Villa Life - Our Blog

Chez Shell, St. John + The Baths, Virgin Gorda: Awesome!

St. John villa Chez Shell.  July 2012

McLaughlin Anderson Luxury Villas Concierge and Guest Services Director Angela St. Hilaire received the following report and kudos from a very happy St. John guest:

Chez Shell was AWESOME!   The managers were kind and  informative about the villa;  absent until called upon. Quick to respond. The villa was impeccably clean!  Denise does an incredible job there!!
 
My massage by Lina who was filling in for Arlene, ROCKED; I am happy to report (I think they share office space).  I am a tough critic in this area so...take it for what it is worth.

Your advice on the boating was excellent.  We did a dinghy one day and then used your tip and got a GREAT captain, Jason (from another company) and took that to the Baths and other spots.  While the captain was refueling, I walked my niece and nephew around town. Got a call from my husband to come watch the car as a police officer warned him he had 5 mins.  My husband tipped (the captain) and said a quick goodbye. The other three of us never saw him again.

So the day we departed my husband stopped by to tell the Steve (the owner of the boat company), how great Jason was on our trip to the Baths.  Really a NICE young man who clearly was competent and knowledgeable.   Please feel free to send along our further compliments and thanks to him!

We never go wrong using McLaughlin Anderson!  It was fun showing a niece and nephew where it is we go when not at the New Jersey shore with them every summer.  They were awed by the fish, turtles, and The Baths.

Sincere thanks to you for all your help and correspondence. Hope we will be back before too long.

Take care!

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

Sol y Sombra, Caribbean Queen

by Anita Davis

While our islands are so close together geographically, they can seem a world away when you are going about your everyday business.  When your "everyday business" is villa rentals, there are no excuses for not being intimately acquainted with our properties and the neighboring islands.  So, it is required that we pay regular visits to our sister isles, dine in restaurants, visit the local sights and stay in the villas.  As you may well imagine, it's tough work, and someone has to do it.  It may as well be us!

Grenada Sailing Festival 2011 - Pure Sail, Pure Spice

All hands on deck for the 2011 Port Louis Grenada Sailing Festival & Digicel Work Boat Regatta, set for January 28-February 1, 2011, and continuing February 4-6, 2011.  This 18th annual series of races combines traditional work boat events (Digicel Work Boat Regatta), youth participation and international regatta activities over the course of two weeks.  In between, are opportunities for spectators, yachtsmen and visitors to mingle and enjoy the beauty and culture of the island of Grenada.

The Festival's home base continues at Camper & Nicholsons Port Louis Marina, which is located in the Lagoon, St. George's.  Alongside the Grenada Board of Tourism, a plethora of sponsors from the hospitality, retail, beverage, banking, communications, marine and other industries will take part in creating fun diversions for visitors and residents alike. 

The official web site contains much in the way of information, but some key pages to visit include:

• Customs and Immigration
• Port Louis Marina (special pricing for participants)
• Entry Forms
• Official Contacts

 Related links:

• Grenada Sailing Festival's official web site 
• Grenada villas and information at McLaughlinAnderson.com

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!