DECEMBER 2006
Recent ReturnsSee What Our Guests Have to Say About Their Recent Trips Well after an extremely relaxing visit to Pallina on St. Thomas I wanted to say thank you once again for a perfect vacation. Pallina was a wonderful villa, beautifully decorated and more than well stocked with most anything you could need. We spent most of our time by the pool overlooking Megan's Bay and watching the iguanas lounge in the tree tops. We hope to return to the island in a few more years with our children once they are a bit older. Thanks to Paul and the rest of the staff for making the entire process so easy and worry free. We will be back for trip number 3!" Suzanne C., AL "We had the best week of our lives here. The privacy was great. And everyone had their own bathroom! The view is of deserted islands. I go on vacation to be away from people, but there are great restaurants a short drive away. This is anything you would ever want." Tracia K., OH "Our trip to Sandy Lane Bohemia was the trip of a life time! We had a ball. The staff was fantastic, but the cook Livey was out of this world incredible. We can't say enough about the house, island, staff and Island Hideaways. You guys are terrific and I have passed your name on to all our friends already. I dare say we'll be calling again to book another trip. I just want you all to know that we appreciated ALL the hard work you did to help us. Also, whoever arranged for the perfect weather....we thank you!" Kate P., GA "This was our second stay at Tamar and surely will not be our last. We arrived this time on June 8th and had to depart on June 13th due to Villa maintenance days that were scheduled well in advance, which is another reason why we keep coming back. Tamar is so very well kept up and you lack for NOTHING!!! The owners have thought of EVERYTHING. The comfort of the beds, right down to the lounge chairs and the games in the villa, just made our trip just perfect, again. And the views, well each bedroom balcony offers a different view of the island and water and they just 'TAKE YOUR BREATHE AWAY'. We are coming back next summer again with our children and grandchildren in tow again. We were here in 2004 and they have been counting the days until 2007, when we bring them back again. Each time we come we stay longer and longer and hate to get on the plane to go home. Everyone on the island is so friendly and is in island mode (slow paced), that you just have to RELAX, when you come here, which is exactly what we do and Tamar is the perfect villa to do it in. Thanks again for all of you wonderful hospitality and we just love the new exercise room downstairs!!!" Susan N., MS "As soon as I inquired about the villa in Barbados, the staff assistance was amazing. Since it was for our honeymoon, I had much to worry about, but the staff kept me on track with everything. The helpful reminders, answered questions, and catering to my interests and needs placed them above and beyond. Because of their friendly help, the honeymoon was perfect!" Colin S., GA "Island Hideaways was wonderful in helping us with the planning stages- it couldn't have been better. This villa get-away is for people who want to be left alone- a private villa with no other vacationers in or on your villa, no room service, no contact with people if you don't want to- and that's the best way for us. We contacted the Island Representative when needed, and were left alone to enjoy our vacation. This was our second year because we loved it so much the first time. Thanks!" Suzanne G., UT "We love Sea Turtle- This was our third stay, and we can't wait to return next year. The Sea Turtle is comfortable, well equipped and maintained, and has incredible views." Jonathan S., MA "The villa was lovely and had a beautiful view. We enjoyed our stay and will rent villas in the future." Linda M., VA The home was very clean. The cook prepared delicious meals. The gardener was very helpful. I will return to this home in the future. Thea G., FL As always Island Hideaways provided excellent help, service and suggestions to make our vacation relaxing and worry free. It's wonderful to know that everything is taken care of and there's nothing to worry about. Dolores M., MD "Cayenne was absolutely fantastic. It was a pleasant surprise, especially for us Cajuns who love to cook. We might try a different island next year. We will definitely go thru y'all if we do." Mike C., LA "... we LOVED the villa. It had amazing amenities and was absolutely beautiful! Excellent Villa." Heather N., NJ "The home and location was amazing! The pictures on the internet are exactly what you get and more! The privacy and beauty is unbeatable. We loved it and will be back in the future!" Howard I., OH "Open Deck was a fantastic villa! IT had great views, very close proximity to a wonderful beach for sunning and snorkeling, and was very spacious and in immaculate condition. Betsy, the daily maid, was a pleasure and a definite added bonus to a most relaxing vacation! We were out enjoying ourselves the day you called. Everything was perfect so did not want to trouble you. For any future reference, Open Deck does have beach chairs you can take down to the beach. We are looking forward to going back and will definitely be in contact if we do. Thanks very much for all your help!" Cathy H., CT "Yes, we are returning to Jacaranda in 2007. The villa was spacious, warm and beautiful. And, the view from Jacaranda is marvelous. We really enjoyed the welcome basket. Our first visit to Tortola was wonderful. There was never a boring moment. The restaurants were great, including the sailing, shopping and snorkeling." William W., MD |
