First the positives. This villa is in a good location, both bedrooms have air con, although one of the rooms is downstairs which meant it was not suitable for our toddler, and it also has no mosquito net? You have a housekeeper that comes everyday, and Rob and Veron are very nice. Veron showed us around the area, got us membership at the Cotton Bay gym, which is a private resort, with pool and beach, which we also used regularly. Rob was spot on with restaurant recommendations; Buzz, Big Chef Steakhouse (excellent service, and they didnt charge for childrens drink or food and gave us a starter on the house), Spinnikers Beach Bar, and do go to the Friday night jump up. We took our 3 year old all 3 weeks we were there. We got there early. People are really friendly and the local food was great!! Don't be put off by anyone who say's it's not safe. Really, we did not feel unsafe at all. You also get use of the car, which is great, as we were really able to get out and about.

The downsides to this villa is the lack of air-con in the living area, which meant it was impossible to be in as the mosquito's are a nightmare, and we had every repellent going. We were bitten a lot! The pool is very cold. Generally the villa needs a lot of TLC. Things don't work properly, are in need of repair or updating. It is a traditional style villa which is very open to the elements. We found a lot of what appeared to be mice droppings and other 'large bugs'. It's impossible to shut out mosquito's due to the open nature of the villa build. When it rained there was a leak. The Wi-Fi is very temperamental, and I suspect the main router is located in Rob and Veron's house, which is behind the villa? The toilet in the main bedroom seemed to block/not flush properly, the shower had no power, there is no bath (nightmare if you have a small child), oven in the kitchen very difficult to light.

Overall we had a really good stay, although we weren't able to get the full use of the villa because of the lack of air-con in the living area. We also had to have our toddler in our bed for the duration, as I've explained, the 2nd bedroom was downstairs, and with the air-con going in the bedroom, and the lay out of the villa, it would be impossible to hear her in the night. There are a lot of maintenance issues and we would not choose to stay again. But would like to thank Rob & Veron for their hospitality.

If you’re hesitant like I was about booking a private vacation house then you need to read this review. Trust me, if you choose Villa Zatarra you have nothing to worry about! I looked into A LOT of different rental properties, read countless reviews and emailed plenty of owners. No property looked as serene, no villa had 5 star guest ratings across the board, and no one was as patient, informative and quick to respond as Veron. This is just part of why we chose Villa Zatarra for our honeymoon.

Villa Zatarra is simply beyond your wildest dreams! Extremely spacious, amazing views and an outdoor living atmosphere. But the best part of the villa is the owners, Veron and Rob. They are unbelievably welcoming and kind. On our first full day in St Lucia, Veron spent the afternoon showing us around the area and getting us comfortable with driving on the other side of the road. She took us to a great coffee shop, Rituals, and showed us every beach, restaurant and hotel in the area. She told us about different events happening at these places and when the best time is to go. Had it not have been for Veron taking the time to get us acquainted I think we would have missed out on some of the best parts of the island. She was kind enough to check in from time to time to make sure we had everything we needed. She offered to book dinner reservations and tours and gave tips on the most cost effective options. She coordinated our helicopter transfer from the airport on the south to the closer one more north on the island. (Which is something I would recommend trying to budget for- $300USD for two of us. Pricy but incredible!) She arranged for a trusted friend and driver, Big Runner to pick us up.

He pointed out the sights as we traveled the short distance into Rodney Bay and waited while we picked up some necessities at the grocery store. He even recommended a beer, Piton; it was all we drank on our vacation! He became our driver whenever we needed him and would show us around when he dropped us off. Big runner, you are the champion!

If you have the opportunity to see Rob play, take it! We visited a nearby hotel one evening and sat by the water, sipping champagne and cocktails, in awe as Rob played the saxophone. He came over to introduce himself right after his set and spent the evening enjoying drinks and chatting. We were also fortunate enough to join Rob on a sunset cruise from a beautiful hotel with the Pitons as the back drop. It was picturesque as we saw a rainbow sprout from the beach, arch over the rainforest covered mountains and plunge in the turquois water. Grooving to Rob’s velvet sax playing and enjoying the company of the other vacationers then finishing the cruise with a hoppin’ dance party!
Rob and Veron are the perfect hosts; they made us feel like we were their number one priority. They make the already amazing villa that much better. It truly is a different way to vacation. With a car and local cellphone provided, we had the freedom to come and go as we please which made it easy to do everything we wanted to. We spent several of our days just lounging by the pool and grilling on the charcoal barbeque. The full kitchen made cooking convenient and with the housekeeper, Mary to tidy up, it was easy. The gardener, John would pick coconuts for us, chill the water and cut up the meat.

The villa is magnificent. The master bedroom is spectacular! From the four poster bed draped in netting to the massive open concept shower, it’s a dream. Only to be outdone by the breathtaking views from the giant balcony off the bedroom! A hammock to relax in and feel the breeze off the ocean and a little dining table, great for coffee and breakfast in the morning. The main floor is all open concept, with beautiful stone floors. Everything is very well kept by the housekeeper, Mary; the villa was always sparkling clean and smelling of lemon grass and the ocean. Veron’s history in interior design is obvious. Every detail is thought of and put together in the most beautiful way. The little added touches sprinkled throughout the house make it feel like home.

Lastly, I have to mention Chef Busby. We were to be celebrating my husband’s birthday while on our honeymoon. We wanted to do something special and Veron had recommended Chef Busby to come in and cook us dinner. We discussed details over email before arriving, and then Veron took us to meet her and go over our menu selection. Chef Busby arrived with an assistant and they worked together to set up a beautiful dinner on our balcony, overlooking the ocean while we sipped wine and relaxed. The three course meal they served was outstanding! We had crème brule for dessert and my husband and I both agree that it was the most delicious thing we have ever eaten. I would go back to St Lucia for the crème brule alone. It really was that good!

St Lucia is a beautiful place, with kind people and an awe-inspiring landscape. It offers everything you could wish to do on a vacation. Staying at Villa Zatarra was the best vacation of my life. I can’t wait to return again, so long as Rob and Veron are still there. Thank you so much to Rob, Veron, Chef Busby, Big Runner, John and Mary for making our honeymoon spectacular! There is not a single thing I would change, nothing could have made the villa, the company and the honeymoon better! Simply put, this is clearly the superior way to vacation!

-Honeymooners,
Lauren & Matt Caravaggio

My wife, my son (who was 5 yo at the time) and I stayed at Villa Zatarra for 3 weeks in January 2012. We paid a reasonable extra in order to rent the jeep of the owners.

We are "discerning" travelers, I would even say difficult ones in the sense that our standards are high (we travel business class, stay at 4.5 and 5 stars hotels, eat gourmet food, etc).

I will not repeat here all the nice things written in the previous reviews, but I will only say that they are all true, and more. Quite frankly, compared to other similar options in St-Lucia (e.g. luxury hotels or villas of the same caliber), this particular property offers a really great ratio quality/price and, as a bonus, the owners are quite helpful whenever you have questions or special needs. I'm not saying it's cheap, I'm saying the ratio quality / price is very good.

Rob cared for us, from the ease of being picked up, the arrangement for the car, the first morning tour around the end of the island, and his general friendliness in inviting us to his performances and to lunch at the end. He was responsive to any questions and needs, which were few. The two of us absolutely enjoyed all of the time spent there, and also meeting interestng couples all from different countries, and enjoying time spent with them. The Marina was the center of our activities for groceries, dining, and general hanging around. We are grateful to Rob and his family, for we even received an invitation to his son's brthday party down at a beach with all his other island friends.