Luxury Real Estate

Courtesy of Michel Cruz, Rimontgo Real Estate

The luxury sector is booming. Why? Because in addition to a solid traditional base in the developed economies of Western Europe, North America, Australasia and Japan there is now also a veritable explosion in the numbers of people from emerging markets who are euphemistically called ‘emerging classes’, but might more accurately be referred to as the New Rich.

Though just a tiny demographic within their home countries, they tend to come from countries with such large populations that their sudden growth in real terms over the past ten years has been phenomenal. Hailing from countries such as China, South Korea, India, Malaysia, Brazil, Mexico and Russia, they have swelled the ranks of the world’s wealthy significantly within a very short space of time.

 New spending power

Each region naturally brings its own cultural background and consumer characteristics to the table, but one thing that all these people have in common is a hunger for luxury, both in the tangible and the symbolic sense of the word. Money provides access to travel, information, refinement, luxury goods and services, and the ability to mix in circles that could be described as an international elite.

While the majority of these new industrialists, technocrats, innovators, entrepreneurs and socialites do not come from the heartland of Europe, this is very much the region at the heart of their attention, as it is above all European luxury and tradition that they seek in the form of the continent’s many luxury brands and products ranging from jewellery, fashion and cosmetics to cars, watches and yachts.

Europe’s unique position in this field is based upon a rich cultural tradition that dates back to the times of kings and aristocrats, and the exquisite works created for them by the finest craftsmen. The latter form the foundation of many of the legendary brands that everybody wants to have a piece of – and which are driving the current boom in the luxury sector.

Naturally Asia and North America also have rich traditions of craftsmanship and quality products, but somehow Europe’s history has endowed it with an iconography that is not only hard to emulate but also very highly desired because it is the very embodiment of what people the world over continue to regard as ‘luxury’. For this reason, those who have ‘arrived’ waste no time in acquiring their share of it.

Implications for European real estate

Though there is a natural time lag between spending on European luxury brands and real estate on the continent, the desire to acquire signature properties in Europe is the ultimate culmination of the same process. After building up private, residential and commercial residential property portfolios within their own regions many of the new wealthy people invariably turn their focus on classic locations in Europe and the USA.

The most famous of these are naturally New York, Paris, London and Monaco – and they continue to top most wish lists – but more and more people are spreading their horizons to also include the likes of Florida, California, Hawaii, the Caribbean and also iconic locations across Europe. In this, Europe’s rich cultural and geographical diversity within a relatively compact area once again puts it in a unique position.

In addition to city pads in Madrid, Barcelona, Vienna and Rome there are the country estates of France, England and Switzerland, historical properties and wineries in Italy and Spain, and of course the classic Riviera appeal of the Mediterranean, in such places as the Côte d’Azur, Sardinia, Portofino, Mallorca and the luxury Spanish coastal resorts on the Costa Blanca and Costa del Sol.

It is these areas, but also other parts of Europe, that affluent and increasingly well-informed buyers from regions across the globe take a keen interest in, opening up a highly diverse but ever more important new market especially in the luxury segments. Where good air links, communication facilities, security and services meet spots of exclusivity married to cultural refinement and/or natural beauty, demand is at a premium.

European uniqueness as a prime commodity

Though price is often not a primary consideration, value and prestige are. Apart from England, France and Switzerland, the main geographical emphasis of this real estate demand is along the Mediterranean coastlines of Italy, France and Spain, with regions such as Valencia and Jávea experiencing a surge in interest from especially Russian and Chinese buyers, along with a very steady level of demand from Northern Europe.

Rimontgó’s clients in this field are usually successful businesspeople who wish to spend part of the year in a safe, warm environment with good services, exclusivity and a very high quality of life. The fact that the rest of Europe is seldom more than two hours away is another key element in this formula, as is a broad choice of exclusive properties and residential areas.

Asian, Russian and South American clients tend to purchase a home for their own use, but always as a sound investment, and quite frequently they widen the playing field by also investing in commercial properties with a certain prestige, such as wineries, resort hotels, land and also prime offices and retail outlets. In all of this a sense of uniqueness simply adds value to the very special position that European luxury currently holds.

Courtesy of Amy Lombard of Paradizo

BARCELONA, SPAIN (Feb. 3, 2011) /PRNewswire/ -- As February brings in a freezing chill, Valentine's Day is heating up and sprinkling hearts, lace, reds and pinks all over. Forgo the tired ideas of chocolates and flowers and give a truly spectacular Valentine's Day gift. The luxury vacation experts at Paradizo have named their top ideas for Valentine's Day gifts for 2011.

