A Villa in Virgin Gorda, perhaps?

Check out the view, babies!

Since we’re always on the hunt for chic villa rentals, we wanted to share one that caught our eye. BAYHOUSE, a new luxury Caribbean beachfront villa, is a villa for design lovers. Sitting among large volcanic boulders and tropical vegetation it’s clean lines complement the stunning landscape.

BAYHOUSE consists of 3 bedrooms with ensuite baths with around 6,000 square feet of interior and exterior living space on almost 2 acres of private beachfront property. Villa rental rates range from $4,900 to $14,700 per week depending on season and occupancy and it even has a 24/7 on island concierge service and offers an extensive list of amenities.

Bayview Villa Room

A fusion of classic Caribbean architecture and contemporary tropical design, each room has been designed to frame an inspiring view of the sea-scape. The play between expansive versus framed views occurs throughout, achieved by the contrast between louvered window seats, fifteen foot fold-away doors, covered outdoor rooms and carefully placed window openings in the structures. The operable wooden louvers further energy efficiency, providing shading as well as ability to take in that plentiful sea-breeze. Additional fixed louvers at roof level ensure passive cooling at all times, reducing the reliance on air-conditioning in the tropical climate.

An exterior shot

If you don’t hang out by the pool visit one of Virgin Gorda’s beaches, such as Savannah Bay, Pond Bay, Devil’s Bay, Mahoe Bay and Spring Bay or visit the most popular natural attraction in the BVI, The Baths, where huge granite boulders create mysterious grottos, saltwater pools and a connecting trail that entices visitors to spend a day exploring, swimming, and snorkeling. And just as an FYI – U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT just recently voted the British Virgin Islands as the #1 for having the most relaxing beaches.

BAYHOUSE website

One of Thailand’s Best Spas: Chiva Som, Hua Hin

Chiva Som

Seven acres of gardens, wellness programs, rooms with private balconies and butler service. This is Chiva Som, a luxury health resort facing the Gulf of Thailand, just south of Bangkok. In addition to 3, 5, 7, 10, 14, and 21 Day wellness retreats like Inner Wellness, Art of Detox, Weight Management, Natural Healing, and Yoga For Life, they combine classes on everything from daily massages and yoga to spa cuisine meals, meditation, aqua therapy, and holistic health. In short, they’re considered one of the best holistic spas in the world and we can’t wait to try them out to offer our personal review.

Gimme an ‘OM’

Hydrotherapy treatments include aqua skin polish with spearmint and apricot to exfoliate the skin and a food philosophy that means “healthy cuisine but with so many flavours you will never notice it’s good for you!” Think: the freshest produce delicately mixed with fresh herbs and spices.

Chiva-Som chefs create daily menus to offer the widest range of dishes to suit a healthy lifestyle while satisfying your appetite. So, you won’t be deprived if you don’t want to be deprived, but you will have clean, delicious fulfilling healthy fare. They claim to have the tenderest steaks, the tastiest lamb, the softest chicken, the most delicate fish and the freshest vegetables combined with local herbs and spices to produce great tasting dishes.

We believe it. If Forbes says they’re top notch, we won’t be doubters this time.

$340/night

Retreats from 3, 5, 7, 10, 14, and 21 days

www.chivasom.com

Do Denali

Denali Lake (c) Aramark Parks & Destinations

Denali… so cool they named an all terrain vehicle after it. Located just south of the Arctic Circle, Denali National Park (Koyukon Athabaskan for “The High One”, Dghelaayce ‘e in Ahtna) is the highest mountain peak in the United States and sees about 20 hours of sunlight in summer.

McKinley Chalet (c) Aramark Parks & Destinations

No day is this longer than the summer solstice on June 21, when Denali sees a full 20 hours and 49 minutes of daylight. These extremely long days are a great advantage to visitors, who can experience enough activities for two days in one making the most of their vacation: by land, air and water.

So, for those looking for an adventure (and wanting to take full advantage of the light), the experts at Denali Park Resorts, operators of the park’s bus tours and activities, have come up with a kickass itinerary for you.

What are you waiting for?

6 a.m.: Breakfast at the Courtyard Café. Opening at 4:30 a.m., McKinley Chalet Resort’s Courtyard Café is the perfect way to start the morning. Shuttles to all park activates leave from the Resort making it a convenient place to start the day.

Alaskan Meadow (c) Aramark Parks & Destinations

7 a.m.: Board the Kantishna Experience Bus Tour. This is the only guided bus tour that travels the full 92-miles of the park road, ending at the historic mining district of Kantishna, where the park’s original residents, explorers and stewards called home. At Kantishna you will visit Fannie Quigley’s home and enjoy lunch, while along the way you will have ample opportunity to photography Denali’s wildlife and hopefully see Mount McKinley.

Big Horn Sheep ‘Bond’ (c) Aramark Parks & Destinations

2 p.m.: Leave Kantisna aboard a Kantishna Air Taxi sightseeing plane. Now that you have seen Denali from the ground it’s time to get airborne to see this beautiful expanse from the sky. Your pilot will expertly guide you through the Alaska Range over glaciers, rivers and animals below. Weather permitting; you will fly over the north face of Mount McKinley for a spectacular view. An on board naturalist will help interpret the scenes below as you soar over the park.

Rafting in Denali (c) Aramark Parks & Destinations

6 p.m.: After arriving back to the hotel around 4 p.m., you’ll have some time to rest and recharge before heading to Explore Denali Rafting to see this beautiful landscape by water. The glacial-fed Nenana River makes up the eastern border of Denali National Park and rafting is the best way to experience its wonder. Protected from the icy waters with dry suits, rafters have three ways to run the river: grab an oar and be part of the action with a paddle run, sit back and let the guide do the rowing with a canyon run, or have a peaceful and relaxing float on a wilderness run.

10 p.m. Return to McKinley Chalet Resort or McKinley Village Lodge and enjoy dinner on the balcony. Don’t worry about it getting dark… sunset is still three hours away!

Kantishna Air Taxi can be booked at www.katair.com or by calling (907) 644-8222. A discount will be given on tours for those who book the air taxi out of the park.

www.denaliparkresorts.com

Jet to Jamaica, Mon

Nothing quite like Negril’s stunning cliffs

Well, if you’re looking for some quality time with the family or hoping to jet off with your sweetheart, Jamaica’s Island Outpost has some great summer offers on tap! Four nights for the price of three at GoldenEye Hotel & Resort, Ian Fleming’s former residence and at Strawberry Hill, nestled in the Blue Mountains, and Geejam’s in Port Antonio offering of five nights for the price of four should do the trick. The all-inclusive Caves’ in Negril features the “Super Fab Summer Escape” – five nights, spa treatments, and more for $2,600 (a savings of more than $800 on high season rates).

For additional offers and info: click here.