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Caribbean vacation rentals

Where do you want to book your next holiday rental in the Caribbean ?


The islands lined between North and South America, where the party never stops. Welcome to the Caribbean, where each island looks alike in size however has its unique identity. Travelling to the Caribbean: what if this dream could come true this year? The West Indies? It’s a paradise-like destination with sun all year long, stunning turquoise waters, seabed full of tropical fish, hot sand to get tanned… It is the kind of destination you dream about travelling to, at least once in a lifetime! Living in the sun and booking your ideal Caribbean getaway, this is what VillaVEO offers you.

How to prepare your Vacation in the Caribbean: general information

Where is the Caribbean?

The Caribbean region is made up of the islands in and around the Caribbean Sea, and is located southeast of the Gulf of Mexico, east of Central America and Mexico.  How many islands make up the Caribbean? The Caribbean is made up of approximately 7000 islands but to be more accurate, 31 countries. Some countries are made up of various islands. St.Vincent and the grenadines for example they both share the same flag as well as the same national anthem.The Caribbean is normally separated into two main groups known as the Greater Antilles and the Lesser Antilles. The Greater Antilles are in the northern Caribbean Sea, and contain Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico. The Lesser Antilles are in the southeastern part of the Caribbean Sea, and contain the Leeward Islands, The Windward Islands, and the Leeward Antilles. 

Which islands in the Caribbean speak French? The destinations in the Caribbean that speak French are: Guadeloupe, Martinique, St. Barthélemy (St. Barts, St. Barth), St. Martin, Les Saintes and Marie-Galante and are all truly part of France. St. Martin has an English side so not the entire island speaks French but half of it. These islands are a reasonable compromise between France’s charm and the Caribbean culture.

Which islands in the Caribbean speak English? England colonized a lot of islands in the Caribbean. These islands kept English as their main language even after having gained their independence. English therefore is the main language spoken language in Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago and Turks and Caicos Islands.

What time of the year should you travel to the Caribbean?

The Caribbean islands have almost the best climate all year round. It’s never too hot or too cold and the climate tends to stay very stable between 24°C -29°C. Occasional showers keep the flora lush and green. The best time is to travel during the winter season between December - April. So why suffer cold bites when sandy beaches and blue waters call with the perfect sunny days to get your tan just right? The Caribbean hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. During these months you are mostly likely to be greeted by thunderstorms and occasional hurricanes.

    

What should you pack for your Vacation in the Caribbean?

The essentials you will need when travelling to the Caribbean are: Sun protection, sunglasses and sunscreen are a must.  Sun protection will be needed, especially for sensitive skin people, so be cautious. Water gear is also a must. Make sure to pack your swimsuit, towel and everything else to head to the beach because if you don’t you will regret it. To see everyone else enjoying the beach and not having anything adapted would be a pity! Bug protection long sleeve clothes and bug spray are recommended especially at nights. Yes, there are mosquitoes in the Caribbean! Take this into consideration when choosing your next destination. If you are allergic in any way pack a mosquito repellent and a treatment cream in case you are bitten. No need to panic, supermarkets and pharmacies are well stocked in case you forget to pack a bottle. If you’re travelling with VillaVEO most of our vacation homes are equipped with an air condition unit or even mosquito nets, some even have both. Remember mosquitoes are mostly present in humid areas such as mangroves and late afternoons.

 

5 reasons why you should consider the French West Indies for your vacation in the Caribbean

When speaking about the Caribbean we tend to forget about the French West indies. Many people don’t know how beautiful these islands are or what they have to offer. Travelling between the islands is very easy and therefore planning a double destination package might be a good idea. The French West Indies is made up of the following islands: Martinique, Guadeloupe, St.Barthélemy and St.Martin.

 

Which islands are the safest to travel to?

In 2016 Martinique was designated as the safest destination in the Caribbean by the Caribbean Tourism Quality Index. Things mostly go along smoothly whenever the usual precautions are taken, such as avoiding dark lonely streets at night and not leaving your belongings unattended. Other islands such as Aruba, Barbados, St.Lucia and Anguilla also have a good safety reputation Hospitals, doctors and pharmacies are widely available to answer to all your medical needs.

 

How is the transportation system in that country?

The transportation system is well structured with at least one airport and one Marina. Access to the neighbour’s islands is readily made available to all who wish to visit.  For people looking for adventure and beautiful views taking the ferry would be the best recommendation. This inter island ferry (express des iles) is available between Dominica, Guadeloupe, Marie-Galante, Les Saintes and St.Lucia. However, various airline companies also offer trips within the Caribbean and are adapted for quick travels such as Air Caraibes, Air Antilles, Corsair…  The various Marinas available on the islands make it very practical for various departure points. Martinique alone has the Francois Marina, Robert Marina, Marin Marina, Fort-de France Marina and the Saint Pierre Marina, with the three along the Caribbean coast used as ferry departure spots. The Marina located in Le Marin welcomes approximately 55 000 boats a year and can accommodate boats as large 60 metres long. Aimé Césaire, Martinique's international Airport is also well known due to the frequent departures and arrivals to France, the Caribbean’s region and also Canada and the USA.  Many car rental companies are present on the islands. A wide range of options are available, from well known international brands such as Europcar and Hertz to peer to peer car rental (Carfully) service, you are almost assured your ride to get around on the island.

