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| Details | |
|---|---|
| Bedrooms | 3 |
| Bathrooms | 2 |
| Sleeps | 6 |
| Apartment / Condominium | |
| Suitability |
|---|
| No Pets |
| Smoking Allowed |
| Suitable for Children |
| Suitable for Elderly |
| FlipKey traveler rating |
| 14 reviews |
| Stayed here? Write a review. |
Get the real scoop!
All reviews are written by verified travelers
Details
| Rental type | Apartment / Condominium |
| Minimum Stay | 1 night |
| Living space | 2000 square feet |
| Bedrooms |
3 Total
Show Details ►
|
| Bathrooms |
2 Total
Show Details ►
|
| Sleeps | 6 |
| Suitability |
Pet friendlyNo Smoking allowedYes Suitable for childrenYes Suitable for the elderlyYes Wheelchair accessibleNo |
| Theme | Adventure, Luxury, Wilderness, Away from it all, Mountain, Tropical |
Description from the owner
Villa Makambu ( a variety of banana) is a newly built villa. A contemporary-caribbean style villa offering breathtaking views of beautiful Marigot Bay and the Caribbean ocean. The villa is nestled on the south side of Marigot Bay. Villa Makambu is a 2 level villa . The upper level and lower level apartments , both are rented seperatly.The 2 levels can be rented together for larger groups. Excellent for family gatherings.
The apartment listed here(upper level)consists of two bedrooms with king size beds with ceiling fans, large wardrobe and mosquito netting, a mezzanine with a queen size bed and TV lounging area, two bathrooms, one of t...Read more
Amenities
Location
VILLA MAKAMBU- Charming-Spacious-Spectacular Views
Marigot Bay, Saint Lucia
What's Nearby:
Additional Location Information
Marigot Bay known as 'The Most Beautiful' bay in the caribbean is situated on the North West shore of St-Lucia. This secluded bay is bordered on three sides by three emerald hills ans is skirted by coconut palms. You can find a small beach , La Bas Beach, which is only accessible by a little ferry. The bay offers a variety of services such as water sports (kayaking, snorkeling, sailing, fishing, deep sea fishing, hobie cat, water biking...), dinning, shopping, banking and nightlife.
Location Type Away from it all, Mountain, Tropical
Rates
Rates shown in $ USD (change)
| Date | Weeknight | Weekend Night | Weekly | Monthly | Minimum Stay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rate Summary | $185 - $275 | $185 | $1,295 - $1,925 | $0 | 1 night |
| Dec. 15 2012 - May. 15 2013 High season For 2 persons |
$225 | - | $1,575 | - | 3 nights |
| Dec. 15 2012 - May. 15 2013 High season For 4 persons |
$255 | - | $1,785 | - | 3 nights |
| Dec. 15 2012 - May. 15 2013 High season For 6 persons |
$275 | - | $1,925 | - | 3 nights |
| May. 16 2013 - Dec. 14 2013 Low season For 2 persons |
$185 | - | $1,295 | - | 3 nights |
| May. 16 2013 - Dec. 14 2013 Low season For 4 persons |
$215 | - | $1,505 | - | 3 nights |
| Can't find rates for your travel dates? Contact the owner | |||||
| May. 16 2013 - Dec. 14 2013 Low season For 6 persons |
$235 | - | $1,645 | - | 3 nights |
| All Other Dates | $185 | $185 | - | - | 1 night |
| View all 7 Rate Periods | |||||
Additional notes from owner
All bookings are subject to an 8% government tax and a 10% resort tax.
A 50% deposit is required at booking. The deposit is totally refundable minus $75.00US if cancelled 90 days prior to arrival date and 75% refundable if cancelled 45 days prior to arrival date.
Availability
AvailableUnavailable Last updated: April 03, 2013 ◀▶
What Past Guests Are Saying
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SturdyPidgeon13
Calgary, CanadaAwesome!!!
Left on 04/23/2013 for a stay in February 2013
I am not sure where to begin. I can say that our stay at the Villa Makambu exceeded our expectations. We stayed here the second week in February. There were 4 of us, two couples, and we rented the bottom level of the villa. We only used two of the three bedrooms. Each bedroom was spacious with a comfortable king size bed. The one bedroom had a large ensuite and there was a huge main bathroom. Both bedrooms had slated doors that led to their own private deck area equipped with lounge chairs. The villa has all the amenities that you would require. There is a large kitchen, with a separate open air dining area. The villa also has a spacious living room with a TV. The deck, where we spent most of our evenings, features a loveseat, table and two chairs directly off the living room. The whole villa is nicely decorated. The villa also has a large pool and deck area with eight lounge chairs for relaxing. The landscaping around the villa is beautiful and the view overlooking Marigot Bay and the Caribbean is truly spectacular.
We were lucky enough to be there at the same time as the owners, Pascale and Franz. They were extremely friendly and accommodating. Upon our arrival they greeted us, gave us a tour of the villa. The fridge was even stocked with some food and beverages to give us a start on breakfast. Once we were settled in they made a point of coming over to check and see if everything was okay or if we required anything else. They are very knowledgeable about the island and gave us tips on local beaches, sightseeing, shopping, things we did not see in the tourist books. They always took the time to make sure everything was okay and ask if we needed anything. We were able to spend a few evenings together lounging and visiting with them. They really made us feel at home.
They arranged for, Smally, their preferred taxi driver to pick us up at the airport. His offer to stop at the grocery store so that we could pick up supplies was appreciated.
We rented a four wheel drive vehicle during our stay and would recommend anyone doing the same. Pascale recommended a local person to rent from. They delivered the vehicle to the villa and then retrieved it from the airport when we were finished.
I cannot write this without including Carlos, the caretaker, handyman, tour guide jack of all trades. Carlos was there cleaning the pool, pruning the plants and making sure you had everything you needed. On our first night he brought us a BBQ with briquette and starter fluid. He made sure that it was always ready to go. He brought us fresh squeezed juice on three occasions. He served us delicious fish cakes one evening. Our second last day we had the pleasure of enjoying some BBQ chicken that Carlos had been marinating that day. On our last day he brought us some fresh Coconut juice. All of us including Pascale, Franz, Carlos and Miranda enjoyed this mixed with a little local rum. Although we did not get to enjoy one of Carlo’s water excursions, as he was booked up and the seas did not co-operate, I heard they were amazing.
Miranda is the housekeeper and she is very pleasant. She cleaned our villa twice while we were there and it was spotless.
We would stay here again and recommend the Villa Makambu to anybody.
Pascale, Franz, Chuck, Carlos and Miranda thanks for making our stay enjoyable and memorable. -
FunseekerAlbany_NY
Albany, NYIncredible! Modern yet island easy...
Left on 03/14/2013 for a stay in March 2013
Villa Makambu is brilliant.
Location - We toured a great deal of the West Coast of St. Lucia and think that Marigot Bay is a great destination! It is about an hour taxi drive from the international airport (Hewanorra). Marigot Bay has a few nice restaurants and bars, a beautiful marina, a great beach, a small food market, and opportunities for sea adventures. We wouldn’t have wanted to stay anywhere else, with the exception of near the Pitons. The villa is about a 20 minute walk from the marina/restaurants/market. The walk is all downhill, quite steep, and of rough terrain. Wear good shoes. Going back up will be a challenge and we never attempted it! There is a large supermarket (IGa) approximately 20 minute drive from the villa.
The house – It is incredible. I don’t think the pictures and description do it justice. There are two gorgeous houses on the property in a remote setting, high above the water. The views are breathtaking. There is a gorgeous salt water pool with plenty of seating in sun and shade. We stayed on the top floor and think the views are the best from that floor. The top floor has a lot more living space as well. The design of the homes is beautiful. Modern yet island easy. And everything you could ask for is provided. There was a charcoal grill ready for our use daily, all cooking items needed, 4 beach chairs, beach towels, a safe, and a cell phone to use locally (you can add minutes easily in the marina area). They even provided some basic food items for our arrival (milk, fruit, yogurt, eggs, bread, tons of condiments, etc.). No a/C. The house is very open with slatted windows. We were there in early March and were pretty comfortable at night. One night was a bit brutal, but that was it. There are fans and mosquito nettings over the beds. Oh, free Wi-fi!
