Caribbean Cottage Villa Rentals

By Author: Jesse Henson
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Enjoying a vacation in the Caribbean is a dream come true for many. And for many, that get away does not include resorts or casinos, but rather a more relaxed, informal, home away from home setting. That's where rental villas (or self-catered villas) come into play. Rental villas in the Caribbean vary greatly in price, amenities, services and locations, so a little helpful information is necessary to help you make your Caribbean holiday dream a reality.

The first thing you should know about Caribbean villas is that the term "villa" may mean a condo, a duplex, an apartment or flat, a house made up of several pavilions around a central courtyard, terrace or pool, or a fully functioning stand-alone house on its own private island and anything in between. Villas can sleep one, two or ten. They can have as many as 3 or even 4 bathrooms, provide al fresco showers or a simple shower/WC combo. In short, they can be almost any type of residence, from a ten room, two storey mini mansion to a three room flat. Be sure that the villa you rent has enough sleeping space for everyone in your group. Also ensure that your villa has ample ...
... indoor living space, such as lounges and sun rooms, to accommodate those tropical rainy afternoons. There's no need to sacrifice space for cost, as villas come in budgets to suit just about anyone's needs.

Speaking of costs, please note that Caribbean vacations in general are less expensive during the Summer months, typically from April or May until November. Concurrently, rental villas also are more economical during the warmer months. If you are planning to get away from Winter's ice and snow, be prepared to pay more. Also, if you're planning your holiday for the Holidays (US Thanksgiving, Christmas, and/or New Year's) you should expect to be charged even more than the higher Winter season rates. A villa's Winter rates can be double or more what the same villa would cost you during Spring and Summer. A low-end villa for a week in the off-season can cost as little as $1500 US, while that private island retreat mentioned earlier can go for as much as $18,000 US (or more) during the week between Christmas and New Year's Day. Costs also depend on which island you'll be visiting. Smaller islands like St. John and St. Barts tend to have lower rates than Jamaica, for example. If you decide on that private island or a secluded villa estate on the nearly uninhabited Mustique, you will of course, have to pay much more.

Just as rental villas come in all shapes and sizes, and a wide range of rental rates, the services offered by the owners/managers can vary widely, too. Some of the higher-end rentals come with daily maid service, private butlers and a concierge to meet your every need, from dinner reservations to use of the estate's private vehicle. Others leave everything but a weekly maid service up to you. So, how much you want to keep to yourself and do for yourself will greatly influence which rental villa you choose.

Amenities in rental villas are as varied as their prices and services. While a smaller beachfront villa for two may not even have a tv, some have one in every bedroom and in the lounge, too. Sound systems range from a portable radio to the latest Bose surround sound multispeaker system available. Hair dryers, iPod docks and DVDs are common in most villas, even the honeymoon variety, while some villas have a fully functioning home office, complete with high-speed Internet connections, fax machines and multi-line telephones. The more family oriented villas often come with a stock of board games, video games or jigsaw puzzles, presumably for evenings or rainy afternoons. Many villas feature "outdoor" adventure equipment - snorkeling gear, sea kayaks, and other toys for enjoying the crystal clear Caribbean waters.

Those waters are one thing nearly every villa has in common. Many provide the guest private access to the beach. All are within a few minutes walk or drive of the shore. All offer spectacular views of the crystalline blue waters and white sandy shorelines. One thing to keep in mind - the Caribbean islands all tend to be a bit on the hilly side, with higher elevations offering longer trips to reach the shore, but much grander views of the sea. The steep hillsides of some of the islands lend themselves nicely to panoramic views worthy of picture postcards, especially at sunrise and sunset.

Not all the islands in the Caribbean are cut from the same cloth, though. Tiny St. Barts, at eight miles long and home to only 7,000 residents scattered among small hamlets, can provide a quieter, less tourist filled, get-away-from-it-all kind of holiday. Grand Island, on the other hand, in the Bahamas, is a tourist haven, abounding with resorts, casinos, restaurants and night clubs. And then there are islands that offer a bit of both - some night life scattered among the pristine natural beauty of the island. Grenada, the "Spice Isle" is one such get away destination. Its villas are never far from the beach, and the restaurants and shops of Victoria, Grenville and St. George offer some of the finest the Caribbean has to offer. On the other hand, though, your villa may be surrounded by nutmeg or clove plantations carved out of the island's rainforest. Your choice of villa will depend as much on your budget as on how involved and busy a vacation you are looking for.

The Caribbean is the perfect destination for family vacations, romantic honeymoon holidays and corporate retreats, too. Whether you'll be traveling alone to find some much needed solitude, or need an entire estate to house a reunion with 22 of your closest friends and relatives, the villa rentals of the Caribbean's various islands can meet your every need and fulfill your every dream.
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