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Photo by: Destiny - Montego Bay, Jamaica

These 18 hideaways can be yours for as little as $55 per person per night, and no more than $200.*

These days, a blissful week of making yourself at home in a Caribbean retreat can offer tremendous value. "Depending on the destination, villa occupancy is down between 15 and 30 percent this year, so owners are trying to attract renters with value-added incentives," says Stiles Bennet, vice president of Wimco, the largest U.S.-based Caribbean villa rental agency. Many owners are offering free nights and rental cars, and stocking the villa with complimentary provisions. Some are even waiving the customary seven-night minimum-stay requirement. "While rates themselves may not have changed, villa renters can certainly get better value for their money now," Bennet says.So whether you're looking for a contemporary crash pad, a colonial-style cottage or a sprawling beachfront palace, now might be the right time to book a villa vacation. Look at these stellar tropical getaways, which deliver the comforts of a house and resort-standard amenities, and in some cases, the services of staff – all for less than $200 per person per night.

*per person, double occupancy, based on weekly rates in low season 2009 – contact villas individually for current rates

** Letters correspond to the villa management companies listed in How to Save on Villa Vacations...

ANGUILLA

Alcyon Villa
From $154 per night; sleeps 10
It doesn't get much better than this brand-new, 8,000-square-foot, Mediterranean-style villa, which presides over the waterfront five minutes from Sandy Hill beach. Five bedrooms include two master suites and an ocean-view, one-bedroom suite with its own kitchen and living areas. There's also a great room, a formal dining room and a media lounge, along with terraced infinity-edge pool with views of Saba, St. Martin, St. Barts and St. Kitts. Rates include a rental car, daily maid service and continental breakfast.
INSIDER TIP: Until December 18, guests who pay for six nights get the seventh free.
DETAILS: $10,752 in low season, $15,960 high; A**; alcyonvilla.com

Sweet Return
From $92 per night; sleeps six
Enjoy views of Saba and St. Martin as you lounge by the pool at this casual, three-bedroom home in Long Bay, 10 minutes from Rendezvous Beach. The property's carefree ambience is enhanced by spacious living and dining areas decorated with plantation-style furnishings, and open to the natural stone deck and pool. A pair of airy master suites in the main house have large bathrooms with walk-in stone showers and sliding doors leading to the pool deck, while in the garden cottage, the third bedroom has a private sitting area.
INSIDER TIP: The services of a babysitter, chef, masseur and personal trainer can be arranged for extra charges.
DETAILS: $3,850 per week in low season, $5,250 high; O (reference property IDP SWE); wimco.com

Beach Court
From $125 per night; sleeps 12
There's plenty of room to spread out in this six-bedroom, 10,000-square-foot manse, which enjoys pride of place on Shoal Bay, one of the island's most famous strands. The open design maximizes sea views and ocean breezes and features a large kitchen, a covered travertine deck ideal for dining outdoors, a great room and a home theater setup. On the upper floor of the main house, two air-conditioned bedrooms have open-air showers and share a wraparound veranda, while four bedrooms in the attached wing share a kitchenette. The pool and tennis court will appeal to active-lifestyle types.
INSIDER TIP: The concierge can arrange private tennis lessons with an instructor from the Anguilla Tennis Academy.
DETAILS: $10,500 per week in low season, $17,150 high; B; blueescapes.com

JAMAICA

River Cottage
From $83 per night; sleeps six
For a very different kind of villa experience, look no further than this meticulously restored, 18th-century stone cottage on the verdant, 2,000-acre Good Hope Estate. Three bedrooms are furnished with antique mahogany furniture, and an eclectic collection of Jamaican art and locally made accessories embellish the 18-inch-thick walls. Settle down with a book on the bamboo-fringed porch, have a picnic on the lawn, or just relax and let the two-person staff cater to your needs. It's a 20-minute drive to the nearest beach, but there's a pool and a swimming lagoon just two minutes' walk away.
INSIDER TIP: Ask the cook to prepare a picnic, and enjoy it by the river's edge.
DETAILS: $3,500 per week in low season, $4,400 high; F; jamaicavillas.com

Destiny
From $134 per night; sleeps eight
This grand four-bedroom home is located near Montego Bay, 500 feet above sea level on a seven-acre hillside property lush with fruit trees. (The beach at Tryall Club is 12 minutes' drive away.) The vast living pavilion is the centerpiece of the house, open on three sides and sumptuously furnished with Balinese furniture and dramatic art. The master bedroom has a private rooftop dining area and panoramic views, and two other rooms open directly onto the pool terrace. But the pièce de résistance is the owner's suite, which has its own infinity-edge pool and a baby grand piano. A staff of nine indulges guests' every whim.
INSIDER TIP: Drench yourself in the mountainside outdoor shower behind the owner's suite and you'll never want to bathe inside again.
DETAILS: $7,500 per week in low season, $11,000 high; F; jamaicavillas.com

