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BSLC Admin

January 21, 2020

Best Locations for a Wedding in the U.S. Virgin Islands

It’s that time of year again- engagement season, and so many of my clients are calling me to find out their options for a Caribbean wedding. I love helping to plan this kind of thing- it’ s just magical! Did you know that about 340,000 destination weddings take place every year? That’s a quarter of all weddings! What makes this genre of weddings so popular is the opportunity to hold a wedding in a romantic location without spending a fortune. Couples love the idea of removing many of the stresses of planning a regular wedding as every detail can be arranged at a resort destination to suit their taste from afar. One of the hottest places to tie the knot is the Virgin Islands—which delivers big time on romantic inspiration with breathtaking views, pristine white beaches, and very relaxed marriage laws. Plus, weddings in the Virgin Islands offer year-round ideal weather, some of the most professional and knowledgeable vendors in the business, and many gorgeous venues to choose from! Looking to walk down the aisle in America’s Paradise? Here are some of the best wedding venues the Virgin Islands have to offer.

Gallows Point Resort
Ranked #5 of the Top 22 Budget-Friendly Honeymoon Destinations in the World, Gallows Point Resort offers three stunning wedding locations for your once-in-a-lifetime wedding in the Virgin Islands. From a lovely oceanfront gazebo to St. John’s world-famous white-sand beaches, each location features picturesque water views and gorgeous sunsets. Their coordinators will help you plan every aspect of your wedding here and will iron out the schedule, while you and your spouse-to-be start popping the champagne. Choose from ocean view or harbor view one-bedroom suites—all of which offer king beds, sofa beds, full kitchens, dining areas, and living areas. The property also has an outdoor pool, hot tub, sundecks, and wonderful on-site snorkeling.

The Ritz-Carlton St. Thomas

This newly renovated resort in St. Thomas welcomes families, couples, and adventure-seekers to encounter the beauty of the Caribbean in a new light. With both indoor and outdoor event spaces, couples can choose between fresh-air oceanfront ceremonies on the golden sand shores of Great Bay (the most popular setting for ceremonies and feet-in-the-sand receptions) or comfortable receptions inside the hotel itself in their grand marble ballroom with vaulted ceilings, glittering chandeliers, water views, and an adjacent stone terrace. The resort boasts 180 exquisitely refreshed guest-rooms—each with its own balcony—and even has its own 53-foot luxury catamaran for snorkeling and sunset excursions.

Private Villas for Virgin Island Weddings

If you’re planning a smaller destination wedding, a private villa rental in the Virgin Islands might be the perfect solution for you. These St. Thomas and St. John villas can sleep up to 25 people and offer complete privacy. You’ll want to work with our team to find a villa in the Virgin Islands that will accept wedding parties since some of them will not. We can also help you locate villas in the Virgin Islands near to the one where you are holding your ceremony so that you’ll have plenty of accommodations for guests. Here are a few we recommend:

Kismet on St. John

It’s kismet! Fortune will be on your side when you begin your life together at Villa Kismet, a luxury vacation rental in St. John. Positioned on a verdant hilltop with spectacular ocean views, this villa can accommodate up to twelve guests. Moroccan-style architecture and unique design create a tranquil atmosphere. For your ceremony, a romantic stepping-stone path winds through lush gardens to a gorgeous solitary pavilion. Your reception can be held indoors or out, this villa offers terraces and verandas that are perfect for gazing out on the turquoise waters of Cruz Bay.

A La Mer on St. John

Located on a white sand beach at Great Cruz Bay on St. John, A La Mer is a spectacular resort-style villa that boasts an incredible waterfront location. A La Mer features spacious living areas and 9 bedrooms that can accommodate up to 18 guests, making this Caribbean vacation rental a perfect destination for a wedding.

Eco Serendib

Eco Serendib Villa and Spa sets the standard for eco-friendly luxury on the U.S. Virgin Island’s tranquil and unspoiled St. John. Dramatically set atop Point Rendezvous in the southwest, with sweeping views of the Caribbean Sea and the magnificent southern coast, Eco Serendib Villa and Spa offers eight individually designed and elegantly appointed suites that give the look and feel of a private estate. Guests delight in the finely appointed features including a full-service spa and Life Fitness gym; Epicurean Theater kitchen with professional-grade appliances from Sub-Zero/Wolf (private chef service available); elegant dining area overlooking Fish Bay; and a spacious terrace with a pool that overlooks the ocean.

Our Blue Sky Luxury Travels team has the inside scoop on some off-the-radar destinations for your wedding in the Virgin Islands. Whether you want to tie the knot in a tropical forest, a secluded beach, or even underwater, we can make your wedding dreams come true. There are all sorts of fun activities and serves available in the Virgin Islands for your wedding celebration. One of our favorite things to book for large groups is a private 50’ sailing catamaran for day trips to the British Virgin Islands and sunset sails.

The possibilities are endless with Blue Sky! We also can provide in-villa chefs, childcare, spa services, private transportation, watersports activities, and more. No matter where you choose to tie the knot, let us help you make it a day to truly remember!

