Reprinted with the permission of Hearst Magazine Corporation, November 2002
I wasn't desperate to go to a warm, sunny place last March, but it had definitely crossed my mind as the mild but long New York winter persisted. Had I not read an e-mail offering from Wimco, the well-known, well-regarded villa rental company, instead of automatically deleting it, as I usually do, I probably would have stayed put
in New York and stuck it out. But there it was, right before my light-deprived eyes: "ST. BART'S: Gorgeous three-bedroom villa
rental with infinity pool, lovely Asian furnishings, and gourmet kitchen, available now through April 15, 2002, for $5,500 per week."
I turned away from my computer and called the 800 number to inquire about the villa's availability for a week in early or mid-April. Good news: it seemed to be mine if I wanted it. I put a hold on it, called my husband, and before he could think up an excuse, I essentially told him that renting a villa on St. Bart's was something I'd always wanted to do and now was the time
- tempus fugit, "we're not getting any younger," etc.
The plan, I explained, was that I would go early in the week, joined by my sister Janis. He would then fly down for a long weekend with another couple yet to be determined, who are friends of ours. Before he could say, "Let's talk about it tonight," I said, "Oops, gotta go. I'll keep you posted."
Unfortunately, when I called Wimco to confirm, it turned out that the villa that had attracted me in the first place was not available for those dates after all. But by that time, I was primed to go to St. Bart's, and nothing was going to deter me. Thus began my search for the perfect villa.
Pamela Fiori
with family and friends
