Vacation Rentals by Owner

Most Enjoyable

Guest: Temi (United Kingdom)
Date of Stay: 04/04/12 Review Submitted: 04/18/12

A group of 5 stayed at Chateau Devaux for a week and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. The property overlooks the sea and it was wonderful to sit on the patio for breakfast and whale watch. I liked the fact that it was very spacious and airy. Everything was well maintained and Maran was extremely kind, helpful and accommodating to our many queries. We were shown around the local area and our tours/activities were booked for us. The Ziplining in the rainforest and Catamaran adventure (including a trip to the mud baths & sulphur springs) are a must do. We would definitely return and recommend this property to pretty much anyone who is looking to spend time with friends and family.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway.

Simply,utterly and truly fantastic

Guest: Steve N.
Date of Stay: 07/23/11 Review Submitted: 09/11/11

Wow - what a holiday! We looked at the reviews from previous guests, but never expected such a fantastic holiday. There are not enough superlatives to describe this villa, its position, its layout, its location and above all the care taken to ensure that we had a truly memorable holiday. From the moment we contacted Maran, we felt that she gave us her utmost attention, ensuring even the finest details were looked after and that everything ran like clockwork. The car was organised (including the permit on the first morning), the fridge was stocked, the restaurants were recommended and even the trips were mapped out. Nothing felt like too much trouble. The villa itself is simply wonderful - the pool is refreshing, the deck and gardens spacious, the shade and seating areas of the patio welcoming, the views become etched in your memory. Everything has been planned to the finest detail. The indoor garden, the en-suites, the games room, the airy and light lounge. The villa has everything for a family or large group. We even sampled the bananas and coconuts from the gardens. Maran and Richard and their family make you feel so welcome and treat you like friends. Shanta cooks and cleans and is so friendly. The position of the villa means that it is 10 minutes from the main tourist areas, the beaches and the shops, yet it feels like your own calm, peaceful and serene paradise. The use of the car means that you can 'nip' to the beach and a few minutes later you can be lazing by the pool. The restaurants are superb. All cater for children and they are made to feel welcome, with no request being too much trouble. Our favourites being the Coal Pot, Big Chef Steakhouse and the Cliff at Cap. Having said that we ate out each evening and never had a 'bad' meal. In short - if you want a spacious, peaceful and beautifully maintained villa, look no further than Chateau Devaux.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

A WONDERFUL WINTER ESCAPE. BREATHTAKING!

Guest: Lisa (Maine)
Date of Stay: 03/11/11 Review Submitted: 03/23/11

We left Maine in mid-March after a particularly snowy winter to find paradise. From the moment we booked our vacation, Maran was easily reached by email for questions. Upon our arrival, she arranged transportation from the airport making our trip first class. We arrived at the villa and spent the entire week entranced. From the clifftop views, to the relaxing pool, to the indoor garden and birds flying about, we felt truly connected to the outside. This villa was clean, enticing with plenty of room for the four of us to move about, but would easily accomnodate larger parties. Our daughter loved swimming in the pool first thing in the mornig, and after dinner. Our boat excursion to the Pitons arranged by Maran was the highlight of the week. Take her advice on everything! Would go back again and again!

Owner response:Hi Lisa, Thank you for your wonderful review. It was so nice meeting you all. Ruby is a true gem :) Olivia speaks of her often. We do hope you"ll come again soon, especially during school holidays so the girls can have some real fun. Take care of yourselves and do keep in touch. Love from the Devauxs

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

HAD A BLAST

Guest: Birthday Girl (Peace River, Alberta, Canada)
Date of Stay: 01/24/11 Review Submitted: 02/15/11

Stayed at Chateau Dexaux on Jan 24-Feb 7/11 with 3 other couples. Had a BLAST. Property is as it appears. Vehicle was a little rough, but it got us to where all 8 of us wanted to go! Maran, Richard and the kids were GREAT, what a wonderful family.Russell, the driver, picked us up, to and from, the airport with beer stop along the way. THANKS RUSSELL. We did 2 excursions, one catamaran tour (Mango Tango), which was an all day tour by catamaran, bus to sulphur springs, visited planation and back on the boat for 45 min snorkle. RUM PUNCH ALL THE WAY! Lunch at the planation was very good. Ziplining was EXCELLENT. 12 lines to zip on, just walking up to some of the lines was tiring! But our guide that took us there, Gordon, was SUPER. Overall, the property was clean, safe, well cared for, a few geckos, no SNAKES, some ants and birds in the house but still AWESOME. Thank you Maran and family, only my tan is fading, not the memories!

