St. Lucia Villa Rental - Start with the ARC race and finish with a St Lucia Vacation at a special price

The yearly ARC race starts on the 20th November this year and after the crew endure some grueling conditions they will hit the calmer  Caribbean sea and pass the finishing line just north of Akasha.

This annual transatlantic rally starting each November in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, has now become the most popular way to cross the Atlantic. The largest transocean sailing event in the world, every year the ARC brings together over 200 yachts from all over the world. The Caribbean destination is Rodney Bay in Saint Lucia, one of the most beautiful islands in the Lesser Antilles. The 2700 nautical mile passage on the NE tradewind route takes on average between 14 and 21 days.

The crews will then dock in Rodney Bay Marina.  A full programme of social activities, safety seminars and demonstrations will be organised by World Cruising Club in Las Palmas prior to the start, and after the finish in St.Lucia.

We invite all racers and observers of the race to finish this race in style and spend a few days at Akasha – at a special rate.  With this St Lucia vacation you will be able kick those crocs off, take a dip in the cool pool, watch your favorite movie while Juliette cooks her special local dishes for you.

Drop us an email by filling in the Contact form to learn more about our special prices for ARC participants.

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Saint Lucia nominated for the “World’s Leading Honeymoon Destination” Nerdin St. Rose, VP, Marketing & Sales, Saint Lucia Tourist Board and Graham Cookie, President & Founder, World Travel Awards

St Lucia does it again – it won the award of the leading Honeymoon Destination in the Caribbean at the prestigious America’s Travel awards ceremony. A press release by the Tourist Board was issued.

Saint Lucia accepted the award for “Caribbean’s Leading Honeymoon Destination” at the 2011 Caribbean & The America’s Awards Ceremony on October 19^th, travel and tourism’s biggest night of the year. This is Saint Lucia’s ninth win since 2002. Hosted in Montego Bay, Jamaica at Sandals Royal Caribbean Resort and Private Island, the event, now in its 18^th year, was established for the purpose of recognizing and celebrating achievements in all areas of the world’s travel and tourism industry. As the winner of this regional award, Saint Lucia is also nominated for the “World’s Leading Honeymoon Destination,” to be announced at the World Travel Awards 2011 Grand Final in Doha, Qatar in December.

“We are thrilled to be accepting this award for St Lucia” said Nerdin St Rose, St Lucia Tourist Board VP of Sales and Marketing.  ”We have worked hard to maintain our leadership position as the most romantic destination in the Caribbean and 2012 is poised additional growth”.

For those looking for luxury, paradise and service then Akasha offers you the honeymoon of a lifetime and a Caribbean Vacation like no other.  You can make it all inclusive or just the run of the mill luxury, either way you know where to come for the honeymoon that you will not forget.

Our honeymoon offering, like the wedding package is bespoke – you can chose from massages, zip lining, diving, romantic cruises and much more.  One thing you can be sure of is that it will be what you want and not what the crowd ordered.

Akasha Luxury Villa Rental is pleased that honeymoons like St Lucia Vacations are getting the recognition they deserve.

There are many reasons to take a vacation in St Lucia and according to Virgin Atlantic one reason is to mend your broken heart and repair your relationships or start a new one.

Foreign holidays are increasingly being used as a way of getting over failed relationships, according to VirginAtlantic.  The airline carried out a survey which found that nearly 10% of people on long-haul vacation were going away in an attempt to mend a broken heart.

These travellers have been dubbed ‘Elvis passengers’ by the carrier because they are jetting off to a heartbreak hotel.  A little corny is you ask us but that’s OK.  Renting a villa maybe just the perfect solution for those seeking the opportunity to move their relationship forward.

Destinations known for luxurious and indulgent holidays emerged as the top options for holidaymakers trying to forget their relationship woes in the British summer, with St Lucia the most popular choice in the Virgin Atlantic network, followed by Antigua, Jamaica and Las Vegas.

