Wimco Announces Select Caribbean Villa Rentals Available with Private Boats, Docks, Even Dive Master

NEWPORT, RI, October 2006 – The private villa rental experience just keeps getting better.

Wimco, the Newport, RI, villa rental and hotel reservations company, now has an inventory of Caribbean villas appointed with boats and private docks, and in one case even a dive master.

“A villa is your home for a week or more, and you own the bells and whistles that come with it,” says Stiles Bennet, Wimco’s Director of Marketing. “Sometimes this means a gourmet kitchen, sometimes an in-villa spa. Now we’re sourcing private villas with such sporting options as boats and docks for our guests.”

Bennet says that in all of Wimco’s Caribbean locations guests can request rentals and charters for a sunset cruise, a picnic on a remote island or a diving or snorkeling trip.

On Barbados, where exemplary villas are famous for retinues that accompany a weekly stay, a villa called Crystal Springs (villa code BS CRY), is one of the island’s most spectacular beachfront estates and offers a 22-foot Sea Ray speedboat, eight bedroom suites, and a full staff including butler, cook, laundress and boatman, among others. Full rate rentals include the use of a speed boat equipped for waterskiing, a separate home theater and mini-gym. A 30-foot Boston Whaler is available at additional cost for cruising and deep sea fishing. The weekly rate up to Dec. 15 is $21,000. It is not available for the Christmas holiday.

In the Turks & Caicos Villa Bajacu (villa code BAJ BAJ) comes with boat and dive master, 11 acres, five bedrooms and personal art collection. The staff includes two professional diving masters and a private boat for trips to the deserted white sand beaches of the Turks and Caicos (includes three boat trips per week). The weekly rate (two week minimum) is $35,000 over Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Tortola’s Villa Steel Point (villa code MAT STE) and Villa Gun Point (villa code MAT GUN) offer five bedrooms and docks; Wimco can arrange rental boats.

Steel Point, featured in Architectural Digest, is on its own private and gated eight-acre peninsula featuring 360-degree ocean views with five bedrooms and a private dock for swimming, snorkeling and boating. The weekly rate up to Dec. 15 is $8,700; Dec. 15 – Jan. 5 $20,000.

The five-bedroom Gun Point is within a private, very English estate built around Gun Point's original 18th-century gunpowder store. Gun Point's exceptional location on a promontory provides a profound sense of peace and solitude. The weekly rate up to Dec. 15 is $8,000; Dec. 15 – Jan. 5 $15,000.

Wimco’s reservations staff can also book, in addition to accommodations, rental car, boat charters, villa provisioning, and babysitters, including accommodation, air, transfers, and dinner reservations and more.

About Wimco Villas

Wimco is the leading marketer of private villa rentals in the Caribbean and Europe. For over 23 years, the company has been sending clients to its exclusive portfolio of select private villas and distinctive hotels in St Barts, St Martin, Barbados, Italy, France, and many other desirable vacation destinations.

Fortune Magazine recently rated Wimco amongst the top five villa specialists in the world as the result of its strict selection standards for high-quality properties, the largest exclusive portfolio of properties in the Caribbean and Europe and its award winning client service. Forbes Magazine recently rated Wimco’s online villa rental service “Best of the Web”.

View Wimco’s villa rental portfolio at www.wimco.com or call toll-free 1-888-440-4794 (US) or 44-0870-850-1144 (UK).

PRESS CONTACTS:

US:  Sara@WidnessPR.com
UK:  Sarah.Hurley@mangopr.co.uk