5
Star Guest Quotes
It’s always tough to whittle
down to a few favorite photos from the hundreds of shots we took! It’s
so beautiful there, there’s always a vista to shoot. We had a
lovely time with Hugh, it was all we had hoped it to
be and then some. To say Hugh and the 5 Star exceeded our expectations is
an understatement. We left the BVIs having had an exceptional experience,
and gaining a great new friend in Hugh as well! We have so many stories
and fabulous memories - we are grateful for such a unique experience.
Barb Koren &
Steve Schwager, Chicago
There’s
no better way to experience the Virgin Islands than sailing with Hugh and
Alison! From the moment we stepped on board we knew we were in for something
special. The 5 Star is a beautiful yacht.
Hugh is a great captain who patiently taught us how to sail, tack and to enjoy
ourselves while sporty sailing. His captain’s cocktails were always
something to look forward to. Alison is a wonderful cook. From flavorful
healthy entrees to decadent desserts every meal was superb! (Alison,
thanks for always taking our food allergies into account.)
Hugh and Alison both have a zest for life. They enjoy sharing their experiences
and their love of the Virgin Islands. They know the islands well. From hiking
to snorkeling to seaside massages to listening to live music to enjoying a
romantic evening out, they knew exactly where we would have the best
experience.
As the week progressed and we all got to know each other we felt less like
guests and more like we were on vacation with friends. Thanks,
Hugh and Alison, for an unforgettable adventure!"
Lynne & Ken Goldman, Boston
Please
pardon the delay in my sending an e-mail to you and Hugh to thank you for a
wonderful time aboard 5Star - it could not have been a more PERFECT vacation
than to spend the time with you and Hugh on such a beautiful boat in such an
outstanding environment. Describing the trip as absolute paradise doesn't
begin to do justice to how much Lynne and I truly enjoyed every moment of our
trip. From the minute we first stepped aboard the boat, we felt at home
on 5Star and with you and Hugh. We had so much fun and loved every minute
of it that I'm already working on planning the same trip for the same time next
year.
Your cooking was amazing, the accommodations truly 5 star, and the adventure
beyond comparison. The best part was spending the time with you and Hugh
as our hosts (and having you show us the local hot spots). Between Foxy's, the Soggy Dollar Bar, and The
Last Resort, we truly enjoyed our land excursions. Of course the best
part of the trip was the snorkeling (although I'm still feeling a bit strange
at how close the fish get). Next year I'm looking forward to doing more
of it.
Lynne and I really hope that you will take us up on our offer to have you stay
at our home near Newport when you come up this summer. We would love to
return the hospitality and spend more time with you and Hugh.
Thanks again for a terrific vacation. We can't wait to come back next
March.
All the best, Ken
Adam & Randi Zucker
- New York
The trip was beyond our wildest dreams
Keith Denison & Jeff Jones, New York
We
searched far and wide for the perfect honeymoon and getaway. Never in our wildest dreams did we think
we could have an experience like Alison and Hugh provided. Way beyond our expectations! From our first steps aboard 5 Star we
knew it would be an adventure of a lifetime. The beautiful Beneteau
was pristine and provided us with all the comforts that any fine hotel could
possibly offer. We were amazed with
the food that came up from the galley – everything was fresh, delicious,
and intricately prepared and plated.
As active and adventurous guys, we were looking forward to exploring the
islands. Alison & Hugh created an itinerary that allowed us to sail
everywhere. From Anegada to Jost to St. John, we
visited many exciting and beautiful places. Sometimes we’d be dropped off
at the beach with a VHF radio, sometimes we’d all go ashore to explore,
and other times we’d have a complete champagne picnic as we lazed on our
own private island. We left with
great memories, two new friends and the yearning to do it all again. We don’t think 5 Stars are quite
enough for this experience… It was truly incredible!
Maria & Jorge Del Cid, Guatemala
Maria
and I just wanted to thank you again for that wonderful experience we shared on
your boat. We love to share with family and friends our experience and
places we visited. Top 5 things:
The
crew, just perfect…great, enthusiastic, friendly and professional couple!
The
food…Maria has already treated us with the Tortellini salad!
The
itinerary (so many things we got done)
The 5
Star, it is a 5 star accommodation boat!
Jumping and
swimming in the BLUE waters!
Megan & Travis Dahm,
Tulsa, OK
Thank you so much for your hospitality and letting us into your
home. We had the time of our lives aboard the 5 STAR. We can't wait
to come back and visit and play "shut the box" again.