1. Since Valentine's Day 2011 is on a Monday, why not spend the weekend together in a private villa or luxury apartment? A romantic private villa just for the two of you offers an amazing getaway for the long weekend. Better yet, a fully-staffed villa offers five-star resort services in the privacy of your own vacation rental. Maybe you'd like to visit one of the romantic places in the world, rent an apartment in Paris for an unforgettable weekend? If you're looking to escape the cold, a Caribbean beachfront villa may be more your style. Whatever you choose, a special surprise vacation will surely earn you bonus points this year!

2. Give the ultimate spa & wellness package in an incredible luxury resort paradise for a beautiful, romantic retreat for both of you. A spa package can include personalized spa services from attentive masseuses and experienced staff that can offer a variety of wellness treatments. It's the perfect way to unwind, and better yet -- you get to enjoy it together!

3. Hire a private chef for the ultimate romantic dinner. Plan the most romantic meal in the privacy of your home with the help of an experienced, gourmet chef. A private chef at home will offer full-service culinary services tailored exactly to your gastronomic tastes.

4. For the fashionista, a personal shopping experience with an expert may be the absolute perfect gift. Your personal shopper can customize a shopping tour of the world's top cities from New York to London, Paris to Barcelona. A personal shopper offers insider access to private boutiques, personal styling tips, and the privilege to shop your way through some of the most beautiful sights in the world.

Courtesy of: Jim Walberg of Caribbean Islands Realty

Ten days ago Sen. George LeMieus (R), from Florida proposed a bill that would have ruined the Virgin Island economy! This week, through the behind the scenes efforts of Gov. deJongh from the USVI and several of the Territory’s influential friends were successful in having it voted down by the U.S. Senate!!!

“The Rum Cover-Over War” was one worth fighting. A war starts generally because one territory is angry with another, and they want to punish the people they are angry with. Well, the offending party in this war is Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico is angry that the giant liquor conglomerate, Diageo, did not renew an agreement with a rum distillery in their territory. It happens to be the distillery that produces Captain Morgan’s label representing significant jobs and BIG revenue to any territory that has the contract.

Because they didn’t renew their contract with Puerto Rico, Diageo contracted with the US Virgin Islands to build their new distillery on St. Croix with a 30 year lease and a rum production agreement. The agreement has the USVI providing tax benefits for the contract and the USVI would begin to receive the Cover-Over funds that had been paid to Puerto Rico for so many years. Puerto Rico didn’t like it that Diageo pulled out of their territory and are now setting up shop in the USVI. So, that is why Senator LeMieus proposed the bill so he could appear to be a supporter of the many Puerto Ricans who live in Florida and are potential voters for his re-election.

Puerto Rico claims it is an inappropriate use of the cover-over money and excessively awards a foreign company. The rum cover-over payment is currently based on the production of rum in a specific Territory. Senator Lemieux’s proposal would have instead based the allocation on population. The population of Puerto Rico is 3.9 million, compared to almost 110,000 for the USVI territory. Do you think he has Puerto Rico’s interest in mind? Of course he did. Gov. deJongh said the proposal ignored almost 100 years of federal precedent and counter to all Congressional intent, and it would have severely harm the USVI economy in favor of Puerto Rico.

“The proposed amendment takes excise tax revenue paid by Virgin Islands rum makers on rum produced in the Virgin Islands and directly transfers it to Puerto Rico’s government coffers,” deJongh’s statement said. “Puerto Rico would end up with billions of dollars generated by rum production in the Virgin Islands. … Sen. LeMieux is directly attacked his fellow Americans in the Virgin Islands by doing Puerto Rico’s bidding.” Gov. deJongh continued by stating, “By promoting this amendment, Puerto Rico now seems willing to walk away from the long history of friendship and collaboration, which has linked America’s two Caribbean possessions.”

This phase of the “Rum Carry-Over War” has now ended. Let’s hope that each of these Caribbean U.S. Territories can move on to addressing the needs of their citizens instead of wasting the Congress’s time by proposing bills that have business to even be addressed. I look forward to any of your opinions and comments regarding this Rum War that just ended with the USVI – 1 and Puerto Rico – nil. Until next time…your Caribbean lifestyle reporter continues his work!

Courtesy of: Damianos Sotheby’s International Realty

Damianos Sotheby’s International Realty won “The Best Real Estate Agency – Caribbean” at the International Residential Property Awards 2009 held in association with CNBC in San Diego Nov 12th. These awards are the property industry’s most prestigious awards programme dedicated to finding the best real estate professionals across the globe.

