"My family and I rented Villa Destino during the second week of February 2010. It was our third annual visit to Vieques and our first time staying at Villa Destino. This home exceeded all our expectations.
Where to begin? First, the house is well-situated; convenient to the towns of Isabel II and Esperanza, very close to the best beaches, and extremely close to my favorite grocery on the island. The spectacular landscaping – foxtail palms are really beautiful -- creates a sense of total seclusion even though there are other homes located on the same Destino hillside. The views of the nature preserve and Caribbean Sea from the property are great.
The house itself is tastefully appointed. I would call it Island Colonial style with lots of stone tile and ironwork on the outside, light colors and plenty of rattan furniture on the inside. The first floor is an open-plan great room (kitchen/dining/living areas, plus full bath) that leads out onto the patio with chaise lounges, pool and outdoor dining area. When the (many) doors to the patio are opened, the entire ground floor is the epitome of indoor/outdoor living. Upstairs are three comfortable bedrooms, two with en suite baths, a cozy den with TV and another very large full bath. The second floor has access to an entirely separate outdoor space that includes a small yard with fruit trees and a terrace accessed from the master bedroom.
All the amenities one expects from a luxury rental are provided in good working order. Karen, the amazing, kind, knowledgeable and helpful house manager sees to all that. Special props for the kitchen having all the tools needed to cook a reasonably gourmet meal, and for having some really pretty china to boot. If I had to criticize something about the house, it would be the fact that it takes a bit of effort to maintain the showers at a consistent temperature for any length of time, although there is never a lack of hot water. Finally, as a bit of “clean freak,” I have to note that the entire home is immaculate inside and out. For example, the outdoor barbeque was so incredibly clean that I was a little afraid to use it – but I eventually found the courage.
In sum, Villa Destino is a beautiful property and a great home base for a fabulous vacation in Vieques. I would recommend it to anyone seeking a bit of island luxury and serenity.
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