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Style: Very impressive, with an off-beat elegance. Lots of colour, interesting artefacts and dramatic artistic touches. Ideal for house parties and weddings, also a very seductive honeymoon retreat
The Beach: Set above a quarter mile stretch of glorious white sand with beautiful, crystal clear, calm waters
The Rooms: 3 bedroom villa and two 1 bedroom cottages (each of which can also be taken separately without pool use), each bedroom with en suite bathroom
Key features: An exquisite Antigua villa rental choice, swimming pool, Jacuzzi, wet bar, cable TVs, DVD, VCR, CD system & CD players, hairdryers, telephone, library of 500 books, board games, barbecue and use of the facilities at Galleon Beach including complimentary tennis, non-motorised watersports and ferry service to Nelson’s Dockyard.
Children: Welcome. Safety rails available for the patios. Crib/cot available.
Staff: Main villa has a housekeeper 6 days per week (including cottages if entire property is rented), and the cottages have maid service 3 days per week. Cook on request. |
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Description
NEW! Moondance now has three bedrooms... the description below will be amended shortly to include the new bedroom.
Moondance is a visual feast. The owner Yorie Pigott has let her stylish imagination run free and she has created a quirky and sumptuous but still homely retreat. The villas’ earthy coloured walls make a great background to the brightly coloured sculptures, the silk hangings, artefacts and outdoor showers that are set in screened gardens. Moondance hovers on a hillside above the waters of the historic English Harbour, and looks across the yachts at anchor to the activity of Nelson’s Dockyard. The villa is also within the grounds of the Galleon Beach Hotel, and guests are able to use the hotel’s facilities.
The property is set at the end of the beach at Freeman’s Bay. You enter via a steep driveway, climbing past the two cottages (Twinkle and K’ai Etoile) and then coming to Moondance itself. The two-storey villa has been built literally into the bedrock of the surrounding hillside. A large boulder has been left exposed at the lower pool level, jutting out onto the pool terrace and forming the back wall of a grotto-like powder room. In this ‘Rock Room’, the hand basin is a 60lb Pacific clam shell.
The upper level of Moondance contains two bedrooms, the kitchen and the main living areas, but the heart of the house, onto which they all lead, is the partially covered, wooden decked veranda. The covered area has a large hand painted, hardwood dining table that will seat twelve in comfort or even fourteen. In one corner there is a sitting area with cable TV, and in the other another sitting area with a wet bar stocked with all the basics for cocktails, and which operates on an honour system. The veranda overlooks the pool. A gate to the right of the veranda has steps leading down to it (it can also be accessed by stairs inside the villa). Back up at veranda level there is a raised wooden deck where you will find the Jacuzzi, which can hold up to eight.
Inside, through two sets of large doors, you come into the main sitting area. This has a comfortable but sophisticated air and is decorated with artefacts from around the globe, including local ceramics and craftwork, original paintings and a lovely carved antique mirror propped against one wall. The room has dark stained, hardwood floors set against peach colour walls and an exposed roof. A huge, low wooden coffee table sits at its centre, flanked on three sides by large, cream upholstered sofas, from where guests can enjoy the entertainment centre (large TV with cable, DVD, stereo system). Off to one side is a study with deep red walls and an impressive collection of over 500 books. There is an area for writing and a couple of board games including chess and backgammon. On the other side of the sitting room is a wonderful kitchen that will have any keen cook itching to be let loose. It has a feel of Tuscany meets the Caribbean. Its cupboards are hand painted in bright colours and the work surfaces are made from Guyanese purple heart wood. Equipment includes a large fridge-freezer, a big commercial cooker with broiler, plus a large gas wall fitted oven, butcher’s block, microwave. There is a small breakfast area to one side and for those keen on barbecues there is a large stone-built gas barbecue with chimney just below the pool area. The crockery is handmade in bright colours by the Earthworks Pottery in Barbados.
There are two very nicely decorated bedrooms, both of which feature king size beds. The guest bedroom is located off the kitchen and has a verdigris wrought iron bed, a TV, writing area and closet space. Its two windows facing the bay are framed with a collection of silk sari-style scarves and beach wraps which serve as curtains. The room is not air-conditioned but has a ceiling fan, which whips up the breeze. The en suite bathroom has a striking stone mosaic vanity inset with handmade tiles and a handmade ceramic basin. They were both commissioned from local artist Nancy Nicholson, whose work is very popular and easily identified by its mainly blue and white glazes that feature fish or turtles. An outside (screened) shower with tiled floor is built into the bare hillside and has a small garden planted with ferns. The air-conditioned master bedroom is located a couple of steps above the study and features a beautiful hand carved four poster (king) bed, an antique chaise longue, original works of art, mahogany bedside table and chest of drawers and a lovely antique closet set within an alcove leading to the en suite bathroom. Also air-conditioned, the bedroom is extremely romantic and opens out to the Jacuzzi deck. Its en suite bathroom features a cobalt blue hand blown glass basin set within a purple heart surface, and has a large tiled outside shower, also built into the hillside. Either side of the shower are plants and some ornaments, and a rather unusual feature of a long mirror.
