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Style: An exquisite vacation villa in Jamaica with contemporary colonial design, beautifully furnished and an excellent sea view. A relaxed, welcoming air
The Beach: Cliffside setting with over 100 steps winding down through terraced, cliffside gardens to a small jetty with sea access for swimming and snorkelling – no beach
The Rooms: 4 bedrooms with en suite bathrooms plus family room with en suite bathroom converts to 5th bedroom
Key features: One of Jamaica’s luxury villas with superb woodland grounds, swimming pool (18ft x 38ft), floodlit tennis court with ball machine and rackets, table tennis, games, cable TV, DVD, VCR and CD with movie library, computer with internet access, printer and fax, gas barbecue, seafront jetty, sea kayaks and snorkelling equipment, membership of Sans Souci resort’s gym and aerobics club – day passes for other areas (adult only resort) can be purchased, membership at Sandals Golf and Country Club with reduced green fees.
Children: Welcome – though the cliffside location means that it is not entirely suitable for small children
Staff: Butler, cook, housekeeper, laundress and gardener |
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Description
Emerald Seas is a beautifully turned out two-storey villa located on the north coast of Jamaica just to the east of Ocho Rios. Built in colonial style, it has four sumptuous bedrooms, excellent indoor and outdoor living space and a lovely ocean view. It is in immaculate order, with highly polished hardwood and marble tile flooring, and simply wonderful interior décor that combines a traditional colonial inside, with a casual, holiday-style exterior. Emerald Seas is extremely well appointed and an endearing quality which gives it has a very welcoming, relaxed atmosphere. It is also very comfortable. You can sense that the villa is well loved and well cared for, and that the owner has made sure to provide guests with everything they require to enjoy the spectacular setting. Emerald Seas makes a perfect choice for couples, a group of friends or for a family.
As you arrive, electric gates give way to a gravel drive and a gorgeous wooded, landscaped garden filled with mature cedar trees. You pass the private (floodlit) tennis court and then come to a pair of sago palms set in immaculate lawns that flank the entrance portico of the villa. The sugar pink facade of the villa, with its white columns and window frames, makes it look like a low lying villa, rather than the two storey building that it is. But the entrance is actually at the rear and leads into the upper floor. The villa has been built into the cliff-side, and so it is not until you emerge on the ocean side that you can really appreciate its location. All the rooms face the ocean.
The upper floor comprises of two pairs of bedrooms, which stand either side of the central entrance foyer and the formal sitting room. In the sitting room you will find comfortable upholstered sofas and chairs with white slip covers, a cable TV and double French doors that open the room onto a delightful covered balcony with white wicker patio furniture. This balcony has a small dining area that is normally used for serving breakfast and another sitting area which is a lovely spot to relax with a good book. The villa faces the coast head on and so the sea views, framed by white painted, classical looking columns, are simply stunning.
An interior stairway with an open stairwell, cut into the villa’s underlying bedrock, leads down from the sitting room and foyer into a charming dining room. This has a backdrop of exposed rock filled with ferns and house plants, which create a grotto-like room. A large, well equipped kitchen leads off to one side, while on the other there is a cheerful family room that can be used as a 5th bedroom. This room, which has en suite bathroom with a shower, is furnished with comfy rattan seating. It has a full wet bar, a cable TV, VCR, DVD, Nintendo, a library of videos and DVDs for both adults and children, a games cupboard, and table tennis. The CD system in the family room pipes music out to the lower rooms, terrace and pool area. French doors lead from both the family room and the dining room onto a covered terrace with attractive, wrought iron furnishings, which in turn extends onto the sun and pool terrace.
The swimming pool is generously sized, its tiled terrace extending to walled-in sides that hover over the side of the steeply terraced, cliffside gardens. These cascade down to the ocean below. To the far side of the pool, the terrace has a recess for alfresco dining, just opposite which is a long flight of stone steps (about 110), which winds down the beautifully landscaped rockface to a jetty and small sundeck. From here a stepladder allows entry into the sea, which is fine for strong swimmers. As the sea bed is it is mostly rock and coral reef, it is good for snorkelling. The area is also for good kayaking.
