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