Welcome to the December 2006 Edition of Island Hideaways' Caribbean Villa Newsletter!Thank you for visiting our web site at www.islandhideaways.com, which Forbes Magazine featured in its "Best of the Web" Issue. We have represented 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 for more than 20 years. It would be our pleasure to assist you with your next Villa Vacation! Magen's Bay Beach and Mountaintop, St. Thomas, USVI
One interesting way to view Magen's Bay is from above. Journey to Mountaintop for breathtaking views of the beach. Here you'll see St. John, the neighboring British Virgin Islands, and Tobago, and Sir Francis Drake Channel from the observation deck set more than 1,500 feet above sea level. Enjoy the famous banana daiquiris that have been served here for 60 years, browse in the Caribbean Village shops selling Caribbean art, crafts, nautical antiques, and ship models. Allow some time to visit Estate St. Peter Greathouse and Botanical Gardens. Hike the nature trail to see the nearly 200 varieties of trees and tropical plants. There's even an orchid jungle. The 11-acre Estate St. Peter sits between St. Thomas's volcanic peaks and was originally part of the 150-acre Plantation St. Peter. The classic West Indian greathouse is a wonderful example of Caribbean architecture and native stonework. You won't want to miss it. The estate's gallery showcases local artwork and crafts. The estate grounds include the exotic Botanical Gardens, waterfalls, tropical birds, and fishponds. There's also a deck at the greathouse where visits can while away some time and take in the awe-inspiring views of Hull Bay and Magen's Bay. You won't want to leave this beautiful place. Villa of the Month: Infinity, St. Thomas, USVI
The two-story main pavilion has a comfortably furnished living area outfitted with a large-screen TV. The decor brings the colors of the Caribbean indoors and adds a dramatic effect with sculptures from Zimbabwe. The gourmet kitchen is state-of-the art with handcrafted mahogany cabinets, a granite-topped cooking island with cookstove, and a wet bar with a minifridge, icemaker, wine fridge, and glass china cabinet. The villa's second-floor houses the master suite with its large bedroom, bath, and separate sitting area with daybed. The air-conditioned bedroom features a romantic four poster queen-size bed and a trellised balcony that overlooks the pool and harbor. The suite features two large his-and-her bathrooms, each tiled in blue and white. Screened pocket doors open onto the villa's deep verandas. Visitors love to sit in this a shady spot and enjoy the views of the harbor and the twinkling lights of Charlotte Amalie. Steps away from the veranda is the spectacular infinity pool. The pool features mosaic tiles in shades of blue, dotted with palm trees. There's a hot tub at one end and a gazebo at the other. Infinity has three private, air-conditioned guest suites. One guest suite has a four poster queen bed, private bath, and covered porch. The second pavilion has two air-conditioned bedrooms, each with its own private bath. The connecting doors between the two suites can be opened for more flexibility. The closest beach is heart-shaped Magen's Bay Beach, considered one of the world's most beautiful beaches and well worth a visit. For more information, please see the listing on our web site: Infinity, St. Thomas It would be our pleasure to personally describe this exquisite property to you, please call us at 800.832.2302 for more reservations and additional information. Restaurant of the Month: Havana Blue, St. Thomas, USVI
The elegant decor features large picture windows swathed in floor-to-ceiling white fabric, a wall of shimmering blue water, and the dining room's centerpiece--the massive, round bar with hand-stained deep blue marble. Candles illuminate the space: There are pillar candles scattered throughout the room and table candles sit on a bed of black beans inside hurricane shades. The overall effect is sophisticated, yet intimate. Celebrate a special occasion by dining on the beach below the restaurant, where your own private waiter will serve you a seven-course tasting menu as you dine by candlelight under the stars.
The wine list features selections from Spain, California, and Latin America. Cocktails are innovative. Guests can choose from eight specialty mojitos including the popular mango mojito (mango, mint leaves, and lime) and the Asian spice mojito (fresh ginger and cardamom) as well as house blends such as the Aphrodite (vanilla vodka, peach, and passionfruit), sipping rums, and infused vodkas with tropical flavors like pineapple, papaya, and jalapeno. The Blue Bar offers exclusive hand-rolled cigars as well. The restaurant serves dinner only, and reservations are a must. One of our very favorites! Or, please contact us at 1-800-832-2302 and we would be happy to make a reservation for your next trip to St. Thomas. Employee Spotlight
Necker Island - Last Minute Availability!
