The Luxurious Island of Mustique

If you have some big-spending clients who want to enjoy a luxurious vacation in the Caribbean, one where they're secluded from average travelers, recommend the Island of Mustique—the place where even the paparazzi were unable to get a single shot on property of Prince William of Wales during his recent two-week stay. Shows Basil's Bar on the Island of Mustique

Representatives of Mustique sat down with Travel Agent to give an overview of the exclusive villas, where everyone from the Prince to Mick Jagger has stayed.

It might not be easy for the average agent to land a client willing to spend between $4,000 all the way up to $150,000 for a minimum one-week stay; indeed, representatives told us that much of their business is done with big players such as Virtuoso agents. But if you do, chances are you'll get bookings here for the rest of your career, since the majority of Mustique visitors are repeat customers.

An aerial view of the island, which has several villa properties

The average villa costs about $12,000 a week, with the lowest being $4,000 and the highest in the average range coming in at about $15,000. This does not include the ultra-luxurious villas which range from $125,000 to $150,000 a week.

Regular villas offer agents a 10 percent commission; some of the more expensive options give 5 percent.

Linda Bruno, managing director for Mustique tourism, told us that the best properties to recommend are either the beachfront or hilltop villas, which range from $10,000 to $15,000 a week. In particular, Bruno recommended the following as top choices for agents.

Toucan Hill Villa, a Moroccan-style palace

Shogun

Shogun is a five-acre villa hidden in the hilltops, about 300 feet above BritanniaBay. Japanese in style, the villa is formed by a series of pavilions that are surrounded by a central koi pond and flanked by a crescent swimming pool. It has an adjacent two-bedroom cottage, including a courtyard and kitchen, called "Little Shogun." It also has a private, one-hole, nine-tee golf course set within a landscaped tropical garden.

Stargroves

This villa is also Japanese-inspired, but it's on beachfront property. Stargroves has views of the nearby L'Ansecoy Bay and includes seven pavilions surrounded by tropical landscaping. It is linked by a raised walkway bridge over a garden stream. The master bedroom and sitting room pavilion is near the ocean's edge, and there's also a nearby children's cottage with its own living room, two bedrooms and a kitchen.

A Toucan Villa suite

Toucan Hill

This hilltop property offers views of the Caribbean and the Atlantic. It is a Moroccan palace and one of Mustique's premier villas. Toucan's decor includes mosaic-tiled fountains, jeweled lanterns, an octagonal dining pavilion and a unique domed mirador. Suites have four bedroom and gardens.

Booking Villas and Flights

There are several daily, nonstop flights offered from JohnF.KennedyInternationalAirport to Barbados. From the airport, a private jet can be arranged to take you to the island. Other major U.S. carriers, such as Delta, offer weekly flights to Barbados from JFK as well as other major U.S. airports.

The agent booking contact for Mustique is Shelley McLaughlin (800-747-9214), reservations manager, at Sanctuare. To make flight arrangements to the island, call Antoinette Gabriel, site reservations manager, at 784-488-8336.