So why not rent the best St Lucia rental – Akasha, here you can mend not just your own heart but your partners because this is paradise.  The sunsets are amazing, sea is crystal clear and the local beach pure white sand.

Akasha offers something extraordinary for honeymooners and those looking for that special location for a wedding.  The villa has enough space to host your guests and gives you the privacy you will need.  We can arrange everything or we are happy to work with a wedding planner.

St Lucia vacations recently got better – if that was possible.  Not only can you enjoy all that this paradise offers but you now can get to another super island – Mustique.

The Mustique Company launched a nonstop 25-minute flight between St. Lucia’s Hewanorra Airport and Mustique in July. The new flights are expected to improve access to Mustique from key U.S. gateways. The 18-passenger flights depart daily on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, and complement existing flights between Barbados and Mustique, which operate twice daily, seven days a week.

If you want to take advantage of this opening up of the Caribbean area then we can book the flights for you when you decide to make Akasha part of your St Lucia vacation.

The Caribbean tourist market needs more initiatives like this to expand the total tourist market and this will help each island grow, create new jobs for the local communities and show the world what it has to offer.

Many of us who live in St Lucia know this is like paradise on earth and want to preserve it. So we need to make sure that we educate tourist to take nothing but happy memories and leave nothing but footprints in the sand.  That way, future generations can enjoy and see what we have seen.

Honeymoons are big investment, emotionally and financially.  It is however there to be enjoyed and a time that you will want to remember  and recall to your friends, family including grandchildren.

At a time when most people are looking to get the most for their buck we have put together a few suggestions of how you can maximize your investment in your honeymoon.

1  Compare prices for your honeymoon destination

As you would to book a flight or buy a new car, go to the Internet to compare prices. Stick to the websites that afford you the ability to compare rates for traveling to your honeymoon destination. There are a myriad of them out there. If you are looking for an all inclusive then make sure you included everything. Take a look at the villa websites – you would be surprised at how reasonable they can be.  Just imagine the space and privacy you get.

2 Travel in the off-season

4 Become a travel agent – or get your wedding planner to be one

You might laugh at this; a travel agent seems so 20th century. The Internet can turn anyone into a travel agent. Professionals with the training and skills can find the gem of a hotel or villa.  If you feel like you want to explore all your possibilities, spend time on the internet it’s easy.

Whether you take the most lavish honeymoon possible or opt for a cost-friendly alternative, remember that a honeymoon is not a destination or a splurge. It’s a time to cherish each others company.  Do that and your new life as a married couple will be off to a great and profitable start. Villa rental offers you this chance.

Akasha offers honeymoon packages for those who want luxury, privacy and service.  Make your romantic honeymoon at St Lucia Rentals memorable,  All honeymooners get free helicopter transfers to the villa.

The St. Lucia Tourist Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation has announced changes which will greatly improve and support yachting for private and charter yachts wishing to cruise St. Lucian waters as well as those wishing to conduct yachting business in the country. Some of the changes include the following:

- Yachtsmen will now be permitted to stay in St. Lucia waters for 6 months
- Yachts with owners temporarily on island will be allowed to remain in the state free of duties and taxes for up to 3 years, after which they will become payable on current value
- 100% waiver of import duty and tax on yachts imported into Saint Lucia
- 100% waiver on income tax from operations for the first 5 years for local charter companies with a minimum of 1 captain and 3 crew members, and has a fleet of 3 or more power or sailing vessels
- Approval has been given for the formation of a Yachting Committee, that falls under the purview of the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation and will incorporate all relevant institutions that function to regulate the yachting sector in St. Lucia
- 100% waiver of import duty and consumption tax on boat safety equipment and watercraft activity equipment, which includes sport fishing, SCUBA diving, kite surfing and other water sports, subject to verification of the Bill of Quantities by the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation for 5 years from date of cabinet conclusion
- 100% waiver of import duty and consumption tax on all equipment and materials imported or purchased locally for use in the establishment of infrastructure to service yachts over period of 5 years, subject to verification and approval of the Bill of Quantities by the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation
- The Government of Saint Lucia has waived the visa requirements for Russian and Australian nationals so that Russian and Australian nationals no longer require visas to enter Saint Lucia

Sailing in the Caribbean is one of life’s pleasures and enjoyed by many – young and old.  Here the pirates may have long gone but their stories live on.  Visit Pigeon Island and you will see what we mean.  This national park is only seven minutes away from your villa when you stay at St Lucia’s best villa rental.

