Couples Love Luxury Villas for Valentine's Day in 2010

MONTREAL, Feb. 10 /PRNewswire/ - Some people show their affection with boxes of chocolates, others with flowers. This year, more people are celebrating Valentine's Day in style by traveling with their significant others to luxury villa rentals in the Caribbean, Mexico and Hawaii.

Valentine's Day remains a popular excuse to rent vacation villas in 2010, according to luxury villa rental specialist Luxury Retreats (www.luxuryretreats.com). The holiday devoted to love is helped by the fact that it usually coincides with President's Week in the United States and some Spring Break weeks.

Luxury vacation rentals are preferred by many couples because they are very private - offering pools and hot tubs that the renters don't have to share. With lots of space and amenities, couples can stay in as much as they want and just relax, adding excursions where they choose.

"It's not just Valentine's Day. About 10 percent of all of our bookings annually are made by couples traveling without kids, and without any other family members or friends," said Luxury Retreats Sales Manager Jon Chiniborch. "That's actually quite high considering that most luxury villas are in the 3 to 4 bedroom range."

Some of the most popular couples' luxury villas are located on St. Martin, which offers many larger villas that can be rented at a one-bedroom rate. Lune de Miel, which has a pool and great views, has two bedrooms but can rent as one for $685 per night in the high season. Sitting right on the beach, Les Palmiers is another favorite and a very elegant option for $1000 per night.

Other top romantic villa destinations for couples include:

St. Barts

Who does love better than the French? This tiny Caribbean island is big on matters of the heart, offering many empty (and clothing optional) beaches. The choice of one bedroom villas on St. Barts is better than anywhere else in the Caribbean. Plus, there are handfuls of romantic French restaurants to choose from.

Favorite couples' villas in St. Barts: the very private "La Belle Epoque" and barefoot "Bali" villa.

Maui

Besides offering many private one or two bedroom vacation rentals for couples, the island of Maui has romantic scenes around every bend, from waterfalls to lush rainforest valleys. For something different, couples can watch the sunrise together from the top of Haleakala volcano.

Favorite couples' villas in Maui: "Honu Kai" with its beautiful views and "Bali Hale Cottage," perfect for whalewatching.

St. John

Quiet and underdeveloped, St. John is the Virgin Island best suited for traveling in twos. Couples can fill their days with snorkeling outings in the calm water, boat charters, or simple meals of fresh seafood on the beach. Day trips by ferry to either St. Thomas or Virgin Gorda are popular.

Favorite couples' villas in St. John: colorful hideaway "Mooncottage" and "Into the Mystic," overlooking yachts in the bay.

Luxury Retreats is the world's largest full-service luxury vacation rentals specialist, offering over 1,500 elite properties from $400 to $13,000 per night in over 70 worldwide destinations. Founded in 1999, the company has grown into a respected leader in the industry, with over 50 employees in its Montreal headquarters and satellite offices in Hawaii, the Caribbean and Europe.

SOURCE Caribbean Way - Luxury Retreats