CARIBBEAN VILLAS

About Island Hideaways

Island Hideaways has specialized in Caribbean villa vacations since 1986. We represent hundreds of luxury vacation villa rentals throughout the Caribbean islands. Island Hideaways was named "A first-rate agency that specializes in Caribbean properties" by BusinessWeek magazine, and our website is a Best of the Web pick by Forbes Magazine. Please call us toll-free at 800-832-2302, or email us at villas@islandhideaways.com with any questions, suggestions, or comments.

Passport Reminder

With recently implemented exceptions for special cases*, all travelers must present a passport to enter the United States. This includes U.S. citizens returning from the Caribbean. U.S. citizens visiting the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico do not need a passport because they are U.S. territories. Obtaining a passport can take a month or more, so plan ahead for holidays in the Caribbean.

* Announced by the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security on September 4, 2007: The temporary Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) accommodation, allowing U.S. citizens to travel by air within the Western Hemisphere, including the Caribbean, using a Department of State (DOS) official proof of passport application receipt, ended as scheduled at midnight on Sept. 30, 2007. U.S. citizens who departed the country under this travel accommodation prior to Oct. 1 with a Department of State official proof of passport application receipt and government-issued identification will be readmitted with these same documents if returning to the United States after Sept. 30.

Effective Oct. 1, 2007, U.S. Citizens traveling by air to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda must present a passport or other WHTI-compliant documentation to enter or depart from the United States. It is always strongly recommended that U.S. Citizens verify the specific documentary requirements for their destination country.

Past Issues

May 2008: Barbados
The Royal Villas at Half Moon, Visiting Dunn's River Falls, and Sugar Mill Restaurant.

April 2008: Jamaica
The Royal Villas at Half Moon, Visiting Dunn's River Falls, and Sugar Mill Restaurant.

February 2008: Turks & Caicos
Villa Lynda, Scuba Diving, Whale-Watching, and Da Conch Shack restaurant.

More Newsletters

Destination of the Month

June 2008 Edition - St. John

Welcome to Island Hideaways' Destination of the Month newsletter, a new series highlighting the very best villa vacation destinations across the Caribbean. In the same vein as our Villa of the Month newsletter, this monthly column will take you to some of the world's most beautiful tropical paradises. Once you're there, we'll introduce you to the area's top restaurants, activities, and villas so that you can make the most of your dream vacation. We still encourage you, however, to contact our Villa Consultants when you're planning your Caribbean villa vacation because they have personally inspected many of the properties we represent and know the islands intimately. If these newsletters are a road map to the best of a destination, you can consider our consultants your tour guides.

St. John

At 28 square miles, two thirds of which is a national park, this smallest and most intimate of the U.S. Virgin Islands is accessible only by boat, making it a diamond in the rough of the Caribbean Sea. St. John offers the Caribbean of old: quiet, lazy times, with little crime and none of the frenzy of urban life. Here, you'll discover solitude, miles of white-sand beaches, scenic hiking trails through the beautiful Virgin Islands National Park, and easy access to the British Virgin Islands; take a day trip to Tortola with occasional breaks to snorkel along the way. St. Thomas is nearby as well, and, if you're looking for a little excitement, that's the place to be.

But if you're seeking peace, go to St. John and stay there. Besides, what it lacks in the excitement and activity, it more than makes up for in natural wonders, including Trunk Bay, which is part of the national park and has consistently been voted one of the "Ten Best Beaches in The World" by Condé Nast Traveler magazine. For more information about this destination, please go to our: St. John destination guide.

Whether you're looking for a traditional tropical retreat, or you want to explore the island and discover the charm of St. John, a villa vacation allows you to experience the island on your own terms. In St. John, we offer a choice of more than 50 villa rentals, ranging from 2 to 6 bedrooms, many of which have cliff-top settings that provide dramatic, panoramic ocean views. Private staffing varies from property to property, though personalized services can be arranged when you book. Our villa consultants, who can help you choose the ideal villa rental for your situation, recommend the following for a superb luxury villa vacation in St. John:

2B at Peter Bay

Situated along a secluded hillside in the exclusive, gated community of Peter Bay, this four-bedroom waterfront villa has several levels for maximized views of the ocean just 50 feet below. An elegant portico welcomes you into this spectacular villa, and, as you step inside the foyer, the panoramic ocean view will take your breath away.

Inside 2B at Peter Bay, you'll discover a wide range of everyday comforts—along with some added luxury. From a 36-inch television with satellite service to high-speed Internet access, the amenities of this villa will make you forget you're not at home—until the stunning setting reminds you. For your comfort, all bedroom suites are air-conditioned and screened-in. Also, each bedroom has a ceiling fan and a private balcony from which you can enjoy the ocean breeze.