Stephanie
and Matt Berberich - Neptune, NJ
We
were looking for an extra-special way to see the Virgin Islands, and we
certainly found it with 5 Star! From the moment we stepped aboard the
beautiful and immaculate yacht, Alison and Hugh made us feel so very
welcome and comfortable! They pampered us all throughout our vacation,
tempting our taste buds with deliciously and meticulously prepared drinks and
meals, and providing us with a personalized itinerary through a paradise of
gorgeous islands. We really enjoyed exploring all of the places that we
visited, and we especially loved hiking The Baths and various trails of Virgin Gorda, snorkeling The Caves at Norman Island, walking on
the soft white sand at the picture-perfect beach on Peter Island, and relaxing
together on 5 Star's hammock while gazing at the moon and stars. Each day
of our vacation was the perfect blend of romance, adventure, luxury, and fun -
we had a truly wonderful time and we will remember it forever!
Kathleen & Roy Curnow – New
Jersey
The 5STAR has certainly lived up to its
name, and then some...The weather was almost incidental to the trip as Alison
and Hugh provided such outstanding service, spirit, and such great fun as they
catered to all of our preferences and desires. What we thought would be
a simple romp in the BVIs turned out to be a vacation of a lifetime,
because of their commitment to deliver on the promises of the 5STAR.
The question is not if we will join Alison and Hugh on the 5 STAR
again, it is when will we join them on the 5 STAR...We can't wait!
Marilyn
Dumaresq & Ron Rickman - Toronto, Canada
Our Adventure
on 5 STAR:
Previous to
2010, Marilyn & I had bare boated many times in the BVI's. In 2010, we
decided to consider a crewed charter. We carefully studied the many options
offered and decided to sail on 5 Star for 12 days. We really liked the look of
the boat, the crew and the amenities offered, not the least of which was the
opportunity to sail a 50' Sloop to new anchorages with all the worries and
responsibilities in someone else's hands. Alison & Hugh were great hosts.
We left Tortola having gained two new friends. We had arrived in Tortola with
high expectations and were pleased to find that the advertizing had been
understated. Our expectations were
exceeded in every way. We will go back.
Amy & Dominic Zitiello
– Florida
Dom & I have been lucky enough to travel to
some incredibly posh places, but nothing compares to the “5 Star”
experience.
I have never felt so pampered and more importantly,
comfortable in my surroundings.
Alison & Hugh are tremendously gifted hosts.
I didn’t know how we got so lucky! Gail did a terrific job matching us up
with this first class duo. From the
boat, islands and the “oh so”
delicious food…. Everything was top notch. I thought I
might feel in their way at times, but not once did they let that happen. They truly
make you feel like their home is your home. I will recommend them to everyone I
know!!! Put this trip –
BVI’s – with this boat team –
Alison & Hugh s/v 5 Star – on your Bucket
List NOW!
Tim & Shannon Hilton – North Carolina
Our time on the 5 Star
was our dream honeymoon - completely magical!
David &
Lauren Slack – North Carolina
Everything about our 5 Star charter
was fabulous! The food, the crew, the yacht, the itinerary, the
service-PERFECT! For us it’s not a
question of if to charter again, but when are we going to
charter with Hugh & Alison again! Thank you guys for a spectacular
honeymoon!
Dana &
Katherine Gentry – Alabama
We love the 5 STAR! The yacht, crew, food, and accommodation
– we have visited three times this year, and plan many more adventures
with
our friends Alison & Hugh. When
we just need to get away, to relax or have some island bar fun, we always think
of our home in the
islands – 5 STAR.
Jason & Julie Baker – Kansas
We had a wonderful trip for Jason's 40th birthday.
The sailing was exciting, the food was delicious and the service was fantastic.
Hugh and
Alison are great. They are
super-friendly and they know all the good spots for snorkeling, sightseeing and
bar-hopping. We hope to be back
soon! Julie and Jason Baker
Brett &
Rebecca Leslie –Tennessee
“Here’s a toast to you on the
coast and the sailors out at sea.”
Thank you for an amazing vacation! Our
time on 5 Star was magical. We spent our honeymoon sailing around the British
Virgin Islands on
the fabulous 5 Star. Our goal was to see
as much as we could and still spend time relaxing. We managed to do both.
From private beach
breakfasts and dancing on the bow of the boat to hiking to the top of Virgin Gorda Peak, our trip had the
perfect
blend of romance and adventure. Hugh and Alison were friendly welcoming, and
professional.
