On an all-inclusive yacht charter vacation in St. Martin, you’ll experience almost unlimited options of what to do and what to see. You can cruise to your choice of 15 satellite islands, or even venture to two nearby countries— Anguilla or St. Barts.

This type of vacation can take you virtually anywhere you like. Grab a mooring buoy, then take your boat’s dinghy—every Moorings yacht comes with one—right up on the beach and start exploring.

This style of vacation is a new adventure for many experienced travelers. Unlike a resort, chartering a yacht gives you the opportunity to see so much more of your destination, and you can stay at a different location every night! An added bonus? You never have to leave your belongings behind – unless of course you’re venturing ashore.

St. Martin is one of the top destinations in the Caribbean for yachting vacations, thanks to the variety of attractions available in one destination and how easy it is to get there. Plus, the journey is easy, thanks to consistent winds ideal for sailing. Wherever you choose to go, a chartered yacht vacation can take you further.

MUST-SEE SPOTS

When you book your weeklong charter, the hardest part will be narrowing down your list of must-see spots. If your vacation goal is to hit as many spots as you can, you might want to consider a power yacht, which takes you there faster. If your goal is an easy, relaxing coast across the scenic landscape with a couple excursions penciled in, consider a chartered sailboat.

When it comes to St. Martin, of course, you’ll want to start with the island of St. Martin itself. This destination is special in that it caters to those who want culture, fine dining and nightlife—and to those who want solitude and escapism. St. Martin has two sides: the Dutch side to the south, and the French side to the north.

When you aren’t enjoying the gourmet, locally inspired meals prepared onboard by your Moorings chef, the town of Grand Case, on the French side, is home to some of the Caribbean’s most renowned dining. Bistrot Caraibes is a standout for its impeccably prepared French fare, from escargot to lobster that you select yourself. La Villa Restaurant is another highlight for its three-course prix fixe meal, with highlights such as a marlin carpaccio with a Caribbean Creole sauce and the Black Angus beef fillet in a foie gras sauce.

Other highlights of the island include touring Topper’s Rhum distillery, Fort Louis in the French side town of Marigot, and of course, the beaches—with a list of 36 world-class choices.

VENTURE BEYOND

On a yacht charter vacation, you can venture beyond the main island.

One top pick among yachters is Tintamarre Island, located off the northeastern tip of St. Martin. This national park with picturesque beaches and coral reefs favorited by sea turtles is a day-tour destination—which means it clears out by the afternoon. You can choose to reverse the schedule, perhaps having espresso and pastries in the French town of Marigot, before sailing over to enjoy the afternoon and then the evening sunset in relative solitude.

Just a two-hour sail to the north and you could explore Anguilla, famous for its idyllic beaches, shopping and reggae music beach bars. For a truly quiet escape, consider the Prickly Pear Cays. These uninhabited islands suit those who want to play or relax on wide, white-sand beaches. There is nothing else in the vicinity, which means you can content yourself playing castaway—swimming, laying in a hammock, snorkeling, and settling into the rhythms of nature.

If you’re up for a three-hour sail, you can be on St. Barts. For many, this exclusive island seems out of reach pricewise, but visiting via yacht puts this destination within reach—whether you simply want to overnight or spend a few days there.

READY, SET, SAIL

There’s so much to see, and choosing St. Martin as your starting point allows you to pack more into your getaway. This island’s airport is big enough to receive nonstop flights from most major U.S. cities, so you’re not wasting time with layovers. Instead, you arrive and The Moorings crew takes it from there. They acquaint you with your new home at sea for the next week, and off you go, worry-free and ready to start exploring.

Whatever charter destination you choose, keep in mind that there are no bad itineraries. The beauty of a yacht charter vacation is that you can, well, go where the wind takes you. You can be as planned or spontaneous as you like. Besides, anything you don’t get a chance to see can be high on your list for your next visit.

To see a detailed, 7-Day St. Martin sailing itinerary, and to learn more about realizing your own unforgettable yacht charter vacation in the world’s most exquisite destinations, visit moorings.com.

The post Explore the Blue Waters of St. Martin by Private Yacht appeared first on Islands.

A villa vacation is so much more than what is inside four walls. It goes beyond just choosing the right location and how many bedrooms.

The difference between a good vacation and one that is utterly unforgettable comes down to who helps you plan.

The founders of Key Caribe Luxury Vacation Rentals launched their company when they saw a need. They listened to travelers complain that their island—Curaçao, next to Aruba—wasn’t exciting. When they asked further questions, they found that most people were spending a week and not venturing too far from their villas—and definitely not seeing the best spots that locals love.

When Mitchell Poleon and Carmela Klooster started Key Caribe, they wanted to share the Curaçao that they knew and loved. The hidden hiking trails, secret beaches and best restaurants—these are all just a piece of what they share with every guest.

The experience starts when you first make a booking—whether that’s on Curaçao, or on any of the other 14 Caribbean destinations they serve. The full list of Caribbean and Central American destinations they service includes Antigua, Anguilla, Aruba, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bonaire, Curaçao, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, St. Barts, St. Lucia, St. Martin, Suriname, and the Turks and Caicos.

And if you have no idea where you want to travel? That’s no problem.

Some travelers seek serenity and pristine beaches. Others, fine dining and nightlife. For still others, it’s all about adventure. Or some want a combination. All you need is an idea of what you’re looking for, and Key Caribe will get to work. Poleon, Klooster and their staff know which questions to ask to pair you and yours with the destination that best aligns with your wishes and interests.

From there, everything is tailored to you.

Starting with price. Some travelers might hear the word “villa” and think it’s too pricey. But there’s a vast range of accommodations available. Key Caribe caters to all travelers, whether you’re looking to spend $100 a night in Curaçao for a one-bedroom villa, or $24,000 a night in St. Barts for up to 14 people—or any price in between.

Villas can be right on the beach, or higher up in the hills for sea views from your infinity pool. Many offer indoor-outdoor living with massive sun decks with outdoor dining and lounge areas to accommodate everyone in your group—and even a few more people should you want to do any entertaining.

Options include airport pickup or having a team member meet you at the villa after you’ve picked up your rental car. You can opt for your fridge to be fully stocked with groceries, such as fresh fruit and juices, or Champagne and cheeses. If you want a massage in your villa, just say the word.

Butler service is also an option. Keep in mind that every villa renting for $10,000 a night and more includes full service, which comes with a chef, butler and 24-hour concierge service.

Nannies are also available should you want to enjoy a night out, or even have a chef come in for the night to cook dinner for you and your partner—or the entire group—all while you have childcare taken care of.

The biggest difference with Key Caribe is the attention to detail. Key Caribe has worked with groups for more than 5½ years. They understand that a group of six, 10 or 14 people can have a lot of moving parts. For example, maybe most of the group wants to go deep-sea fishing, and a few in your party get seasick. No problem. They will help you find an itinerary that keeps everyone happy.

What they offer is a wide range of activities and recommendations. They can help you arrange everything from a bachelorette-party getaway to a media tour with artists. Anything you have in mind is possible.

They’re able to make so much happen because their teams of experts are on the ground in each of these 15 locations. You get insider tips from locals because the staff is composed of locals in each location.

So much of what Key Caribe offers depends on you. Every experience is unique to the person asking.

Overall, it adds up to an experience that most of their clientele describe as beyond perfect. In fact, it’s an experience that most people don’t know even exists—and once they know it does, it’s the only way they will see the Caribbean.

The post What Makes a Villa Vacation Unforgettable appeared first on Islands.