French culture and cuisine

France’s charm with a tropical weather is a way of seeing what the French West Indies has to offer. Many restaurants offer the French cuisine that you dream about and see on TV. Some restaurants are really focused on taking you to France with gastronomic meals and well decorated plates. The French West Indies has found the perfect balance between their Caribbean culture without neglecting their French charm. The Caribbean exotic flavors, fruit and vegetable markets of fresh local products as well as the fresh fish and lobsters sold along the road just have perfectly come into sync with the French culture. There are still well known wines, large selections of cheese, French bakeries and of course chocolates such as Lauzéa that keep that French feeling in the air.  Also, the chic perfumes that we all adore can also be found in the French West Indies. Imagine entire stores indulging you in various fragrances as well as a specialist that adapts propositions according to your personal needs. It’s an experience like no other.

Rhum 

Martinique alone has more than 10 distilleries producing agricultural rum renowned worldwide for its high end quality. Each rum has a unique recipe and its own identity. They cannot be compared because they are all great; preference is a personal choice. Brand name distilleries such as Clement, Trois Riviéres, JM, Depaz, La Mauny, Dillon from Martinique could maybe ring a bell. In Guadeloupe, Bologne, Bielle, Bellevue, Séverin and Damoiseau, are the most popular brand names.

Technological Development 

No need to fear going back to the Stone Age when coming to the French West Indies. Even though you are looking to get away from the stress of everyday life, there are some comforts that we now can’t stay without. WIFI, for example, is now widely available throughout the French West Indies so you can stay connected even away from home. Some applications such as Waze which is our Caribbean google maps will help navigate you to all the spots you might want to see. We also have Coco, the Martinique Uber which allows you to get yourself from one place to another. Last but not least Whatsapp is often used in the Caribbean and will be useful to stay in touch with friends and families and also get in touch with our concierge team.

Why you should choose VillaVEO to assist you for your next Caribbean adventure. 

A specialist on rentals holidays within the French West Indies and listing more than 100 tropical villas in the Caribbean, VillaVEO is your accommodation assistance to help you find the rental of your dreams. Just choose your destination in the French West Indies and we will do the rest! We offer you a large range of options from romantic getaways for two, with an escape from your everyday life to luxurious villas with private pools perfectly adapted for a big family.  Which one will you pick for your next Caribbean vacation?

No agency Fees

VillaVEO and their team will help you find your vacation home and give you all the information that you will need on the destination without any additional agency fees. You are assisted from your first call at VillaVEO until the end of your stay at the vacation home you choose from the portfolio. Unlike other websites, there are no service charges with VillaVEO. The only tax that will be collected is the tourist tax which is compulsory and imposed by the tourism sector in Martinique and Guadeloupe.

 

Specialized PathFinder on each Destination

Every destination has a “pathfinder” who is living in your travel destination and available to give you an inside perspective of the destination and its way of life. The pathfinders can recommend activities as well as advising you about the best accommodation just for you. The local agenda for upcoming events are readily made available to all our travelers as well as our personnal recommendations for different restaurants and activities.

All our Vacation Homes are thoroughly inspected

Before any vacation home can be added to our listings it undergoes a thorough inspection by the pathfinder of that destination. This vacation home is analyzed in every way and must be approved before being added to our website. This ensures the high standards of VillaVEO as well as the we assist. A virtual tour and indoor and outdoor pictures are taken by our own photographer to ensure that you are able to submerge in your future rental before even being there.

Destinations we offer

On one hand, we have Martinique, with its wonderful white sandy beaches, its distilleries where the best high-quality rum in the world (yes, it is true!) is produced, its hiking trails including the well-known volcano Mount Pelée. This trave destination is also famous for its “fonds blancs” (word-for-word translation: white seabed): a natural phenomenon where you can dip in the middle of the sea like if you were in a swimming pool, with only water up to your waist and white sand under your feet… On the other hand, you could discover the Guadeloupe islands. Guadeloupe is made up of five different islands: Grande-Terre, Basse-Terre, Marie-Galante, Les Saintes and La Desirade. VillaVEO offers accommodations on three out of the five islands. “Basse Terre” (word-for-word translation: low land), is where you can travel across the “Mamelles” park with its multiple hiking trails, numerous waterfalls, and hot springs. “Grande Terre” coast (word-for-word translation: great land) is lined with beach resorts, each more beautiful than the next… And why not go to Marie-Galante where time seems to stand still and the expression good life of West Indies makes sense. It is a beautiful slice of paradise, and only a few days on this island will be enough to recharge your batteries…

So it’s time to let us know which destination you will pick up so that we can assist you with the vacation rental!