Twice as Nice in the BVI

Caribbean Vacations: Decisions, decisions, decisions. Sometimes the hardest part about planning a vacation to the British Virgin Islands is deciding how to go about it. Is it better to stay on an island in a luxurious waterfront house, or would it be better to charter a full-crewed yacht and hop from one destination to another? With service and exclusivity being priorities affluent consumers are demanding more than ever, it is prompting luxury-travel service providers of the BVI to offer more value to their packages to remain afloat.

One such company, Horizon Yacht Charters, is offering a 10-day deal "Stay & Sail" tour that incorporates an all-encompassing BVI experience by strategically combing the land and the sea ever so blissfully -- one section at a time. The first five days puts vacationers on a fully crewed yacht that sails out from the Nanny Cay Marina and takes them through the many beaches and coves from Tortola to Jost Van Dyke.

"We get a mixture of sailors and non sailors on our charters, so this is the best of both worlds for families, couples and friends," offered Nicola Massey, marketing manager of HYC.

Part two of the Caribbean extravaganza puts guests in a lavish waterfront house in the newly raised Nanny Cay Village. Nanny Cay is located on the south side of Tortola between Roadtown and West End. The village's residences are two and three bedroom residences with individual private docks. The community boasts its own private beach. Additionally, there is a tennis court, a swimming pool, a gym, a beauty salon, several boutiques, and restaurants. Nanny Cay Marina is one of the finest marine facilities in the Caribbean. It is a fully equipped marina and boat-repair facility with slips for 180 yachts and motor cruisers.

According to Ms. Massey, the yacht-chartering company, which has bases in Antigua, Grenada, St. Martin, as well as the BVI, is planning more multiple-option vacation packages throughout the Caribbean Islands. Aspiring yachtsmen yearning to captain a vessel can get their feet wet by attending the Horizon Yacht Charters Sailing School, as the organization also is a certified affiliate of the American Sailing Association (ASA).

So, if you cannot decide whether to charter a yacht or to rent a villa in the Caribbean, make it twice as nice and go both ways?

For LxM James Rothaar