We'll join Peter Kennedy in trying to minimize unoccupied weeks at Hikaru. From now until the morning of November 4, rates are slashed 35%. That makes a week's rent $1,186 for a group of up to four (and 10% of that for each additional person.)

AND -- for those worried about hurricanes -- we'll continue to offer our "sunshine guarantee": If you have more than 90 minutes' daytime rain on any day, we'll refund that day's rent, up to a total of $1,000!

Hikaru sleeps eight in four bedrooms. In addition to magnificent meals prepared by Miss Venesia and Miss Elesha, we have a spectacular sea view; a 50-foot lap pool kept sparkling by Mister Patrick; a tennis court whose surface is worn but playable, and a half-dozen private places to sit quietly, read or bird-watch. Our staff will shop for you to your tastes and at your expense; typically they'll spend $120 per person per week to keep you superbly fed, including lobster two nights. (Tips, transportation, excursion and incidents are not included in the weekly rental rate).

For full details, please go to www.VillaHikaru.com. Tap my name here to send me an e-mail, or contact us from the website, or call me at (860)713-9960.

PS on bird photos: Our photographer friend John Karrer took something like 500 photos on his last trip with us in April, and has given us a diskful. I've picked out those of more than a dozen birds, and made them into a "movie" using techniques I learned at Apple. Have a look:
http://villahikaru.com/photogallery.html