Siren's Song

Siren's Song is located on its own acreage within the private Estate Botany Bay (375 acres of which is slated to become The Preserve at Botany Bay, an exclusive five-star boutique resort and residential community within a few years). This beautifully executed and well-equipped villa overlooks colorful sunsets, long-distance ocean views and several outlaying islands and cays from its 3.3-acre hillside location on St. Thomas's unspoiled and peaceful West End, and is situated about a mile from the future resort.

A terra-cotta Chinese Emperor greets you as you enter Siren's Song's foyer, and a waterfall and watergardens welcome you into this luxurious mansion. The watergarden is surrounded by the upper level landing's balcony and a high cathedral ceiling. On the west side of Siren's Song's main level is a well-equipped gourmet kitchen with two refrigerators. A breakfast bar divides the kitchen from the dining area which seats 14 around a large teak table and 5 at the bar comfortably. To the right of the kitchen and dining areas, doors lead out to a garden and lawn area with a gas grill and tables for alfresco dining for 12.

On the main level's east side is the powder room and the living area set with four white-slipcovered comfy sofas and a media center. Just beyond this living area, an archway leads to two air-conditioned bedrooms: one of the king suites has a romantic four-poster bed and its own private step-out balcony with a sea vista. This suite is adjoined by a smaller air-conditioned bedroom with two twin beds which shares the bath. This smaller bedroom also connects to a third air-conditioned king suite, and has its own separate entrance.

A few stairs lead down from the main level to the infinity-edge pool and the surrounding green lawn. In-pool benches for sitting, five fountains cascading into the pool, and hammocks and chaise lounges for suntanning will enhance your hours at this sunny spot. Another table for alfresco dining seats 6. Shaded by a canopy, there's also a poolside wet bar with 2 sinks,microwave, music center, refrigerators, a second gas grill and an exercise bench with weights. At the east end of the lawn is a poolside bathroom and laundry room; there are fruit trees, and a path winds down the hillside to a lower-level lawn and landscaped gardens for lounging in the sun or under a shady tree.

Siren's Song's upper level is accessed by a stylish curving staircase, and offers four air-conditioned king bedroom/bath suites with four-poster beds and a private scenic balcony off each suite. Each of these suites offers a rollaway bed (which may be set up in the bedroom suite or rolled just outside the door on the upper level's landing). A smaller air-conditioned multi-function room with an enclosed laundry, computer, fax and internet facilities serves as an 8th bedroom and has a queen sofabed. Another queen sofabed is on the large landing of the upper level, handsome with its wooden floor. A deck extends along a portion of the upper level, swept by Caribbean tradewinds; this is an ideal spot for curling up with a good book.

Furnishings are mahogany-stained teak; traditional West Indian reproductions with massive batik wall hangings, harking back to early island days. Shell pink is the theme for Siren's Song exterior and pale cool floor tiles, warmed by scattered rugs, maple cabinets and natural-wood ceilings and beams; arched openings throughout frame lovely sea views. Siren's Song is surrounded by mature trees and manicured landscaping, and below the property, fascinating natural wonders are to be found along more than 5,000 feet of shoreline at Mermaid's Chair (the sand bar which separates the Atlantic Ocean from the Caribbean Sea, and which connects Botany Bay to Little St. Thomas, a small island to the west owned by The Nature Conservancy.)

These are private areas, just a few minutes' walk from Siren's Song, shared only with occasional visitors to the other three homes within Botany Bay's 380-acre private estate. Enjoy snorkeling among live reefs, beachcombing, shelling, picnicking, or perhaps just lazing in the tidal pools on Little St. Thomas. And it's only a 9-mile scenic drive to town from this wonderfully-located villa to the restaurants of Frenchtown and to downtown Charlotte Amalie. If you yearn for serenity and peace far from crowds and traffic, Siren's Song is definitely the place...five stars.

