Welcome to the November 2007 Edition of Island Hideaways' Caribbean Villa Newsletter!
We have more than 21 years of experience arranging luxury villas and private islands for rent in Barbados, the Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Mustique, St. Croix, St. John, St. Lucia, St. Martin, St. Thomas, Tortola, and Virgin Gorda. It would be our pleasure to assist you with planning your next villa vacation.
This month, we feature the beautiful island of St. John and Kismet, our Villa of the Month …
Villa of the Month: Kismet, St. John
We felt as though we were at home. . . . Kismet was well put together. You cannot get better than this. The beauty is everywhere.
- The Niro Party
This magnificent, 5-bedroom vacation villa in St. John has 360-degree views of neighboring St. Thomas and the surrounding Caribbean Sea. On clear days, St. Croix and even Puerto Rico are visible to the naked eye from Kismet's vantage point at the summit of Maria's Bluff.
Just as stunning as the location is the property itself. Comprised of four pavilions amidst an immaculately landscaped garden and tiled courtyard, this Moroccan-style home offers the comfort of a private residence, plus many luxurious amenities including a full-size pool table, flat-screen televisions with satellite service in every bedroom, and a sun-drenched courtyard featuring a swimming pool and hot tub. Each of the living areas is air-conditioned and each has its own unique highlights.
The North Pavilion consists of a large living room that includes a Dell computer with a printer and Internet access for the convenience of guests, a separate dining room, an inviting gourmet kitchen, and a home theatre that features a 50-inch plasma screen and a large library of films to help pass the rare rainy day. This screening room is a particularly special highlight of the home because there are no movie theatres on the island of St. John.
A master bedroom suite with a luxury bathroom is in the East Pavilion, which also includes a sitting room, a powder room, and a laundry room with a double washer and dryer. The screened bedroom has a 20-inch flat screen television with satellite and TIVO service. The bathroom features a steam shower, an over-sized tub, and Molton Brown amenities. Perched atop the East Pavilion is the Tower, a breezy sunroom that offers tremendous views through its open arches and is highlighted by a spectacular Moroccan mosaic floor. Banquettes within this scenic aerie are strewn with colorful, plush cushions from which to enjoy sunsets and cocktails.
Two more bedrooms are situated in the Upper South Pavilion, which, along with the East and North Pavilions, opens to the magnificent courtyard that contains both a swimming pool and hot tub in addition to myriad of lounge chairs, Moroccan mosaic tables, a sliding love seat, a dining table, and a gas grill for cookouts. An arcade borders the courtyard, offering breaks from the sun.
A staircase in the Upper South Pavilion leads to the Lower South Pavilion, which houses two more bedrooms and opens to a patio featuring a beautiful Moroccan fountain and more stunning views. In addition to the bedrooms, the Lower South Pavilion has a billiards room with a dartboard, 20-inch flat screen television, wet bar, and full bath in addition to the pool table. Also, two twin-size daybeds allow this room to be used as a sixth bedroom.
Aside from the courtyard and patio, there is also a garden path that provides guests the opportunity to take a breathtaking stroll that starts at the courtyard and winds through the property. Besides the delightful garden of tropical plants, the pathway also leads to a hammock, an octagonal gazebo, and two reading benches. From an afternoon nap to savoring the sunset in a romantic setting, the garden path is the perfect escape. The property is equipped with a number of security features, including an electronically-operated gate at the base of the driveway and security spotlights with an emergency switch.
Kismet's property managers live nearby and are on call to respond to just about any guest request or need, such as arranging babysitting service or providing information about the island. (While help is always available, the property managers also respect guests' privacy.) Guests also enjoy complimentary round-trip transportation from the St. Thomas airport to the villa, and a private chef can even be hired at an additional cost.
For more information, please go to the listing on our website by clicking here.
It would be our pleasure to personally describe this exquisite property to you; please call us toll-free at 800-832-2302 for more information or to make a reservation.
The Island
Kismet is located on what many consider to be the most beautiful of the Caribbean Islands. The smallest and most intimate of the U.S. Virgin Islands, St. John is blessed with solitude, miles of white sand beaches, and scenic hiking trails through the Virgin Islands National Park. What it lacks in the excitement and activity that can be found on neighboring St. Thomas, it 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. Among the amenities featured at Trunk Bay are showers, changing rooms, lifeguards, and a snack bar, but the highlight of the beach is its underwater self-guided snorkel trail through the area's coral reef . . .
Snorkel Trails at Trunk Bay
"Trunk Bay was definitely the best snorkeling we experienced in the USVI."
- Anonymous traveler, Tripadvisor.com
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.
Other popular attractions in St. John include The Reef Bay Trail, part of the more than 20 miles of hiking trails that weave through the national park, 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.
Come sundown, visitors will find that nightlife on St. John tends to be more low-key than on its sister island, St. Thomas. 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 The Lime Inn, our Restaurant of the Month, is located . . .
Restaurant of the Month:
The Lime Inn, St. John
One of the longest-running restaurants in St. John, this local favorite has an open-air design that encourages a laid-back atmosphere and a prime location in downtown Cruz Bay. The attire is casual, which is not surprising considering that the restaurant's name is a play on the word "limin," local slang for relaxing. The décor of the restaurant features ceiling fans, hanging plants, and a terrace for outdoor dining built around the trunk of a towering lemon tree.
Specializing in fresh local seafood, The Lime Inn is known for its Caribbean-style lobster, served split and grilled. Also, shrimp-lovers would be remiss to skip the all-you-can-eat shrimp feast on Wednesday evenings. Be forewarned, the popularity of this promotion draws large crowds. Diners who do not care for seafood also have excellent options, such as Black Angus New York Strip and Stuffed Filet Mignon (served un-stuffed upon request) as well as pasta and chicken dishes. For dessert, try the homemade Frozen Key Lime Pie covered with graham cracker crust and topped with whipped cream.
The Lime Inn is available to host private parties and functions. The restaurant also takes and, indeed, recommends reservations because it can get quite crowded due to its relatively small size. But why make a reservation when Island Hideaways can make it for you?
Please contact us toll-free at 800-832-2302 and we would happy to make a reservation for you during your next trip to St. John.
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.
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 received Forbes magazine's prestigious "Best of the Web" award each summer from 2000 - 2005. Please call us toll-free at 800-832-2302, or email us at villas@islandhideaways.com with any questions, suggestions, or comments.
We have been receiving some calls and e-mails from clients commenting that they are no longer receiving our monthly newsletters. Please let us know if you change e-mail addresses so that we may keep the newsletters coming your way.
This communication is a special deals notification only. Island Hideaways shall not be liable for any clients' failure to receive such e-mails.
Should you wish to stop receiving this newsletter, please click here to unsubscribe.
Copyright © 2007
