VILLA SOUNION

Last year was the busiest our catering business has ever seen, so we were really needing some rest and relaxation after the holidays. We decided some sun and scuba diving in the British West Indies was just what we needed...especially after finding out American Airlines was flying nonstop, from DFW to Turks and Caicos islands, during high season.

Last week was our second time to vacation on Providenciales. Our first trip was about one and a half years ago, on Labor Day weekend. You always remember where you were when something big or devastating happens in the world. I remember how surreal it seemed having just come in from scuba diving, and hearing of Steve Irwin's death from a stingray barb piercing his chest. Although we were staying on one of the top ten beaches in the world, we found ourselves glued to CNN and very saddend by the news. Fortunetly, this past trip was absolutely perfect. The weather could not have been better, the scuba diving was top notch and we just had a great time.

We have learned, from our years of traveling, that we really prefer to rent vacation homes, over staying in a hotel or resort. If you are willing to fill a villa with friends and family, you will almost always pay less, per room, than a hotel will cost. I have had my eye on Villa Sounion for some time, and finally we were able to experience it's magnificient location. Villa Sounion is owned by a British family, and rests on a cliff overlooking Grace Bay beach. It has three levels with five bedrooms, five and one half baths, a huge gourmet kitchen and plenty of common living areas. Although Villa Sounion normally rents for $9000/week in January, they accepted my offer of $5500, when I explained we would not need all of the bedrooms. We had eight friends and family and paid less than $200/night to stay in a $2 million villa. It was as wonderful as it looks.