Akasha is a great supporter of the yachting industry and the sailors who visit these shores.  Every year you can watch all of the competitors in the ARC race sail around the north of the island and into Rodney Bay.  Its a great site.

Its interesting to note the architect of the villa sailed in the ARC race to view the plot so he could visualize the setting for himself – we think he didn’t believe us when we told him what a great location it was.  It didn’t take long for him to realize what a gem it was.   It inspired him to create the most exclusive villa rental in St Lucia.

Akasha St Lucia’s most luxurious villa is pleased to see Le Sport re-open after a major refit.  As a family we first visited Le Sport over ten years ago.  It was these visits that persuaded us to buy land and build a villa in St Lucia.

Our villa over looks the resort and we have watched the works unfold over the last few months.  Akasha is pleased that Le Sport is investing in improving the resort and thereby the quality of what is on offer to visitors to St Lucia.  This will surely help the economy of St Lucia.

The extensive renovation will unveil significant updates to the resort’s public spaces and dining venues, a new infinity-edge swimming pool and boardwalk, and an expanded Watersports Center.

The resort tapped design firm International Design Concepts to shape a setting that relies as much on innovation as tradition. The renovation will transform the public areas into a stylish haven for socializing, fine dining, and relaxation, and also add on a Penthouse Suite to the current guestroom options.

“Our decision to renovate the property was motivated by requests for upgraded and expanded facilities from guests of the resort,” stated Craig Barnard, owner of The BodyHoliday. “We are fortunate to have a large percentage of repeat guests, and we are excited for them to experience the resort after the renovation is complete.”

For those who want more private space and more privacy then Akasha is the way to go.  Here you get an all inclusive option – breakfast and lunch is included in our rates, and you can also have dinner prepared for you.  Other options available at the villa include massages in the privacy of the villa.

Le Sport is a mere ten minute walk down the hill from St Lucia’s (if not the Caribbean) most luxurious villa rental.  The sand on the beach has also been replaced with white sand so now, more than ever, its worth the short walk down the hill (take a taxi back).  If you wish to spend a day at the resort then you can buy day passes – this gives you access to all its facilities and also includes lunch and or dinner.  Akasha certainly recommends at least one trip to Le Sport during your stay at the villa.  Don’t forget the beaches in St Lucia are public so everyone can access the beaches on the island.

Akasha offers something extraordinary for honeymooners and those looking for that special location for a wedding.

To try and help future guests at St Lucia’s most exclusive holiday villa, Akasha, we thought it might be helpful for UK guests to have some information of how to get to St Lucia.  The team in St Lucia are waiting to meet you at the airport.

St Lucia is becoming even more popular with the British and not so long ago British Airways recognised this and increased the number of flights to St Lucia from England. Virgin also fly from the UK and have been a big supporter of the tourism industry in St Lucia.

To check out the prices and schedules visit British Airways website  - easy to use.  Daily flight depart from Gatwick Airport.  Access to Gatwick could not be easier by road or by train from central London.

Virgin fly three times a week – on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday also from Gatwick.

Gatwick Express is a non-stop service between London Victoria Station (Central London) and London Gatwick Airport which runs every 15 minutes. The journey takes 30 minutes (35 minutes on Sunday).

The train is modern and comfortable, with air conditioning, spacious carriages, and drinks and refreshments being served in both Express Class and First Class. First Class passengers will also have the advantage of large, reclining seats with tables plus complimentary refreshments and newspapers.  Prices start from just £16.90 for a single ticket and £28.80 for an open return ticket. Tickets can be easily booked online at Gatwick Express.