Sundown
From $193 per night; sleeps 14
Vacation like a high roller on Discovery Bay's "millionaires row," where some of the island's finest homes are clustered along a white-sand crescent between Montego Bay and Ocho Rios. Seven-bedroom Sundown enjoys its own 125-foot slice of the famous shore and offers kayaks, an Aqua-Cycle, snorkeling equipment and a sailboat so that guests can enjoy the water to the fullest. Five of the 7,000-square-foot home's comfortably appointed bedrooms are in the main house, two are in the guest cottage, and all are air-conditioned and have en-suite bathrooms. On request, the staff will prepare delicious, torch-lit barbecue feasts on the beach.
INSIDER TIP: Indulge with the chef's scrumptious shrimp kabobs, served as you relax in the hot tub at sunset. 
DETAILS: $18,924 per week in low season, $25,200 high; F; jamaicavillas.com

ST. BARTS

Villa Capi
From $93 per night; sleeps two
The living is easy at this charming gingerbread cottage surrounded by vivid flowering gardens. The simply but comfortably furnished one-bedroom is embraced by a deep, covered verandah that comprises a living area as well as an outdoor kitchenette and a dining area suited to meals en plein air. Best of all, famous St. Jean beach is just a minute's walk away.
INSIDER TIP: Big groups can also rent the adjoining four-bedroom villa (SIB BDM), which has private access to St. Jean beach.
DETAILS: $1,300 per week in low season, $2,000 high; O (reference property SIB CAP); wimco.com

Villa Case et Cuisine
From $86 per night; sleeps four
On an island where even modest hotel rooms start at hundreds of dollars a night, this newly renovated Marigot villa is a serious steal. Amenities at the two-bedroom residence, which is spread over a terraced hillside a minute's walk from the beach at Marigot Bay, include a pool, satellite television, open-plan kitchen, living and dining areas decorated in a contemporary Caribbean style, and daily maid service. Enjoy sweeping views of Marigot Bay and Mont St. Jean from the gazebo on the uppermost terrace.
INSIDER TIP: St. Barts has excellent restaurants, but there's no need to dine out for a gourmet meal. Master chef Bernard Javelle will create a memorable dinner of duck foie gras and lobster medallions, served under the stars poolside.
DETAILS: $2,400 per week in low season, $4,300 high; E; st-barths.com

Villa Playa Dorada
From $71 per night; sleeps 10
The hub of this two-story St. Jean standout is the spacious ground floor great room, which incorporates a kitchen, dining area and living room. A total of five air-conditioned bedrooms make this a good option for two families traveling together. Flip a coin to see who gets the large master bedroom, which has a vaulted ceiling and a private ocean-view balcony. There's no pool, but with a prime St. Jean beachfront location and an outdoor hot tub, chances are you won't miss it. Maid service (daily except Sunday) is included in the rate.
INSIDER TIP: Stroll down the beach to La Plage restaurant for lunch and people-watching at its best.
DETAILS: $4,950 per week in low season, $7,300 high; L; stbarth.com

ST. JOHN

Crow's Nest
From $77 per night; sleeps four
Two close couples (or mom, dad and two kids) can cozy up in this airy Cruz Bay apartment atop Wharfside Village. The petite perch packs a lot into the space, including a studio with a king-size bed and a kitchenette separated by plantation shutters from the sea-view gallery, which has dining and living areas and a queen-size bed. A convenient central location - the ferry dock is a minute away, restaurants and shops are within walking distance, and the beach is nearby – means that guests can save themselves the expense of car rental.
INSIDER TIP: Stay connected with free Wi-Fi at Wharfside Village.
DETAILS: $2,160 per week in low season, $2,470 high; B; blueescapes.com

Beit Hawa
From $55 per night; sleeps six
This contemporary Boatman Point three-bedroom has a unique layout that features a private master suite with a garden shower and two loft bedrooms, which open onto each other and the living and dining rooms below. Step out onto the deck or relax in the whirlpool to appreciate the sweeping views over Rendezvous Bay, Reef Bay, and the beach at Great Cruz Bay, five minutes' drive away.
INSIDER TIP: Complimentary beach bags, towels and chairs make seaside jaunts a breeze.
DETAILS: $2,300 per week in low season, $3,500 high; O (reference property CT BEI); wimco.com

