Caribbean vacation in a private five bedroom, five bathroom villa... Rent this private 5 bedroom, 5 bath luxury oceanfront private villa in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. http://www.caribbeanmag.com/search/hotels/St_Croix/oceanfrontprivatevilla/hotel/856/20/ en-us Copyright 1998 e-TravelMedia.com/CaribbeanMag.com Mon, 13 Oct 2008 08:17:46 EST Our Villa is situated on a lush landscaped, one acre waterfront property, in the exclusive East End of St. Croix. Overlooking magnificent Grapetree Bay, which is only 8 miles east of Christiansted, our principal port. Privately owned and exclusive... This outstanding private oceanfront home is is complete with all your creature comforts. The recreation loft has cable television, VCR, stereo, cassette, and CD player not to mention stunning views and gorgeous sunsets. Gorgeous oceanside pool... The 50 foot long - 9 foot deep seaside pool with covered gazebo and cantilevered deck, blend together offers a front row seat to sound, scent, and sea. Our seaside deck is the perfect place to throw a Caribbean style celebration. If it's sun you want, float the day away on a raft in the pool, or relax in a chaise lounge overlooking the spectacular coral reef. The pure ocean breeze and the crisp Caribbean air will mesmerize you and remind you that you have all the time you want, and everything at hand to make your vacation dreams a reality. Relax Under The Palms... Relaxing under the palms is a natural transition from the elegant villa interior to the majestic oceanfront splendor of Grapetree Bay. Lavish yourself in the lush tropical ambiance of Sea Spray Shores. Romance can blossom beneath these beautiful swaying palm trees on your own private oceanfront deck overlooking the aqua blue Caribbean Sea. Our hammock (built for two!) is the perfect place for that book you just haven't had time to read... until now! Or perhaps you would enjoy refreshing Piña Colada's with friends. Location — St. Croix is in the beautiful Caribbean, the beautiful United States Virgin Islands. All in all, there are about fifty islands; some big, some not so big, some merely rocks jutting out of the clear blue sea. The three principal islands are St. Croix, St. John and St. Thomas. St. Croix is the largest, and lies entirely in the Caribbean sea. St. John and St. Thomas are next to each other thirty-five miles away, between the Atlantic and the Caribbean. St. Croix is approximately 1500 miles south/southeast of New York City and 1100 miles east/southeast of Miami. The eastern tip of St. Croix is the easternmost Atlantic point of the United States. History — the Virgin Islands date back to Columbus' second voyage in 1493. Because of their incredible, unspoiled beauty, he called them "The Virgins," with reference to the legend of St. Ursula and her beautiful 11,000 Virgins. Weather — the weather is always comfortable, making St. Croix an ideal destination for a vacation the year round. Winter — the islands are far enough south to be assured of warm weather; an average mean temperature in the winter of 77F (25C). Summer — there is a steadiness of the trade winds, blowing almost without exception from an easterly direction— and an average mean temperature of 82F (27C). Tourism — almost 2 million visitors come each year to the Virgin Islands, the perfect place for a vacation. There is a wide range of accommodations, excellent sports, a selection of other things to do, and a reputation for the best shopping in the Caribbean. And the people are among the friendliest in this part of the world. ...and The Rest Clothing — the ambiance is "casual chic", meaning you can dress up or down as you please. Swimwear or similarly abbreviated attire within the city limits is against the law. Currency — since St. Croix is part of the United States, the currency is the U.S. dollar. Traveler's checks and major credit cards are widely accepted. Dining and Entertainment — dining in St. Croix is truly world-class, and ranges from French to Japanese to Italian to Chinese. Be sure to try some of the West Indian specialties—including fresh fish and lobster. And entertainment ranges from get-together bars with folk singers to the best in calypso to sophisticated dance clubs. Driving — in a carryover from Danish rule, traffic keeps to the left. To drive here, you need a valid stateside driver's license. Electric Current - Standard North American, 120 volt/60 cycle. Government — the United States Virgin Islands is an unincorporated Territory with a non-voting Delegate to the House of Representatives. There are three Government branches: Executive, Legislative and Judicial. All persons born here are citizens of the United States. Language — being part of the U.S., the language is English. The local lilt given to English is referred to as "calypso." Marrying in St. Croix — everything can be arranged - from clergy to music to videotape to reception. Contact one of the offices of the Division of Tourism for details. St. Croix — is the largest of the United States Virgin Islands, 82 square miles in area, with two distinct towns to visit: Christiansted and Frederiksted. Also of special interest: St. George's Botanical Gardens, a Rain Forest, the restored Whim Greathouse, a rum distillery, and Buck Island—with the only United States National Monument (we call it a "National Park") that is underwater. Shopping — with no customs duties on tourism-related items (such as watches, cameras, fine jewelry, china and leather goods) the Virgin Islands is truly a free port for the visitor. There's no luxury tax or sales tax, either. And since they're part of the United States, U.S. citizens are allowed a duty-free shopping quota of $1200—twice that of any other island in the Caribbean—three times that of Europe. And the shopping is truly world-class—with names to drop including Cartier, Gucci and Louis Vuitton. Sports — what would you like to do? Swim, sail, dive, snorkel, play golf, go parasailing, play tennis, go fishing or horseback riding— it's all available in St. Croix. Time — the Virgin Islands are in the Atlantic Standard Time Zone, which is one hour ahead of Eastern Standard Time. Travel Arrangements — St. Croix is easily reached from where you are right now. For example, we're 3 1/2 hours nonstop from NYC via American Airlines; 3 1/2 hours nonstop from Newark via American or Continental; 3 1/2 hours nonstop from Raleigh/Durham via American; 3 1/2 hours nonstop from Baltimore via USAir; 2 1/2 hours nonstop from Atlanta via Delta; 2 1/2 hours nonstop from Miami via American. And any flight into San Juan, Puerto Rico connects into St. Croix/St. Thomas on convenient commuter airlines. Travel Formalities — there is no regulation requiring a U.S. citizen to have a passport but it is always your best I.D. when traveling. In any case, some form of identification (voter's card, birth certificate or passport) should be carried to evidence citizenship. Citizens of any country outside the U.S. should follow regulations required by the U.S. for their country. AMENITIES: King-Sized Beds... Let our King size beds usher you into the restful slumber you'll need so you can enjoy the next day of island activities. All rooms are Master bedrooms with bath. Each with 'his' and 'her' sinks and storage space. Fall asleep in luxury, sleep soundly to the sounds of the ocean waves on the shore outside, and awaken to the fresh salt air. Dining and Kitchen Facilities... Elegance and Intimacy is the key to unlock the charm of the Villa dining and entertainment experience. The gourmet island-style kitchen has all the amenities you require, including microwave, cook-top broiler range and a dishwasher. The circular bar seats 10 people and is adjoined to a separate conversation area, all within the 30 foot high central atrium. Central Gathering Space... The central atrium space is the gathering point within this spaciously designed villa. All activities have a panoramic view of the pool deck and see viewed through 20 foot tall windows and wall to wall sliding glass doors. Amenities; Cable TV (all stateside channels) cassette, VCR, stereo, CD Player and table. ACTIVITIES: Magnificent Grapetree Bay... Come and discover the joy of water activities in our beautiful crystal clear St Croix waters. Snorkeling is an activity the whole family can enjoy. Or perhaps you've always wanted to try scuba diving? Become a certified scuba diver after a half days instruction. Jet skiing is great for the big kids and adults, and swimming is fun for everyone. For those inclined to try Wind Surfing, expert instruction is available at the newly opened Grapetree Bay Hotel and Casino. Boating, yachting, kayaking, canoeing or peddle-boating are some of your choices. If you prefer to fish - there are many charter boats available to reel in the really 'BIG BLUE' Marlin. Guests of the Villa are welcomed by all island hotels to use their facilities including golf, tennis, dining, dancing and shows. Equipment rental for all water sport activities are available at the newly opened Grapetree Hotel and Casino Resort, located a few minutes away. BUCANEER - Is set on a former sugar plantation property and is located east of Christiansted. This hotel has an 18-hole golf course. Play up over and down hill slopes and right to the edge of the Caribbean sea. Tim Johnston (golf pro) is available daily. Both guests and non-guests