| So you've rented a villa for your Jamaica | | | | a daily supply of fresh linens and flowers |
| vacation. Now what? Well if you've rented a | | | | and returning your neatly-folded laundry each |
| luxury, staffed villa here's what you might | | | | afternoon before turning down your bed each |
| expect: Your driver will meet you at the | | | | evening. The gardener will maintain the pool |
| airport in a comfortable, air-conditioned | | | | and grounds immaculately each day. Larger |
| van. On the drive to your villa, he will | | | | villas are staffed by a butler who serves, |
| indicate points of interest along the road | | | | tends bar and generally facilitates. |
| and provide refreshments- if it is a long | | | | Available on request are a masseuse, |
| drive do not hesitate to request a stop. Upon | | | | children's nanny and chauffeur. At the |
| arrival at your villa you will be greeted by | | | | conclusion of your stay it is customary to |
| your staff; they are your caretakers for the | | | | tip for good service. Villa staffs, like most |
| duration of your stay and you should feel | | | | jobs in the service industry, rely on tips as |
| completely at ease making reasonable requests | | | | part of their overall compensation. |
| of them. Get to know your head-of-house as he | | | | Recommended gratuities tend to be around 10% |
| or she will be your primary point of contact | | | | of the villa rental in High Season ~ 15% of |
| should you have any questions about the villa | | | | the villa rental in Low Season (some villas |
| and how it operates. Your cook will handle | | | | have more specific guidelines). These |
| grocery shopping and meal preparation. She | | | | percentages apply to the entire staff, not to |
| will prepurchase your first few meals plus | | | | each individual staff member. In each villa, |
| pantry staples, then finish the week's | | | | you will find a gratuity guide advising you |
| shopping after meeting with you. A typical | | | | how tips should be distributed among your |
| grocery budget is US$210 per adult per week | | | | staff members based on their seniority- in |
| (more in some villas) ... less for children. | | | | some cases you can pay the entire amount to |
| This may vary up or down depending on market | | | | the head of house or directly to the property |
| prices and menus. If you wish to go to the | | | | manager for distribution. Once you have |
| various markets with your cook, feel free to | | | | experienced the villa lifestyle, it is only |
| do so. Otherwise, simply review with her your | | | | natural to be intrigued by the prospect of |
| likes and dislikes and she will handle | | | | owning one of these extraordinary properties. |
| everything while you stay at the villa and | | | | Whether it is an existing villa or a home |
| relax. At some of the villa colonies, like | | | | site on which to build the vacation house of |
| Tryall, it is possible for your cook to | | | | your dreams Jamaica's experienced real estate |
| charge groceries to your account, which you | | | | agents will help you find it. |
| then settle at the end of your stay. At most | | | | |
| of the independent villas, unless you've | | | | What are the advantages to staying in a villa |
| arranged for a mealplan, your cook will | | | | over a hotel? The only true privacy you get |
| request money for shopping; she'll bring you | | | | in a hotel is in your bedroom or suite. In a |
| receipts and change. The day starts while | | | | villa everything belongs to you ~ the pool, |
| guests are still asleep. The cook quietly | | | | the sun beds, the terrace, the music, the TV |
| places pots of steaming Jamaican coffee and | | | | ~ it is your home every minute of the day. |
| platters of fresh fruit outside your bedroom | | | | You will only see the people you wish to see. |
| door or at the breakfast table. Full | | | | Even your staff will become "invisible" if |
| breakfast is served when all guests are | | | | that is what you want, appearing only at |
| ready. A typical breakfast may include fresh | | | | those times you ask them to serve you. In a |
| orange juice and several fruits, banana | | | | villa you decide everything from what you eat |
| fritters or plantain, eggs, bacon, pancakes | | | | to the time you eat it. And yet, despite |
| or cereal. Light lunches are usual in | | | | having all these major advantages, a villa |
| Jamaica, then for dinner your cook will | | | | vacation compares very favorably on price |
| prepare her own mix of Jamaican specialties | | | | with a hotel. Certain villas include |
| ... including delicious homemade soups and | | | | temporary memberships in private clubs such |
| desserts, ackee and saltfish, jerk pork or | | | | as Tryall, Round Hill and Wyndham Rose Hall |
| chicken, shrimp or curried goat. Lobster, | | | | that offer a host of activities including |
| too, when in season ... she can of course | | | | golf, tennis and watersports. Those actually |
| also serve traditional American fare as you | | | | located within a villa colony offer the |
| request. Warning: Jamaican cooks are | | | | best-of-both worlds, with the complete |
| excellent and portions are big. Your | | | | privacy of a villa vacation and all the |
| chambermaid and laundress will care for every | | | | amenities and social opportunities of a fine |
| detail of your bedroom and bath ... providing | | | | resort. |