Jamaica Villas by Linda Smith - Staff and Services

Your cook will handle grocery shopping and meal preparation. She will pre-purchase your first few meals plus pantry staples, then finish the week's shopping after meeting with you. At week's end, she will present receipts for all food and beverage and reconcile your account. A typical grocery budget is $315-$350 per adult per week ~ less for children. (A few villas have higher budgets for food and beverage.) This may vary up or down depending on market prices and menus. An approximate food budget is $45 per adult per day (more in some villas) and $20 per day for preteens. If you request shrimp, lobster, imported beef or large quantities of other food items, this estimate will increase. Your cook will pre-purchase your first few meals, pantry staples and a small starter bar
(a few bottles of Red Stripe, moderately-priced wine and rum). Additional alcohol requests will increase your budget. If you wish to go to the various markets with her, you are welcome. Otherwise, simply review with her your tastes and distastes and she'll handle it all while you stay at the villa and relax.

The day starts while guests are still asleep. The cook quietly places pots of steaming Jamaican coffee on the verandah. Full breakfast is served when all guests are ready. A typical breakfast may include fresh-squeezed orange juice and fresh fruits, banana fritters or plantain, eggs, bacon, pancakes or cereal ~ or Jamaican ackee and salt fish. For lunches and dinners, your cook will prepare her own mix of Jamaican specialties ~ including delicious homemade soups and desserts, lobster, curried goat, jerk pork or chicken, pasta, lamb, beef, fresh fish ~ or serve traditional American fare as you request. Warning: Jamaican cooks are excellent and portions are generous!

Your chambermaid and laundress will care for every detail of your bedroom and bath ~ providing fresh linens and flowers, returning your neatly-folded laundry, and turning down your bed each evening. The gardener will maintain the pool and grounds immaculately each day. Most villas are staffed by a butler as well who serves, tends bar and generally facilitates.

Available on request are masseuses, nannies and drivers. Recommended staff gratuity at the end of your stay is 10% of the villa rental in High Season, 15% in Low Season, divided among your staff members in accordance with the Gratuity Guide you'll find in your Welcome Book at the villa. Plan to pay your grocery and gratuity monies in cash: US dollars or Jamaican dollars.
[Note: Prepayment of groceries and gratuities is not required. However, if you wish to prepay for groceries or staff gratuities, this is an option that will enable you to carry less cash. The fee for our processing your prepayments is $25. Grocery and gratuity prepayments must reach our office 60 days prior to scheduled occupancy. Be assured that prepayment of staff gratuities will not diminish good service.] Your Budget (must read!)


© 2008 Villas by Linda Smith, Inc. Photographs © 2001-2008 Nigel D. Lord Villas by Linda Smith Inc. 8029 Riverside Drive Cabin John, MD 20818 (301) 229 4300 All words and images on this web site are protected by COPYRIGHT to Villas by Linda Smith, Inc. and Nigel D. Lord. No use of these words or images is permitted without express permission by the COPYRIGHT holders. Violation of this COPYRIGHT may result in penalties ranging from $100 to $55,000.