Caribbean Villa News / July 2005 /

July 2005, Caribbean Villa Newsletter, Featuring Barbados

Welcome to the July 2005 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 19 years. It would be our pleasure to assist you with your next Villa Vacation!

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In This Issue:

1) Harrison's Cave and Welchman's Gully, Barbados
2) Villa of the Month: Great House, Barbados
3) Recent Returns: See What Our Clients Have to Say About Their Recent Trips
4) Restaurant of the Month: Mango's By the Sea, Speightstown, Barbados
5) Barbados Specials!
6) Make Your Next Reservation Now
7) Passport Advisory

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1) Harrison's Cave and Welchman's Gully, St.Thomas Parish, Barbados

Located in Barbados's interior of Harrison's Cave and Welchman's Gully are part of the same the same underground cavern system. But where Harrison's Cave has been developed into a show cave, Welchman's Gully is now a collapsed underground cavern.

Harrison's Cave is one of Barbados's main tourist attractions and is known as one of Barbados's seven wonders. Discovered in 1796, the limestone cave was not made accessible to the public until 1981. Today visitors begin their hour-long tour by watching a multimedia presentation that provides background on the cave's history exploration, and development. Visitors don hard hats to wear as they begin the narrated mile-long tram tour through the extensive system of caves. The lighted cave shows nature at its most awesome-here are towering stalagmites emerging from the cave's floor, sparkling stalactites descending from the ceiling, crystal-clear underground streams, an emerald green lake, and a 40-foot waterfall. In some places the stalagmites and stalactites have come together to form enormous pillars. While most of the formations are white, some are yellow and beige. The electric tram takes its passengers 200 feet below ground, stopping to let passengers walk alongside the spectacular waterfall that plunges into a pool below. Reputed to be the largest cave system of its kind in the Caribbean, Harrison's Cave is not to be missed. There's also a gift shop on site that sells Arawak Indian artifacts as well as refreshments.

Not far from the cave is Welchman's Gully, a one-mile long gully that was formed when an underground cavern collapsed. Today visitors can view natural Barbados as it was before the English settlers arrived in 1627.Visitors hike through acres of tropical plants and trees that have been labeled for easy identification. There are nutmeg, clove, bamboo, and palm trees as well as rare orchids, cocoa bushes, and breadfruit trees said to be descended from seedlings brought to Barbados by Captain Bligh of the H.M.S. Bounty. Watch closely in the morning and evening for Barbados's rare green monkeys.


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2) Villa of the Month: Great House, Barbados


Great House, Turtle Bay, Barbados

Built in 1988, this magnificent beachfront property offers guests a private retreat with all the amenities of a luxury hotel. This luxurious villa in Barbados East End on the North Shore has played host to a number of celebrities including Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Andrew Lloyd Weber, and Kevin Costner. Built in the style of a traditional West Indian great house, this estate features a main house of native coral stone and private cottages modeled after the chattel houses found throughout the island. Great House awes visitors with its lovely tropical gardens and spectacular views of Mullins Bay and the coastline.

This villa easily accommodates large groups of up to sixteen people. The two-story main house has four private bedroom suites, each with king size bed, ensuite bath, and air conditioning. The four cottages feature twin beds, ensuite baths, and air conditioning.

The shared spaces include a formal living room, an informal great room, and an expansive dining area near the fully equipped gourmet kitchen. A fully equipped office with fax, copier, and computer is located in the two-story guesthouse near the entrance to the property.

This estate takes advantage of its beachfront setting: there's a deck on the beach as well as a lovely dining gazebo that is expansive enough for host a large group of up to twenty people. The poolside bar with it open-air sitting area is a wonderful spot to while away an afternoon.

Guests can enjoy the Jacuzzi, swim in the pool, sunbathe on the beach, or snorkel in the blue waters. Visitors can also avail themselves of a multitude of watersports: everything from a Boston whaler speedboat to a Hobie catamaran to a Sunfish sailboat. There's also waterskiing equipment, children's tow boards, and, by special arrangement, scuba equipment.

Service is impeccable here: Great House employs a staff of fifteen, including a boatman, who can transport guests to Bridgetown for lunch or shopping or to another part of the island for a picnic lunch.

Once you've experienced the hospitality of Great House, you won't want to leave.

For more information, please see the listing on our web site: www.islandhideaways.com.

It would be our pleasure to personally describe this exquisite property to you, please call us at 800.832.2302 for more information.

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3) Recent Returns: See What Our Clients Have to Say About Their Recent Trips

"The facilities, rooms, pool and staff were wonderful. In particular, I liked the fact that what was shown on your website, in terms of facilities, was actually better in person. Thanks for a wondful vacation. We will definitely utilize your services again."
S.P., VA
Aurora, Barbados
Aurora, Barbados Villa

"The home was amazing. The pictures were true to tale. The view was also amazing. We will use Island Hideaways for all our future villa rentals. Allure - St. Thomas - A perfect place."
M.C., FL
Allure, St. Thomas
Allure, St. Thomas Villa

"Open Deck was perfect for our vacation."
C.C., CO
Open Deck, Virgin Gorda
Open Deck, Virgin Gorda Villa

"Island Hideaways people were very helpful in answering questions. The villa exceeded our expectations. We plan to rent it again."
G.G., TX
Seagrapes, St. Martin
Seagrapes, St. Martin Villa

