Mustique
About the Island
In 1958, the island of Mustique – then virtually unpopulated with herds of wild cattle and sheep and a few fields of corn, cotton and peas – was purchased by British Lord, Colin Tennant. Though there were a few visitors to the island during the 1950's and 1960's, word spread about its beauty.
In 1968, Mustique was opened to outsiders willing to preserve the island's original character. Princess Margaret, a close friend of Colin Tennant's, was one of the first to accept the invitation and build a vacation villa. In 1969, the airport was opened, the first new villas built, and the Cotton House opened as an Inn.
Mustique is now home to approximately 70 privately owned villas that are available for rental. These luxury villas are spread across 1400 acres of lush hills and pristine beaches, a tiny village with a handful of shops, a beach bar and restaurant, one inn and one small guest house.
Location
The island of Mustique is situated in the St. Vincent and The Grenadines, 110 miles west of Barbados (approximately 45 minutes flight-time), which is reached by regularly scheduled flights on major airlines. From Barbados and St. Lucia, there are scheduled as well as charter flights to the island of Mustique using two-engine aircraft. Mustique has a paved, 2500-foot airstrip with tie-down facilities for private aircraft.
Accommodations
Available for weekly rental on Mustique are approximately 70 extraordinary designer villas ranging from two to nine bedrooms. Each villa is privately owned, reflecting the unique taste of its owner and each, in its own way, has great charm. Some of the houses are beachfront; most are scattered thoughtfully about the island's lush hills and enjoy fabulous views of the sea and neighboring islands. All have private pools. The styles of the villas vary from Caribbean to Japanese, Balinese, Italian and English Colonial.
Each villa is fully staffed by its owner and includes a minimum staff of three; a cook, maid and gardener and, in many cases, additional personnel at the owner's discretion. Each rental also includes the use of one Jeep or similar vehicle.
Of special note is Mustique's new Estate Collection, a small number of the island's most extraordinary villas - - absolutely world class residences offering the ultimate in privacy, acreage and customized services.
Activities
Mustique boasts nine beautiful white sand beaches, endless trails for walking and hiking, shaded picnic areas and four floodlit tennis courts.
Also available on the island, at additional cost, are: mountain bikes and scooters; an equestrian center with lessons and riding on wooded trails or the beach; a fully equipped watersports center including scuba lessons with qualified PADI instructors, windsurfing, sailing on Sunfish, Hobiecat and Zuma, snorkeling, sailboat charters, day sightseeing trips to other islands including Barbados, Grenada, Martinique and St. Lucia, and fishing excursions.
The Spa at Cotton House is the perfect place for a little self-indulgent rest and rejuvenation. There is a fitness trail with 15 exercise stations located on approximately a 2.2 mile circuit around the airport. The Spa offers a wide variety of treatments, body massages (shiatsu, swedish and reflexology) and spa packages using E'Spa aromatherapy skincare products.
The Dining
The preparation of all meals by villa staff is included with the villa rental and combines tastes indigenous to the island with Continental cuisine.
For those who choose to dine out on Mustique, there are a few interesting options. Basil's Beach Bar is sited over the water on Britannia Bay and is open daily for lunch and dinner. It is especially noted for its special Wednesday night barbeque and "jump-up" with live music. The 20-room Cotton House is perfect for an elegant dinner or its weekly beach barbeque. Tuesday evening is the complimentary cocktail party hosted by the Mustique Company for villa owners and island guests in the Great Room of the Cotton House. Firefly, a quaint four room guest house, also serves food and drinks. Reservations are suggested for all three establishments.
Rates and Other Details
Rates for Mustique villas are weekly and vary according to the size of the villa, number of staff and time of year. From May to mid-November, summer rates are particularly attractive.
The cost to rent a two- to three-bedroom villa ranges from $6,000 to $22,000. Four- to five-bedroom houses range from $8,000 to $40,000; six- to seven-bedroom houses range from $16,000 to $50,000.
For more information about Mustique Island or to inquire about a reservation, call Sanctuare at (800) 225-4255 from the U.S. and Canada; from elsewhere, call (802) 457-5280. Or e-mail us at info@sanctuare.com.