Necker, Sir Richard Branson's private island paradise, is situated in the British Virgin Islands, a stunning and unspoilt area of the Caribbean. At 74 acres, Necker sits in turquoise waters surrounded by coral reefs and fringed with beautiful white sandy beaches. With a maximum capacity of 28 guests Necker consists of the 9-roomed Great House and five beautiful private Balinese Houses. Necker is generally only available for private hire for up to 28 guests however from 4th December 2006 for one week Necker has been open as a Celebration Week where individual rooms can be booked by singles or couples to enjoy our fabulous Island paradise 'house party' style for either 3, 4 or 7 nights. The Celebration Week rate includes...
The special rates below are for two people sharing one room and exclude a 2.5% Service Charge... Monday 4th December for 7 nights
Monday 4th December for 4 nights*
Friday 8th December for 3 nights
For further information or to make a reservation please contact Paul Mermelstein at 800-832-2302 or email villas@islandhideaways.com Airfare Sale to the Caribbean!US Airways is offering discounted fares to many Caribbean destinations. Make your reservations by December 7 and travel by February 15. Some restrictions may apply and holiday periods may be blacked out. We understand that US Air will offer a further 5% discount if you pay MasterCard. (Code MCSUN). See www.usairways.com. Passport ReminderEffective January 8, 2007 all travelers must present a passport to enter the United States. This includes U.S. citizens returning from the Caribbean. Obtaining a passport can take a month or more so plan ahead for winter holidays in the Caribbean. About Island HideawaysIsland 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 Business Week Magazine and our web site received the prestigious "Best of the Web" award by Forbes magazine each summer from 2000 - 2005. Please call us toll-free at 800.832.2302 or e-mail 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 © 2006 |
St. Thomas lays claim to one of the world's most beautiful beaches. Heart-shaped Magen's Bay Beach on the island's north coast has earned a spot on both National Geographic's and Conde Nast Traveler's lists of the world's best beaches. Calm turquoise waters and white sands make this beach ideal for swimming, snorkeling, and sunbathing. There's plenty to do on this mile-long beach. Active visitors can rent kayaks, paddleboats, Sunfish sailboats, and other water sports equipment. Shoppers can check out the merchandise in the boutiques. Ice cream lovers can savor the unusual milk shakes served at Udder Delight, the shake stand run by St. Thomas Dairies. Adults can order a milk shake with a splash of locally made Cruzan rum or the Jamoca with Kahula; youngsters can select from a variety of virgin shakes with tropical flavors like soursop, mango, and banana. Food and libations are available at the beachside restaurants. Amenities include a bathhouse equipped with changing rooms and salt water showers. Magen's Bay Beach is a public beach, and there is an entrance fee, which pays for the upkeep of this lovely stretch of sand. 
This three-year old villa sits on a hilltop overlooking turquoise waters. Infinity features three connected pavilions, affording each visitor a private retreat.
Havana Blue is one of St. Thomas's most happening spots. Part of the Marriott Frenchman's Reef and Morningstar Beach Resort, Havana Blue dazzles guests with its cool, sophisticated decor and fantastic food--a fusion of authentic Cuban dishes with the flavors of the Pacific Rim. And the setting couldn't be more romantic. The restaurant sits right on Morningstar Beach, where diners can savor the sunsets and water views. 
Start your meal with the fresh coconut chipolte ceviche, peanut soba bowls, or Caesar de Vieras with crispy garlic wontons. Main courses include mango-glazed salmon with grilled asparagus, Polynesian duck with braised baby bok choy, ancho chile and espresso rub filet of beef, mojito glazed skirt steak, coconut rum tempura prawns, and Havana Blue's signature dish, the miso-marinated sea bass. Caribbean lobster and fresh fish are served daily. For dessert, try the blueberry and white chocolate cake, molten chocolate fondant, or coconut flan.
Our wonderful reservation agent Stephanie Harris consistently receives accolades from returning guests. Stephanie is a graduate of Virginia Tech. A native Hawaiian, Stephanie enjoys traveling to the Caribbean and has inspected many of our villas in Anguilla (soon coming!), Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Martin, St. Thomas, Tortola, and Virgin Gorda. She has a deep appreciation for excellent beach restaurants and lists Layla's and La Playa in St. Martin as some of her favorites. When she's not traveling, Stephanie enjoys working out at the gym, spending time with her family and friends, and rooting for Virginia Tech's sports teams.