Having gained this high recommendation Damianos Sotheby’s International Realty is now entitled to display the Americas Property Awards’ logo with pride. This symbol of excellence will be recognized and appreciated by the public who are becoming increasingly well informed and discerning about the properties they seek to buy.

Entries were judged by a panel of 52 independent professionals whose collective knowledge of the property industry is second to none and unsurpassed by any other property awards. This year’s judges include Ben Wood, industry head property markets of Google UK; Peter Bolton King, group chief executive of the National Federation of Property Professionals; Imtiaz Farookhi, chief executive of the National House Building Council; Christopher Hall, president elect of FIABCI; Wilhelm Harnish, Master Builders of Australia (MBA); Thijs Stoffer, International Consortium of Real Estate Agents Association (ICREA); Helen Shield, editor-in-chief of International Homes magazine and Gillian Farr, head of design of Laura Ashley Home.

All in all, there were 36 different categories and only the top scoring winners from over 100 countries were nominated to represent the finest property companies from across globe.

Virginia Damianos, Vice-President of Damianos Sotheby’s International Realty said of winning the award, “In this increasingly competitive property market we are proud to be the recipient of this prestigious award. It reaffirms our company’s dedication to being nothing short of the best. It’s a very exciting honour after 65 years of hard work!”

By Jim Walberg of Caribbean Islands Realty

For the past two years the Virgin Islands Sustainable Farm Institute on St. Croix has been selected by the National Geographic Geotourism Challenge as a Top Ten Finalist out of 611 entrants from around the world. The VISFI is located on more than 100 acres in the rain forest of St. Croix.

The mission of VISFI is: To provide a working educational farm enterprise that integrates sustainability in education, environment, and community through quality instruction in Agroecology and related fields. The National Geographic Geotourism Challenge promotes innovations that benefit local communities and cultural landscapes in tourist destinations. The 2009 theme is “The Power of Place: Sustaining the Future of Destinations.”

The VISFI St. Croix project was chosen as one of the ten finalist by a panel of judges that included Nobel Peace Prize Winner Dr. Wangari Maathai, founder of the Green Belt Movement, and Keith Bellows, editor of National Geographic Traveler. “Our 2009 entry is about how farm-based education can be used in a structured format to teach about self-sustainability and cultural identity, and promote healthy development,” said Nate Olive, program co-founder and VISF program director. “The real winners of this program, regardless of the outcome of the contest, will be the children we interact with daily.”

The project is called Natural Mentors, a four-part program about nature survival, environmental awareness, organic-food production and mentoring relationships. More than 900 Virgin Island youth have participated in it this year. This program would not be possible without the cooperation of VISFI and Crucian Heritage and Nature Tourism (CHANT); Anne Marie Gibbs and students at Complex High School; the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands; Lana Vento Charitable Trust; and the Virgin Islands Department of Tourism’s “My Community” program.

The VISFI program combines experiential learning, outdoor lecture, field laboratories, personal and group research projects, leadership development, and local environmental awareness. All of these pieces work together to create a comprehensive educational experience. The outcome for the participants is personal growth, self-awareness, and community development in each student relationship with agriculture and the environment. They promote healthy agriculture through intelligent, sustainable farm design coupled with environmentally conscious practices and principles. The outcome that VISFI is creating is family and community based agricultural enterprises that will be sustainable for all future generations.

In the future, VISFI hopes to create a global network of small farm and educational farm campuses to facilitate the sharing of information, ideas, and sustainable agriculture and resource management technologies. Representatives of the farm institute ask that people to go online and vote for VISFI. Votes may be cast through August 12th. The top three winners will each receive $5,000. Please support this important Geotourism Challenge. Until next time, your Caribbean lifestyle detective remains on duty.

By: Jim Walberg of Caribbean Islands Realty

For the past 34 years, Jim Walberg has hosted a campout for any men and boys who want to attend. The location of this event is Leavitt Meadows Wilderness Campground along the West Walker River on the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada mountains in California at 7,500 feet. This year we had 52 men and boys who enjoyed a time of expanding friendships while enjoying camping and fishing.

This adventure was never meant to be a well guarded tradition. It started by just three men and their boys going camping and fishing for the first time along one of the most picturesque trout streams in the Sierra Nevada mountains 34 years ago. I was one of those three men. The next year we said, “Well, let’s go camping again along the Walker River.” We just kept doing going camping in July each year at the same campground, and more and more men and boys joined us along the way.