Car Rental – I think it is essential to have a car when staying at Villa Makambu. Taxis are readily available (stationed at the marina) but that option certainly isn’t cheap. We rented a 7 passenger SUV with some hefty tires and suspension and were very happy to have it. The roads to the villa are quite rough and I wouldn’t have wanted a little compact car on some of those roads. Without the car, we would have felt very isolated.
Staff – This really was one of the best aspects of our vacationing at Villa Makambu. The caretaker, Carlos, lives next door in a smaller version of the Villa. He is the go-to man. Seems everyone knows and respects Carlos, which gave us a great sense of security. He also has a great dog that keeps guard from the balcony of Carlos’ place. Upon arrival, Carlos and Josie (house manager when owners are not visiting), were waiting for us in the driveway. It really means a lot to have someone waiting for you, welcoming you, and helping you into your rental after a long journey. Josie will spend some time with you advising you on activities/places to go. Miranda is the housekeeper and she was also there upon our arrival to meet us. She takes good care of the place and is very friendly. Be sure to have Carlos take you out on his boat (fishing type boat, seats about 6-8 comfortably). He took us along the West Coast all the way down to the Pitons with several stops for snorkeling. We ordered lunch take out in Soufrieres and ate on a gorgeous beach. It was the best day of our vacation!!! He’s very capable and we felt safe the entire time. There was enough snorkeling gear for all 6 of us! I can’t say enough good things about the people that helped us and work there. This was my first time renting a house out of country and I didn’t expect this kind of treatment! Villa Makambu spoiled me for the rest, I’m sure.
Food – There is a fresh veggie market in Castries. Be sure to go there and buy some. There are also some fresh veggies in the IGa but not as bountiful as I would have thought. Food is expensive. So is drink. Plan for it.
Water – We mostly drank bottled water but I also drank the tap water. It is very chlorinated, though I didn’t taste it. No sickness.
Power – Both us and EU power outlets in the house. There are a few adapters in the house if you need them.
Currency – us is accepted everywhere. They will give you change in East Caribbean dollars.
To do – small private cove near house for beach day, volcano, mud baths, waterfalls, botanical gardens, climb the pitons (we didn’t - steep climb), go to rum distillery, shopping in the craft markets in Castries (parking is tough – we found it is best and cheap to park in the carpark building), shopping in Rodney Bay (was ok), check out the many beaches, snorkel, party boats, sunset cruises.
Dining in Marina area Marigot Bay – we really liked the Hurricane Hole and went there twice. Food was good (not cheap though), drinks were excellent, and service was amazing. Doolittles has a great happy hour. There are a few other places to check out too. If you get to Castries – go to Chef Robby’s in town. Great little place and we had a lot of fun there. The staff was a blast.
Driving – is an adventure. They drive on the left and the driver’s seat is on the right side of the car. I had never done this but managed fine. Take your time and keep to the left!!! Keep reminding yourself. The roads outside of the cities are very windy and often hairpin turns. Some roads are extremely rough and gravelly. You can do it!!!
Oh and the owner, Pascale was great to work with via email. Quick replies, easy payment, very informative.