welcome. The non-guest greens fees are $55 pp for 18 holes with cart $15 pp or $35 pp for 9 holes with cart $10pp. Off route 82, near Green Cay. Tel. 809-773-2100. CARAMBOLA - The par-70 course goes through a winding valley, complete with spring-fed lakes as water hazards. The terrain and almost 100 bunkers offer a great challenge for the good golfer. Four sets of tee markers and landing areas make this an excellent course for all playing levels. Carambola's golf course was designed by Robert Trent Jones. GOLF magazine's "Gold Medal" winner as one of the "finest" golf resorts and 4 stars from Golf Digest. Golfers have a clubhouse, a practice putting green, a driving range and Greg McCulloch, a full-time golf pro. The pro shop has rental clubs and lockers. Greens fees are $47.50 pp for 18 holes with cart. After 2 PM, the price drops to $33 pp. In mid-April rates drop further to the summer season level. Buy a 10-round coupon book for $350. Three to seven day packages available through the resort. Clubs rent for $17 and shoe rental is $10. Route 80, at Davis Bay. Tel. 809-778-3800 or 809-778-0797 for the Carambola Golf Villas. THE REEF CLUB - This 9-hole mini-course on the northeastern part of St. Croix has a casual personality perfect for some carefree putting. Friday afternoon scrambles are an event. There's also a driving range. Go to dinner, dance the night away and do a little gambling. Come back to your private 50 foot pool for a little cooling off. This year... make your dreams come true. Stay at this villa so you can be 2 minutes from the Divi Carina Bay Casino. It's the U.S. Virgin Islands' first and only casino. This casino is lively and it's hopping from noon until 4 AM weekdays or 6 AM weekends. Enjoy our tables and casino games, and high-roller jackpots. Play Blackjack, Craps, and Roulette - then try your luck at exciting slot and video machines. The casino's "member" club, Beachcombers, offers priority and privileges not available to regular players. A membership entitles you to special invitations, coupon rewards and other exciting mailings about their tournaments and events. -hundreds of slots including multi-coin machines in many denominations -10 Blackjack Tables -2 Roulette Tables -1 Craps Table -Video Poker Machines St. Croix Ultimate Bluewater Adventures #14 Caravelle Arcade, Christiansted, St. Croix, USVI 877-STX-SCUBA Known as "The Friendliest Dive Shop on Earth" this shop is run by long time island residents Ed and Molly Buckley. SCUBA specializes in highly personalized service for each and every diver. Conveniently located in the Caravelle Arcade right next door to the Aquarium, they are open Monday through Saturday from 8am till 7pm and Sundays till 3pm. As the first PADI 5 Star Gold Palm facility on the island, divers are assured of the highest quality dive leadership and training from Introductory Courses (we can have you underwater in under two hours) all the way through Professional Levels. Their custom dive boat the "Reliance," measures 38 feet in length and 14 feet wide. The Reliance carries up to 14 divers. Amenities include a warm fresh water shower, working marine head (rest room), mask/camera rinse tank, coolers, and plenty of shade. The vessel is inspected by the U.S. Coast Guard and is operated by Coast Guard certified Captains. Daily two-tank dive trips leave at 8:30am and 1:30pm. Several night dives are scheduled each week. Call us if you're staying at Villa Rental and need more inforamtion on Diving, Snorkeling, or Fishing. Buck Island Charters with Capt. Heinz on the TERORO II Box 25273 GBS, St. Croix, VI 00824 340-773-3161 Captain Heinz puts you completely at ease on daily charters and expertly guided snorkeling tours of National Monument Buck Island's underwater trails. Snorkeling equipment provided. Enjoy the comfort on a sleek 42 foot Trimaran, which is a delight to sail on. The Captain's 30 years of experience makes this trip a breeze. Caribbean Adventure Tours PO Box 5302, Kingshill, St. Croix USVI 00850 340-773-4599 KAYAK TOUR SALT RIVER NATIONAL PARK and ECOLOGICAL RESERVE - Experience the tranquil waters of Salt River by kayak and enjoy the park's unique combination of ecological and historical highlights. Explore secluded estuaries and mangrove groves, observe ancient Indian burial grounds and villages, sunbathe, hike and swim on a pristine beach and paddle to Christopher Columbus' landing site as his crew did 500 years ago. Beginners and Experts Welcome. DINING/RESTARUANTS: Type: Villa No. of Rooms: 1 Beach Location: Beach Front (Directly on Beach/Water Front) http://www.caribbeanmag.com/search/hotels/St_Croix/oceanfrontprivatevilla/hotel/856/20/ Mon, 13 Oct 2008 08:17:46 EST