BSLC Admin

March 7, 2019

A Day In the Life: What Does a Luxury Concierge Service Actually DO?

Blue Sky Luxury Travels is based in the Caribbean and creating vacation experiences for clients in stunning destinations all over the world. We make a point of visiting each property that we represent, and we love to share our discoveries so we post photos every day of beautiful destinations and luxury experiences. We know it may all look like fun and games, island-hopping in Fiji, Hawaii, the US Virgin Islands, and the British Virgin Islands, but we promise, we are actually hard at work! Since so many people have asked, we wanted to share what a day in the life is for Shanna Dickerson, the CEO of Blue Sky Luxury Travels. Shanna stays in different islands and towns all over the world, but wherever she is, she makes sure to keep to her schedule and make sure that all of her clients’ needs are cared for.

So here’s what a day in the life of Shanna really looks like:

6am

Shanna rises early and meditates for twenty minutes to get her head straight for the day. Next, she heads straight for the coffee machine for a nice hot cup of coffee. She checks her phone for any urgent client messages and looks over her schedule for the day, always making a point of picking a beautiful spot with a view to start the day off right.

6:30am

Workout time! It’s so important to keep energy high and muscles strong, so Shanna gets her exercise done, either with a hike in the hills, a trip to the local gym, or her 25-minute at-home workout routine.

8:00am

Client messages. Clients and vendors communicate with Shanna through many different means: text messages, Facebook and Instagram direct messages, emails and phone calls. When a new client comes in, Shanna sends them a Concierge document outlining the services that Blue Sky Luxury Travels has available, and clients usually email her with their specific needs. Shanna keeps track of client requests for upcoming trips on a gigantic spreadsheet, so she refers to that and fills in details as she gets new requests. She makes notes of what needs to be done for the day and answers questions for clients who are coming to the islands.

10:00am

Vendor phone calls. In the Virgin Islands, most car rental services, grocery delivery services, and BVI Yacht Charters operate primarily by phone. This is why it’s so essential to have a travel concierge service handle planning when you’re visiting St. John, St. Thomas, St. Lucia or the Bahamas- it’s hard to get in touch with someone who can set things up. It’s not like other trip planning where you can just go online and do it all yourself. Internet service can be spotty on the islands, so Shanna makes most of her arrangements with vendors over the phone. They’re all accustomed to hearing her cheerful voice and she makes sure they stay organized and keep to the arrangements she’s made for her clients coming to the islands. Shanna makes arrangements for Caribbean villa rentals, yacht rentals, catamarans, fishing trips, grocery delivery, snorkel gear rental, kayak and paddleboard tours, and dining reservations so her clients can relax and enjoy their Caribbean vacations.

12:00pm

Shanna takes a break for lunch, usually a big salad or veggie bowl, at a restaurant on the island. She makes sure to try all the different dining options on each Caribbean island where she stays, so she can offer the best recommendations.

1:00pm

Back to work on emails and phone calls, making arrangements with clients and vendors.

2:00pm

Client meetings. Shanna handles housing for hundreds of hurricane recovery workers through her Blue Sky Global Logistics division. She often meets with top-level officials to understand their needs and find the appropriate solutions. Some days, she’ll take a boat to another island to meet with visiting corporate clients to plan their upcoming corporate events on the islands. Other times, she’ll offer a quick island tour to visiting friends, to show off her favorite spots for paddleboarding and beach time. Face to face is always best, so Shanna makes the time to meet in person with her clients.

6:00pm

Dinner time. Sometimes it’s a dinner meeting with clients, or a meetup with friends staying in a Caribbean villa nearby, or even a quick sandwich at home when the work schedule is intense.

8:00pm

Shanna checks her messages one more time to make sure everything is handled, then the phone goes OFF for a little meditation and quiet time before bed.

9:00pm

Bedtime! Early to bed, and early to rise, keeps Shanna energized, cheerful and ready for anything!

We hope this window into Shanna’s world has helped you understand a little more of what Blue Sky Luxury Travels really does. We take care of every trip planning detail for you from start to finish. Our goal is to make your vacation relaxing, fun and incredibly memorable. If you’d like to put our concierge team to work for your next vacation, please email us at info@blueskyconcierge.com.

BSLC Admin

November 8, 2018

New Hot Additions to our St. John Island Villas Collection

The island of St. John is undergoing a complete restoration after the destruction caused by Hurricane Irma, the Category 5 storm that hit the island in 2017. More than a year later the island is coming back to life and is ready to welcome visitors in newly upgraded villas. Here is a sneak peak of three new villas we recently added to our St. John villas collection. We have personally checked them out and highly recommend these Caribbean villas to all of you looking for luxurious comfort and style in the Caribbean.