I highly recommend this house! -
A. Gagliano
BirminghamIncredible Honeymoon at Villa Makambu
Left on 03/02/2013 for a stay in January 2013
The owners of this villa, Franz and Pascale, are extremely friendly and very accommodating. We were very fortunate that they were staying on the other side of the property during our time there, and they were extremely helpful in providing directions and suggestions on things to do. Don't fret if they are not staying at the property during your time there as Carlos and Josee, who help oversee the property while Franz and Pascale are not there, are very friendly, helpful, and accommodating as well. Josee is a blessing to have at your fingertips (and she is because you will be provided a cell phone for local calls while you are staying, and she is almost always available). She is a wealth of information about the island, points of interest, dining locations, activities, car rental, etc. I can't write a review without mentioning Carlos. Carlos is on the property almost 24/7, and I can't say enough good things about him. He is so thoughtful and nice, from cooking fish cakes the day we arrived, to giving us fresh coconut milk and grapefruit juice, driving us to Marigot Bay, and taking us on an unforgettable day on the water in his boat.Here are the little details that make Makambu special. Makambu is professionally cleaned at least every 3 days. Your first morning's breakfast will be in the refrigerator when you arrive. The pickup service at the airport with a stop for groceries on the way is so helpful. Makambu is exactly like the photos provided - views are incredible, furnishings are beautiful, kitchen is awesome (no microwave so remember that, if you eat leftovers), television and internet are available if you can't find anything better to do. Master bedroom shower is huge! Location is off the beaten path, but only a few minutes walk from a beautiful, private cove. We found the walk to Marigot Bay to be an easy and quick one. From start to finish this has been an amazing trip that we will never forget, and our stay at Makambu is the main reason why.
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Diane S
Minneapolis, MinnesotaSpectacular!
Left on 03/01/2013 for a stay in February 2013
My husband, sister and brother-in-law rented the bottom villa for 10 days. The owners, Pascale and Franz, made our stay so enjoyable. They were so wonderful to work with and so very friendly. The villa itself is gorgeous. It is very spacious and clean and the views are awesome. If we ever make it back to St. Lucia, we will certainly rent the villa again!
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DeeDeeVon
PeterboroughParadise
Left on 09/18/2012 for a stay in August 2012
We stayed at the beautiful villa Makambu for two weeks in august and honestly cannot fault it. Everything from location to villa, the garden and pool to fixtures and fittings all perfect. It was a home from home and we didn't want to leave! It was bliss waking each morning and looking out over the bay and out to sea, relaxing with tea and toast on a lounger wbooks book. The villa is beautifully appointed, spacious and very well equipped. Carlos the caretaker lives a stones throw away and was always on hand to help. We had a housekeeper every third day who was fabulous and left the house immaculate. Carlos made us fish cakes, fresh juices, coconut, calabash bowls... He was a gem and an asset to the owners. We hired a car for four days and visited places all over the island but we loved Marigot Bay most of all. A jewel of a resort, small, intimate, well stocked and with great people, locals and ex pats alike. We felt like friends to many by the time we left and that is very special. We would love to return and will. Thank you to to Pascale for all her help and to Josse, the manager, who, like Carlos, was a godsend. My only recommendations would be to bring ear plugs to block out local bar music from nearby at the weekend and a CD player or iPod dock to play music would have been great. Book this villa! You won't be disappointed!
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Tammy
Fort LauderdalePure paradise
Left on 04/17/2012 for a stay in April 2012
Our stay at villa makambu was a complete delight. Everything you could possibly need. All of the creature comforts of home,set in a beautiful mountain side overlooking Margot Bay and the ocean. Unbelievable view,friendly and very helpful caretakers. The house is decorated beautifully,and is immaculate. When we arrived there was wine,crackers, breakfast food and fresh fruit. The caretaker Carlos brought us up home made fresh fish cakes to die for and Josie had come to greet us and tell us all about the area and where to go and what to see. Carlos even took us on a full day boat adventure,including snorkeling ,sightseeing,lunch in Soufriere and cliff jumping. There are plenty of little restarants and bars around and to go off on your own sight seeing is relatively easy and very safe. The island is small so with in an hour and a half you are every where you could want to be and most places are closer than that. a full grocery store about 10 minute drive away. But the marina has a small store as well. This is one of the nicest homes,I have had the pleasure to vacation at. But watch the little finches, they love to eat your bananas. It was a 10 on my scoreboard. Just lovely.
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Ben_Jenkins1
Superb accommodation!
Left on 04/08/2012 for a stay in March 2012
I stayed in this villa as part of a large group. Where to start...!
The hosts are very welcoming, informative and friendly, the accommodation itself is luxurious and clean, and the views are spectacular!
It was great to have a warm shower in the lovely bathroom as soon as I woke up, walk through to the pool to do a few lengths and then bask in the sunshine on a sun lounger while overlooking Marigot Bay. It is what holidays are made for!
