Please Support Our Sponsors
|
|
Of all the Anguilla villas we've toured, and stayed in, our beloved "white turtle" was for several years our favorite low to mid-priced Anguilla villa rental (I love the way "Anguilla villa" rhymes -- kind of like the two words were made to go together).
Over the years, we tended to stay in places that cost several times more, and now we live in our own Anguilla villa-home, but Tortue remains our favorite "high-value-for-dollar find."
Tortue was also our "luckiest" find.
It came at a moment of need, through not-so-happy circumstances -- (click here for the only caveat about Anguilla villas.)
As my Dad said while we first settled into Sam Mason's villa, perched on the cliff that overlooks sensational Shoal Bay East...
"All's well that ends well."
Jackie Pascher and Sam Mason and the Tortue combined to make it all "better than just well."
It was swell!
From the moment we stepped into the Tortue (the french word for "turtle"), until the moment we begrudgingly left for home, what can I say?
For our favorite luxury-best-value villa, click here.
"We got lucky!" Nice villa, great location and accommodations, super price.
You know that wonderful feeling you get when you step into a hotel or villa rental, not quite knowing what to expect? You know that feeling of joy and excitement when it's everything you hoped (and nothing you feared)?
Well, multiply that by three for Tortue!
The main central room (a typical feature of Anguillian architecture) was spacious and well laid out... kitchen, informal counter eating, dining area, living area with lots of room for each in a very high peaked-ceiling room.
More on that in a second, because Yuki and I raced right through the Great Room (you'll see that we've grown "a little" in the latest update page on Tortue Villa). We bolted out back to see the views from the large terrace. But...
It was night.
Oh well.
Time for bed. We were all pretty tired.
The next morning, with waves in our ears, we walked sleepily outdoors.
Boing! Eyes pop open! What a view!
Shoal Bay East, in all its shades of turquoise and white sand (click the video to see the full panorama)...
Yes, truly breathtaking.
The movie scans from the view to the West (photo at top left of this page) and finishes with the view to the East (see photo just below this video).
The Sea Rocks (To The East)
And in between...
The unblocked horizon to the North finally ends at Nova Scotia, a Canadian province in the Atlantic where my parents own this 8 acres of oceanfront land (Hirtles Beach) shown in the photo below...
And this is really ironic -- the Nova Scotia bay faces due south, directly at Anguilla. Ultimately, now that they live in Anguilla, they want to build a summer vacation home in Nova Scotia, with the view facing directly to Anguilla.
It's almost like the two locations where meant to be, made for each other.
What a location Tortue Villa has, overlooking the nicest beach in the entire Caribbean (according to many travel authorities and magazines such as Condé Naste)...
Speaking of the beach, Yuki, my Dad and I decided to go for a walk one blustery day...
We headed for a leisurely walk along the beach (what more relaxing thing can one do on a beach than to "just head nowhere" for a walk?).
My Mom stayed in the villa, lazing on the veranda.
Then she spotted us!...
Here's a photo (below) taken by my Mom of us nearing the end of the beach, approaching the point where the sand turns the corner and heads down the other half of Shoal Bay Beach.
You can see the commanding position that Tortue has, overlooking all it surveys.
And she took another telephoto as we rounded "the point" (note how quickly the colors can change)...
Sometimes, when you're on a cliff, you're stuck up top. But Tortue Villa has stone stairs carved into the side of the cliff, making it easy to get right down to water level.
From there, you could snorkel to the beach! You might just even run into a sea turtle (you can see them from the villa).
Or just sit and admire the view and solitary closeness to the endless ocean.
Pool Time!
If you have children, a pool's a must. Trust me... we love pools. My Dad doesn't understand it, with the ocean "right there." But we do love pools!
You can't do a CANNONBALL in the ocean (click the video to see).
Another advantage of an Anguilla villa rental is the pool and privacy.
The patio wraps around the pool, and the lounge chairs are comfy.
And as you can see (photos below), you can't beat the location of this pool, with its tremendous views.
As my Dad says...
"It's all good."
Here are some more pool pix...
The Pool, The Sea, The Beach
Enjoying Every Spare Moment...
She Doesn't Swim. She Suns.
Sea. Sun. Pool. Perfection.
Sisters...
Even a Hot Tub!
