Frequently Asked Questions
Why visit Dominica and stay at Villa PassiFlora?
What is there to do?
How do we get to Dominica?
How do we get to Villa PassiFlora?
Should we rent a vehicle?
Is the drinking water safe?
How safe are Dominica and Villa PassiFlora?
Can we bring our electric appliances?
What about food?
Do you have TV and internet access?
Is Dominica right for me and my family?
Is Villa PassiFlora handicapped-accessible? What about children?
I don’t see any glass or screening. What about bugs?
Why visit Dominica and stay at Villa PassiFlora?
Dominica is an island of breathtaking natural beauty, as yet little impacted by tourism. One travel writer aptly characterized Dominica as "the last of the real Caribbean." As a visitor, you can expect to be warmly received by Dominicans, who will take pride in sharing their glorious island with you. They know that what they have here is very special.
Villa PassiFlora is for the traveler who would like to enjoy Dominica in a guesthouse of style and elegance still rare on the island. It is an ideal setting for several couples wishing to share a relaxing vacation together, for small groups interested in literary, yoga or culinary retreats or for families without young children. When compared with similar accomodations elsewhere in the Caribbean (there are no comparable accomodations on Dominica), the villa is eminently affordable for the couple or individual who appreciates space, beauty and privacy. For a group it is a bargain. It is for you if you relish the prospect of enjoying the sound of the waves, the feel of the cooling trade winds and the view from one of the most breathtaking spots in the Caribbean. It is a tonic for the senses.
We look forward to the opportunity to help you plan your Dominican vacation. We can arrange for yoga instructors, massage therapists and local cooks to share their services with you at the villa. Additionally, we can arrange the hire of guides to help you enjoy sites of interest in the Calibishie area and elsewhere on the island. Share your interest and ideas with us, and we'll do what we can to help craft a unique and memorable stay.
What is there to do?
The truth is that many of our guests choose to do very little during their visit. Villa PassiFlora is an ideal spot for reading, writing, swimming, taking walks or napping in a hammock to the sound of the surf, cooled by the constant breeze of the trade winds. Of course, all of the sights that have made Dominica a destination for adventurous travellers are available as day trips, but don't feel guilty if you leave the Boiling Lake for someone else.
We maintain associations with excellent personal trainers and practioners of a wide range of healing and culinary arts. Let us arrange on-site massages, reflexology, yoga, exercise sessions and Caribbean cooking classes, as well as day trips, including snorkeling. Please ask us for details.
Several beautiful and totally distinctive Atlantic beaches are just 5-10 minutes from Villa PassiFlora by foot, offering swimming, snorkeling, exploring or lounging in relative solitude. Check out our Beaches and Environs page for much more. Snorkelers will also enjoy visiting the tranquil Caribbean waters near Portsmouth, which offer a variety of options from the shore. Divers will want to contact Cabrits Dive Centre, a PADI 5-Star center just below Portsmouth, a beautiful 30 minute drive from the villa.
How do we get to Dominica?
Dominica’s charm and beauty are protected by the effort required to reach it! The island doesn’t have enough flat land to allow a jet port to be constructed, so flights are indirect. The first night flights into Dominica began in September, 2010. I took an evening flight from St. Maarten to Dominica, and it was fantastic! The need to overnight is disappearing! Both of my flights on BVI Airways little JetStream 32 were smooth and comfortable, and I was able to check my baggage all the way through from Chattanooga to Dominica. Check out BVI Airways! Their evening flights are Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. And now, Liat has also begun night flights into Dominica from Antigua, St. Maarten and Barbados every day, which should virtually eliminate the need for overnight flight plans!
The quickest, most direct route to Dominica is via San Juan, Antigua or Barbados. From San Juan, you can get direct flights to Dominica on Liat or Seaborne Airlines. You may well need to book your first leg on the usual sites (Orbitz, Travelocity, etc.), then book the flight to Dominica directly with the airline. (If needed or preferred, overnighting in Old San Juan is quite a pleasure. We're happy to suggest our favorite spots.) Be sure you are booking into Melville Hall Airport rather than Canefield, which is on the opposite side of the island, about 90 minutes away from Villa Passiflora.
Should you consider the possibility of going through Martinique or Guadeloupe prior to your stay on Dominica, travel by ferry is available from these French islands to Dominica several times weekly. A new, smaller and less expensive ferry began service in 2011 with stops in Portsmouth. Information and booking is available here.
Feel free to contact us for suggestions on your travel arrangements
How do we get to Villa PassiFlora?
The villa is just 20 minutes from Mellville Hall Airport. Our caretaker can meet you at the airport, but most of our guests arrange car rental in advance and find getting to the villa simple and straightforward. Leaving the airport, go left and follow the Northeast road through Wesley, Woodford Hill and Small Farm until you see the sign for VP. We are just beyond the road to Sea Cliff and just before the village of Calibishie. If you are not renting a vehicle, we will be happy to arrange transportation to Villa PassiFlora.
Should we rent a vehicle?
You surely do not need to rent a vehicle. Transport from the airport can be easily arranged. Many of our guests find life at Villa PassiFlora so satisfying that they simply stay put. If you plan just an excursion or two, you might want to hire drivers as needed; we can make the arrangements. If you have a stronger interest in exploring this beautiful island-- and most guests do-- then rent a relatively small vehicle with 4-wheel drive. You may not need the 4-wheel drive, but it can definitely come in handy if you find yourself on a rutted, muddy road to a glorious beach, and the added road clearance of these vehicles is a must off the main road.