We rented a 4x4 to explore the island a bit. There is ample room for parking at Villa Makambu and plenty of space in the fridge for any food you buy along the way - we made full use of the BBQ facilities! It is about a 10-15 walk down to the local shops and a brilliant restaurant called "Chateau Mygo". I highly recommend walking/driving down to Chateau Mygo for "sun downers" - a few "Piton" beers in an ice bucket overlooking the sea. I am starting to get depressed writing this review as I want to be back there!
My group all loved our stay at Villa Makambu. I would not hesitate to recommend this accommodation to a friend/family. -
Sailor044
155019Great!!
Left on 03/26/2012 for a stay in March 2012
The owners could not be more hospitable. The mid Island location is great. Views are fantastic. Highly recommended.
drawbacks: The road, a few biting bugs Mozzies, and the music that comes from clubs in the bay.
None are that bad but bring a pair of earplugs and some after bite. -
triathlete_chick
Orange County, CACould not have asked for a more perfect accommodation!
Left on 03/13/2012 for a stay in February 2012
My husband and I stayed here with our 2 daughters (ages 8,6 yo) for 10 days. The accommodations were outstanding: beautiful, clean, spacious and did I mention a spectacular view and big pool?? Our two kids were in heaven and spent any free time swimming. The owners could not be more hospitable and they have a groundskeeper and cleaning person who are the friendliest most helpful people you could ever meet. They provided us with a local cell phone to use while we were there and even stocked the refrigerator on our first day of arrival. They have a local Canadian friend of theirs help when you first arrive and will help answer any questions you have. The house is spectacular, clean, comes fully stocked with anything you need and made our first visit to St. Lucia spectacular and unforgettable.
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Julie S
42354Awesome Villa, so relaxing you'll not want to leave!!
Left on 02/29/2012 for a stay in February 2012
Just would like everyone to know the owner, manager, grounds keeper and housekeeper are all admirable people. If you are looking for a place where you can kick back, relax and celebrate life, Villa Makambu is just the place. We stayed in the upper level and the view is breath taking day and night.
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TK-Sask
155042Great vacation rental
Left on 02/20/2012 for a stay in February 2012
We just got back from St. Lucia and had the privilege of staying at Villa Makambu for 12 days. Due to availability when we booked, we ended up splitting our stay between both the lower and upper level, which gave us the chance to experience both units. I can only echo the previous reviews already written and agree that this is a wonderful vacation rental with fantastic views, a quiet atmosphere, spacious and comfortable accommodations on both levels. I would also recommend renting a car to give you the freedom to come and go as you please and to see the island on your own schedule. I walked the local roads everyday and walked down to Marigot Bay a few times with no difficulty but this would not be for everyone unless you are a regular walker or are somewhat physically fit. You certainly could get by with taking cabs to get groceries and seeing sites, but we were glad we had a vehicle. The main highway is in very good shape, narrow compared to North american standards, but very good pavement. The transition to driving a right-hand-drive car on the left side of the road was easy, and the constant curves in the road keeps everyone driving at a slow enough speed to be able to easily react to anything that might pop up. St. Lucians honk to say hi, not to indicate you've done something wrong. There really is no real close beaches to access if that is your thing, but many you can drive to which also supports the rental car recommendation. Fisherman's cove, about a 10 minute walk down the road, is very secluded and quiet and has a small dock, a bit of sand and shady areas, decent snorkelling, but is rocky so water shoes are must for wading in to go swimming. We too enjoyed the beach at Ti Kaye Village and went there several times ($5 us each for chair and umbrella for the day), Vigi beach at Castries is a very nice long sandy beach great for walking, very scenic, lots of surf etc.. We saw a lot of the island and for us, Marigot Bay was the best location for quiet, scenery, and relaxation as it is removed from the large resort areas. The boats in the bay were fantastic, everything from local fishermen and water taxis to multi million dollar yachts. Overall a fantastic trip, and a great rental spot. Pascale is very prompt with email correspondence and was a pleasure to deal with. Her local managers that look after you are the owner's of Villa Pomm'e D'Amour and they are fantastic and make sure you are well looked after while you are there. Make sure these two Villas are on your short list when choosing a place in St. Lucia!