What has unfolded over these past 34 years is a time of male bonding, learning about the outdoors, teaching each other about the respect that Nature requires, and learning about the Native Americans that lived and thrived in this exact location of California – the Piute Nation. The rules that are a part of this campout are very simple; 1) With guidance from men, the boys are free to explore all aspects of this special region; 2) Mom’s are not informed about the events of this trip unless it is critical for them to know; 3) No electrical devices that make noise are allowed; 4) The only trout that are kept are ones that will be eaten that day. All the rest are released; 5) Each man and boy are expected to respect and protect each other each day. If they there are moments when boys are being boys and there is unacceptable behavior others intervene and make it right.

Many of the boys that are gathered into this brotherhood are from single parent families where there is no father figure. The deal is that just because the man doesn’t have a son, he can still join the annual event by finding a boy that would benefit from discovering the “magic” of five days in the outdoors. And, we had men and boys who have come from Nashville, St. Louis, Scottsdale, San Diego, Portland, Denver, and many more cities across the country. Most of them first started their participation when they lived in California. But, as they moved to other areas of the country, they kept coming back on the fourth Wednesday of July to join us for this magical reunion of those few fortunate men and boys.

Because we have spent so many years in this region of the Sierras we know it like the back of our hand. There is more to do in those five days than is possible. We have named the places that we hike and drive to for a day of trout fishing; The Swimming Hole; The Meadow, Girl Scout Camp, Rattlesnake Canyon, Roosevelt Lake, Lane Lake, Secret Lake, and many more. There are also field trips that are taken; Bodie State Park ; lunch at Walker Burger; a night time visit to the ghost houses at the abandoned 100+ year old trading post that is just a quarter of a mile from our campsite. And, the finale of the annual campout is the Saturday night campfire talent show. This year one of the dad’s put on a harmonica concert that dazzled all of us. We also have the two most coveted awards made to the boys at the Saturday night campfire; The Pig Pen Award for the dirties kid of the campout; and, The Butt Head Award for the kid who has done the dumbest things during the campout.

Everyone who attends this event is transformed because of spending five days with so many amazing men and boys in midst of one of Nature’s most beautiful spots in California. If you want more information on this unforgettable experience, please contact me. I guarantee that it is worth the effort to attend. Until next time, your East Bay lifestyle detective remains on duty.

By: Jim Walberg of Caribbean Islands Realty

One of the truths about real estate is that all real estate is local. The world news continues to report each day the demise of real estate because of the world’s credit meltdown, however there are always real estate locations that are still thriving. The Caribbean fractionals are one of those locations.

I am constantly looking for the best opportunities in the Caribbean for people to secure their slice of Paradise. For the last several years the real estate product that has represented half or more of the sales has been fractionals. If you recall, almost ten years ago the Ritz Carlton in Red Hook, St. Thomas, was one of the first to test the market of fractional deeded ownership as a method to own real estate with several other partners. It was a huge success. Below are six more Caribbean islands to consider for your slice of Paradise by purchasing a fraction of the property instead of the owning it all yourself.

Terra del Sol, Aurba: This is one of the few completely planned communities in the Caribbean, with a Trent Jones champion golf course to go along with their beautiful homes, villas, condominiums, golf, spa & fitness, fine dining, and much more.

Botany Bay, St. Thomas: Timbers Group is developing the ultra-luxury resort located on the western tip of St. Thomas. It will be managed by the international hospitality management group - Jumeirah Group, which is a member of Dubai Holding. This project has a variety of fractionals - from condos to very large townhomes.

Wyndam Grand Bay Waterford, Cayman Islands: The Cayman Islands are about 180 miles northwest of Jamaica and is noted for its breathtaking diving and an off-shore banking center for much of the world. This project is located at Crystal Harbor Safe Haven and has something for everyone.

Adventuras Club, Puerto Adventuras, Mayan Riviera: Sometimes people forget that Mexico has a thriving Caribbean real estate center - from Cancun to Tulum. The Mayan Riviera is exploding and the Adventuras Club is just about 25 miles south of Cancun. I love this part of Mexico as one of my part time homes.

Casa de Campo - Los Altos, Dominican Republic: This is THE spot in the DR for luxury real estate. It is right next to Altos de Chavon, a gorgeous replica of a 16^th century Italian village, with shops, restaurants, and many cultural attractions. Casa de Campo has already won the Travel & Leisure Magazine’s #1 “Family Friendly Resort In The Caribbean”! Besides the natural beauty of the island, is also the golfing capital of the Caribbean.

February Point Resort, Exuma, Bahamas: With February Point’s oceanfront settings, the luxury amenities of the resort, the furnishings that come with the fractional ownership of the villas, and the tax advantages of The Bahamas, it is a very appealing option for those wanting to own a piece of Paradise.

These are seven of my suggestions for those wanting to check how to own a piece of the Caribbean at a fraction of the cost of buying a home. Let me know what you discover from these suggestions. Your Caribbean lifestyle detective remains on duty! Until next time…fair winds!

 By Jim Walberg of Caribbean Islands Realty

When a yacht leaves the docks for sailing adventure, the family and friends of the crew are standing on the dock waving your hands goodbye, and shouting “Do not be fearful!” This well known sailor’s mantra is because the crew have no idea what is going to happen during their voyage.

This phrase, “Do not be fearful,” is in many aspects of my life, not just sailing. How about real estate today. It is the phrase that is used by both the crew and the family and friends staying behind. My experience with this mantra is based on the fact that no one knows what will ever happen on a sailing adventure. The only certainty this is known by the crew and their family and friends is the latitude and longitude of the destination of the voyage. What happens from the moment you set sail to the moment you drop anchor at your destination is what is called “a sailing adventure”, or maybe we could substitute it with a business phrase - “a real estate adventure.”I could write a book about all of the unexpected events that have happened to me on many sailing adventures I have participated in the past 50 years. It is OK to have a healthy sense of fear for what may lie ahead, but fear does not prevent the sailor from setting sail, even by knowing the challenges that will be faced during the voyage. Someone that lets fear stop them from setting sail to a familiar or new destination is called a “landlubber”, not a sailor. So, fear can either serve you or it can paralyze you. I chose to have it serve me, even though I have been in some very scary moments during my life.

One example of my 50+ years of sailing adventures was during a sailboat delivery on the west coast from San Francisco to Cabo San Lucas in Mexico. The sailboat was a MacGregor 65 that is a “rocket ship” that is only twelve feet wide and sixty-five feet long, and is primarily used for racing. It is not considered a “blue water” sailing vessel. It is just built for speed - 12 to 14 knots for a mono-hull, which is VERY fast! However, the MacGregor design is known to break up in moderate seas because of it being so narrow and light.

Off the Santa Barbara Islands our crew of four decided we better stress the boat to the max to see if there were any flaws that could be uncovered before we got into Mexican waters. We put all the sails up on a day of 20+ knot winds. Within minutes the boom broke in half with me standing next to it. It smacked me on my bald head and knocked me overboard.My crew mates acted quickly - another important trait of a sailor, and turned the yacht back into the wind, threw me a life preserver, and slid the boat gently beside me and snagged me with a mooring hook so as to bring back aboard. They then lashed to boom together and the “adventure” began of how we could design a sail pattern that would allows to limp into the San Diego for repairs.

As a sailor you need to constantly improvise during these types of moments which requires focused and inventive mind. With the boom broken in half you can’t use your mainsail effectively. So, we rigged it to use the jib and “jerry rigged” the main so we had a small portion of it in the wind. The repair was completed in less than a day, and we were off to Cabo for another successful delivery. Another sailing adventure was placed into the ship’s log book.

Here is the point of my story. The only way a person gets to “new shores” is by being on the “yacht” when it sets sail - in spite of your fears. In the midst of the continued world economic crisis there is fear and trembling happening with Realtors and their customers. Today is THE real estate market. There is no wishing it was different. It will not change because of wishing. So, we need to adapt, have a focused and curious mind as to how to solve the “challenges” that are presented to us each day, and create magnificent outcomes for each of them. I would rather be in the midst of a life adventure any day, as opposed to standing on the sidelines paralyzed with fear, and missing the experience. Let me know some of your experiences where fear was overcome in spite of it being present. Your Caribbean lifestyle detective remains on duty. Until next time….fair winds!

By Jim Walberg of Caribbean Islands Realty

So how does a surfer kid from Southern California end up falling in love with the Caribbean? Have you ever seen the surfing opportunities in Barbados and Tortola? If your answer is YES, then you know the other answer, too.

I arrived in Redondo Beach in 1948, and lived on the beach for the first 21 years of my life. I thought it was normal to live a block from the pier and enjoy all the Pacific Ocean offered - everyday! I thought all things connected to the Pacific Ocean were normal - sailing, surfing, diving, beach volleyball, pier fishing, boat deliveries to Mexico, and a hundred more activities. In hindsight I was one the luckiest kids I know because of growing up with amazing experiences connected to the Pacific Ocean - every day. I had no idea that my love for the ocean would lead me to the Caribbean Islands and then create an international real estate company.

A life changing discovery happened for me in the mid-1970s while on my first sailing adventure in the Caribbean. Up to that point I had only sailed in the Pacific and Mexico. My Caribbean sailing trips began in the BVI, and then broaden out over the years to sailing the entire chain of the Caribbean Islands.

I had no idea that the Caribbean had any surfing opportunities. So, during my Caribbean sailing adventures I discovered the “Soup Bowl” in Barbados, and Lambert Bay in the BVI. Not only are there some GREAT surf spots in the Caribbean, the beaches are breathtaking while you are sitting watching the left and right breaks. Did you know there is a surf shop, Totem, on St. Barts? St. Barts is my favorite jewel of the Caribbean for pure decadence. And, I could not believe there was a surf shop on the island. I still have a Totem decal on the back window of my Lexus SUV. The staff at Totem opened up a whole new world to explore - Caribbean surfing.

The best surfing in the Caribbean is in Barbados. Melanie Pitcher runs one of the best surfing schools in the Caribbean - Surf Barbados. And, boy can she surf. There is even a surf camp in the BVI on Tortola. I just discovered that one last year! So, you are probably thinking that I have the Caribbean scene wired after all of my discoveries the past 35 years of diligent detective work. You are mistaken. There is a life time of discoveries in this magical part of the world. That is why I keep coming back, and the reason why we are having so much fun serving our international real estate customer’s appetite for owning their piece of Paradise.

So, contact me about some of your favorite surf spots in the world, or for even information about your next home purchase in Paradise. Your Caribbean Islands lifestyle detective remains on duty!

By Jim Walberg of Carribean Islands Realty

Yes, you can enjoy Jim Walberg’s Caribbean Paradise without owning a Fractional deeded ownership, home, town home, or villa. Your alternative is a luxury Caribbean rental.

Those of you who enjoy a visit to the U.S. and British Virgin Islands are going to LOVE the luxury rental I discovered a few weeks ago. In fact, I have stood on the deck and enjoyed the sunrise over American Yacht Harbor in Red Hook - a magnificent sight! This luxury rental is named “Harbor House”, and it sits on the hillside above the harbor.

So, when I am talking about a luxury Caribbean rental, what does that mean? Well, how about a home that is just a five minute walk to American Yacht Harbor, Duffy’s Love Shack, Molly Malone’s, and the Caribbean Saloon? Now, a visit to three of my favorite stops in Red Hook will just barely take you through lunch. You can then walk to Vessip Beach, or the Ritz Carlton beach, or you can drive your car to Secret Harbor which is just a short distance away. Secret Harbor is another beach that has a very fun bar that I frequent - Blue Moon.

As part of the two story villa and gorgeous private pool, you have a gourmet kitchen, three elegant bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms, and don’t forget the views from all the windows. It can easily sleep six, but we had a total of eight of us without a problem. One of your days at Harbor House will require you visit Charlotte Amalie’s duty free shopping district, and a visit to Havensight - another duty free shopping area of St. Thomas. You will have every luxury item you can imagine, all within just a few blocks - jewelry, watches, cameras, perfume, silk, and on and on!

As part of the weekly lease package the owner, Captain Mike, will include a private day charter on his 35 foot Maxum power yacht, and race you over to the BVI for a day of SCUBA diving, snorkeling, and just non-stop fun in the sun. You end your day at the island of Jost Van Dyke at my FAVORITE beach, White Bay, and my favorite beach bar - Soggy Dollar Bar. You can say hello to Mick and enjoy a rum Pain Killer and sit on my favorite sunset beach. This type of day charter for six people would cost about $1,200. Your cost is that of a skipper, British custom fees, fuel, and any of your food and drink. Well, given my experience with the drink costs, they can be high because thirst is a dangerous thing.

Captain Mike will even throw in the use of his 2002 Chevy Blazer as part of the deal, so you don’t even have to rent a car for your week of exploring St. Thomas. So, what does a luxury rental of Harbor House cost? It is about $4,500 per week for six people. Contact me for more information about booking this little piece of Paradise. I will fill in any of your week’s itinerary if you need some help. Until next time…your Caribbean lifestyle detective remains on duty.