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Relaxation, Comfort and Peace in St Lucia

Guest: Tara G. (Long Island, NY)
Date of Stay: 01/16/11 Review Submitted: 02/24/11

My family and I arrived in St Lucia to 85 degrees after leaving NY where it was 9 degrees. We knew then we were in for a wonderful vacation, but had no idea how at home we would feel at Chateau Devaux. When we walked inside it was like entering a Hollywood set, with an atrium right in the middle of the house! That plus the spacious bedrooms made us feel transported a celebrity's home. We immediately changed into our bathing suits to take a dip in the lovely pool with a breathtaking view over the ocean. We understand why Maran can't part with her cliff! The outdoor space, where we spent 85% of our time at the house is equally impressive. There is plenty of room for a large party. Lots of seating, relaxing areas as well as a dining table for 10-12. The tradewinds make for a very comfortable temperature at the villa with the added advangtage of keeping mosquitos away. It was always enjoyably warm at the house, even when it was sweltering elsewhere on the island. Maran offered excellent suggestions for things to do and see and we really enjoyed our day on the catamarran she organized for us. Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful home and warm hospitality! The Clearys, New York

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, sightseeing.

Our Second Trip back to a Paradise!

Guest: Guy (North NJ)
Date of Stay: 11/08/10 Review Submitted: 12/22/10

Simply put, the beauty of this location and the Villa intself made our decison easy for this year's vacation! Chateau Devaux is a wonderful, secluded villa perched on a bluff at the very north end of the beautiful and friendly island of St. Lucia. The beautiful lights of Martinique are easily visible from the comfortable porch or even better the gazebo, a perfect place for that evening repast and pleasant conversation. The hospitality of our hosts, Richard and Maran, began well before our arrival. Richard went out of his way in assisting us with special arrangements we needed with the St Lucia government to make our visit a success. Our group needed special licenses from the St. Lucian authorities and Richard and Maran served as our local agents to make sure our license requests and payments got to the right persons and offices in the government in a timely manner. The pictures of the Villa, pool, and gazebo area don't do justice to the wonderful ambience and beauty of this location and home. The Villa itself is HUGE with ample open space, numerous bedrooms (air conditioned), and a spacious, a well equipped open kitchen with plenty of pots, pans, and dishware to make cooking easy if you choose. Although the Villa is on a secluded road, you are only minutes from the nearest town, Gros Islet, with plenty of shopping, beaches, the Rodney Bay port, and of course the famous Pidgeon Island national park. And testament to these words...Are we coming back? You bet! Thanks Richard and Maran. Look forward to seeing you again soon! Regards, Guy, lovely NJ "The Villa was above and beyond what I expected. The layout was perfect for vacation, it provided that open air - island feel that I had hoped for. But, at the same time it felt like home. This villa has to be one of the most comfortable places to stay that I have ever experienced! The hosts were a perfect 10. when I met Richard and Maran, I felt like we were old friends. You become part of their family when you walk through the door. It doesn't get any better than this !!" Todd, Denton, NC "Chateau Devaux is indeed a lovely, spacious, comfortable villa in a beautiful natural setting. That, combined with the honest desire of the hosts, Richard and Maran, for their guests to have an enjoyable and memorable experience there, is a wonderful combination. Experiencing a relaxing week there in delightful warm weather and pleasant sea breezes provided a welcome relief from a cold December in the US. Kent, NC

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, people with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway.

Trip of a lifetime

Guest: fireguy1997 (Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada)
Date of Stay: 11/03/10 Review Submitted: 11/28/10

WOW! WOW! WOW! is all you can say. This is a wonderful place. Richard and Meran go out of their way to make sure that no details are overlooked. From the first time I made contact to the time I arrived home they made sure that my family and I were looked after. When we arrived Richard picked me up gave me a quick tour took me to get my licence. All my tours were organized before my arrival. I didnt have to do anything other than send an email telling them what I wanted to do. The Devaux`s go above and beyond to make sure that the guests feel welcome. They give up their own comforts to ensure your trip is everything that you want it to be. The house is very clean and well maintained. The rooms are large with great beds (other than they are too comfortable and you dont want to get out of them). The outdoor living space and pool are amazing. The view from the deck an gazebo are 1 in a million. You never want to go inside because you want to take in every minute of the breath taking view. The nights are great also to see the fire flys and the lights of martinique are amazing. The pool and deck are very nice with lounge chairs, an outside bar, and a gazebo with a great hamock to take a relaxing afternoon nap. I cant wait to go back! This is one caring family with a great warm welcoming home. I Cant say enough about how great this place is!!!! A+++++++ Thank you for the great trip Richard, Meran, and Shanta Your Party guest, Robbie

