The tourist forums are always abuzz with these common shopping questions, so I thought I would put this one out to help those who are planning their trip to Anguilla. An essential thing to keep in mind when spending money in Anguilla is that we do not have any factories here. Every item is imported which incurs shipping and duty. Business owners therefore need to factor these costs into the prices of their items. Do not expect things on the shelves in Anguilla to be priced as they would be in your home country.

1. There are 4 major grocery stores: J.W. Proctor’s, Lake’s World, Best Buy (locations in both the East and West) and Ashley & Son’s. There are also several smaller Chinese-owned, bodega-style stores in every village. You will find the largest selection of American products at Best Buy. You don’t need to bring a suitcase of food with you on your vacation to Anguilla unless you have severe dietary restrictions. You will be able to find products which fit your needs at any of these grocery stores if you’re gluten-free or vegan.

2. You will need to walk with your own re-usable shopping bag. Anguilla has banned single-use plastics, although some stores offer biodegradable plant-based plastic bags for purchase with your groceries. It is more environmentally-friendly to bring a shopping bag with you for your groceries.

3. There is no need to bring diapers with you if you’re traveling to Anguilla with a baby or toddler. You will be able to find diapers and training pants like Pull-Ups in a variety of sizes at any store. I’ve often had the most success finding disposable swim diapers at Best Buy.

4. Prices in the grocery stores and any government entity will be in Eastern Caribbean dollars. This is the official currency of Anguilla and the exchange rate is US$1 = EC$2.7169. This rate does not change as the EC dollar is locked to the US dollar.

5. Other places (like car rentals, galleries, boutiques and restaurants) will display their prices in USD. You can spend both US and EC cash in Anguilla. However, do not be surprised if you pay in US and receive your change in EC.

6. Anguilla is not a destination known for its retail, but if you are in the mood for shopping, there are some great places to pick things up. Check out Beach Happy (located in Blowing Point) for anything beach-related during your trip. You can find souvenirs at places like Irie Life (South Hill) and Bijoux (Sandy Ground). The hotels all have boutiques on property which boast an array of items to commemorate your trip as well.

7. What do you do if the airline lost your luggage? If you need to get essential clothing basics while you are here, visit GEM Exclusive and Shop & Take which are located in The Valley right next-door to one another.

8. You will need to travel to Anguilla with cash for: taxis, gas stations, roadside vendors and your ferry ride (if you fly through St. Maarten). Visa and Mastercard are accepted widely across the island, however AMEX and Discover not so much.

9. There are only three gas stations in Anguilla which take credit cards. I most frequently use the one in The Valley near Digicel and the one in Long Path near Tropical Distributors if I don’t have cash on me.

10. If you are looking to stock up on wine, visit Grand Vins De France for a wide selection of wine for any budget. You can also find wine, beer and liquor in any of the aforementioned grocery stores.


I hope this little list is helpful in your trip planning! Follow me on Instagram for a peek into my daily life in Anguilla!