Villa Life - Our Blog

Departing St. Thomas? Welcome to Yacht Haven Grande Complimentary Baggage Check!

Visitors staying on St. Thomas or just passing through are welcome at the Yacht Haven Grande Welcome Center & Complimentary Baggage Check. While at the Welcome Center, guests enjoy the "Spin to Win" prize wheel, personalized concierge service, YHG Smooth Sailing Punch (you can even take the recipe home with you!), take pictures with pirates, and receive the latest information on deals and specials at YHG shops.

Many patrons drop their luggage and go on to enjoy the beach, shopping, or a leisurely lunch. The best part: if you have a late flight or ferry on your departure date, you are within a comfy walk of eateries, and shops, in a pleasant atmosphere.

Guest Services Coordinator Joy Matheny (above, right - view more photos on our Facebook page) hosts regular open house events for area Concierges in conjunction with the "Jazz Haven" series, every third Saturday of the month and Anita and Luanda were on hand on June 16th to mix and mingle and enjoy a breezy night of Jazz by Pasado Meridiano from San Juan Puerto Rico.

Smiling broadly, Matheny welcomed many to the Welcome Center, offering snacks and soft drinks, and for the adults, a bit of the special Smooth Sailing Punch featuring Cruzan Strawberry rum.  Local artwork and photography (all for sale) graces the walls of the tropical-themed station.

"We're here to not only introduce everyone to all that we have at Yacht Haven Grande, but to provide a service," she said. "Your last day here should be just as perfect as the rest of your vacation!"

The Yacht Haven Grande Welcome Center is located at the west end of YHG near the pool; easy taxi drop-off/pick off. Hours of operation: Saturday – Wednesday from 9am-5pm and closed on Thursdays & Fridays

Find them on Facebook! 

Yacht Haven Grande web site

USVI native and Reggae star Pressure showcased at Casa Lupa

Villas are picture-perfect for vacations and all sorts of fantasies... Virgin Islands native John P. Wheatley owns and operates his own production company in Atlanta, GA and while searching for the perfect shoot locale online, came across Casa Lupa... or rather its various doors, which open onto the beautiful vista of world-renowned Magens Bay. Doorways opening, as hearts open... to love!  Pressure Buss Pipe is at his best, crooning to an island beauty in a splendid production of "Touch You":

St. Croix Festival: Play Mas, 1st Class!

OFFICIAL RELEASE

St. Croix Festival theme announced

Miss St. Croix 2009-2010 Marcellina Ventura - official photo
The Crucian Christmas Festival Organization has announced the theme for the 2010-2011 Festival season. The theme is Play Mas, 1st Class!

The Executive Board members thank Jennifer Springer for submitting the theme. She will be rewarded with tickets to some festival shows, a handmade mahogany plaque and VIP seating at the Adults parade.

The theme embodies the advancements that Festival has achieved in the past few years. St. Croix has been leading the way in the Virgin Islands in festival and carnival. Festival has many firsts including; Party Monarch, the Night Parade, the Mini Village, an interactive web site, live internet streaming of Village events and the Adults parade and the revival of the Band-O-Rama to name a few. And this year’s Festival will be no exception with more excitement, mas and pageantry, 1st Class!

Annual Paradise Jam bring college hoops to VI

Paradise Jam is coming to town! 

Top men's and women's basketball teams will give their all for  2010 as they participate in the annual Paradise Jam tournaments, hosted on the island of St. Thomas by the Basketball Travelers, Inc. organization.  Each Thanksgiving week, the entire community and the world tuck into a bounty of court wizardry at the University of the Virgin Islands' Sports and Fitness Center.  While local residents polish off their holiday meals in happy anticipation of the yearly contests, we can count on viewing at least 4 games on Fox College Sports and Fox Sports Net.  The official web site of the Paradise Jam is www.ParadiseJam.com.

College basketball players who make it to the Paradise Jam enjoy the excitement of the competition alongside the natural beauty of the islands, local cuisine, and a cultural experience that is unique to the U.S. Virgin Islands.  Since its beginnings as a women's basketball showcase (held at the Ivanna Eudora Kean High School), the Paradise Jam has continued to grow by engaging residents and enticing team fans and families (and sports press!)  to the territory.

This year's men's teams will be on the court from Friday, November 19 to Monday November 22, 2010.  Scheduled to participate are Alabama, Clemson, Iowa, Long Beach State, Old Dominion, Seton Hall, Saint Peters, and Xavier.

In women's action, Iowa State, TCU, Virginia, and West Virginia will cover the "Island Division", while the "Reef Division" will feature Georgetown, Georgia Tech, Missouri, and Tennessee.  Women's basketball dates are Tuesday November 23 through Sunday November 28.

• Women's tournaments and brackets
• Men's tournament and brackets

St. John Festival Celebration 2010 schedule

2010 St. John Celebration theme:
"Enjoy Our Cultural & Musical Trend for Festival 2010"
 
The U.S. Virgin Islands enjoy 3 distinct Carnival celebrations:  the St. Croix Crucian Christmas Fiesta, St. Thomas Carnival (considered Virgin Islands Carnival), and the St. John Celebration, which encompasses a commemoration of the Emancipation of 1848 and the 4th of July.  This year's activities begin with Pan-O-Rama on May 29th and will end with Festival Fireworks on Monday, July 5th (when the holiday falls officially this year). 

NOTE:  Rental cars, provisioning, chefs and other special services are in high demand;  please book vacation extras in advance!