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jftripper
EnglandNo hesitation to stay again!
Left on 02/09/2012 for a stay in January 2012
We had a very relaxed and pampered stay at Villa Makambu.
Pascale, the owner, is a delightful host who anticipates what you would like and can recommend your every need. Carlos, who helps out for all general things, is the perfect gentlemen who can provide all the local needs you might have.
The villa we were in was on the lower floor and has large comfortable rooms, fantastic bathrooms with enormous walk in showers and all the amenities you need. Add in a lovely private terrace with fantastic views of Marigot Bay, a large pool with plenty of chairs to relax in and a large terrace with further views of Marigot Bay. Absolute pleasure!
We decided to have a BBQ one evening just for ourselves and Carlos set it all up and surprised us by providing his own cooked starter for us! Delicious.
Do take the boat trip that Carlos offers, snorkeling in beautiful bays and visitng many locations.
Do take the advice of Pascale and hire a 4 wheel drive car. It helps you get access to remote places in the island but also makes it easier to get to Villa Makambu. Its a stony road up to the Villa which is easy to drive up to, but helps with a 4 wheel drive. The views reward you!
Enjoy the experience of this wonderful location, wonderful hosts and a wonderful island. -
green4eva
677779Gorgeous New Villa...Amazing Views !!!
Left on 02/08/2012 for a stay in February 2012
We, 2 couples rented the lower level of the Villa, using 2 of the 3 bedrooms. The home is exactly as the pictures show...absolutely gorgeous ! Bedrooms are large w king size beds and mosquito netting, one bedroom has an ensuite bathroom,and there is large main bathroom. The kitchen is well stocked, there is a huge table for dining at..furniture is all new. There are lots of towels, beach towels as well, so need to take your own.
The pool is good for cooling off in, as it gets very hot laying on the pool chairs when the sun is shining.Carlos is always cleaning the leaves out of it, so it was lovely and clean.You can not see homes from here, but there are none right beside the Villa, so you have lots of privacy. We could hear the music at night from the bars down in Marigot Bay though because it was so quiet.
We had dinner one night at Doolittle's, and another at Chateau Mygo, both were very good. We had a rental SUV, so we drove down and back..you could probably walk down if you didn't have a vehicle, but you would want to take a taxi back up if you were coming back up at night. There is a BBQ, and briquettes at the villa if you wanted to BBQ there.
The landscaping is beautiful, and Carlos is always working on it, keeping it maintained. The view from the Villa is stunning...looking down on Marigot Bay, and out to the ocean.
We went to Ti Kaye beach to snorkel one day, and this was a great decision, as the current does not try to pull you out, and the water is fairly shallow to snorkel in. We saw lots of fish, the beach is nice..not much shade though..there is also a bar, of course, to get drinks and food. I had a Rum Punch there at Happy Hour..2 for 1...wow !! lots of rum in that drink !! Ti Kaye was about a half hour away, well worth the drive.
We also went to Castries one afternoon to the Market, and dinner..it is probably about a half hour the other direction.
There are a set of binoculars in the Villa, which was nice for looking at the ships and sailboats on the ocean, and dice and Yahtzee score pads so you can play a game in the evening if you want.
I will say that if you are not getting picked up by the owners or Carlos, that I would suggest that you not try to navigate the road up there with a car. We were driving a small SUV, and we were happy we were..parts of the road are quite steep, have large potholes and rocks. When we went, there was no sign at the Villa, but will probably have one by now...signs up the hills where you turn.
I would highly recommend it ...we hated to leave !! -
B_and_E_13
49785The Place to Stay in St Lucia!!!
Left on 02/01/2012 for a stay in January 2012
Where do I begin? Villa Makambu, Marigot Bay and St Lucia exceeded every expectation during our 8 day stay. Villa Makambu was finished ~December 2011, so we were some of the lucky first guests. We also had an opportunity to meet Pascale (owner) and her friend while we visited and formed a lasting friendship with them. Rest assured you are doing business with amazing, truly one of a kind people. Pascale and her husband Franz live in Canada, but travel down to St Lucia quite often.
