Our 8th Visit! (Note that VILLA DE LENA is up for sale)
Posted: Mon Jan 13, 2025 7:54 pm
I may be the person who has rented this Villa the most in the entire history of business.
We just got back from our 8th stay at VILLA DE LENA, and the grounds and property have never been better! Mervyn is as much a friend as a business relationship at this point. Our kids have practically grown up on this property over the past 16 years. Mervyn has the property listed at USD$1M, but after 6 months, no buyer yet, and he continues to run it as a rental villa. I am guessing the eventual buyer will keep the business as such, as it is a premium wedding space.
We visited in 2009, 2012, 2014/5, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021/2, 2024/5. Always December-March period (DRY SEASON).
It has been interesting to see Mervyn Sifontes (the owner) improve the place over the years, but keep the general character and feel of the 'BIG WHITE HOUSE' the same. He modified the ground floor office/study to a 4th bedroom in 2022. We had loads of space for our 7 guests this time. He still only takes payments by the cumbersome SWIFT wire-transfer though. No WYSE/Zelle/Paypal or modern payment options.
Mostly it is used as a wedding venue, but it is a perfect self-catering spot, as we have used it. Penny Savers is near by and its a bit of a walk, but manageable - Bon Accord Basket is at the end of the road and easily accessible for most food and drink needs by foot, as are all the eateries at Crownpoint (again, a bit of a walk, but a 2min drive).
Easy access for morning hot doubles (either at Stumpy's Bypass, or Gulf City Mall (Ravie's Doubles are the best on the island) but this year there was a day or two right at the Milford/Estate Road intersection in front of the hardware stores one day week).
We rent 1 or 2 vehicles for the duration of our vacations from Colin Sheppard (Sheppy's) at the Sheppard's Inn. (Formerly, from his garage that was on Store Bay Road #1)
We just got back from our 8th stay at VILLA DE LENA, and the grounds and property have never been better! Mervyn is as much a friend as a business relationship at this point. Our kids have practically grown up on this property over the past 16 years. Mervyn has the property listed at USD$1M, but after 6 months, no buyer yet, and he continues to run it as a rental villa. I am guessing the eventual buyer will keep the business as such, as it is a premium wedding space.
We visited in 2009, 2012, 2014/5, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021/2, 2024/5. Always December-March period (DRY SEASON).
It has been interesting to see Mervyn Sifontes (the owner) improve the place over the years, but keep the general character and feel of the 'BIG WHITE HOUSE' the same. He modified the ground floor office/study to a 4th bedroom in 2022. We had loads of space for our 7 guests this time. He still only takes payments by the cumbersome SWIFT wire-transfer though. No WYSE/Zelle/Paypal or modern payment options.
Mostly it is used as a wedding venue, but it is a perfect self-catering spot, as we have used it. Penny Savers is near by and its a bit of a walk, but manageable - Bon Accord Basket is at the end of the road and easily accessible for most food and drink needs by foot, as are all the eateries at Crownpoint (again, a bit of a walk, but a 2min drive).
Easy access for morning hot doubles (either at Stumpy's Bypass, or Gulf City Mall (Ravie's Doubles are the best on the island) but this year there was a day or two right at the Milford/Estate Road intersection in front of the hardware stores one day week).
We rent 1 or 2 vehicles for the duration of our vacations from Colin Sheppard (Sheppy's) at the Sheppard's Inn. (Formerly, from his garage that was on Store Bay Road #1)