YOUR VILLA VACATION

by Linda Smith

Location and Activities
Most villas are located on an excellent stretch of Jamaica's beautiful north coast within a 10-mile span of the colorful town of Montego Bay
and the international airport, enabling guests to reach "home"
20 minutes after clearing Customs. Nine are on beautiful Discovery Bay, one is on the beach in Runaway Bay and five are oceanfront in colorful Ocho Rios. We also have a charming 18th Century 16-bedroom plantation with stables and trails in Trelawny, and renowned for its dreamlike weddings.

Travel & Leisure has dubbed north coast "the Jamaican Riviera."
While privately located and concealed from view by lush landscaping, each villa is within easy driving distance of beaches, dive shops, boat rentals, clubs, boutiques, restaurants, golf courses, tennis courts, deep-sea fishing, snorkeling and other water sports,
and craft markets.

Just a few minutes from our Montego Bay villas are Round Hill Hotel & Beach Club ... The Tryall Club with one of the world's most beautiful golf courses, host to PGA and LPGA Tour events ... and Half Moon Golf, Tennis & Beach Club, also with championship golf course and tennis courts. Sunset sails, river rafting by torchlight, horseback riding, native floor shows, visits to the bird sanctuaries and waterfalls ... or to a furniture factory up a nearby mountain where you can custom order excellent quality cedar and mahogany reproductions ... can also be planned and involve minimal driving. See ENJOY JAMAICA! for additional activities.

Staff and Service
A typical grocery budget is $45-$55 per adult per day and $20 per day for preteens. (A few villas have higher budgets for food and beverage.) This may vary up or down depending on market prices and menus. 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 your cook, 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. At week’s end, she will present receipts and reconcile your account. [Note: A few villas have higher food and beverage budgets.]

Estimating grocery costs is not a science. Much depends on the menus you want and current market prices. Obviously, this is a variable so anticipate that your cook may refund money at week's end … or ask you for more money mid-week. In either case, your cook or chef will reconcile your food and beverage bill at week's end.

The day starts while guests are still asleep. The cook quietly places pots of steaming Jamaican coffee on the verandah or outside your bedroom door. 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, she will prepare her own mix of Jamaican specialties ~ including delicious homemade soups, salads and desserts; grilled lobster, coconut shrimp, jerk chicken, ginger pork, fresh fish, curried goat and even lasagna … or traditional American fare per your request. Warning: Jamaican cooks are excellent and portions are generous!

On your first day at the villa, your cook will meet with you regarding menus for the week, then finish the week's shopping. At that time, you will give her cash for your food and drink plus her $60 taxi fare. Plan to give your cook US dollars to pay for your groceries in cash. Alternatively, if one or more of you wish to go to the supermarket with your cook, you may use your credit card. (Stores will not accept your card from your cook if you are not present with her.) Roadside vendors of fresh fruits and produce will require cash.

CHILDREN
Our cooks are happy to prepare separate meals for children and serve them prior to the adults' dinner hour. We provide cribs and high chairs on request. Staff in all our villas love children. Employment of a nanny enables the best of all holiday worlds: carefree parents and children being cared for nearby. Our nannies work for $10 per hour. Plan to pay also approximately $20 per day for your nanny's meals.

Plan to pay for your groceries and gratuities in cash. Both USDollars and JADollars are welcomed. Your Budget (must read!)

Weather
Jamaica enjoys typical Caribbean weather: 80's and 90's by day and 70's at night. Winter to summer variance is only 10 degrees. It is more likely to rain in May/June and September/October than in other months. Dress is casual. Coats, ties and expensive jewelry are not appropriate. In winter months, you may need a cotton sweater after sunset. Do take mosquito repellent! We recommend Ben's 100, Cutters, Ultra Muskol and Avon Skin-So-Soft.

Currency
US dollars are accepted island wide. Exchange rates vary if you choose to purchase Jamaican dollars. Most commercial establishments, including grocery and liquor stores, accept credit cards. Staff and driver gratuities, however, must be paid in cash.

Travel Documents

Check-in and Check-out Times
Check-in time is 1:00 p.m. on arrival day. Check-out time is 11:00 a.m. on departure day.

In The Tryall Club villas, check-in time is 3:00 p.m. and checkout time is 12:00 noon.

However, if no other guests are scheduled to occupy your villa on arrival and departure days, you are welcome to check in early and check out as late as you wish.

Ask any agent in our office to advise you of the occupancy schedule of your villa. Remember that the schedule may change prior
to your travel date, so you may wish to check with us again the week prior to your trip.

In a Summer Place, Amanoka, Keela Wee, Makana, Sundown, Coral Cove Cottages and Whispering Waters
CHECK-IN TIME IS 3:00 p.m. and CHECK-OUT TIME IS 11:00 a.m.

Electricity
Current is essentially the same as US: 110 volts, 50 cycles (US is 60 cycles). Converters are not necessary for US-made appliances.

Telephone - Overseas Calls
We recommend Digicel cell phones which are available at local outlets in Jamaica. Some of our villas offer complimentary Digicels. Click here for the list. Alternatively, World Talk Calling Cards expedite overseas calls. Your cook will provide a starter card and, at your request, will purchase more minutes for you in various denominations. Jamaica Telephone may not accept AT&T calling cards and other prepaid phone cards.

Internet Access
Click here to see our list of villas that have complimentary Internet access.

In other villas, bring your laptop to establish a temporary email ac count for Internet access. Call, email or fax Infochannel in Kingston. Telephone (876) 978-2960, fax (876) 978-2966 or (876) 927-8086 or email icquery@infochan.com. Have a credit card and the villa phone number handy. They will ask for the information they require to set up your account for the time period you request. They'll bill your credit card. It's easy and not too expensive. Infochan also offers very good technical support seven days a week via 978-4972 or 927-3630 or 946-1657 or 978-2960-64. Turn off your computer when you're not using it as Jamaica experiences occasional power surges, brownouts, blackouts and phone spikes. An ideal setup would include an extension cord, a surge protector and a phone splitter ~ but it is possible to operate without all these.

Ground Transportation
We can reserve self drive. However, we recommend our team of excellent private drivers (parttime or fulltime). See Getting Around for rates.

Payment, Cancellation and Damage Deposit Policy
A 25% deposit confirms a reservation. Balance is due 60 days before travel. No refunds for cancellations are made within 60 days prior to scheduled occupancy. For cancellations 61 or more days prior to scheduled occupancy, we will refund all deposits less a 10% cancellation fee. For Thanksgiving week cancellations made 91 or more days prior to scheduled occupancy, we will refund all deposits less a 10% cancellation fee. For Christmas and New Year's week cancellations made more than 120 days prior to scheduled occupancy, we will refund all deposits less a 10% cancellation fee. A $500 damage deposit ($1,000 in some villas) applies to each reservation. We will refund this promptly when you return home if no damage occurs during your stay.

Updated May 26, 2009