Located on the French side of the island, these two free standing, ocean front villas will be available to members of the destination club starting in February next year.

La Samanna Resort & Spa is frequently ranked by Travel & Leisure magazine as one of the top 10 hotels for service in the Caribbean. The Orient Express managed resort offers complimentary and for-purchase water sports, a state-of-the-art fitness center with complimentary yoga and Pilates, a full-service Elysees Spa, tennis courts with complimentary clinics, and various pools.

The two ocean front villas are located on a bluff, which affords panoramic views of the Baie Lounge or Copecoy Beach. Each four bedroom villa is comprised of more than 4,600-square-feet of generous entertaining areas, multiple master bedrooms, a private infinity pool, and a lavish chef-inspired kitchen. They also feature:

• Wrap-around terrace with a private infinity pool
• Interior design by Marc-Michaels
• Second-floor balconies
• Indoor/outdoor entertaining areas and dining spaces
• Master bedroom with alcoves and oversized private terrace

"This interest from the elite membership of Quintess, LRW reinforces the status of La Samanna as one of the finest residential communities anywhere in the Caribbean, as well as the stature of Orient-Express in the world of luxury real estate. We are delighted to be working together," said Paul White, President and Chief Executive Officer, Orient-Express Hotels.

Quintess also added homes in La Quinta, California and Aspen, Colorado, this year, and at the start of the year partnered with European destination club Oyster Circle.

Other villas at La Samana are available for rental and make an interesting comparison between joining a destination club or renting a villa. The rental rates vary from $3,000 to $8,000 per day, with a minimum five night stay over the winter. Membership in Quintess starts at $210,000 (partially refundable), annual dues of $16,125 and a nightly rate of $275 for a 15 night per year membership plan.

(Update 23rd Feb 2010: The Orient-Express full year results press release notes "In December, the Company entered into a deferred sale agreement with the luxury destination club Quintess, The Leading Residences of the World, which has the option to purchase four of La Samanna's free-standing villas for proceeds of $16 million in the first year, $17 million in the second year or $18 million in the third year and will make option payments of up to approximately $0.9 million on each villa."
According to the La Samanna villas website, the other four villas are for sale priced between $5.6m - $6.2m.)

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