depicting Anguillan and Caribbean culture. Well worth it. There are a number of good bands too, among them Bankie Banks and his reggae band 'New Generations' or Sleepy and the All-Stars, to name a few.

SUNTANNING TIPS: Always have sunblock at the ready, as even on overcast days as you can easily become badly sunburnt and spoil your holiday. Try to get a sunblock that is water resistant as it is tedious to continually keep reapplying suntan creme every time you get out of the water. For those travelling on boats the need for sunblock is especially great; you've got very little shade and the consistent breezes may well make you feel that your skin is not burning. Pack a decent sized hat - preferably one that protects the back of you neck as well as your face. If going on a boat, make sure you have one that fits tightly around your head, or one with a chinstrap otherwise it will end up in the water. Avoid the intense mid-day sun if you can; this is when you are most likely to get sunburnt. Remember, build your tan slowly as a nasty bout of sunburn will put you out of action for a few days.

TIME ZONE: Atlantic Standard Time (4 hours behind Britain, 1 hour ahead of the U.S. Eastern Seaboard).

CALENDAR OF EVENTS: