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Friday, May 29, 2009

Learn to Dive in Bequia

Learn to dive in beautiful Bequia . . .

With the Caribbean Sea, wonderful reefs and over 30 fantastic dive spots, diving in Bequia is a great experience.

Easy to organise, with two waterfront dive offices that are just a short stroll from the harbour, along the Belmont walkway.

Bequia has two diving companies, Dive Bequia and Dive adventures, and Dive Bequia offers a free trial dive. This is an excellent feature, perfect for the more cautious visitors who aren't sure if they are confident enough for a full dive.

Whether you just want to have a couple of fun dives, or you want to get some qualifications under your belt, we can certainly help you arrange this. Due to being in such a fantastic setting, diving in Bequia seems natural and easy . . . just make sure you remember your underwater camera!

Snorkel masks, fins and wetsuits are provided, so all you need to do is make your way along the waterfront walkway and start learning some dive skills!

Both dive shops are right next to bars, cafes and restaurants, so after your dive you can sit in the sunshine with a cool drink and compare all you have seen with fellow divers.

We highly recommend this, and several members of our team have been diving and earned some qualifications, including PADI open water, and rescue diver under the fantastic supervision of the Dive Bequia staff. This is such great fun - Team members are patient and friendly, and training goes at a great pace. On the dives, the instructors know the best spots to find and point out the most fascinating and beautiful creatures, making the experience even more special. They also offer dive packages, so there is something to suit everyone.

"The team at Dive Bequia were amazing. I was really interested in going diving, but nervous, as I am not the most confident swimmer and the idea of going deep under water was a little daunting! I had a one on one session in the shallow water, and my confidence was built up until I was ready to embark on my first full dive. It was brilliant! Although anxious at the start, Cathy the instructor stuck with me the whole time, and I saw Lobsters, an Octopus and a Scorpion Fish, as well as many other colourful fish. It was a fantastic experience." - Aimee, May 2009

Dive Bequia is open all year round, with dives daily at 9:30am, 11:30am and 2:30pm. The free trial is offered on Tuesdays at 9:30am.

If you would like any more information, please do contact our team, who will be pleased to share diving experiences with you, and help you to book your first dive.

TOP TIP - you can even tag along with the divers and join the Dive boat - which is a fun trip in itself! A snorkel mask is provided and this fun way to join in without going into the deep. This option is light on your pockets too just 10USD per trip.

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Tuesday, May 26, 2009

New Bequia Villa for Rent in La Pompe GRAND VIEW


La Pompe has yet another stylish new villa launching onto the Bequia rental market. Grenadine Island Villas are very pleased to offer this newly completed stylish Bequia property. Designed by the Architect of Mustique Fame Thomas Dehen.

Grand View Cottage is a secluded hillside cottage with is BIG on views as the name suggests...

..."Imagine lying on your bed and watching the ocean through large French doors with views of the neighboring Grenadine islands rising from the sea in the distance.

Welcome to Grand View Cottage…. Far from the maddening crowds, nestled on the idyllic, secluded island of Bequia, Grand View Cottage is a luxurious island home with breathtaking vistas from every room."

Rental info: The villa has an upper and a lower level, and the two levels can be rented separately or as a whole house. Each level has two double bedrooms, and is 900USD per week. This property really is the perfect Bequia vacation base - a great escape, simple and stylish. For more information on this villa, please see our three listings for the property - Grand View Cottage, Grand View Cottage Lower and Grand View Cottage Whole House.


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Thursday, May 21, 2009

Tipping on Bequia & St Vincent & The Grenadines

Advice on tipping in St Vincent & The Grenadines

Everyone enjoys a tip and here are some tips on tipping...

Bequia is a simple island and tipping is very much appreciated by the staff at the properties and in the restaurants. The average national wage seems to be somewhere between 15USD - 30USD a day.

For villa guests staying in St Vincent and The Grenadines we are often asked for some guides. 5 to 10 up to 15 - 20% Tip depending on the task and service is usual.

Given at an amount you feel comfortable with.
Tipping is a personal choice and it should be given for general good service throughout the days of your villa stay. It is usually anticipated at the end of the stay but we would recommend sprinkling a little along the way as you go.

Tip as you go...
We would encourage a gentle amount of tipping ongoing throughout your stay as this builds a feeling of mutual appreciation from day one. This makes for a great atmosphere where good service is seen to be clearly appreciated and will flourish.

Tip what you liked best
It also makes great sense to reward any specific action which you found particularly helpful or kind from your staff. This helps to reinforce the best bits of your staffs service and lets them know clearly what you really appreciate.

Make sure that you give the tip to the staff member personally rather than leaving it for them or giving it to another person - this saves any mix ups.


creative tips...
Over the years guest have been very inventive with their tips giving house staff gifts of items to say thank you

Remember to factor in an amount for tipping into your vacation budget

Tipping from your Credit Card
Grenadine Island Villas can assist if you would like to leave your house staff a tip simply give us the ok to charge your card and we will make sure that the house staff get the funds along with any personal message from you which you can send in an email and we will print and pass on to them.


Your tip is appreciated...
If you feel like giving a tip of any size - please do - don't let anything get in the way.
.. it is easy to make your hard working staff smile.







Getting to Bequia - from the Uk is now easier with more BA flights

BA makes it easier to get to Bequia with new Caribbean services

If you are booking flights from the UK to Bequia we have some good news from BA for you...

From October 25 2009, the airline is increasing flights :
from Gatwick to Barbados from 9 to 10 flights a week
from Gatwick to St Lucia from 3 to 5 flights a week,

Return fares including taxes, fees and charges from :
Barbados from £553
St Lucia start from £553

Tickets go on sale tomorrow (Friday 22nd of May 2009... )
The man from BA said :
“These new routes and increased frequencies underline our commitment to the Caribbean,” said head of sales Richard Tams.


“It’s a popular destination with our customers and it’s due to demand that we’re increasing the number of flights to the region.”

Grenadine Island Villas can arrange your Local flight connections to Bequia
Once you have purchased your international flight the Team here at Grenadine Island Villas can help get you to Bequia...we handle inter-island connections from Barbados to Bequia
Private hopper flights from St Lucia to Bequia and can also book your Liat connections for you
we look forward to helping get you to Bequia soon...

try flying via Dominica Republic or Trinidad to Bequia...
These extra services give you more choice so nice news from BA. British Airways is also launching two new Caribbean routes to the DR Dominican Republic in its winter schedule and there will also be increased service from Gatwick to Port of Spain, Trinidad from 3 to 5 flights a week from £583.80.

From the DR or Trinidad you can take a Liat connection to St Vincent and local ferry on to Beautiful Bequia.


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Full Services to our Bequia Villa and Hotel Guests

Enjoy hotel style services at your Villa on Bequia
Our villa services enable our Bequia villa guests to enjoy full assistance at their villas. Cooks and chefs are available for you at most of the properties and we can arrange the extra services you may require. Our team offer you the the best of both worlds along with many services which are fairly unique to the island such as our pre licensing services for your hire vehicles and our picnic services.

We believe that booking a villa on Beuquia should be as easy as booking a hotel on Bequia. Our team work hard so you are free to enjoy the privacy and beauty of some very special properties without feeling your on your own.


Staying in a hotel with our concierge services
Book a Bequia Hotel with us and you can still enjoy our full concierge services

We can make your hotel reservations for you and provide all our teams services for you so you dont miss out on anything...

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Booking The exact dates you want for your Bequia Villa Rental

Start your villa rental any day you want
Remember your villa rental on Bequia can start and finish any day of the week - Grenadine Island Villas run flexible calendars so pick your start day and stay as long as you like... 3 days - 3 months...

Pay per night for Bequia Villa Rentals
We have worked with the villa owners to encourage a positive approach to shorter bookings. These bookings are calculated at a reduced weekly rate.

Staying on Bequia for less than a week
We simply take the weekly rental rate and divide it by 6 then multiply it by the number of nights you would like to stay...

Staying on Beuqia for more than a week
If you are staying for longer than a week take the weekly rate and divide it by 7 and multiply it by the number of nights you would like to stay...

Long term Bequia Rentals
Longer term rates are established depending on the duration and season.

Staying on Bequia longer term is a wonderful experience
The island is certainly a enchanting place to enjoy for longer so you may consider a long term villa rental for your extended stay. Recent clients have booked for 6 8 and 12 month contracts. We have negotiated exceptional rates for their stays and if you are considering a long term rental on the island of Bequia we are perfectly placed to find you a gem of a property. Just let us know your preferences.



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Friendship Rose www.friendshiprose.com
Grenadine Villas www.grenadinevillas.com
Grenadine Property www.grenadineproperty.com
Grenadine Weddings www.grenadineweddings.com
Sail Relax Explore www.sailrelaxexplore.com