If you are travelling from London Victoria station you can even track the status of your flight before boarding the train on the screens displaying Gatwick flight information, including the airline, flight number, departure time, terminal and the destination.  How helpful is that!  The rail terminal at the airport is located right below the South Terminal.

If you are coming by car then there is on site and off site parking.  Off site tends to be more reasonable with regular shuttles to the terminals.  Alternatively why not look for a local hotel or B&B and leave your car there for free – usually a good idea when you are catching an early morning flights and also if there are children travelling.  Its all part of your holiday so make it last and enjoy the journey.

Once you arrive in St Lucia and clear immigration our Taxi Driver will meet you and take you to the Best Holiday Villa Rental on the Island – Akasha.  During your journey north he will make a stop at local view point so you can begin to take in the beauty of the island – and perhaps sip on a cold local beer.  For those you have booked the helicopter transfer, you will be met by a representative from the firm and taken to the helicopter.  This is a really awesome way to start your stay at St Lucia’s most prestigious holiday villa rental.  On landing in the north of the island again our Taxi driver will meet you and take you on the short trip to Akasha.

Our team in the villa will have prepared the villa for your arrival and show you around when you get there.  All the luxury that are available will be shown to you.  During your stay at the villa you have the option to have the all inclusive meals, any combination of Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner can be booked.  This will truly be your holiday in paradise.

Akasha is pleased to announce that we have secured the services of the island’s top Sommelier to host wine and rum tasting at the villa.

Parties staying at St Lucia’s most Luxurious Villa Rental will be able to sample the delights of some super wines. Get coached in what to look for in wines and how to judge a good wine under the guidance of an experienced Sommelier who settled on the island some years ago. He responsible for buying wines and rum for all the top resorts and restaurants in St Lucia so he knows his stuff. For those who want to investigate local rums, for which St Lucia is famous, then just say the word they can be included – they might just blow your socks off.

When you book your vacation – it doesn’t matter if it is inclusive or not, the Wine and Rum Tasting can be booked irrespective. Just gives us an idea of what your preference is (if you have one) and the wines and rums you will sample will be adjusted accordingly. You can be guaranteed that they will be good. We can also arrange for your pick of wines and rum to be sent to your home – or take them with you.

At St Lucia’s most Luxurious Villa there is ample room to undertake the tasting – with these views the wine and rum will taste inspiring.

One of the regular questions that is asked in the Travel Cyberspace is – “what is All Inclusive” and should you chose that option?

All Inclusive is typically meant to be a vacation or holiday where you pay for everything before you leave home and not have to dip into your pocket for things like – a higher grade of wine in the restaurant or the sunset cruise when you arrive at your resort.   Then there is the question of “is Service Charge included in the All Inclusive rate”.   If it is included – how much of it actually goes to the staff who delivered you that great experience?

Akasha’s St Lucia’s most Luxurious Villa Rental has taken a different approach to All-Inclusive by offering its guests the option to be “Inclusive” as much as they like or not at all.  So how does this work?

Well we start with the initial position of offering our guests a Luxury Villa Rental so the starting standard is pretty high.   Then we offer guests the option to add to that any one or more of a host of options which guests can chose to ‘include or not’ in their vacation.

This way guests at Akasha St Lucia Luxury Villa Rental get to chose exactly what they would like to include in their vacation (and price) with us – so they do not have to pay for things they did not want nor do they have to pay for hidden extras when they get here. Take a look at what you can include as part of your All Inclusive vacation at Akasha St Lucia Luxury Villa Rental.  This we believe is a transparent way of conducting business with our guests so no nasty surprises when you get here.   We quote you a price for your personalized All-Inclusive vacation.

