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BSLC Admin

Five Questions to Ask Before Your Next Luxury Yacht Charter

Many of our clients choose to spend all or part of their island vacation aboard a luxury yacht. Here at Blue Sky Luxury Travels, we are experts in yacht charters, so we know how to pair our clients with the perfect luxury yacht. We consider the age makeup of the group: whether it’s all adults, families with kids, or a multigenerational family reunion. Your ideal level of vacation activity is also important: some people just want to lay in the sun relaxing with a beautiful view, while others look for adrenaline-filled days of diving, fishing, jet-skiing, and kayaking. We always ask our clients how high a priority they place on fine dining, since some yacht charters offer elegant meals in refined dining rooms, while others focus on grilling up the catch of the day and taking meals on the deck. We present our clients with a curated selection of ideally matched luxury yachts for their consideration. When you’re making the decision of what yacht charter is right for your island vacation, here are the 5 most important questions to consider:

1. Where do you want to go?
The Riviera, Italy, Fiji, The Greek Isles, the British Virgin Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Bahamas are all hotspots for luxury yacht vacations. One benefit of chartering your own yacht vs. taking a cruise ship is that you don’t have to stick to a fixed schedule. You can choose the timing and location of where you want to begin and finish your voyage. Blue Sky Luxury Travels can help you find the right luxury yacht charter for the destinations you choose.

2. Do you prefer a motor or sailing yacht?
If you have a large group and want an experience that’s more like a private cruise voyage, you may prefer a motor yacht. They travel faster so you can cover more ground and are suitable for larger groups seeking elegance and luxury. Sailing yachts, including catamarans and trimarans, are also luxurious but can be available for smaller groups at a lower price point. They offer a closer to the sea experience and are wonderful for family and couples vacations. Often with sailing yacht charters, the price includes your fuel and meals. Gratuity is additional and is usually around 15%.  For motor yacht charters, they typically charge for meals and fuel in addition to the base yacht charter fee.
 
 
3. What does the crew do?
Both motor yacht and sailing yacht charters include the services of a crew unless you order a bareboat charter. Crews typically stay with the boat for several years at a time, so they know the vessel and itineraries well. Your yacht charter crew will be made up of a captain and additional trained crew including a chef, a concierge, deckhands, housekeepers, engineers, and sometimes even masseuses and beauticians on some larger yachts. Their goal is to make sure you don’t have to lift a finger while you enjoy your luxury yacht vacation.
4. Do you get to choose the food?
Provisioning is a vital part of the yacht charter experience. Your yacht chef will prepare meals for your group throughout your vacation, but since there’s no grocery store in the water, everything has to be purchased in advance. Prior to your luxury yacht vacation, you’ll fill out a questionnaire where you can provide the chef with your food and beverage preferences along with any dietary or medical conditions in your party. Then the yacht chef will work their magic to prepare gourmet meals for you to enjoy!

5. What should you pack?
Planning for your yacht charter vacation is half the fun! Your yacht will come fully provisioned with everything needed for sailing, safety, and meal preparations. It’s a good idea to pack your things in a soft-sided bag, ideally something collapsible like a duffle, since closet space is at a premium. Of course, you’ll want to remember the basics like passport, prescription medication, reef safe sunblock (we can recommend some great ones as well as chemical-free if you like), lip balm, and insect repellent. “Dry Bags” are super useful for keeping your money and electronics dry and safe. Bring along some seasickness pills or patches just in case.
When it comes to clothing, of course, you’ll want several cute swimsuits with coverups, and casual clothes for days on the water, sunglasses, a hat, and a light raincoat. Guests are usually asked to go barefoot on the boat to keep it clean, but you’ll want a pair of shoes with non-marking soles and a good grip that you can wear either onboard or ashore. Flip-flops are always good for beach excursions and bring along some water shoes for diving.

Here at Blue Sky Luxury Travels, we are at your service to create the ultimate yacht charter vacation. We personally visit several yachts in charter destinations worldwide to make sure we know what’s out there. Let us help you choose the perfect luxury yacht charter for your next dream vacation!

BSLC Admin

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

New Hot December Additions to our St. John Island Villas Collection

As St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands comes back to life after the devastating hurricane in 2017, more and more luxury villas come back to life as well. Here are three top choices that entered our villa collections in December. We have personally checked these villas out, and we highly recommend them to our visitors looking for new and luxurious Caribbean vacation rental villas.