Villa Makambu has 2 buildings that share a pool between them. Building a (for the sake of conversation) has 2 levels that are rented out for guests while building B is where ‘Carlos’ stays full time. Carlos is a native Lucian that takes care of the property. He is also available for boat tours around the island. He offered to drop us off/pick us up at private beach, or have an ‘all day’ tour with multiple beaches, snorkeling, shopping, you name it. He asks what you want to do, and makes it happen. It was so nice having Carlos around, because he knows the island and the people inside and out. The people of St Lucia are extremely friendly, but it was nice having Carlos as your ‘tour guide’ as he is very respected on the island. Pascale and Franz are lucky to have him.
Villa Makambu: We knew it would be nice, but we were amazed at the level of detail that was put into this property. Easy to see that Franz and Pascale are in the construction industry back in Canada. We stayed on the upper-level of ‘Building a’ and I would highly recommend this (if it is available). The views from the upper level are spectacular, and you have an additional ‘loft’ area that has a sitting area, tv and bed. Our villa had a full kitchen that we stocked with food from the local grocery store (we were shocked to see how ‘American’ the grocery options were). There are 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms (that include gorgeous walk-in showers), tv area and a huge balcony complete with furniture. Not a detail was spared. Each bedroom had large doors that opened up to Marigot Bay. The doors and built-in cabinets are all made from local wood. There is a shared, saltwater pool that was always quiet. We never felt like we needed more space from Carlos or the other guests (lower level). Carlos gave us plenty of space during our stay, but was there when we needed him.
Driving in St Lucia: ‘Smally’, (their recommended taxi driver) was there to pick us up from the airport. He was extremely nice and had lots to share with us about the island during our hour long drive from the airport to the villa. He is also available for tours of the island by car. Prices vary by what you are looking to do. St Lucia roads feel like a roller coaster. Right turn, left turn, up, down. We chose to skip the rental car as the locals do drive pretty aggressively on these small roads and we simply didn’t feel comfortable. Depending upon your shape, I would recommend a rental car getting up to the villa. It is on a hill overlooking Marigot Bay. My wife and I are 28, so we were able to handle the 15 minute walk up and down the steep roads.
Marigot Bay: Unreal. Bring a good camera! It was awesome to see the ships sail in from around the world. You have an opportunity to sit down by the docks and meet a lot of great people. Everyone is very friendly. A trip to St Lucia isn’t complete without a bottle of ‘Piton’ beer on the docks of Marigot Bay.
Beaches: There are plenty of private beaches along the coast of St Lucia that Carlos can drop you off at for a couple hours. Every beach in St Lucia is available regardless if it is in front of a resort. Some resorts require a fee to ‘rent’ a chair.
Currency: I didn’t find a single place during our 8 day stay that didn’t accept us currency. Most every place accepts major credit cards as well. If using us cash, they convert at $1us = $2.50EC for easy math’s sake instead of the current $1us = $2.68EC. You are technically best off paying the 3% fee (in most cases) that your credit card company charges to convert the currency. And you don’t have to carry around a wad of cash.
Recommendations:
-All day water taxi with Carlos to Jalousie (white sand) between the Pitons, snorkeling along the way. You can catch a taxi in Soufriere that will take you up to the water falls, mud baths, gardens, etc.
-Rent a 4x4 car if you plan to explore the island every day, or are in less than good shape (to make it up the hill from the bay to the villa). You can easily hire Smalley or Carlos and walk like we did.
-Chateau Mygo in the bay for Pizza and Pitons. Enjoy the open air while ships sail in right next to you.
-Be sure to tip Carlos, Smalley and the locals. St Lucia is a 3rd world country and they all rely on the tourism industry.
-Relax and enjoy your time!
Thank you Pascale for all the great memories. I already have recommend Villa Makambu to friends. We hope to be back soon!
Here 3 more rentals located nearby.
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