With regard to Service Charge – Akasha St Lucia Luxury Villa Rental leaves that entirely at the discretion of the guests who can reward our staff at the Villa if they wish, there is no preset amount either if guests do chose to give our host team a reward.   This way the whole amount goes directly to the team at the Villa and rightly so!

Being transparent is the way Akasha St Lucia Luxury Villa Rental likes to conduct business.

The UK ITV Film crew have wrapped up another two days of filming at St Lucia’s most Luxurious Villa Rental – Akasha.

The crew were treated to a selection of hor’s d’oeuvres and cocktails on their arrival at St Lucia Luxury Villa Akasha, supplied to us by our friends at Jambe de Bois from Pigeon Island.

On the first full day the Crew spent time taking shots in and around the villa. They also took in a sunset cruise and sipped champagne on the boat ending up at Spinnakers restaurant on the beach for dinner – apparently their full schedule meant they couldn’t fit the two for one hour in (this is usually stretched if you talk to the staff nicely).

The second day consisted of a helicopter flyover Akasha St Lucia Luxury Villa Rental, some super shots apparently according to Fred our Concierge Manager.  Akasha Luxury Villa Rental can’t wait to see them. This was followed by a walk around the Craft Market in Castries hunting for some bargains.   It was then over to Rodney Bay marina and down to Marigot Bay to get some beach shots.  Earl, our taxi driver made sure that they made their tight schedule.  The day was wrapped up with a scrumptious BBQ prepared on the super size Viking BBQ by our Chef Ossie at Akasha St Lucia Luxury Villa Rental.

Julietta, our cook, has been preparing breakfast and lunch for the crew.  She will do the same for you if you chose to stay at Akasha St Lucia Villa Rental and chose one of the All Inclusive packages

We will post another blog for the remaining days the crew are here – so do come back and take another look at Akasha’s St Lucia Luxury Villa Rental blog.

St Lucia`s most luxurious villa rental Akasha is pleased that it has secured its first wedding party next year.

St Lucia was once again voted as the top spot in the Caribbean for honeymoons – that is 8 years running. Weddings in St Lucia are easy to arrange with the help of a local specialist. Akasha Villa Rental will work with your chosen planner and make sure Akasha is looking great for the special day.

If you are thinking about getting married here it is worth knowing what documents you will need. So make sure have the following documents:
1. Birth Certificate
2. Passport or other Valid ID proof

Also in certain circumstances you may be required to have;

1. Death certificate of former spouse (in case of a widow or widower)
2. Papers relating to name change
3. Final divorce decree, if one or both are divorced
4. Proof of parental consent if any one or both the individuals are below 18 years of age

Permission for marriage has to be sought through an application made to the Attorney General who issues the license after a short residency period and your local planner will advise you about this and organise it.

You have a choice of where in the villa to hold the ceremony – take a look at the various terraces and sun deck or maybe you prefer the the entertainment area

Don`t forget that Akasha St Lucia Villa Rental offers flexible honeymoon packages With these you can chose what you want to include for own honeymoon.

If you are considering getting married in paradise then complete the Contact Form and we will be happy to assist you and put you in touch with the right people.

Our happy couple on this occasion will be accompanied by some of their closest friends and family members for the ceremony and their reception at St Lucia`s most Luxurious Villa Rental.

St Lucia Luxury Villa Rental Akasha is pleased to read that New York Times has voted the Anse Chastanet beach as one that you should visit before you die – that’s a great recommendation.  The article relating to the beach is re-produced below.

“CARIBBEAN beach vacations sometimes get a bad rap. Too much monotony, the naysayers grumble. The only thing to do is lie on the beach, and they all look the same. But the Caribbean Sea — with islands that are flat, mountainous, tiny and vast — is specked with beaches that defy tropical conventions. There are beaches with grey sand, beaches with pink sand, those that seem to go on forever without any sign of human life, and others that hum with activity.” St Lucia beaches on the Caribbean side are the best on the island – and much safer.

