Villa Aqua Vista

Villa Aqua Vista is a six-bedroom house in the gated Indigo Bay community on the Dutch southwest coast, and its edge over its sister next door is the beach: it sits just steps from Indigo Beach, close enough to walk down for a swim before breakfast. It rents from four to six bedrooms.

The house is modern and clean-lined, with big windows framing the Caribbean and an open plan that pulls the light through. Neutral tones and simple, high-end furnishing keep the focus on the sea.

Five of the six bedrooms sit on the main and lower levels, all en-suite, with the master looking out to the water. The sixth is the one people talk about: reached by an outdoor staircase on the lowest level, it has panoramic sea views straight from the bed, a room worth the extra flight of stairs.

Outside, the terrace and pool run toward the horizon, with lounging and dining space set for the sunset. Aqua Vista is the twin of Villa Aqua Dream next door, so the two can be taken together for a larger group while each keeps its own footprint.

Indigo Beach and its restaurant are right below, and Simpson Bay and Philipsburg are about ten minutes away, with the airport and Marigot around fifteen. For a night out, we send guests to the Boon Beach Bar on Simpson Bay Beach, an easy, sand-underfoot table. Ask and we will provision the kitchen and line up a chef or a dinner booking. At $14,700 a week in low season for all six bedrooms, Aqua Vista is the sister with the beach: Indigo Beach at the foot of the steps, and a top bedroom where the sea is the first thing you see from the pillow.