A La Mer

A La Mer is located on Cruz Bay Beach. This is one of the largest villas in the area that accommodates 19 guests in its nine luxurious bedrooms. The setting is resort-like, right on the water with a large swimming pool, sun loungers, swim-up bar, pool toys and tons of other amenities to entertain you and your party. This Caribbean villa is a perfect destination for a family reunion, anniversary celebration or business gathering. There is a private white-sand beach in front of the villa, perfect for beachfront gatherings and relaxation. The villa features custom furniture. It has a very large great room and fully-equipped kitchen with breakfast bar and warm mahogany cabinets. Seven of the bedrooms are in the main house and two are in the guest cottage. All bedrooms are air-conditioned. If you want to go out and play, the villa is only a 10-minute walk from the beach at the Westin Resort and only a short drive from Cruz Bay, where you will find shops and restaurants.

Caribbean Palm Villa

The Caribbean Palm Villa is the perfect place to stay at if you want to be near town. It is only a 5-minute drive from Cruz Bay, where you can enjoy all the island has to offer in terms of entertainment. The villa features spectacular 270-degree ocean views from all three master suites, an en-suite bath, private outdoor shower and private balconies. The villa has a fully-stocked gourmet kitchen with granite and stainless steel appliances. The villa’s décor is a mixture of Mediterranean and Caribbean, which results in a very elegant touch all around. Features include travertine floors, reclaimed Chicago brick pavers on the veranda and pool patio and reclaimed barn wood custom cabinetry. All three guest rooms have vintage vanities with high-end finishes.

Villa La Vita

Looking for ultra luxury villas in the Caribbean? This is one of the best and newest ultra luxury villas on St. John, located in the prestigious Peter Bay community. So come and check it out! The villa has five ultra-luxurious bedrooms and can accommodate groups of up to 10 people. The five bedrooms feature unique Caribbean décor and beds consist of 2 kings, 2 queens and 2 twins. Villa La Vita has a nice infinity pool and Jacuzzi overlooking the magnificent Peter Bay and Peter Bay Beach. You will find plenty of room to do outdoor entertainment, including alfresco dinners overlooking spectacular Caribbean vistas.

BSLC Admin

Celebrate New Year’s in Turks and Caicos

New Year’s on the beach? Why not! Turks and Caicos is the place to go if you want to experience an island-style holiday season with lots of food, festivals and fun things to do. The islands have been known as an exclusive destination for travelers who are looking for luxurious accommodations and services, so spending New Year’s Eve here will not leave you disappointed.  Island resorts are all lit up and decorated with holiday decor, music, and flavors.

A very popular local festival is Junkanoo that takes place as soon as the clock strikes midnight.  The roots of the festival are connected with the time of slavery when slaves were given a day off around Christmas to spend time with their loved ones. So after midnight come visit the streets of Grace Bay and you will see islanders dressed in unique cultural costumes dancing and singing the whole night. Enjoy unique, delightful local music produced by a blend of goatskin drums, guitars and carpenter saws.

Just like at any other location New Year’s Eve means a time to reflect over the events of the past year and a time to have new dreams and goals for the upcoming new year. To make the moment festive you will find many local restaurants and resorts offering special activities and food for that evening. A very popular delicacy around New Year’s Eve is Conch – a world-famous sea snail delicacy that you will find on the menu under names such as conch wontons, conch fritters, conch salad, and conch stew. These and other delicacies will be served for you on the beach or another romantic setting. To take the experience once step further you will be able to enjoy beach bonfires, barbecues, and fireworks on Grace Bay Beach.  The fireworks ceremony is a major highlight that you can’t miss because you will be able to see it from one end of the island all the way to the other. Take your camera to capture this special moment when the sky is lit on fire with colorful displays.

We at Blue Sky Luxury Travels are determined to be the best part of your holiday travel, so take a look at our fine villa selection here http://blueskyconcierge.com/turks-caicos-villas/ and let us know your custom perks and wishes you dream about this holiday season.

BSLC Admin

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.

BSLC Admin

Our Top Three Villa Picks on St. Lucia

Come to this fine island in the Caribbean to experience your ultimate romantic getaway. With its natural splendor, azure blue beaches and luxury accommodations the island of St. Lucia is the best choice for your romantic occasion. The island has two airports offering services for international flights from the U.S. and Europe and services for private jets as well. The island of St. Lucia offers a great selection of romantic and luxurious accommodations. Here are our top picks of the best what the island of Lucia has to offer.