“It’s understandable that Anse Chastanet may not make everyone’s Top 10 list for Caribbean beaches.  A lot of beach-goers like their water turquoise and their sand white. Anse Chastanet, on St. Lucia’s western coast, has a sparkling ash gray composition. Courtesy of Anse Chastanet Resort, which occupies the land surrounding the beach, a row of oversize thatch umbrellas provide shade where the palm trees that bow down toward the water don’t. (Tip: wear flip-flops, because when the sun is at its hottest, standing on the beach can feel like standing on a tennis court with no shoes on.)  The water is not conventional Caribbean shades of blue and green, either. It is dark, almost like a lake. But there is excellent visibility underwater, making snorkelling one of the favourite pastimes here.”

Honeymooners will enjoy the calm water and clear blue skies when they visit this beach to chill out. If you want a private beach then we will find you one.

That is really great from New York Times – and when you book a boat trip at Akasha St Lucia Villa Rental we will take to this very same beach which is otherwise difficult to access.   We can vouch for the snorkelling there.  So make your holiday special and push the boat out and let us arrange for Captain Tom to take you out to those hidden beaches – don’t forget that the views from Akasha Luxury Villa Rental include three local beaches.

Akasha luxury villa rental is pleased to hear that the ARC race is about to start very soon.

The ARC 2010 fleet leave Las Palmas, Canaries (Spanish island) for Rodney Bay in Saint Lucia, crews from the 205 yachts, of all shapes and sizes are berthed in the marina and took part in the official ARC 2010 Opening Ceremony.  The final 34 yachts are expected to arrive in Las Palmas over the next few days, bringing the fleet total to 239 yachts, an all-time ARC record and that should make the race an all time success.  All of these will sail past Akasha luxury villa rental as they cross the finish line and into Rodney Bay.

At midday Sunday 14 November hundreds of ARC participants took part in the Official Opening Ceremony for ARC 2010.  Flag bearers from 28 different nations representing the countries of the yachts in this year’s event led the procession as it made its way around the marina. The grand parade had a real festival atmosphere as crews gathered at the northern end of the marina and were led by an enthusiastic brass band cheered on by local spectators.  This sounds great and Akasha villa rental in St Lucia hopes the start of things to come when they get to St Lucia, West Indies.

Andrew Bishop, Managing Director of World Cruising Club declared ARC 2010 officially “open” and the country flags were proudly hoisted on flagpoles around the marina as fireworks were launched in celebration.  High Commissioner of Saint Lucia, Eldridge Stephens, gave a rousing speech thanking ARC participants for visiting Saint Lucia after the devastation caused hurricane Tomas 10 days ago.

The fiesta atmosphere continued with ARC participants and local people taking part in Don Pedro’s famous International Dinghy Race.  Water bombs and flour missiles were commonplace! A prizegiving for the dinghy race and Don Pedro’s dockside BBQ went on late into the evening.  So St Lucia will, I know, create even a bigger party atmosphere once the race is under-way and when they finish in Rodney Marina. When you stay at Akasha Villa Rental you get to enjoy that atmosphere as the Marina is only a few minutes drive from your luxury retreat.

Akasha St Lucia luxury villa is pleased to inform you:

* ARC 2010 will depart from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria on Sunday 21 November.
* The finish destination is Rodney Bay Marina in St Lucia, a distance of 2,700 nautical miles from Las Palmas and it’s a passage that will take most of the yachts between 18 and 21 days.
* Whilst fundamentally a fun rally for cruising yachts, the ARC does have a more serious Racing Division, run under the auspices of the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC). Yachts in the Racing Division are not permitted to use their engines for propulsion (unlike the cruisers), although use of autopilots is allowed.
* ARC Official Entry list – ARC yachts
* ARC 2010 is sponsored by the Tourist Board of Gran Canaria, the Port Authority of Las Palmas, the Saint Lucia Tourist Board, Rolnautic, and is run in association with Yachting World magazine.