Weekly Rates (excl. 8% tax): # of persons: 1-8 9-10 11-12 13-14 15-16 17-18 April 12 - December 19: $ 7,600 $ 8,400 $ 9,200 $10,000 $10,560 $11,120 Thanksgiving Week: $12,240 $12,240 $12,240 $12,240 $12,240 $12,240 January 5 - April 11: $ 9,500 $10,500 $11,500 $12,300 $13,000 $13,700 Christmas/New Year's $18,000 $18,000 $18,000 $18,000 $18,000 $18,000 1-14 persons: Seven bedrooms (2 persons per bedroom) 15-16 persons: 7 bedrooms + sleepsofa; 17-18 persons: 7 bedrooms + 2 sleepsofas 19-22 persons: on airbed, add $50 per person per night. Specifications: Maximum number of guests: 22 Bedrooms: 8 [Main Level: 2 kings (1 is a four-poster) + 2 twins. Upper level: 4 kings (four-poster beds) + queen sleepsofa in A/C'ed multi-purpose room, + 2nd queen sleepsofa on the upper level's landing. 2 queen airbeds also available.] Baths: 6½ [2 full baths + a powder room on main level, + 4 full baths on upper level. A 2nd powder room is at the pool, along with an outdoor shower.] Pool: Approx. 15' x 26' x 4' deep, with an infinity edge, + benches in the pool and fountains Nearest Beach: Mermaid's Chair and Little St. Thomas, a 5-minute walk down from this villa Kids welcome: Yes - Notarized liability waiver required for all children under 12 years, please Entertainment and Amenities: 2 satellite TVs (one is a 48-inch back projection TV), 2 DVD players, 1 multi-CD player + 1 single-CD player, radio, karaoke machine, movie + music collections, books, games, A/C in all 7-1/2 bedrooms, water garden + waterfall in entrance foyer, espresso maker, hair dryers, computer with internet access, printer/copier, answering machine, fax machine, telescope, safe for valuables, poolside wet bar with full size refrigerator, 2 hammocks, 2 Weber gas grills; 2 nylon Pack 'N' Play crib/playpens, 2 highchairs; weights and weight bench; 2 ocean kayaks, 2 Spin Cast rods & reels with a small tackle box (bait not provided); beach chairs, coolers, umbrellas + 2 picnic tables shaded by a large sail at Mermaid's Chair; manned security gate into Botany Bay Estate + a private electronic gate into Siren's Song, dishwasher, 2 laundries. A 5-minute walk down the road and stairs to Mermaid's Chair and to over 5,000 feet of shoreline - some cliff, some rocks, some pebbles, some sand - for great snorkeling + beachcombing, and access to Little St. Thomas, a private island with a nature trail, beaches and boulder pools. A complimentary welcome basket on arrival for guests. JIM + LINDA, the caretakers at Siren's Song who live in a nearby cottage on another property, are available should you have any questions or problems during your stay at Siren's Song, but your privacy is completely assured. Maid service included: once per week Smoking: Outside only. Square Footage: Interior: 4800 + exterior: 6200 = TOTAL: 11,000 sq. ft. Miscellaneous: All guests at Siren's Song are required to sign a liability waiver upon arrival at the villa, stating that they will exercise caution when on the shorelines and beaches, in the water, kayaking and climbing rocks. *SIREN'S SONG IS AVAILABLE FOR WEDDINGS or PARTIES for up to 50 guests maximum: $15,100/week/1-22 persons during High Season 2007, OR $8,600/week/1-22 persons during Low Season 2006 and 2007 (the Low Season 2006 and 2007 rate is $12,520/week.) Also, please add a $1,500 surcharge to the rental rates above for this purpose, and increase the fully-refundable damage deposit to $2,000. McLaughlin Anderson Luxury Villas requires that you give us, well in advance, complete details of all wedding or party plans, including all names of wedding personnel and/or catering persons who will be at this villa for your function...this information must be provided to us as part of your rental Terms & Conditions. Guests will be held completely responsible for any damages, missing items, and will be charged if their caterer/chef does not complete a full clean-up of the villa property inside and outside, including removing all trash from the villa property. Please ask to see complete details and our agreement for these functions. A selection of excellent chefs is available for one meal or many - please inquire for rates and sample menus. Photography by Don Hebert