The Suites at Paradise Ridge

Once a part of one of the largest and most famous Soufrière’s cocoa plantations, today The Suites at Paradise Ridge is part of the Ladera Resort set on 1,100 feet above sea level featuring spectacular views of the Caribbean Sea and the famous landmark of the Pitons. Most of the guests at The Suites at Paradise Ridge come here on their honeymoon, celebrating an anniversary or renewing their wedding vows. All villas are spacious with open-air design and unique Caribbean decor. Each villa is skillfully crafted in Ladera’s signature rainforest style featuring terracotta flooring, Soufrière stone and tile work crafted by St. Lucian masons and columns milled and polished from tropical greenheart wood. All suits also have private pools with custom features such as porch swings for two over the pools.

Beachfront Collection

This one-of-a-kind home situated on the white sands of Sugar Beach is designed by the world-famous British architecture firm Michaelis Boyd Associates and it is one of the most sophisticated beachfront homes in the world. The slick and modern design features floor-to-ceiling windows that open to stunning views of the Caribbean Sea. The property boasts a custom Italian kitchen with Gaggenau & Miele professional appliances, an outdoor dining area and tons of other amenities that will spoil you and your loved one.

You will also have full access to five star services and amenities. Enjoy a huge infinity edge pool, a rainforest spa, three gourmet restaurants, four bars, a night club and more. There is also a beach club & lounge, and if you come with your little ones they will have access to an amazing kids club. You will have 24 hour access to butlers providing discreet service. To make your experience even better you can also take advantage of the massage therapists and concierge service specialists.

Jade Mountain Resort

Rising majestically above the 600 acre beachfront resort of Anse Chastanet, Jade Mountain Resort on St. Lucia features an unsurpassed location with lush tropical acres adjoining sandy Caribbean beaches with pristine coral reefs just offshore. This unspoiled serenity is home to five luxurious villas boasting spectacular views of the Piton and sea views from its open floor living area. Jade Mountain Resort provides ultimate privacy, world-class service and access to Anse Chastanet’s restaurants, bars, art galleries, spas, boutiques, and bike and watersport facilities. So if you are looking for the ultimate getaway, look no more.

BSLC Admin

5 Things to See and Do on Antigua

Situated in the eastern Caribbean, the island of Antigua is a popular year-round travel destination. Many visitors arrive at the cruise ship port in the picturesque capital of St. John’s, where shops, restaurants, museums and historic buildings are the prime draws. Popular activities include a variety of water sports, such as swimming, surfing, diving, sunbathing, sailing, windsurfing and fishing. Below are five popular things to see and do on Antigua.

Stingray City

Looking for a fun and unique adventure? Located just a five-minute speedboat ride off Antigua’s eastern shore is Stingray City, a shallow pool with a sandy ocean bottom amid a tropical coral reef that’s home to hundreds of friendly stingrays. Watch these magnificent creatures glide through the crystal clear waters. If you want, you can stand, swim or snorkel with them. Feeling the stingrays’ smooth bodies brush against your skin is a highlight of this adventure.

Nelson’s Dockyard National Park

Located in English Harbour, Nelson’s Dockyard National Park is one of Antigua’s most popular tourist attractions. It is home to the island’s 18th century British Naval Dockyard, as well as restored historic buildings and scenic nature trails. The restored marina features beautiful old stone warehouses, and visitors also find shops, restaurants, galleries and museums to explore. After a tour of the dockyard, you can enjoy the panoramic views from the ruins of Fort Shirley, located on the hilltop at Shirley Heights.

St. John’s

St. John’s is the capital of Antigua and Barbuda. The city features an array of colonial cottages and market stalls to explore. One of the city’s most distinctive buildinds is St. John’s Cathedral, known for its beautiful white neo-Baroque towers. St. John’s also offers visitors plenty of great shopping opportunities. There are many duty free shops at Heritage Quay, or head to Redcliffe Quay to browse a variety of souvenir stalls.

Museum of Antigua and Barbuda
To learn about the island’s history, visit the Museum of Antigua and Barbuda located in the former 18th century courthouse in St. John’s. The museum traces the history of these islands from their geological origins all the way to their political independence in 1981. You’ll find many interesting exhibits, including a full-scale replica of an Arawak dwelling, exhibits of the islands’ different ecosystems, as well as pottery and weaving tools.

Fig Tree Drive

This scenic drive along Antigua’s south shore offers visitors a glimpse of local island life. Fig Tree Drive winds through a beautiful rainforest, farmlands and small fishing villages. Banana trees (called “figs” by local residents), coconut palms and mango trees dot the landscape. You’ll also get to see the ruins of sugar mills. Keep an eye out for roadside stands selling fresh fruit.

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