So our guests who will be in residence at Akasha – the luxury villa rental, get a great view of the boats as they sail around the north of the island, past the finishing line and into Rodney Bay – all visible from the terraces, and every one of the bedroom suites.

Akasha St Lucia luxury villa rental is pleased that cruise liners have sailed back into St Lucia to support the communities that were affected by Hurricane Tomas two weekends ago.

The Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) and its member lines quickly restored cruise business in the wake of the hurricane and have also shipped in humanitarian assistance for affected residents. “The quick action by the cruise lines was of enormous help for us and underscored the huge value of tourism to our recovery efforts,” Prime Minister Stephenson King, thanking the Florida-based trade organization for its support of his country’s cruise industry.

Most of St Lucia’s attractions have reopened and, on Sunday, both Holland America’s Noordam and P & O Oceana brought thousands of passengers who were able to experience some of them. They also brought 200 tonnes of water along with clothing, food, furniture, mattresses, sheets and blankets which were distributed to needy communities by the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) and the St Lucia Red Cross.

Akasha villa rental is also pleased that the air industry is also doing its bit, tourism got a boost over the weekend with the arrival of JetBlue Airways, American Airlines/American Eagle, Air Canada, Delta Air Lines, British Airways, among other carriers. They are bringing in many tourist to boost St Lucia’s economy which it badly meeds given the damage to the banana crop. The international and regional carriers landed at both the Hewanorra International Airport and George F.L. Charles Airport. So both airports are now open and functioning.

“Tourism is our lifeblood, and we are grateful to our regional and international partners for the confidence they have placed in St Lucia. By returning so quickly, they are assisting the nation recover in the aftermath of the storm,” asserted Minister of Tourism, Senator Allen Chastanet.

St Lucia needs the tourists even more than before and we at Akasha St Lucia’s most exclusive villa rental will be doing our best to help our fellow St Lucians and encouraging even more tourists to come to this beautiful island.

Akasha has only been available for luxury villa rental for the last 10 months and has done well but like the rest of global economy St Lucia tourism has suffered from the recession over the last few years.   However, according to some experts things are looking up and will help St Lucia recover.   This is the message from leading lights in the industry.  Below is an article sent out by Caribbean 360.  Italics are our comments.

LONDON, United Kingdom, Monday November 8, 2010 – Three experts on tourism trends in the United Kingdom and Europe have painted an optimistic picture of the British market for the Caribbean tourism sector in 2011, despite challenges such as the Air Passenger Duty (APD) which saw another increase take effect this month.  APD is such an imposition on holiday makers and has a negative impact for small businesses like Akasha luxury villa rentals.

A panel of media and industry practitioners concluded that the worst is over for the global economy and that the Caribbean region can look forward to an improved performance next year.

“The global recovery has begun,” John Taker, the purchasing director for Virgin Holidays told dozens of Caribbean tourism ministers, directors and private and public sector officials gathered at the London offices of the Daily Telegraph for the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) European Marketing Forum.  Many of our high end clientèle fly Virgin who have increased flight to St Lucia.

Taker added that there was a clear opportunity to grow the family travel market for the Caribbean, pointing out that price was a more important consideration for consumers booking a Caribbean holiday than it was for holidays to destinations like the United States.  Families are well come to Akasha St Lucia’s most exclusive villa rental with so much to do at Akasha.

While admitting that the APD “is a punishment that the Caribbean will have to live with for a very long time”, Graham Boynton, the Daily Telegraph’s travel editor, said there was hope for the region.

“While ultra long-haul is still suffering from the effects of the recession, medium long-haul is seeing recovery (and) the Caribbean is doing relatively well when compared to (other regions). The Caribbean is doing better than Australia…it is doing better than South Africa,” Boynton told delegates.  By adding to the quality of the St Lucia product Akasha villa rental is doing its bit to increase the appeal of St Lucia to a bigger market.  We believe that St Lucia will over take Barbados in the long term as a destination of choice.

