Renting a villa ~ as a first resort

By Kitty Bean Yancey, USA TODAY Aug 19, 2004


Caribbean villas once were viewed as the domain of VIPs or the
well-connected. Now, as the booking frenzy for fall and winter begins, they're also popular among the value-conscious. Vacationers are doing the math and finding that a week in a villa needn't cost more than a stay in a nice hotel. A rental villa (a free-standing house) offers more space and privacy than a hotel room. There's always a kitchen ... maid service ... a pool. ... there are cooks, butlers and other staff to make a stay effortless. Indeed, Jamaica villa specialist Linda Smith says her Villas by Linda Smith is working with a group of 13 people who are renting a
3,000-square-foot getaway with a pool, staff of seven and "gorgeous view" for ..... a week. The per-person cost works out to just ..... a night, she says. Villa renters also save on food costs, since eating in is cheaper.

You don't need to be a millionaire to afford these elegant villa offerings.
And no longer is booking a villa a time-consuming process that involves phone calls to an owner or rental agent and a wait for photos of the property. Now, potential renters can plug in their needs on rental firms, Web sites, immediately view pictures and descriptions of properties and even book online.

Internet photos make customers more comfortable with villa renting, say agents, making it easier to see what they're getting and to compare properties.However, the Web also can make villa renting more confusing, since almost anyone can start a Web site. Neophyte renters may have no idea what kind of service they'll be getting.

At established firms, customer support includes agents who help make the right villa match, inspectors who make sure each villa is up to snuff and on-island personnel who are available for help during a rental.
Matching a client to the right villa still is an art, ... . And all major companies have advisers available by phone.
Oceanfront or hilltop?..... Peace and quiet or near lots of island activities? How recent are the photos?

Some ..... are on the grounds of resorts that offer golf, beaches and dining.

Expertise at your fingertips

Villas by Linda Smith This veteran Jamaica specialist with 18 years in the business handles more than 50 staffed villas on the island's North Coast. 301-229-4300;www.jamaicavillas.com

You don't need to be a millionaire to afford these elegant villa offerings.

Goat Hill
Bedrooms: Three with private decks
Extras: Pool, view of Montego Bay, tennis court, staff of five

Villas by Linda Smith, 301-229-4300; www.jamaicavillas.com