"I've rented 5 houses on St. John... This was definitely my favorite! Would love to rent again! Awesome location...great views...very heppy w/ home. We chose it due to your recommendation.
C.D., IN
Maria, St. John
Maria, St. John Villa

"I can't say enough great things about Mahogany Hill. Tropical elegance, superb staff...Dudley, Valerie and their co-workers were professional, couteous, friendly and made us feel right at home. I will hold my visit to Mahogany Hill as the gold standard for my next visit to the area."
J.E., NC
Mahogany Hill, Jamaica
Mahogany Hill - Tryall, Jamaica Villa

"We had 5 couples and ALL of us kept raving about how fabulouse the villa and location were. We rarely left. This was a trip of a lifetime. Thank you!
H.S., MA
Loblolly, Virgin Gorda
Loblolly, Virgin Gorda Villa

"When we return to St. John we will definitely call you!"
D.S., MI
Plumeria, St. John
Plumeria, St. John Villa

"Thanks Jeanette. We look forward to many more visits to Merlin Bay."
C.K., TX
Hibiscus, Barbados
Hibiscus, Barbados Villa


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4) Restaurant of the Month: Mango's By the Sea, Speightstown, Barbados

This terrace restaurant overlooking the sea has earned a reputation for serving wonderful seafood. Barbados Hotel Tourism Association named Mango's By the Sea Best Restaurant in 1992. Located on Barbados's northwestern coast, Mango's By the Sea offers diners a spectacular view, open-air dining, candlelit dining, and freshly prepared seafood. Owners Gail and Pierre Spenard choose only the freshest ingredients for their signature dishes. Appetizers include smoked salmon, phyllo stuffed with goat cheese and marinated grilled vegetables served with a red wine and tarragon sauce, mussels in a herb, white wine, and garlic sauce, blackened shrimp and scallops, lobster bisque, and the Caribbean favorite, pumpkin soup.

For dinner, the filet mignon with tarragon sauce, New York strip steak, and barbecued baby back ribs are favorites with landlubbers. Seafood aficionados have their choice of blackened or grilled fresh fish served with a tropical fruit salsa, grilled Caribbean lobster tail, crepes stuffed with shrimp and scallops served with a dill sauce. There's also an extensive wine cellar.

Try the fresh fruit sorbet in a delicate brandy snap basket, the passionfruit cheesecake, or the star fruit torte for dessert.

After dinner, stroll through the adjoining art gallery Mango's Fine Art Gallery, which features the work of artist Michael Adams.

Mango's By the Sea provides complimentary shuttle service from all villas and hotels between Holetown and Speightstown upon request. The restaurant serves dinner only, and reservations are recommended.

Please contact us at 1-800-832-2302 and we would be happy to make a reservation for your next trip to Barbados.

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5) Barbados Specials

Announcing pay for 10 nights, stay for 14
Announcing pay for 5 nights, say for 7

Package include accommodation, roundtrip airport transfers, 1st nights dinner and first mornings continental breakfast.
The following homes are included in this offer!

Sunwatch, High Cane, Leamington House, Klairan, Calliaqua, Aquarius, Gibbes House, Jackson Heights, Church Point 2, High Trees, Seashell, Sweet Enough, Oasis, Caprice at Old Trees Bay, Casarinas, West Beach at Old Trees Bay, The Bold Hole, Bluff Cottage, Landmark Cottage, and Secret Cove.

Announcing pay for 10 nights, stay for 14
Announcing pay for 5 nights, say for 7

Package includes accommodation and car rental. (small a/c automatic car)
The following homes are included in this offer!

Casia 22, Dolphins at Schooner Bay, and Chilterns at Schooner Bay.

These offers apply to reservations made for stays that are completed by September 30. Offers are subject to availability and confirmation.

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8) Make Your Next Reservation Now

Winter space is filling very quickly now on many of our island destinations. Please remember not to wait too long to request your reservation if you plan to return to your favorite home. Virgin Gorda, St. John, and Barbados are already VERY heavily booked for winter '06.

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7) Passport Advisory

If you are planning a trip to the Caribbean later this year, make sure you pack a valid U.S. passport. Effective December 31, 2005, all U.S. citizens returning from the Caribbean, Bermuda, and Central and South America must show a valid U.S. passport to re-enter the United States. This is a significant change from past policy, where no passport was needed to re-enter the U.S.

This change is mandated by the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 1994. According to Homeland Security Acting Under Secretary for Border and Transportation Security, Randy Beardsworth, "Our goal is to strengthen border security and expedite entry into the United States for U.S. citizens and legitimate foreign visitors. By ensuring that travelers possess secure documents, such as the passport, Homeland Security will be able to conduct more effective and efficient interviews at our borders."

Travelers to Mexico are not affected under this phase, but will be required to show a passport upon re-entry to the United States effective December 31, 2006.

If you don't have a passport, keep in mind it takes 6-8 weeks to process a passport, and the busiest season for issuing this document is from January to June. For information on applying for a passport, visit the Department of State web site at Passport Home.

So if you will be visiting the Caribbean or Bermuda this holiday season, don't forget your passport.

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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.

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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 Business Week Magazine and our web site Caribbean Villa Rentals by Island Hideaways 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.

Our selection includes villa rentals on the following Caribbean islands: