Archive for October, 2021

A Covid-Friendly Return to St Bart’s – Where to Stay and Go

Friday, October 15th, 2021

As life starts to return to its pre-pandemic normal, we’re all looking forward to changing our scenery and getting away. The idyllic Caribbean island of St Bart’s has started to ease itself back, with many St Bart’s villa rentals now available to enjoy at your leisure.

It’s back to business and back to the beach, so step inside paradise and enjoy this beautiful island, safe in the knowledge that protocols are in place with your welfare in mind.

What safety measures are in place in St Bart’s?

As a small island that relies upon hospitality, St Bart’s has gone to great lengths to protect its residents and visitors. Whilst legislation is ever-changing, the current procedures include a 5pm curfew (ending 20 August) ensuring the island never gets too busy, plus there are restrictions on arrivals from certain countries (please check here in advance).

Before you get to your luxury St Bart’s villa, visitors must take a PCR test (within 72 hours of arriving) which is required for everyone aged 10 and over. Proof of vaccination is also required. All the latest travel news for St Bart’s can be found on its official tourist site.

Where to stay

First thing’s first, you’ll want to style it out in your very own St Bart’s villa rental. Not only is this the most luxurious way to enjoy your time on the island, but it also allows you to remain socially distanced from travellers and limit interactions outside of your group.

For added reassurance, guests booking with Villazzo benefit from the villa-hotel experience. This extends to private housekeeping, which involves deep cleaning the property, prior to, during and after your stay for total comfort and wellbeing.

Furthermore all Villazzo St Bart’s rentals are located in the most sought after spots on the island, known for their privacy, seclusion and sweeping views. This includes the highly-desirable Colombier beach, the quiet hideout of Petit Cul-de-Sac, and the mountain serenity of Petite Saline. Each provides its own vantage points and beauty, offering sun, sea and mountain views.

However, coastal retreats are amongst the most popular St Bart’s rentals, especially if you plan on visiting the local beaches, bars and restaurants, which are all within easy reach.

Going out – where to go?

There is always something to do on this peaceful island, from low-key cinema festivals to yachting events. However, for most visitors, the island’s chilled vibe lends itself perfectly to first-class dining, and sophisticated cocktails when the sun goes down.

For extravagance (why not, you deserve it) Le Toiny is a local hotspot with five-star service all the way. Fancy something from the sea? Then La Langouste in Flamands is a popular choice – try the fresh spiny lobster. 

There’s no better place to enjoy cocktails at sunset than the infamous Remy Bar at Eden Roc. The experienced mixologists here conjure up all manner of wizardry – just wait until you try it! Ready to take it up a gear? Then Nikki Beach brings outdoor partying day, and night, for an up-for it glamourous youthful crowd.

Alternatively, let the five-star experience come to you. Villazzo guests can book private chefs for in-home dining in their very own St Bart’s villa – what could be more cosy.

Blessed beach life

Pristine white sands and turquoise waters are calling. For beach life, be sure to head to Anse des Flamanes. This stretch of perfect white sand is one of the quietest on the island, making it ideal in these current times. Meanwhile the lagoon at Anse du Grand Colombier is a wonderful place to lay back and enjoy the beauty of nature float by.

For water sports, surfing and snorkelling, head to the east coast, specifically Toiny and L’Orient.

Know before you go

St Barts is a beautiful and safe island, that is welcoming guests back in a careful and considerate manner. As such, it’s important to observe the measures in place, especially the vaccination requirements in order to enter. Failing that, you must be able to present a compelling reason to enter the island, which must be pre-approved from the authorities.

It’s never too early to plan your vacation. Check out our St Bart’s villa rentals and book yours today at Villazzo.com

Hottest Areas to Buy a Luxury Villa Home in 2021

Friday, October 1st, 2021

It’s fair to say that over the past year we’ve all succumb to less travel, and more discovery on our own shores. This coupled with the need for more personal space has seen a surge in demand for luxury home villas. Indeed, you might be reading this as you search for some of the best properties to invest in.

As an established and global real-estate leader, our experienced teams at Villazzo Realty have hand-picked their top destinations to invest in a luxury mansion rental this year. With a focus on elite properties and ultra-luxury homes, here’s the hottest destinations everyone’s talking about.

Miami Beach, Florida
According to Forbes, luxury home rentals are continuing to surge this year, by at least 60% – the biggest jump since 2013. One of the reasons is because of the desire for larger houses and greater space, especially as working-from-home is on the rise. This, along with its glorious climate, is one of the reasons why Florida continues to attract buyers all-year round.

Miami Beach remains a popular choice for estate-hunters. No stranger to sprawling mansions and sweeping views across the bay, luxury Miami rentals are always in high demand. It makes for a great investment, with some 10 million visitors gracing its shores every year – ensuring there’s always a steady flow of visitors seeking premium villas for rent.

For the ultimate in exclusivity, the stunning islands in and around Miami, are home to some of the finest properties in America. This includes Palm and Hibiscus Islands and the highly coveted Star Island.

If you’re looking for a long-term investment, up and coming Brickell offers great value and is well-located to all the bustling nightlife the city is known for.

Orlando, Florida
In keeping with the Floridian vibe, Orlando offers a strong market for property investment and returns. Orlando luxury villas remain in high-demand, owing to their popular location for tourism and entertainment. The city is also well connected to other Florida hotspots, but with a more affordable price tag. With a growing population and job opportunities to boot, it remains a stable economy for those looking to relocate or buy a vacation home. Should you need further convincing, it was named the second fastest growing city in America by Forbes magazine.

Charlotte, North Carolina
It might be the ninth most populated state in America, but with acres of space to spread out and with coast to mountain terrains to explore, it’s a popular destination for those looking to add to their real estate portfolio. From the Blue Ridge mountains in the west, to its coastal beaches, and bustling towns, there’s something for everyone in The Tar Heel State.

Another point to note is that North Carolina luxury homes are large and spacious. Durham is one of the regions worth exploring, with its real estate outperforming the average US rental, especially in downtown, where new properties are growing at a pace.

Aspen, Colorado
Aspen is a city for all-seasons, especially appealing to outdoorsy types. Where else could you kayak in the summer, hike in the fall, and hit the slopes come winter? This is one of the many reasons why city dwellers have made the move during the pandemic, to relocate to the beautiful location.
Popular resorts like Snowmass, offer plenty of luxury Aspen homes for sale, known as a haven for the jet-set community. But, for a long-term investment on a more affordable budget, properties outside downtown offer greater value and even more space to enjoy. As such,
now is a great time to invest in the Aspen housing market.

Looking to make your next real-estate investment? Speak to our team of experts at Villazzo Realty today.