Owner response:Hi Robbie. Thanks for the review. It truly was our pleasure to host you and your parents. You are a wonderful family and it was a priveledge to meet you all. We all enjoyed your company and our kids especially loved your work adventure stories and all your wild animal pics. We look forward to hosting you again. Until then......party on dude! Love, the Devauxs.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, people with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Fantastic time - you will NOT be dissappointed

Guest: richard & adrian helen and sphie (UK)
Date of Stay: 07/08/10 Review Submitted: 07/28/10

we had a fantastic time at chateaux deveaux. the place is quite stunning. we had food provided for us This was exceptional and delicious as well as being very good value. Richard and Maron were great hosts and we had one of our best holidays we have ever had. 9 of us stayed and it accommodated us with exceptional comfort. Thank you again for the holiday we will definately be returning

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Amazing and breathtaking

Guest: Todd Male (Ann Arbor Michigan)
Date of Stay: 06/25/10 Review Submitted: 03/20/11

When life is busy, sometimes you have to stop and smell the roses. What better destination than Chateau Devaux. Great for both a spacious romantic getaway ( which is what we did!) to a family gathering, I can't imagine a better place to go anywhere in the world, especially at this bargain rate. Maran and Richard are truly wonderful people, whom we now consider friends. Maran's attention to detail, desire to help in any way she can, whether pre-trip or during the stay, is such a luxury. As far as the property goes, what can I say, it's stunning. It's spacious, luxurious, and accommodating. The cliff views are unrivaled, and the sunsets are like none I've ever seen. I know with young children, it will probably be awhile before we get back, but we count the days until we can be back in paradise. Thank you Maran and Richard for sharing your piece of heaven with us!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, families with young children, tourists without a car, romantic getaway.

Extraordinary experience - You will not be disappointed!!

Guest: Family of Six R Us (West Hartford, CT USA)
Date of Stay: 04/16/10 Review Submitted: 05/09/10

We traveled to this location with four children ranging from age 2 to 15. Firstly, the property and views and exceedingly gorgeous! Secondly, Maran and Richard could not have possibly been more accommodating! They attending to every minor and major request we had and did so with genuine warmth and happiness. We will definitely return due not only to the spacious, gorgeous home, but because of their hospitality and friendliness. Based on our experience, it seems almost impossible for someone to go and not absolutely love this place, their personal attention, and the beautiful island. Thank you to Maran and Richard for going out of your way to ensure a spectacular week for our family!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, people with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guest: David & Barbara Oakley (Raleigh, NC)
Date of Stay: 03/23/10 Review Submitted: 03/23/10

Dear Maran and Richard,Your hospitality and sincere friendship will always be cherished, dear friends, and we know we'll be visiting you again! Our vacation at Chateaux Devaux was nothing less than magical. From the moment we arrived we knew we were in for an exceptional treat. Thank you so much for such an incredible vacation week. For those reading this review, let us assure you that the villa and pool are even more secluded and beautiful than the pictures show, with constant soft breezes. And you can almost feel the house breathe each morning as you open the multiple huge french doors to feel the cool breeze rushing in. The villa is so very comfortable with an open floor plan, huge rooms, and gorgeous views from the gigantic porch. One of the very best parts of our vacation was that our excursions were totally coordinated "behind the scenes" by the Devauxs. (We did the land & sea cruise and also zip-lining) All we had to do was show up to enjoy the adventure! We've never experienced that level of coordination on a vacation and we can tell you it'll spoil you rotten. Also, Maran and Richard gave us guidance on restaurants, what to see and do, and when was the best time to go places. They have a natural knack of being gracious and helpful without being intrusive. If you are looking for a perfect vacation, we highly recommend Chateaux Devaux. Again, Maran and Richard, thank you for making our trip to St Lucia such a memorable vacation. We are so looking forward to a return trip! Barbara and David Oakley, Jennifer and Gloria, Raleigh, NC

Owner response:Hey Barbara, You know it was a pleasure spending time with you all and organising your excursions. You guys brought lots of laughter and good times to Chateau Devaux and sure was fun :)...We'll see you in North Carolina soon.It was really great meeting you xxx

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Wonderful Location and Hosts