Driving in Dominca is on the left. The roads are in varying states of repair—think of potholes as unannounced speed bumps—and some are too narrow to allow true 2-way traffic. That said, the newly resurfaced (2012) road between Porsmouth and Roseau has made trips to the capital far more pleasant. Drive slowly, cautiously, defensively and always be prepared to pull to the shoulder to allow oncoming traffic to pass.
Is the drinking water safe?
Yes! Dominica’s fresh water is amongst its glories, and you should have no problems with tap water, ice, raw vegetables, etc. The local water is said to be one of the “secrets” behind the high quality of, Kubuli, the Dominican beer.
How safe are Dominica and Villa PassiFlora?
We have had no problems in our 3 years of operation. Violent crime remains rare in Dominica, though not unheard of. Opportunistic thievery may occur, particularly when invited by open doors and windows. The safety of your belongings is very much enhanced by the presence of our caretakers-- who live on site-- and our watchdog, Eevie. Please note that Eevie is NOT an "attack dog," and her job is to alert us to the presence of people on the property. She doesn't bark ceaselessly! She does not have access to the villa's interior, and you will have no direct contact with her during your stay.
Can we bring our electric appliances?
Villa PassiFlora is powered by its solar panel system at 110V/60hz. The Dominican standard is 220V/50hz. A small number of transformers are available to use small 220V appliances.
What about food?
One of our great pleasures on Dominica is cooking with the extraordinary fresh ingredients available. That being said, cooking is a challenge if you're not familiar with the island, because obtaining ingredients is dramatically dependent upon availability and requires multiple sources. If you are motivated to make meal preparation a significant part of your Dominican visit, we’ll help you procure glorious fruits, vegetables, fish, lobster and poultry as well as herbs. Check out Ann Keener's blog on our Links page for some insights and ideas.
Many guests enjoy having some of their meals prepared for them, and our housekeeper, Isalene George, is one of the best cooks in the village. We strongly encourage you to consider letting her prepare at least one meal for you. Isalene can generally prepare meals Monday-Friday during her 8:30-2:30 workday. A multi-course, fine dining meal with instruction and commentary is at times available, but should be requested several days in advance. See our Reservations page for details.
There are a number of options for meals nearby, ranging from simple fare in the village to somewhat more upscale fare at Escape Bar and Grill, Calabash or Verandah View. Probably the most memorable meal on the island is served by Marie Frederick at Indigo, though Marie is now semi-retired from the restaurant. See more about Indigo on our Links page.
Do you have TV and internet access?
We have a television and DVD player, but we have made the decision not to have cable or satellite TV. Most of what is seen on the plethora of cable channels feels so jarring on Dominica that we are making the perhaps futile gesture of keeping it out of our home. We do have wireless, high speed internet access, so if you need to refer back to the US or EU bring along your laptop. Please note that internet service may not be as reliable as service in the US or EU.
We’ve collected about 1000 films on DVD (we keep 300 on the island at any one time), so there should be no shortage of viewing choices during your stay. Our collection features classics, popular favorites, “cult films”, Caribbean-themed and children’s movies. The bulk have been recorded from Turner Classic Movies, IFC and other cable television channels, generally in English or in their original language with English subtitles. They are good quality, commercial free, but lack the bells and whistles of commercial DVDs. A smaller number of films are backed up from commercial DVDs and may have subtitle options.
Is Dominica right for me and my family?
I can't imagine a much better place to chill than Villa PassiFlora, but Dominica is not for everyone. A day in Dominica must be considered “subject to change”. If you come with a tight daily schedule of sights and activities, and you will be profoundly frustrated by the failure to tick off your objectives as planned, look elsewhere. If some of the most glorious terrain on the planet would be tough to appreciate due to disdain for the limited and poorly maintained road system, look elsewhere. If an occasional rainstorm is seen as a blight on your dream vacation rather than the reason Dominica is the most luxuriant island in the Caribbean, look elsewhere.
Is Villa PassiFlora handicapped-accessible? What about children?
Regrettably, Villa PassiFlora is not well suited to visitors with major limitations to ambulation and we cannot accept children younger than 10 without specific prior clearance. The handcrafted stairs require careful use by all, particularly when using the observation deck.
Due to the unrestricted access to our pool we can't accommodate families traveling with children who are not fully competent swimmers.
Many of Villa PassiFlora’s furnishings are irreplaceable vintage pieces which deserve and require loving treatment. Guests are responsible for any damages during their stay, so please consider the maturity of children (and adults) critically before booking your visit. If your dream vacation includes a wild party, Villa PassiFlora is not for you.
I don’t see any glass or screening. What about bugs?
Villa PassiFlora indeed has neither glass nor screening, in the Caribbean tradition. Cooling is courtesy of the continuous trade winds, aided by the shade of our expansive verandah and the trees of the littoral forest which we have chosen to leave standing. Fans are available to augment the breezes.
Depending upon the weather, you may encounter a few mosquitoes, particularly at twilight. I’ve never found them to be tough to control with a bit of insect repellant around the ankles before sunset. High quality mosquito netting insures that your sleep won’t be disturbed by that lone warrior buzzing around your ear.
Why the name, Villa PassiFlora?
Passiflora is the genus of the passion flower, surely one of the most exquisite of floral wonders. Some of you will no doubt get to enjoy its glorious fruit while visiting Dominica. Though the genus is most often associated with the tropics, P. incarnata is native to temperate regions, and is the state wildflower of Tennessee, our "other" home. For us, the link goes deeper still, as you are welcome to discover on Ann's website.