We would like to share
our top 5 ways to enjoy a vacation on 5 Star:
1)
Surrender
all time pieces – We gave all watches and phones to Alison on the first
day so we could relax and get lost in the islands.
2)
Sample
the local fare – Whether food, drinks, or art, you should admire and
taste some of the local creations. Some of our favorites were the Pain Killer,
BBC,
Conch Fritters, and the full moon party is one not to
miss.
3)
Follow
Kenny Chesney’s recommendations – We enjoyed visiting some of the
hot spots touted by Kenny such as Ivan’s and Foxy’s
on Jost Van Dyke.
4)
Get
in the water – The views above the surface are beautiful, but the views
below are spectacular. We took snorkel trips and scuba dives
to the most amazing
sites to see coral, shipwrecks, caves, and wildlife!
5)
It’s
a marathon, not a sprint – Don’t worry if it is your first
adventure on the sea. This was ours, and we did not get seasick, we enjoyed the
crew and food
immensely and we would do it all again!
Take your time enjoying everything. Don’t get drunk or sunburned early.
Wherever you are reading this, we
can assure you that we “we wish we were there to night on Jost Van Dike, sippin’ on
some Foxy’s firewater rum, and kicking back
with
Ivan, and all our friends down in the islands.” Thanks 5 Star!
Joe & Alison
Miller -
New York
We had the most phenomenal honeymoon experience on
the 5 Star in the BVIs with Hugh & Alison! The boat was immaculate and
extremely
comfortable, the food was so delicious, and Hugh and
Alison were the perfect hosts. Their knowledge of the islands cannot
be topped and they
are incredibly fun to spend time with. We didn't
have to lift a finger or stress about a single thing. It was the ultimate
in luxury and we can't
wait to do it again!
Tisa Moore & Rich Seal – Georgia
Alison and Hugh O’Brien welcomed us into
their (floating) home with open arms. They are the ultimate hosts. I would say
their service tops
Ritz-Carlton
service. We didn’t have to
think about anything—what to do, what to eat or drink, where to go, etc.
You would ask a question, they
would know they answer. Their local knowledge is quite
impressive. Also, I always felt like they were truly engaged—not like
they were just talking
to us as clients on a perfunctory basis. And above
all, Hugh is an incredible sailor with safety always at the forefront. His
mastery of sailing skills is
incredible. This was one of
the best vacations we have ever had. We both have traveled extensively
throughout the world and this trip ranks as one
of the best vacations we have
ever taken because the O’Brien’s level of service, their local
knowledge and their congeniality—not to mention the
wonderful sailing and the beauty of
the BVIs.
Aaron & Jennifer Smith –Texas
"Our experience aboard the 5
Star completely exceeded our expectations!
Hugh and Alison are the epitome of gracious hosts with a keen sense of
adventure. Their love for music, boundless
energy, and verve of life is undeniably infectious and leaves you feeling both
relaxed and recharged at the
same time. They encourage you to do as
much or as little as you please while making sure you are provided with truly
gourmet meals and Hugh’s 5 o’clock
daily special cocktail. The 5 Star is a stellar sailboat with
spacious and modern accommodations. We had a wonderful time sailing her and
Hugh and Alison
made us feel very comfortable during the
learning process. We have now been bitten by the sailing bug and cannot wait to
return to the 5 Star and our
new friends, Alison and Hugh, to explore
more of the Virgin Islands."
Cynthia
& Bill De Soi – Maine
The Fast Track to Relaxation aboard 5 Star
The perfect vacation awaits on 5 Star…we
arrived in St. Thomas stressed and tired, but literally in less than an hour
from deplaning were ensconced
aboard the luxury yacht 5 Star in the care Hugh and
Alison. We were greeted warmly with
champagne and oriented to the boat…then headed off sailing.
The O’Briens are
the consummate hosts. There is no
detail overlooked - from luxury bedding and the most comfortable sea berth
ever, to delicious
health conscious meals paired with excellent wines,
to customized musical playlists, a personalized souvenir CD and photo album - they
cater to their guests in a friendly,
professional manner as they share their floating home. We had asked our broker for a crew
that would allow us to gain experience with sailing, and Hugh was more than willing to
gently instruct us and to turn over the helm. His affable and relaxed manner inspires
confidence, and the high point of our trip was the “sporty” sailing
we enjoyed.
Thank you for a fully restorative week! We look forward to sailing on 5 Star
again for another antidote to the working world.