bidj

Hello everyone! We are looking for an oceanfront villa to rent for 1 week with our 4 children.Money is not an issue. Can anyone guide us to the most beautiful side of the island with the best beach- no rocks, boats, etc. Does anyone have any experience with a nice villa they have stayed in? And lastly, are there any services such as a chef that will cook for us? Thank you for all your insights!

Sunnyboy

Which island do you have in mind - there are literally hundreds (if not thousands) of villas throughout the Bahamas and Caribbean which match your description?

HowardC

Check out www.vrbo.com--(Villa rental by owner)

virginia

when you search you need to look at beachfront NOT oceanfront. huge difference in the rental world. many villas come with cooks,gardeners etc. or the renters have a relationship with a cook they will recommend. are the kids small- room together age or older- mom we need our space age?

bidj

We have narrowed it down to 3 islands- St. John, Anguilla, or Virgin Gorda. Our children are 2 girls, 11 & 14, and twin boys age 8. They are all very well behaved.We would need at least 3 BR. Thank you for clarifying beachfront and oceanfront! What island do you think is better??

Sunnyboy

In the Caribbean, oceanfront generally means the villa is on the Atlantic side (usually rougher water) and many times not actually on a beach but a cliff or rocky area (the property may have access to a nearby sandy beach but you'll still be on the Atlantic side of the island - theses properties are generally referred to as "beach access" villas.) Beachfront generally means just that, on a sandy located on the Caribbean side of the island. FYI - waterfront means located on the water (usually a lagoon, inlet or other area with no beach).

As for the islands, you will not find any true "beachfront" rental villas on Anguilla as local law allows only hotels and commercial establishments to be built on beachfront property. There are however plenty of villas which are considered "beach access", i.e. on a cliff or bluff overlooking the water with an access path to a nearby beach. Shoal Bay Villas are small attached condo like units that are beachfront properties but they are not true villas.

Likewise, St. John has very few beachfront villas, and most of them are relatively small. Two-thirds of the island is National Park so it is undeveloped as far as housing is concerned and resorts take up most of the privatbeach area. Most of the rental villas on St. John are hillside units and you'll need a rental car to get to the island's many beaches.

Virgin Gorda has the most beachfront villas for rent of the islands you are considering. Check out villas on Liverick Bay, Guavaberry - Spring Bay, Mahoe Bay and Nail Bay.

For info on Caribbean villa rental check out the following web-sites:

www.wimco.com
www.VirginGordaBVI.com
www.destinationstjohn.com


You can also do a google search with topics such as "villa rentals + (insert name of island)" and you find links to lots of different villa rental companies.

oceanic

Here is the website you can find pictures of villas in Anguilla. Just click on the type of villa you want.

http://www.mycaribbean.com/

The North Coast is the Atlantic Ocean and The South coast is the caribbean Sea. The best beahes are Shoal Bay (east and west), Rendezvous Bay, meads Bay, Cove Bay and Maundays Bay. Hope this info helps.

oceanic

Oops!! Since m,oney is not an issue, I would suggest.

http://www.temenosvillas.com/anguilla.htm

http://www.altamer.com/

and

http://www.exclusivityanguilla.com/location.htm

HowardC

The first two above run $5000/day. Suggest you look at Bechcort Villa on Anguilla. It looked very nice and is at Shoal Bay Beach east. www.beachcourtvilla.com

zachsarbean1

St.John is a wonderful vacation spot for quiet and relaxation, but as for beachfront, I think it would be hard to come by. St.John villas are really known more for their excellent views because it is so mountainous.

Piaa

Hi there,
If you are leaning towards St John try Gibney Beach cottages. They are two cottages, one infront of the other, on the beach. It depends if you could leave the children "alone" in the back cottage (approx 20 steps away), the front cottage is a one bedroom, the back a two bedroom. The beach is one of the best on the island - great snorkeling, the use of kayaks, floats etc. Every day we were delivered fresh fruit grown on property, there is an orchid house, banana trees, advacado trees and many more. For a private chef try Mathayom 340-998-8670 fabulous food. Hope this helps.

kmwjes

We went to St. Martin and Anguilla last May with our three kids. Anguilla had beautiful tranquil beaches that were almost like a pool. It was easy with three young children. We also arranged a dolphin swim in Anguilla at Fantaseas

Lois

Barbados is a fantastic island with beautiful beaches and fabulous villas. Villas of all price ranges are available. Contact Paul at Island Hideaways at www.islandhideaways.com
and tell him Lois Swanson suggested you call. We stayed in a fantastic 3 bedroom, 3-1/2 bath villa that sounds like it would be perfect for your family. By giving my name he can tell you which one it was. He's not high pressure -- very nice and very knowledgeable of not only Barbados but other islands through the Caribbean and he could help you, I'm sure.

Lois

bidj

Thank you all for your responses! I am still searching and will keep you posted on our decision as well as a trip report.

PirateLou

Hi, Cap Juluca also has some villas. I think 3 or 5 bedrooms with pools. We stayed in one last year (1 bedroom) and it was quite nice. Just a thought--then you would be right on the beach plus you would be able to enjoy the amenities of staying at a resort.

Tuxedocat

St. John in the U.S.V.I. satisfies all your requirements. Unbelievably beautiful and all the Virgin Islands are so close to each other, there are many boating offerings too. Actually, there are quite a few villas on the beach or near enough to the beach that it's an easy walk. The villa management will set you up with any service such as a chef or a therapeutic massage on your terrace with an umbrella drink. St. John offers a wide range of villas. Our experience is to get one with a pool. Kids can be so fickle. Offering them beach and pool will take the entertainment stress off of you.