However, he advised, there was a need for Caribbean destinations, individually and collectively, to communicate the realities of the region in a more dynamic manner.

Meanwhile, Daniel Pearce, editor of the travel trade magazine, TTG, unveiled exclusive research which painted a confident picture from British travel agents. The research revealed that two out three agents felt the reputation of the Caribbean had increased in the past year, and half the travel agents surveyed said they expected sales to the Caribbean to increase in 2011.  We at Akasha villa rental are seeing more and more interest from our UK agents.

This year’s CTO European Marketing Forum has as its theme: “2011, A Year of Opportunity or Threat?” The annual event is held as a precursor to the tourism trade show, World Travel Market (WTM).

If you check out the rest of our website you will see a lot of information about the island and how we work with our local contacts to personalise your holiday in paradise when you stay at Akasha St Lucia luxury villa rental.

Akasha St Lucia’s luxury villa rental has been visited by the Saint Lucian Tourist Board over the past few months to assess its suitability for accreditation.

We are proud to announce that we passed with flying colours and are now the only luxury villa listed on all the official web sites operated by the Saint Lucian Tourist Board:

www.stlucia.org
www.stlucianow.com
www.stlucia.co.uk
www.stlucia.ca

Check out any of the sites and if you click on the Resorts and then Villas you will see that Akasha is there with special offers which we will only list on these websites. Just mention which offer you want and we will be happy to offer you a personal quote for your visit.

To be the only luxury villa on their sites is really a scoop, and we feel it shows how we are trying and succeeding in lifting the quality of the villa rentals in St Lucia.

Not only did we get approval to be listed on this exclusive site but we also had some really great feedback from their representatives. Here are some of the comments that they made:

“The villa is beautiful”

“Visited the website and found it amazing”

”We visited the property this morning, and met with Mr. Knight who gave us a detailed tour of the property. The view is truly breathtaking not to mention the amenities”

”I must comment on this exquisite villa”

”Beautiful property by the way”

We think that once you stay with us you too will agree with their sentiments and be amazed when you stay at Akasha.

Akasha is The villa to rent in St Lucia – the ultimate luxury villa rental in St Lucia.

We, at Akasha Luxury Villa Rental, are committed to making your vacation in St Lucia an experience that you will recall in years to come as the “best ever”.

With that in mind we are here to help you decide what to do, where to go and when to do it, that could mean action packed days or days just chilling during your luxury vacation. So create your own personalised journey in St Lucia by choosing which of the activities below you would like to incorporate into your stay at Akasha luxury villa rental. We will then use our local knowledge and contacts to make it happen and provide you with a quote including the activities you want.

Potential activities we can plan for you;
• A day on motor or sail boat – down to the Pitons, snorkel, watch the dolphins and lunch either on the beach or local/international restaurant
• Golf on 18 hole championship course – home of the St Lucia open with lunch in the club house
• Turtle watching over-night and camping on the beach
• Zip trekking in the rain forest
• Trek in the rain forest
• Climbing the Piton(s) with a guide
• Spa treatment in house at Akasha St Lucia Villa Rental
• Dinner at the top restaurants or the local eateries to sample Creole cooking
• Weddings in Akasha St Lucia Villa Rental
• Scuba diving with a PADI school – there are several wrecks they go to and also the famous ‘wall’
• Island tour with a guide to incorporate Pitons, hot spring mud baths, waterfall, snake charmer, and lunch at a local or international restaurant
• Duty free shopping including a trip to the local Castries crafts market
• Rum tours – including sampling and opportunity to purchase
• Trip to Marigot bay – where Dr DoLittle was filmed and is probably the best bay in the Caribbean
• Street party – Gros Islet, Dennery or Anse La Raye

These are just a few of our ideas; let us help you make that journey one that adds richness to your vacation. More details of some of these are activities can be found on our activities page.

Just complete the contact form and let us know what would make your ideal “best ever” vacation and we, Akasha St Lucia Luxury Villa Rental, would be happy to help.