Guest: R Mike G (Des Moines, Iowa)
Date of Stay: 02/02/10 Review Submitted: 03/26/10

Chateau Devaux is a wonderful, secluded villa perched on a bluff above the confluence of the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean at the very north end of the beautiful and friendly island of St. Lucia. The hospitality of our hosts, Richard and Maran, began well before our arrival and they went out of their way in assisting us with special arrangements we needed to make our visit a success. Our group needed special licenses from the St. Lucian authorities and Richard and Maran served as our local agents to make sure our license requests and payments got to the right persons and offices in the government. With their keen local knowledge of the way things work on St. Lucia, they ensured that our requests were not sidetracked or misplaced. Richard’s and Maran’s help was invaluable and saved us a lot of time. Richard and Maran also made sure that we had some special items upon arrival to the surprise of one of our group members and they continued to work with us throughout our stay to make sure we had what was needed to make our visit a success. They located special items of equipment, made sure we had proper local directions, made suggestions for dining and special local activities, and arranged for a guide to help some of our group climb Petit Piton, one of the signature topographic landmarks of St. Lucia. Richard and Maran were also very accommodating in allowing our group to install some temporary items on the villa and surrounding grounds, which greatly assisted our activities. The villa is very spacious and well equipped. For a video (six minutes) of the villa see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkoR-RVGBHY Here are some comments from some of the members of our group: "This villa has great facilities, super views, and attentive folks to make one's stay pretty much perfect." Budd "Good accommodations, great hosts, and spectacular weather ... the perfect Caribbean destination." Wey "The chateau is everything you could hope for in a Carribean destination. Our gracious host's Richard and Maran, attended to every detail and are now good friends". Dan

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guest: Jeff & Linnea Loserth (Scottsdale, Arizona)
Date of Stay: 08/31/09 Review Submitted: 08/31/09

Maran and Richard, We would like to thank you very much for helping make our vacation to St. Lucia such a wonderful and memorable time. Chateau Devaux was absolutely a wonderful place to stay! With all the amenities coupled with the picturesque views and the phenomenal sunsets we could not ask for a more perfect spot. Most importantly we would like to thank you for all of your kindness and hospitality. You made us feel completely at home and like members of the family. We would also like to thank you for all your assistance with helping us set up our excursions and activities on the island. You definitely went the extra mile to ensure we had the best time possible. So once again we would like to extend our sincerest gratitude to you and your family for making our vacation experience on St. Lucia absolutely top notch! We have already shared our experiences with many family and friends and have highly recommended Chateau Devaux as a wonderful place to stay and enjoy their time on the island. I just hope we will beat them all to it! Thank you again for everything and we look forward to seeing you again soon! Sincerely, Linnea and Jeff Loserth

Owner response:Hi Linnea and Jeff,great to hear from you.It was so nice meeting you two.We really enjoyed hosting and spending time with you. You are very welcome,it was an absolute joy organising your excursions as you were such an enthusiastic bunch,that your excitement and appreciation for it all was contageous. Thanks for recommending Chateau Devaux to your family and friends;if they're anything like you,the pleasure will be all ours.We really look forward to seeing you again;please don't be strangers.Love to you both,Richard and Maran

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Guest: Mike Goodbar (Arlington, VA)
Date of Stay: 08/31/09 Review Submitted: 08/31/09

Maran and Richard,We would like to thank you for making our first visit to St Lucia something we will always treasure. There are so many things to thank you both for but we’ll start with your beautiful home. The villa speaks for itself and it’s certainly understandable why you miss Chateau Devaux now and again. The views were absolutely amazing! From the sunsets to the lights of Martinique to the early morning sunrises; just breathtaking. Aside from the gorgeous views, the villa was definitely more than we expected, the pictures hardly do the place justice. The kitchen was perfect having all the pots, pans, utensils, and china we needed. We spent most of our mealtime eating outside enjoying the breeze and of course the dining and sitting rooms indoors were just as pleasant. Having stayed in the master suite, which was very romantic, made our stay even more enjoyable. Falling asleep to the waves after big dinners a couple of Pitons was so relaxing ? For anyone that stays at the villa, they will know just how nice it is the minute they walk in the door. But what they won’t know is how lovely you both were. From the very beginning, before we had even decided to stay at your villa, you answered so many emails full of countless question for us. You were so welcoming when we had arrived, with Pitons cooling in the refrigerator!! It felt like we were visiting family and not just escaping our busy lives. Helping us find our way down to Rodney Bay, making great restaurant suggestions, and setting up our activities was much appreciated. We have both traveled all over the world and you both showed us more kindness than we would have ever expected. Your thoughtfulness, even after we had returned home, will never be forgotten.Again, Maran and Richard, we thank you for everything you did for us. We send our love to you and your beautiful children and hope to be back very soon!!Dianne and Mike