Down at the pool terrace is a good size wooden sun deck inset with a kidney shaped swimming pool. This has been built into the exposed hillside. The pool is actually filled through an old tap from a wine vat. The deep end is an ideal depth in which to stand with a cocktail in hand. Moondance is full of unusual touches like this. One of the most useful is an electrical pulley system to help with your shopping. It runs from the garage up to the kitchen window, so that you put your shopping in a tray and hoist it up, rather than struggling up the steps with it. Other features of the house are hair dryers, 100% cotton sheets over thick mattress pads, king size beds in each bedroom, white fluffy, air dried towels and big beach towels. When smaller children are in house, safety rails go up on all the patios, and a crib/cot can be provided.
Moondance and its two cottages are set within the landscaped grounds of the Galleon Beach, which offers the best of both worlds. Their location is very private, and yet they have a friendly community in the guests of the private villas and resort cottages right there on the doorstep.
The two cottages Twinkle and K’ai Etoile can be rented separately, each as completely individual units from the main villa. In such cases guests of the cottages do not have use of the villa’s swimming pool as the owner will remain in residence.
Twinkle, Sleeps 2
This is a charming, wooden chattel house style studio with stained wood floors, shingle roof and pickled pine furniture. It has a small sitting area, cable TV, CD player, and king size wrought iron bed. To one corner is a compact galley kitchen with a small gas stove, a fridge/freezer, toaster, kettle and all the usual basic equipment. Outside is a wooden balcony built around an old turpentine tree and wooden shutters to the bedroom that pull up by way of thick ropes to allow views over the treetops to the bay. It is furnished for alfresco dining with a table, couple of wicker chairs and a built-in bench. The en suite bathroom features a chipped stone mosaic vanity with a hand made ceramic bowl, again by Nancy Nicholson, and a garden shower made out of local green stone.
K’ai Etoile, Sleeps 2-4
This cottage is also built of wood and has a slightly more traditional plantation style décor, with palm prints, an old rocker and a tiled dresser. You walk straight into the sitting area there is a comfy upholstered sofa-bed and a cable TV and CD player. The kitchen is in one corner. It has a purple-heart topped breakfast counter and gas cooker, fridge-freezer, microwave and so on and an antique cabinet displaying the dinnerware. The sink looks out onto the balcony and has views of the sea. Two sets of French doors lead out onto the balcony, where there is a dining table that can extend to seat six, a built-in bench to one end and a couple of wicker chairs and two-seater armchair. A small covered walkway next to the kitchen leads to the air-conditioned bedroom, where there is a king bed with padded blue toile headboard, an antique wardrobe, another TV and VCR, and best of all a private balcony overlooking the beach. The en suite bathroom features a Nancy Nicholson hand basin and a tiled and stone garden shower.
There is a small terraced garden shared by the two cottages which has a full gas barbecue for use. |
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Beach and Swimming
From the entrance of Galleon Beach Resort, Moondance is located at the far end of Freeman’s Bay with its quarter mile stretch of lovely white sand. It is just a short stroll away, down the drive and through the grounds of Galleon Beach. The swimming is excellent in clear, calm waters and there is a coral reef approximately 75 ft offshore, where there is good snorkelling.
The villa has a kidney-shaped swimming pool measuring approximately 25ft by 11ft. A separate Jacuzzi, with room for eight, is set on the terrace next to the master bedroom. |
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Sports & Recreation
Guests at Moondance, K’ai Etoile and Twinkle have full use of all the facilities at Galleon Beach. These include two tennis courts for day play with rackets and balls available from reception. Non-motorised watersports are complimentary to all guests and include single and double kayaks, sunfish sail boats, windsurfers and snorkelling gear. |
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Locality
Moondance is positioned on the hillside on the 20-acre site of Galleon Beach, overlooking the tennis courts and beach. The grounds are within the boundaries of the National Park at English Harbour, whose centrepiece is Nelson’s Dockyard, just minutes away by water taxi and less than ten minutes by car. Galleon Beach has its own security and although there is a guard at the entrance gate, because it is part of the National Park, the public do have access to the beach and a picnic area. The resort has a reception and the recently refurbished Calabash Restaurant and Lounge (formerly Colombo’s). This serves local and international cuisine and provides free internet access to diners. Just along the beach from Galleon Beach is the Inn at English Harbour, where there is a beachfront bar that serves breakfast and light snacks.