You'll have no problem staying cool when you go outside as well because 2B offers an inviting pool surrounded by a fully-furnished sun deck and a hot tub for eight. You can also enjoy the beach at Peter Bay from your private beach terrace, accessible from a path from the house and situated just 10 feet from crashing waves, or you can make the short, oceanside walk to the water.

For more information about this stunning vacation home in St. John, please go to the listing on our website. To learn more about this property or to make a reservation, you can also call us at 800-832-2302.

Best Bets: What to Do in St. John

If you prefer a villa vacation relaxing on beaches, St. John is the ideal choice. While the island is known for its peace and natural beauty, there is plenty to see and do. Adventurers can enjoy just about any watersport; nature lovers will discover an array of beautiful attractions, including The Reef Bay Trail, part of the more than 20 miles of hiking trails that weave through the national park, and Cinnamon Bay, the most famous campsite in the Caribbean.

Other popular attractions in St. John include Fort Berg, a former military base, and the Annaberg Sugar Mill Ruins, considered the most intact former sugar plantation in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The best way to see St. John during the daylight hours is via a taxi tour or by renting a four-wheel-drive vehicle. For those looking for action beyond the island of St. John a day trip to the nearby British Virgin Islands with breaks to snorkel or dive along the way might be the answer.

Finally, no visit to St. John should be devoid of a trip to the aforementioned beach at Trunk Bay. Among the amenities you'll find at this phenomenal Caribbean beach spot are showers, changing rooms, lifeguards, and a snack bar, but the highlight of Trunk Bay is our Activity of the Month, an underwater self-guided snorkel trail through the area's coral reef . . .

"Trunk Bay was definitely the best snorkeling we experienced in the USVI."
     - Anonymous traveler, Tripadvisor.com

Underwater Snorkel Tour

Over 650 feet in length, Trunk Bay's snorkel trail is the equivalent of an underwater hike through nature. It begins a short swim from the beach and includes underwater signs that guide snorkelers, and provide them with information about the marine life they may encounter on their journey. These trails are appropriate for snorkelers of all levels—including first-timers—and snorkel equipment is conveniently available for rental on the beach.

Come sundown, visitors will find that nightlife on St. John tends to be low-key. Nonetheless, the island does have several bars and restaurants to enjoy. A couple of the more popular areas on the island for evening entertainment are Coral Bay and Cruz Bay, which is where Morgan's Mango, our Restaurant of the Month, is located . . .

Best Bets: Where to Eat in St. John

A long day in the sun admiring the beauty of St. John can really work up an appetite, which is why it is good that villa vacations provide a diverse range of dining options. You aren't forced to choose between room service and the same hotel restaurant that you dined at the previous evening—or worse, the table you've been assigned to on your cruise. Instead, you may decide to enjoy a meal in the comfort of your own villa. If you're up to it, you can always venture out to one of the island's top restaurants. We suggest Chloe & Bernard's or Zozo's Ristorante, if you really want to know. We also recommend this restaurant which was recently attended by one of our very own Villa Consultants…

Morgan's Mango

One of the most popular restaurants on the island among both tourists and locals, this restaurant in Cruz Bay is well known for its excellent service, wonderful Caribbean food, and reasonable prices. From Creole and Cuban to Jamaican and Haitian, the chefs here cover it all, hence its boast of offering "Cuisines of the Caribbean." Here is a first-hand account of a visit to the restaurant from Amber Kyle, an Island Hideaway's Villa Specialist:

"After a full day of site inspections, we decided to search for a restaurant that could satisfy all of our tastes. We previewed the extensive menu at Morgan's Mango and agreed that it offered something that would appeal to everyone in our group. By the end of the night we would be quite satisfied with our choice.

Located in Cruz Bay across from the National Park dock, Morgan's Mango offers a romantically lit environment and a casually chic atmosphere. We started out with some appetizers and drinks at the bar which wraps around the main dining room. From the traditional (Sangria) to the more exotic (Mango Margarita), the frozen drinks menu is impressive. And the main menu is just as diverse. If you want to keep it simple, the grilled Mahi Mahi is outstanding. If, on the other hand, you want to try something a little different, I recommend the Flying Fish appetizer. We were also very pleased with the staff, which provided great service and hospitality. Whether on another FAM trip or on vacation, I'd definitely go back."

For more information and to view the menu, visit the restaurant's website.

Morgan's Mango is open daily from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. and is available for private functions. Due to the restaurant's popularity, reservations are highly recommended, and we at Island Hideaways would be happy to make them for you. We can also recommend other restaurants in St. John; please contact us toll-free at 800-832-2302.

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This communication is a special deals notification only. Island Hideaways shall not be liable for any clients' failure to receive such e-mails.

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