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To say I was stunned is an understatement. Until I sampled
the goods, I had no idea that Jamaica had an array of
luxury villas.
The term "villa vacation" usually evokes
thoughts of Italy's Tuscany region -- or it did for
me,
until I visited and stayed in some of the products offered
by Villas by Linda Smith.
If you or your clients think that Jamaican villas are
little more than A-frames on a beach, think again. Spartan
they aren't.
I can only speak for the properties represented by
Villas by Linda Smith, which operates 50 such accommodations
in Jamaica, primarily in the Montego Bay/Runaway Bay
area.
The driving force behind the company is its namesake,
Linda Smith, whose hands-on approach to villa representation
accounts for much of the firm's success.
(For more on Linda Smith, see related story, Smith
vouches for villa vacations.)
For her part, Smith has been compared with Martha Stewart
(although not for insider trading).
She is smart, tenacious and fully committed to ensuring
that each property meets her standards. Martha Stewart
would be well-served to stay out of Smith's way.
I should know -- I spent five days with this villa maven.
When Smith decides to take on a new villa -- these
houses typically are second homes for the affluent --
she makes her policy crystal clear to the owners. Simply
put, it's her way or the highway.
Owners must agree to Smith's terms for renovations
and for a thorough re-training of villa staff.
Smith actually moves into each house while assessing
the renovation process.
"I spend a minimum of three days when the home
already is virtually perfect," she said.
"The longest I stayed while renovating someone's
home was 19 days. I moved the furniture out on the lawn
and started all over again with the guts of the house."
While at the villa, Smith trains the staff "in
the services my firm promises," she said.
"At the same time I write the fact sheet that goes
on the Web site throughout my stay.
It's very detailed and accurate. There are no surprises."
There certainly aren't. The villas I visited came in
all shapes and sizes, and, when
the math is done, they are relatively affordable.
"The biggest misconception is that villa vacations
are too expensive," Smith said.
"The economy of the villa vacation kicks in when
multiple parties share the cost.
"For example, I have one group of 13 people sharing
a house with six bedrooms and
five-and-a-half baths for $7,000 per week, or $1,000
per night for seven nights.
"Divide that by 13 people and the per-night rate
comes to $76.92 a person, including a cook,
butler, housekeeper, gardener and laundress."
Granted, some villas are more expensive than others.
Silent Waters, for instance, which can accommodate 20
guests, costs $24,750 per week in the low season and
$29,150 peak season.
On the other end of the spectrum, the three-bedroom
Serenity sells for $4,100 and $6,000 per week, respectively.
Rates also fluctuate depending on the number of guests.
The price for one couple renting
Serenity in the high season is $5,000 per week, but
drops to $3,100 in the low season.
Silent Waters
Silent Waters is flashy but classy, an elegant Balinese
wonderland that sits on a mountaintop
amid 18 acres overlooking Montego Bay. The property
contains a main pavilion, a dining pavilion,
five freestanding villa suites and an owner's villa.
Carved Balinese, Burmese, Thai and Chinese statues
accent the gardens while lily ponds
and pools separate living spaces.
The heart of Silent Waters is a 900-square-foot main
pavilion featuring an 80-foot reflection pool. Paths
lead from the pavilion and weave through the gardens
to individual villa suites.
The suites also are reminiscent of the Far East, particularly
artwork from Thailand and Indonesia
and accents such as granite wet bars with coffeemakers
(and, of course, Jamaica's Blue Mountain Coffee) and
marble bathrooms larger than many Manhattan studio apartments.
Amanoka
Amanoka mirrors the Indonesian elegance of Silent Waters,
albeit on a smaller scale, although
the 9,600-square-foot home on the beach at Discovery
Bay holds its own among the finest of Linda Smith's
roster of villas.
Amanoka can accommodate a maximum of 12 guests. Like
Silent Waters, its interiors and lawns are designed
with an Indonesian flair, including lily ponds, fountains
and gardens.
From the pool and veranda, guests look out on a pastoral
lawn that leads to a beach and waterfront gazebo. Agents,
take note: Amanoka will not host weddings or allow families
with more than two children under age 12.
Fortlands Point
Just a stone's throw from Amanoka is Fortlands Point,
located on a promontory that once
served as a stone fort. Seven cannons stand guard over
stupendous views.
Fortlands Point's interior exudes more of that Indonesian
ambience with Persian rugs scattered
over marble floors.
The house has seven bedrooms, five for adults and two
for children, and sits on three levels.
Many of the rooms contain balconies.
The villa even features a freestanding squash court
and a gym with universal equipment and an elliptical
cycle. The nearby reefs are ideal for snorkeling.
Good Hope
Good Hope is all about Old World charm. I felt to the
manor born at this 2,000-acre estate,
with its riding stables and stone buildings.
We traveled up a circuitous, bumpy road to reach Good
Hope, which sits 600 feet above sea level, affording
views of the Queen of Spain Valley and the Martha Brea
River.
There are 22 species of birds at Good Hope, which also
is a bird sanctuary.
The stone buildings on the estate include a four-bedroom,
Georgian-style Great House,
built in 1755; a five-bedroom carriage house; and the
Counting House, directly behind the Great House, which
is popular with honeymooners.
My favorite was the three-bedroom River Cottage. Good
Hope can accommodate a total of 35 guests.
Noble House
The aptly named Noble House, a four-bedroom/six-bathroom
oceanfront estate on five acres, is located eight miles
west of Montego Bay and tailor-made for elegant parties
and clients who
plan to entertain while in Jamaica.
The 6,000-square-foot main pavilion features a great
room with 56 glass doors and a wraparound veranda. Stone
walls add to the property's castle-like feel -- as does
a massive crystal chandelier
in the main dining room.
Noble House also has a 2,000-square-foot pool cottage
on its grounds.
Tranquility
Two of Noble House's neighbors, Tranquility and Serenity,
appeal to travelers
(such as myself) who want a less formal environment
for their vacations.
Tranquility was Linda Smith's first villa, which she
renovated as her second home.
The four-and-a-half-bedroom house comes with a pool,
a seaside dining gazebo and a tennis court.
It is marble-floored throughout, and the great room
overlooks an 86-foot veranda. This house also contains
a two-story guest cottage.
Serenity
After Tranquility came Serenity, the second property
in Smith's 50-villa collection.
This cozy house was the most modest of the properties
I inspected but one with great appeal.
Each room in the three-bedroom house opens onto the
water, and the villa's interior is a series of octagonal
gazebos with rafters and beamed ceilings.
• • •
Villas by Linda Smith
Address: 8029 Riverside Drive, Cabin John, Md. 20818
Phone: (301) 229-4300
Fax: (301) 320-6963
Web: www.jamaicavillas.com
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