What drew me to Anguilla, aside from its impossibly clear turquoise waters and the warm, easy smiles of its people, were a few very particular charms that felt too good to resist.

First, the music. Anguilla hums with rhythm - reggae, Calypso, Soca, even a little island-country twang. This tiny Caribbean gem has produced more than its fair share of musical legends. We had long earmarked our visit with a mission: to catch the legendary Bankie Banx in his natural habitat, a beach shack we’d romanticized through stories and sound. It didn’t disappoint. The laid-back vibe of Anguilla is unspoken - no dress code, no airs - just sun, soul, and a smile. With every note and every bite of grilled fish, it was like exhaling deeply into a slower, more soulful way of life.

And then there was the Malliouhana. A hotel that’s not just a stay but a story - bursting with colour, rich with character, and proudly unchanged by time. The walls are adorned with joyful, naive paintings that whisper memories of the past, grounding the glamour in something much more soulful.