Does the idea of renting a villa in Jamaica sound like an option only for the rich and famous? Well, the villa alternative is probably the best-kept secret in Jamaican travel today - and you don’t have to be rich or famous to enjoy the experience.
Who is the typical villa guest? You are! People choose villas for different reasons. Budget-conscious people may appreciate the cost-effectiveness of villas, especially for groups. Adventure seekers often feel that villas provide more opportunity to explore as they see fit. People with more disposable income love the privacy, service, and luxury that comes with villas in their price range.
Almost all villas in Jamaica come staffed with at least a cook, housekeeper, and gardener. You’ll have no meals to cook, no dishes to wash, and no beds to make - just like at a hotel. So, why choose a villa over a hotel, especially an all-inclusive hotel where everything is included? Read on. We’ll show you seven reasons why a Jamaica villa vacation may offer you a welcomed vacation alternative.
- More space and privacy than a hotel
At a hotel, you are assigned to a room. You share public spaces with all the other guests. Finding a quiet area may be a chore at a hotel but not at a villa where you have run of the house and grounds.
- Less crowded
At one hotel where we stayed, we had to reserve a space on the beach* for a predetermined length of time. If we left to get a drink, we had to mark our spot so it wouldn’t be taken when we returned. Not so at a villa. Even if you have a shared beach, it is unlikely to be crowded. Likewise, the swimming pool is usually private and only used by you and your guests.
*It is not widely known but, technically, under Jamaican law, there is no such thing as a private beach. The land to get to the beach is private; but, the actual beach - sand and sea - is not. Usually, however, beaches that are called private are visited only by people who have rights to visit the beach either by paying an entrance fee or by staying at a property that has beach rights.
- More value for money
Unless you are renting a villa for just one or two people, a villa vacation in Jmaaica is often less costly than a hotel. Will you miss out on the amenities provided by hotels? Not necessarily. Some villas have tennis courts, gyms, or access to beach clubs for watersports. Some may even be able to arrange nightly entertainment. How does limbo dancing to a local band sound to you?
A villa is most cost-effective if rented by a group – the more the merrier and the cheaper too! A week’s stay in a luxury all-inclusive hotel during the peak season may cost US$1500-2000 per person excluding airfare. Renting a comparable villa may cost $1000-1200 per person or less *after* adding in accommodation, meals and the shared cost of renting a car. The savings are even more dramatic with large groups and for longer lengths of stay. For smaller groups, the dollar cost may be more but the expense may be balanced by the more personalized service and attention possible at a villa.
- Less likelihood of add-on expenses
Extras at hotels such as service charges for telephone calls, both local and long distance, can cost you plenty. At a villa, however, you only pay for the actual costs of these services.
- More luxury
Often, you are able to get more luxury at a villa than at a hotel of comparable price. Villas tend to reflect the style of their owners. They tend to have more character than non-descript and predictable hotel rooms.
- More personal experience
The same staff typically attends to your needs for the duration of your stay. They have a more vested interest in your stay. They get to know you and you get to know them.
- More opportunity to experience the local flavor at your comfort level.
A villa experience is usually less canned than a hotel experience. You have more freedom to be yourself and to pursue your interests – not those of a social director.
Eight Questions to Ask to Help You Choose the Perfect
Jamaica Villa Rental for Your Needs
With the wide variety of villas in Jamaica from which to choose, selecting the right villa can seem like a mind-boggling experience.
Finding the Jamaica vacation home that is just right for you depends on what you want and expect from your vacation. You must know what you want from a Jamaica villa vacation before you begin the selection process.
Here are 8 questions to ask help you pin point your needs.
- How much are you willing to spend per person?
The old saying, "You get what you pay for," often holds true with vacation rentals in Jamaica. Beware of low priced luxury villa rentals. Luxury is a very overused term in the villa rental industry. Lower priced homes are often more basic with fewer amenities. Additional services often attract a fee or may not be available.
- What size villa do you need or want?
Do not automatically exclude larger homes. Some, but not all, do offer
pro-rated rates.
- What sort of home do you want?
Do you want a simple cottage with just the basics? Or, do you
want a home with many special amenities and features? Even though you may think you want to “do nothing”, you don’t want a situation where you may be bored. The more amenities that a home has to offer the more choices you and your guests will have. If curling up with a good book is your criteria for “doing nothing” you will appreciate a home with a vast assortment of books rather than one with four novels in their “library”.
- What sort of amenities do you *require*?
Would you like a swimming pool, Jacuzzi, television? Come up
with a list of requirements and/or special needs. The more
detailed your list the better you will define the Jamaica vacation home
of your dreams; but... the harder it may be to find such a
house.
- What sort of environment do you want?
Do you want a tranquil setting or do you want to be "in the
thick of things?"
- How close do you want to be to different activities?
Do you want to be totally away from all activities? Or do you
want to be close but not too close to nightlife and other
activities? For example, if golf is important to you, would you
want a villa on a golf course? Or, how about a villa that is
close to several golf courses so you can sample each one?
- How important is the ocean to you?
Do you want to have the ocean a short walk away? Or, do you
want to be on a hillside looking out at the ocean? Or does
proximity to ocean not matter to you? Note that, generally, the
closer you are to the ocean, the higher the price. You get the most bang for your buck by choosing homes that are very close but are not directly on the water.
- How far do you wish to travel to get to your villa from the
airport?
If you are staying for a week or two, this may not matter; but,
if your visit is short, you may or may not want to spend several
hours getting to your villa.
Knowing what you want is the first step to a relaxing and
memorable Jamaica villa vacation experience tailored to your needs.
Seize the opportunity to have a relaxing and memorable villa vacation tailored to your needs - Jamaican style. A villa vacation in Jamaica is within your grasp - especially if you split the costs with a group of friends or family. So, make it Jamaica!