There is a small commissary in Galleon Beach where you can purchase the basics, but the nearest grocery store/supermarket is Bailey’s on Falmouth main road, which stocks almost all the essentials, including fresh produce (all meat, poultry etc is frozen), as well as as local breads and cakes. A drive will get you to the Epicurean supermarket in the Woods Shopping Mall on Friar’s Hill Road north of St John’s. Here you will find a wide selection of both local and imported food items and wine.
The complimentary water taxi to Nelson’s Dockyard runs hourly from 8.30/9am until 4.30 pm, after which a service is available via Apple Water Taxis who currently charge EC$5 per person, per ride for the crossing.
The Nelson’s Dockyard and English Harbour vicinity is also one of the main gathering points for yachtsmen in Antigua. The area has many bars and restaurants, marinas, gift shops, a provisioning store, bakery, internet café, a craft market, museum and of course the historic docks, Nelson’s Dockyard. The National Park area also contains many of the island’s other historic sites, on the hills above Moondance. The season is very much during the winter months only. In the summer things quieten down considerably and some of the businesses close down for several months.
Where nightlife is concerned, English Harbour and its various bars can be very lively, but a highlight for the week is the Sunday afternoon barbecue at Shirley Heights Lookout. Visitors and locals gather to party and watch the sunset with a drink or two and enjoy a live steel band concert, followed by a reggae band. |
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Useful Hints
If you would like your villa or cottage stocked with groceries, a provisioning service can be provided. You should e-mail your list to the owner Yorie Pigott (if booking direct) or let your travel organiser know what you require so that supplies are in place for your arrival. You will be billed for your groceries on arrival. A cook is available on request. Prices vary according to who is available at the time.
Those who are highly allergic to animals should note that the owner of the villa has two pet dogs that have access to the villa when she is in residence. They are always moved out when the villa is rented.
If the cottages are rented separately from the main villa there is no access to the villa’s pool. |
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Rates
| | 01 Dec-30 Nov 2007-08 | 01 Dec-30 Nov 2008-09 | | Moondance 2 bedrooms (1-4 guests) 3 bedrooms (5-6 guests) | 650 750 | 750 850 | | Twinkle 1-2 guests | 170 | 190 | | K’ai Etoile 1-2 guests | 260 | 260 | | Moondance & Cottages 1-12 guests | Price on request | Price on request | All rates are quoted in US$ per night, per villa/cottage and are subject to 10.5% Government Tax. Special rates and conditions apply for Antigua Race Weeks (Classic and Sailing) and Christmas/New Year bookings so please request further details. All rates are subject to change without notice. Staff gratuities are not included. |
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How To Book
All bookings should be made through the owner, Yorie Pigott. You can make contact by using the DIRECT ENQUIRIES facility above, or if you wish to telephone, the telephone number will be revealed if you click on the CONTACT TELEPHONE NUMBER link. To confirm a reservation you will need to send a deposit of 25% of the total rental fee. Payment of the remaining 75% is required 30 days prior to your arrival. If you are booking within 30 days or less of arrival, full payment must be made to secure the booking. |
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UK Tour Operators
If you wish to book through a tour operator or travel organiser, please follow the link below.
See List of UK Tour Operators
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Airport Meet & Greet
When booking do ask the owner Yorie Pigott to send her regular taxi driver to meet you at the airport. Your airport transfers take approximately 30-40 minutes and should be paid for locally. Alternatively, if you would prefer to be taken care of from the minute you arrive at the airport until the time that you depart, a Transfer and Concierge Service is offered by St James Travel & Tours. |
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Getting Around
Although most things are relatively close at hand, a hired car is strongly recommended for all private villa holidays, particularly if you would like to dine out at night or do lots of sightseeing and of course when it comes to shopping for groceries. Book car hire via your travel organiser or direct with the villa owner and ask for your vehicle to be delivered to the property approximately 2-3 hours after your scheduled time of arrival on Antigua or the following morning. Vehicles can be returned at the airport or be collected from the property at a pre-arranged time on your departure day. |
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