Seacove
From $186 per night; sleeps 10
It's all in the details at this 6,000-square-foot, five-bedroom property, whose stone walls are inlaid with shells, custom-crafted furniture is made from hand-carved cypress wood, and a chef's kitchen features two refrigerators and a double oven. In the main house, a lavish master suite has a huge bathroom and dressing room and its own office, and two other bedrooms open to the pool terrace, which overlooks Peter Bay beach, just below. Across the courtyard, a Gate House accommodates two more bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms and a small kitchen. Other features include a media room, two ocean-view terraces and twice-weekly maid service.
INSIDER TIP: The pristine beaches of the Virgin Islands National Park lie within easy reach of Seacove.
DETAILS: $13,000 per week in low season, $17,500 high; H; mclaughlinanderson.com

ST. THOMAS

Rockworks
From $96 per night; sleeps four
On St. Thomas' north side, less than a mile uphill from Hull Bay beach, Rockworks is a casual and secluded retreat set amid a garden of tropical palms and fruit trees. The two-bedroom home has an air-conditioned main pavilion, which incorporates the kitchen, living and dining areas, and a king-size bedroom suite. Across the pool deck, a smaller pavilion houses the second suite and a sitting area. Larger parties can also rent a neighboring one-bedroom cottage on the gated estate. 
INSIDER TIP: Ask villa manager Sherri to stock the kitchen with snacks and drinks for your arrival. 
DETAILS: $2,700 per week in low season, $3,200 high; H; mclaughlinanderson.com

Azula Vista
From $84 per night; sleeps eightNear the St. John ferry dock and five minutes' drive from Vessup beach, this East End villa is built on three levels, with a spacious sea-view lanai separating two pavilions that accommodate living areas and four bedrooms. On the main level, there are two bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms, and at garden level, a pair of air-conditioned suites share a covered patio with a grill, wet bar and fridge. On the lowest level, a tiled sun deck surrounds the pool and offers a dining area and outdoor shower. Through December 31, stay for seven nights and pay for six, or stay 10 nights for the price of eight.
INSIDER TIP: Enjoy a quiet night watching movies from the villa's library of more than 100 family-friendly videos.
DETAILS: $4,700 per week in low season, $5,700 high; O (reference property MA AZU); wimco.com

Peace of Mind
From $71 per night; sleeps 12
A dozen of you can live it up in this East End six-bedroom set in lushly landscaped grounds and tricked out with a chef's kitchen, an outdoor dining room overlooking St. John, a media room and a pool. A family suite comprises two bedrooms with a shared bathroom, and the master suite has its own patio and office. At the end of the day, unwind with a cocktail on the patio overlooking picturesque Thatch Cay and Hans Lollick. Linquist Beach is three minutes' drive away, and world-famous Magens Bay is just 10 minutes away. Mid-week maid service is also included.
INSIDER TIP: Be sure to schedule a poolside yoga session with teacher Margo Zimmerman (340-777-3954).
DETAILS: $6,000 per week in low season, $7,500 high; C; calypsorealty.com

TORTOLA

Seashell
From $137 per night; sleeps fourNatural materials such as stone, coral, teak and bamboo artfully combine at this two-bedroom getaway in a gated community on the East End sands. Stone pavilions house air-conditioned, king-sized suites surrounded by a wood deck, plus a great room, gourmet kitchen, and dining area framed by windows on three sides. The house is within earshot of the surf, so restful nights are practically guaranteed.
INSIDER TIP: The housekeeper will do laundry for a small fee.
DETAILS: $3,850 per week in low season, $4,400 high; O (reference property MAT SHE); wimco.com

Frenchman's Lookout
From $178 per night; sleeps 10 There's a lot to love about this luxurious and historic Soper's Hole retreat - not least of which is the 300-degree view from its hillside perch overlooking a dozen islands and cays. Five bedrooms (all of which open onto the wraparound deck) accommodate the entire clan, who can amuse themselves in the pool and six-person hot tub, under the shade of the garden gazebo and bar, or in the air-conditioned rec room/gym. Upon request, a chef will prepare meals, or guests can dine out at local restaurants, which are only a five-minute walk away.
INSIDER TIP: Two snorkeling trips are included in the weekly rate.
DETAILS: $12,500 per week in low season, $15,500 high; B; blueescapes.com

Allamanda Estate
From $103 per night; sleeps eight What can you expect from a villa that was formerly the official residence of the governor of the British Virgin Islands? Start with a prime location on a seven-acre mountaintop spread two minutes above Long Bay Beach. Add a 7,000-square-foot, four-bedroom manse decorated with Indonesian and Asian antiques, Persian rugs and original art. Then top it off with Beef Island views, a guest pavilion with two bedrooms and a kitchenette, and tropical gardens. We think you and your posse will enjoy this elegant and exclusive getaway.
INSIDER TIP: Pamper yourself with poolside massages and spa treatments, available on request.
DETAILS: $5,740 per week in low season, $7,945 high; H; mclaughlinanderson.com

How to Save on Villa Vacations...

Online Editor's Note: Ready to own your own piece of paradise? Check out the latest scoop on Buying Caribbean Real Estate.