Mare Blu

Located on the hillside of one of the most prestigious locations on the island at Rendezvous Bay, this villa offers six luxurious bedrooms with majestic views of St. John’s south shore. The villa is suitable for 12 guests and provides seclusion for each party since it features four separate buildings linked together by tropically decorated outdoor paths. All bedroom suites boast unique Caribbean furnishings, air-conditioning, flat screen 24 inch televisions with cable and have bathrooms with double vanities, showers, and are tiled in grey granite from floor to ceiling and many other custom features. For your entertainment there is an outdoor sitting space with a huge 55 inch flat screen television with cable and DVD player. The covered outdoor area flows directly into the sundeck and the infinity edge pool. The lounge also has refrigerator drawers for drinks and snacks, a closet filled with floats and pool toys, and a powder room for convenience. In addition to this luxurious outdoor entertaining area you can also enjoy a fully equipped outdoor kitchen with with awesome ocean views from everywhere you turn.

Taylor House

This newly constructed villa sits proudly on a hillside overlooking the world-famous north shore of St. John. This spacious 4,000 square foot villa is ideal for groups of up to eight guests. All four bedrooms are air-conditioned with private balconies and private bathrooms. One special characteristic about Taylor House is that is is very bright inside. You will get full sun exposure from sunrise to sunset. Outdoors you and your party can enjoy a heated swimming pool with comfortable loungers overlooking views only mother nature can create. The outdoor area is very eco-friendly and features tropical gardens with banana, mango, lime, coconut and papaya trees.

Villa Sunspot

Villa Sunspot is your ultra luxury property located within exclusive Lower Peter Bay featuring modern architecture with island charm. This majestic villa has a two level Main House with the living room, dining room and kitchen on the first level and the master bedroom on the second level. The Sunspot master bedroom has a private deck with views of Cinnamon Bay Beach. In case you don’t feel like getting out of bed, you can enjoy this dramatic view right from your pillow. The guest bedrooms are located next to each other in a semi-exterior hallway with a tropical garden area and are luxuriously designed with an old world Spanish décor. Each bedroom has its own en-suite bath, air-conditioning and a balcony with ocean views. Despite all amazing indoor amenities you will be tempted to spend most of your time in the outdoor pool cabana, an elegant outdoor living area for Caribbean entertainment. A few steps below it is the infinity pool with a pool bar and tropical garden gazebo overlooking magnificent Caribbean panoramas.

For a complete list of St. John villa accommodations, please visit our page – http://blueskyconcierge.com/st-john-villas/

BSLC Admin

May 25, 2018

Our Top Three Villa Picks on St. John USVI

St. John is the island to go if you are looking for luxury accommodations, unspoiled landscapes, scenic views and pristine beaches. Most of the St. John vacation rentals specialize in private and secluded accommodations. Here are our three favorite St. John villas that have it all and will make your vacation unforgettable.

Villa Marea

Villa Marea is our favorite and we recommend it to anyone who is looking for a combination of ultimate luxury and seclusion. It is a very private and spacious seven acre estate located at the end of Ditleff Point. The villa is away from neighbors and features immaculate oceanfront views all around. There are five luxurious suites with room for up to ten guests. All suites are facing the east side, so your day will start with a beautiful Caribbean sunrise you can observe from your private suite balcony. All five suites have oversized windows, private balconies with outdoor showers, air conditioning and upscale entertainment equipment. The kitchen features a state-of-the-art design with Italian ceramic dining ware, two ovens and an eight burner stove. If you are in a mood of wine, check out the wine cellar that features over 500 bottles of imported wines. Read more about Villa Marea here or call us at 615.604.2447 to make a reservation.

The Cliff House

The Cliff House spans over 12,000 square feet of prime land in the exclusive Peter Bay community and presents four upscale bedrooms for parties of up to eight guests. We would highly recommend this villa to anyone who would like to enjoy privacy and outdoor beach living and activities. The villa has its private beach access that will take you to Peter Bay Beach, one of the best swimming and snorkeling spots on St. John. Since the villa is elevated at 100 feet above sea level you can see island’s best beaches and attractions from your home – all the way to the neighboring British Virgin Islands, the Sir Frances Drake Channel and the Virgin Islands National Park. There is a spacious outdoor pool deck ideal for group entertainment. The villa features custom-designed island-style furniture. Read more about The Cliff House here or call us at 615.604.2447 to make a reservation.

Finnesterre

Finnesterre is a recent addition to our St. John’s villa collection, and it is already one of our favorites. We love this villa because of its spectacular hilltop location and because it features six private bedrooms with their own private entrance and patio, which gives you yet another level or extra privacy to enjoy. Finnesterre sits on a prime spot on Bovocoap Point from where the views of Hart Bay, Rendezvous Bay and Rams Head are unbeatable. The villa’s location is ideal if you plan to do island exploring. Finnesterre is a few minutes drive from Cruz Bay, which is the island’s hub and place for shopping, dining and entertainment. In the same time the villa is in close proximity to St. John’s popular north shore beaches, where you can enjoy world-class swimming and snorkeling. Read more about Finnesterre here or call us at 615.604.2447 to make a reservation.

For a complete list of St. John villa accommodations, please visit our page – http://blueskyconcierge.com/st-john-villas/