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Holiday Planning: The Early Bird Gets the Villa
Reserve in advance for the year’s most popular holiday dates
By Heather Whipps
The holidays are fast approaching. Which ones, you may ask? All of them, really, when you consider that the year’s peak weeks now book up many months in advance. It’s hard to believe, but the best villas are already being reserved for New Year’s 2007, in part by last season’s procrastinators burned by a lack of choice. Other popular "getaway" holidays like Easter and Thanksgiving go quickly too, especially in the destinations where family travel is particularly inviting and everyone – from Mom and Dad to the school kids – can get the week off. With that in mind, we’ll kick start your planning with a guide to the holidays and where you might consider locking your radar this upcoming season.
Easter – Something for Everyone
The week (or extended weekend) many of us get off for Easter is prime time down in the Caribbean, when it’s still chilly up north but summer is getting under way on the islands. This year, Easter Monday falls late on April 16th, meaning that you might even have the opportunity to take advantage of some low season pricing at the villas and at island restaurants, boutiques, etc. Easter is a time for family and there are few destinations better suited for pleasing everyone than the Dominican Republic. If Easter’s your getaway occasion, get to work soon (it’s almost here!) and you could be hunting for eggs at villas there like Los Lagos or La Vera. A more grown-up group might prefer Casa de Cascada, a stylish villa with fantastic views of Puerto Plata at night. Travelers of all ages can enjoy the Dominican’s many beaches, watersports like windsurfing and snorkeling, and horseback riding.
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Labor Day Weekend – Gather Friends
Labor Day weekend has Cabo San Lucas written all over it for a number of reasons. Most importantly, most Caribbean villas ask for a minimum of five to seven-night stays, but in Cabo, not so. Villas in Cabo San Lucas, like Villa Gaviota, will usually accept a three or four-night minimum due to the frequent influx of West Coasters that head there to weekend. Book a trip for this September the 1st (or August 31st if you want to play hooky an extra day), and you could choose from Casa Luca or Casa Cielo. They’re the perfect headquarters’ for a short – but sweet – recharge of the batteries among friends. You’d be amazed how just three days of sun can do a body (and buddy) good.
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American Thanksgiving – Carve Up the Beach
Who says you have to carve a turkey to celebrate Thanksgiving? Even sticklers for tradition are giving in to the benefits of a Thanksgiving in the Caribbean, where you can exchange the post-meal frozen football game for a swim in the sea. On this holiday, there are two options: keep it red, white and blue and head down to the US Virgin Islands (St. John, St. Croix and St. Thomas get equally festive), or go where Thanksgiving Day football games mean kicking soccer balls around on the beach. Mexico’s western, Pacific coast is the perfect example; reserve a week at Puerto Vallarta’s Casa Gilbert or Casa Gran Dia and we wager you’ll be giving thanks in no time.
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Christmas & New Year’s – All About Family
Ah, December. Nearly everyone has at least a week with which to fulfill vacation dreams this month, and the sunny reaches of Caribbean are often high on that list. The December holidays are a time for adults to rejuvenate after the first bouts of winter and for schoolchildren, from primary to university, to recoup from their educational stresses. In short, not much is required for a successful December holiday short of a relaxing, warm environment. Enter the Turks and Caicos. The Turks have their attractions, especially on its main island of Providenciales, but the star of their show is clearly the beaches – better than most any you’ll see throughout the Caribbean. They’re soft, white and plentiful too, great for when you’d like to share a beachy Christmas afternoon with the family and no one else. If you’re dreaming of a white sand Christmas, better start thinking about your reservation soon. Villas like Absolute View, Villa Jasmine, and Best View do not stick around long on the December wish list.
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Help Us Help You
In addition to the increase in (friendly) competition for the best villas, concierge services are in high demand come peak holiday weeks. Do yourself a favor and get those services and activities organized well in advance too, rather than stressing about it last minute. P.S.: Car rentals become scarce on small islands with a limited supply. |
For more information on these or other villas in the Caribbean, Mexico & Central America, please contact us:
Call 1-877-953-7400 or E-mail
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