Owner response:Dear Mike and Dianne,You're very welcome...Thank you for your lovely comments and for choosing Chateau Devaux. It was indeed a pleasure meeting you both. Mike,it was great to put a face to all the emails;and Dianne you must be one of the warmest,most pleasant people I've ever met. You guys are true travellers and organising your activities was very exciting for us.We certainly hope this is not the end of the road and we'll see more of you in the future.Take care of yourselves and do keep in touch. Love,Richard,Maran and the kids

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Guest: graham & jan (hertfordshire)
Date of Stay: 08/28/09 Review Submitted: 08/28/09

To compliment the beautiful island that is St Lucia, with its warm and friendly people and no journey too far, a stay on the Cap Estate at Maran and Richard's wonderfully appointed villa is a must for any visitor. The moment we arrived at Chateau DeVaux, we were made to feel most welcome with Richard and Maran making sure our holiday was going to be an unforgettable one. Having breakfasts of mango and banana on the veranda overlooking the St Lucia Channel, made for a perfect start to every day. We were fortunate that we visited during the Carnival season which was a very enjoyable experience, but there are so many other sights to take in within easy reach of the villa and you can do it at whatever pace suits - just like the locals! You could of course always stay and sunbathe by the lovely inviting pool taking numerous dips and drinking plenty of iced drinks - yes even the ice cubes are safe. We stayed for three weeks but so wished it could have been three months. St Lucia and the villa are paradise. Thank you Maran and Richard for everything. Look forward to seeing you again soon Graham, Jan and Family, Hertfordshire,England

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Guest: Jase1 (Amersham, UK)
Date of Stay: 08/11/09 Review Submitted: 08/11/09

The views here really are spectacular whether it happens to be sunny or rainy. The air is silky - there's no other way to describe it! It was amazing waking up to beautiful sunrises or standing on the verandah, watching the sun go down, or watching the rain clouds move in across the ocean (weather watchers will love it). One of my favourite places was the gazebo, where I spent a few lazy afternoons just relaxing in the hammock listening to music, enjoying the tropical breezes and the view. What more do you need on holiday?! Just perfect.

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Guest: Monique14 (Bucks, UK)
Date of Stay: 08/11/09 Review Submitted: 08/11/09

This is such a beautiful villa - it's spacious, comfortable, private and the location is stunning! The really special part is how warm and welcoming it is - it feels like home. It broke our hearts to leave...we both loved staying here. Thank you both so much for everything. We would not hesitate to recommend staying here to all our friends back in the UK (they're all very envious!)and would love to come back again. P.S. I loved that the kitchen is so well equipped - useful for those with allergies or on special diets. We made good use of it, supplemented with trips to the tasty Rodney Bay restaurants and bars!

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Guest: Paul and Gaynor Aspin (Kent, England, UK)
Date of Stay: 06/18/09 Review Submitted: 06/18/09

Dear Maran and Richard Thank you both so much for letting us stay in your beautiful home on St Lucia. We say 'home' not house because we know that it was your home before you moved on, and to us it has that homely feel. The position is perfect, fantastic views across the straits to Martinique and aligned to catch the north easterly breezes to make the hottest days bearable. We lived outside as you know, but the clever design means that the inside still gives great views. We loved having the pool too for pre-breakfast or late evening dips. The outdoor bar was a real bonus and the stunningly positioned gazebo with its hammock...... aah! The area is about as quiet as you can get on the island yet the golf club and Rodney Bay with its wonderful choice of restaurants, Smugglers Cove and Secret Beach are all only a few minutes away. Oh, and we've not even mentioned the wonderful St Lucian family living next door - the Devaux - who made sure we had everything we needed. We believe it is the best house on the island and would have no hesitation in recommending it to anyone thinking of a vacation on our favourite Caribbean island. They had better get in quick though because we are on our way back! With love and best wishes. Gaynor and Paul Aspin

Owner response:Dearest Gaynor and Paul, You are indeed most welcome.It was our greatest pleasure having you in our home.You are quite a delightful couple and we thoroughlly enjoyed your enthusiasm and constant delight for our island and our home.As such, St.Lucia and Chateau Devaux look forward,with much anticipation,to your return. Wishing you all the best, Love,The Devauxs

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