Article by Theresa Storm.
Renting your own private holiday villa on a tropical Caribbean island is only for the rich and famous, you may think. But is that true? If you share a home with extended family or friends or with other couples, it can be affordable — even less than the cost of multiple hotel rooms. Simply divide the villa’s cost by the number in your party and you may be surprised.
Villa vibes only — sunscreen, sunsets, and zero stress at The Beach House in Anguilla; photo courtesy of Little Harbour Estates.
What are some of the advantages of a villa vacay?
Villas are great for multi-generational or small incentive or business groups.
They are private, standalone and unique vacation homes. Many are privately owned (sometimes managed by a property management company), while others are part of a hotel or resort (villas in addition to hotel rooms).
Privacy and no noisy or nosey neighbours. That’s why CEO’s and celebs often choose villas.
More space. Villa guest rooms are usually larger than hotel rooms and each bedroom may have an en suite.
Many villas include a private pool and sunbathing deck.
Operate on your timetable. For example, you choose what time to eat.
Villas sometimes include staff at your disposal, like a concierge, butler, chef or maid. (Note: gratuities range.)
Add what you want and need from a menu of options. For example, groceries and supplies can be pre-stocked before your arrival, a private chef can come in to cook some or all of your meals, you can select daily or weekly maid service, airport transfers, or a chauffeur and transport to whisk you wherever you wish.
Guests with allergies can control food options and ingredients. You can provide a food budget and meet the chef on arrival to plan menus. You can also purchase your own alcohol, which is usually less than or the same cost as you’d pay at a hotel.
Staff can recommend what to do and where to dine and assist with making arrangements or reservations.
You may have a more authentic destination experience and develop close relationships with villa staff and locals.
In addition to guests who check in for the entire rental period, you may have room for visitors who stay for just part of your vacation.
Villas aplenty to choose from…
To get an idea of the range of villas you can call your own on your next Caribbean vacation, here we highlight some options and what they offer guests in Anguilla, St. Martin, Bonaire, Montserrat and Martinique.
Little Harbour Estates – Anguilla
Where every day feels like a weekend — villa edition! Indigo Villa, photo courtesy of Little Harbour Estates.
in 1990, Britons John and Val Barker founded Little Harbour Estates, an Anguilla collection of three unique, luxurious private villas offering complete seclusion. Today three generations, including the founders, ensure exceptional service for villa guests at:
Le Bleu…Beachfront in Little Harbour, 20 guests, 11 master bedrooms and 11 bathrooms.
Indigo…Waterfront in Little Harbour, 20 guests, 10 master bedrooms and 11 bathrooms.
The Beach House…Beachfront on Meads Bay, 16 guests, 8 master bedrooms and 10 bathrooms.
For the perfect beach getaway, each villa has facilities like a tennis/pickle-ball court and pool(s), a personal chef, and staff including a sommelier and guest experience manager. The villas also cater to meetings and events like weddings.
Monte Verde by Heavenly Villas — St. Martin
No shoes, no worries, just villa life at Monte Verde, a villa located in Orient Bay, St. Martin; photo courtesy of Heavenly Villas.
In the gated community of Hope Estates, Monte Verde is a luxurious four-star, four-bedroom private villa in the heart of Orient Bay, where restaurants and shopping are just steps away, and Orient Beach is a 15-minute stroll. Or enjoy unobstructed panoramic views of Orient Bay from the villa’s terrace and private pool.
Equipped with modern amenities, the villa features step-free access throughout, with all bedrooms and common areas wheelchair accessible thanks to wider doorways and ample clearance around beds and furnishings. Each of the four en suites have roll-in showers. The villa is also ideal for guests who are neurodivergent.
Concierge service is included and a personal chef is available with advance notice.
Sunrentals Bonaire – Bonaire
Ocean Villa Crown Court 44A boasts a lovely wrap around covered porch in this home-away-from-home villa. The gazebo offers stunning views of the ocean.
Founded in 1999, agency Sunrentals Bonaire offers several luxurious villas with up to five bedrooms in its rental portfolio.
Its beachfront villas not only include direct beach access and private pools, but proximity to world-class dive sites, ideal for the divers in your group (Bonaire is a renowned dive destination). To make it easy, Sunrentals Bonaire provides “Stay, Dive & Drive” packages inclusive of accommodation, car rental and diving.
Each rental is unique in its location, size and design but all are equipped with modern amenities. To assist guests, Sunrentals Bonaire’s all-inclusive service includes arranging for groceries on arrival, a rental car or airport pickup, activity bookings and mid-stay cleaning services.
Contact your Travel Advisor or Sunrentals Bonaire to find the best fit for your needs.
Adam’s Place — Montserrat
Relax by the pool and enjoy the beautiful vistas of Montserrat at the SeaSong Villa.
To experience the Caribbean the way it used to be, wee Montserrat is an excellent choice. With views of the Caribbean Sea in the backyard and the Centre Hills out front, you’ll find Adam’s Place, a secluded 11,000-square-foot villa, idyllic. Walk in the lush gardens and enjoy mangos, avocados and bananas in season.
With an open floor plan, the homey villa has four bedrooms (three with en suites), an oversized kitchen, indoor and outdoor dining and sitting areas, and a large pool overlooking the Caribbean and magnificent sunsets. An attached one-bedroom apartment is optional.
Complimentary airport transfers are included. Optional services include grocery stocking, a private chef, and booking a rental car or tours.
Domaine de la Palmeraie — Martinique
Beneath the palms of Martinique, discover the elegance of Domaine de la Palmeraie.
The three-star Domaine de la Palmeraie offers the comfort of a hotel and freedom of a villa. Nestled in a tropical garden surrounded by forest, the villas are a stone’s throw from the village of Le Diamant and one of the most beautiful beaches.
Designed with a West Indian/Asian architectural style, the seven villas have one or two bedrooms (one with wheelchair access), a private terrace and swimming pool (ranging in size from a small punch bowl to 11 metres long).
The attentive team offers à la carte service including in-villa massages or yoga, dinner in partnership with a local restaurant, and a choice of daily or intermediate cleaning services. A gourmet breakfast basket is delivered daily.
Article and photography Theresa Storm.
A four-month-long solo island-hopping adventure through the Caribbean 28 years ago ignited Theresa’s passion for the tropics, culture, nature and trying new adventures.
Back home in Calgary, her increasingly restless, itchy feet soon led to a career writing about travel worldwide. She loves escaping winter for warmer climes, especially to the Caribbean, which has long felt like her real home.
As an award-winning travel writer and photographer, she’s penned scores of articles for magazines, newspapers and e-zines, and contributed to books including Caribbean Escapes and the first edition of DK Eyewitness Caribbean.
Her articles and photographs have been published in magazines including Bon Vivant, Extraordinary Experiences and Vacations (Ensemble Travel Group), Wanderlust (U.K.), Avenue Calgary, WestJet (WestJet Airline’s in-flight), Morning Calm (Korean Air’s in-flight), LUXE Magazine Canada, AAA publications, Cruise & Travel Lifestyles, Dreamscapes and Today’s Parent.
She is a two-time winner of the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s Canadian Travel Writer of the Year award and twice won CTO’s best photograph with a feature article and best online feature. She also was honoured with the Travel Media Association of Canada’s excellence in Caribbean travel writing award.