"Tortue" is French for "turtle." Sam Mason, the owner, named this wonderful Anguilla villa after Anguilla's famed leatherback turtle.
We actually saw two of these sea turtles, live in the sea, during our March, 2004 vacation
We missed the photo opportunities both times (update: got one later!). This photo is from the World Wildlife Fund.
They are an endangered species (the turtles, not the fund), but you'll see them if you keep your eyes peeled.
And if you don't see them in the ocean, you'll certainly see them in Sam Mason's magnificent Anguilla villa rental...
The Lone Turtle
The Musical Turtle
The Cooking Turtles
The Family Turtles
The Bed Time Turtles
(With Yuki's Teddy for Company)
Yes, all the turtle touches add a certain flair. It seems like every second day or so, we were finding new ones. They're fun to discover -- I'm sure we still missed one or two!
As long as we're now inside the villa, let me show you yet another reason why this such an "excellent-value Anguilla villa rental" (since I don't pay the bill, that's my Dad talking!)....
From the moment we pulled up, we knew we were in for something special...
The villa is very inviting.
Just a glance, before we even entered, made us feel at home, even when we were thousands of miles away.
It's funny how some places give you "that feeling."
And the inside? Well, it more than lives up to the promise of the outside.
You are greeted by a gigantic central room...
My parents held a party for 20 people and it never felt crowded. And yet, for a family of four, we always felt cozy and comfy.
And that's because the central room divides nicely into kitchen, dining area and a nice living/TV spot right by the veranda. The living room has plenty of seating, comfy couches and love seats to watch TV, listen to CDs, etc., etc... and listen to the ocean at the same time!
See what I mean?...
The kitchen is huge and equipped with any appliance you would need. The kitchen area just sort of flows naturally into the pretty "dining room"...
Each floor has four bedrooms, one at each corner of the main central room. Naturally, the two nearest the ocean are "the best" since the view and the sounds are wonderful.
And what bedrooms they are!...
Comfy mattresses. Soft duvets and pillows. Each has its own bathroom.
(If you have teenage daughters, you "get" what I'm saying here, right?)
Lots of closet and dresser space, too. (Also a "must" if you "travel heavy.")
Air conditioning?
Of course! All the rooms are air-conditioned. But our "White Turtle" is situated to catch the tropical tradewinds. So I don't know if you're like my Dad or not...
"We didn't come to Anguilla to turn on the air conditioning.
We could stay in Canada if you wanted it cold."
If you are like Dad... you'll only need the A/C on the hottest of days.
On the other hand, if you're like me and you like your bedroom really cool at night... crank it up! You'll never be hot or sticky in Tortue.
This is, hands-down, the best low to mid-priced villa experience we've ever had. The value for an Anguilla villa experience is truly impossible to beat. And most importantly, Sam Mason is a charming gentleman. A sweet person who we all really like.
What more could you want...
... And all for an extremely reasonable cost.
Speaking of the ultimate views, imagine waking up to this (as my Dad did, and promptly ran outside to catch the moon setting in the West just as the sun was about to rise in the East)...
For a while Tortue Villa was only renting 3-4 bedrooms. It was still well worth it to rent three bedrooms even if you only used two! The value Tortue Villa offers is exceptional for the price.
But now, if you are only seeking 2 bedrooms, Tortue Villa may just be able to accommodate you at a discounted rate!
It doesn't hurt to ask. As my "Nana" used to always say, If you don't ask, you don't know! :-)
Tortue Villa has stopped renting 2 bedrooms-only.
Of course you could always bring friends and split the cost. You won't feel crowded in a villa this huge!
For Anguilla, the villa rental rate is quite reasonable for any number of rooms.
The prices are less if you don't need all 4 rooms. Don't miss the latest Tortue update page before booking.
On the other hand, if you are 3 or 4 couples, splitting the 3-or-4 room rate brings your rental cost to an very low amount.
And, of course, the rate varies according to the time of the year.
A Special Tip...
Enjoy!
Tranquility Beach
(Luxury Hotel & Residences)
Long Bay Villas:
The Ultra-Luxury Villas
Sky, Sea & Sand
Santosha Villa Estate:
Anguilla's Most Sophisticated
Ultra-Luxury Villa
Anguilla › Anguilla Villas › Tortue Villa Rental
Facebook Comments
Have your say about what you just read! Leave a comment in the box below.