There are four very elegantly furnished suites at Emerald Seas, each of which faces the ocean, has air-conditioning and a ceiling fan, a dressing and a sitting area and an en suite bathroom. The bedrooms are individually decorated – the first three of them in a colonial style. On the corner of the west wing is the Allamanda Suite, which is decorated in shades of pale green and gold, with a palm print theme and a king size, mahogany four poster bed. It has a bay window that faces the ocean, marble tile floors and an en suite bathroom with a tub/shower. Next door is the Orchid Suite, which is decorated in shades of dark pink against white, with polished wooded floors, two mahogany four poster double beds, cable TV and a large en suite marble bathroom with step-up whirlpool bath and separate glass brick shower. French doors lead to a private balcony with a lovely sea view. The west wing is set up in mirror image. The inner Hibiscus Suite - considered the master bedroom – has deep pink walls set against pale green soft furnishings and a king size, mahogany four poster bed. It has cable TV and a patio and bathroom as before. The corner Frangipani Suite is a pretty pale blue and white room with two twin beds which can be made up as a king. |
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Beach & Swimming
Emerald Seas is located on the edge of a sea cliff and does not have any beach front. A winding set of over a hundred steps leads down the beautifully landscaped, terraced cliffside to the water. At the foot of the cliff is a small jetty with a wooden sundeck and a ladder that gives access into the sea for swimming and snorkelling. It is recommended for strong swimmers only. Note that there are very few sandy areas on the sea bed here. It is mostly reef and rocks so it is most suited to snorkellers.
The villa’s Emerald Seas’ freshwater swimming pool is located off the lower veranda, in a tiled sun terrace which juts over the edge of the cliff (there is balustrade wall). It has lovely views of the coast. The pool is a good size (18ft x 38ft, depth 3ft-6ft) and it has steps into one corner of the shallow end and a ladder at the deep end. The family room is close by and has a wet bar, sitting area and a bathroom with shower. Note the pool cannot be made child safe and closed off from the terrace.
The Sans Souci Hotel is next door to Emerald Seas and it has two golden beaches with excellent swimming and a range of watersports including sailing, wind surfing, hydra-bikes, kayaking and waterskiing. Guests of the villa who would like access to the beach and facilities at the hotel can use the facilities of the resort (including all meals and drinks) through a special day pass that costs US$45 per person (reduced from $75). The hotel is an adult only resort and so children are restricted to age 16 years over. |
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Sports & Recreation
Emerald Seas has its own private, floodlit hard tennis court with a ball machine and rackets. There is table tennis in the family room, which also has a selection of games and toys. Pool floats, snorkelling equipment and two sea kayaks are provided for guest use, along with a set of golf clubs. Guests of Emerald Seas have membership at Sandals Golf & Country Club (10 minutes away) with reduced green fees of US$50 instead of US$100. This 18 hole, 72 par, 6311 yard course was formerly known as the Upton Golf Course and was established in 1951. There is also a limited membership of Sans Souci Hotel next door, which allows four villa guests per day to use the resort’s gym and aerobics club. If guests would like to access the hotel’s beach and other facilities, including all meals and drinks, a special day pass can be purchased at the rate of US$45 per person (reduced from $75). An evening pass, covering dinner, drinks and entertainment, costs US$55 per person (reduced from $95). Sans Souci is an adult only resort and is restricted to ages 16 years over. A spa programme is available at the villa through KiYara Ocean Spa at nearby Jamaica Inn, and private yoga lessons (from US$75) can also be arranged.
The nearest stables for riding are at Prospect Plantation which is just down the road. This is actually a 900 acre working estate which opens to the public as a tourist attraction, and offers guided rides. The nearby White River Valley also includes horse riding in its activities. Further afield, both riding and polo are available at Chukka Cove at Laughlands, about 35 minutes away by car, and at St Ann Polo Club and Equestrian Centre in Drax Hall, which is approximately 30 minutes away. |
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Locality
Emerald Seas is in the area of Prospect, which is located about 2 ½ hours east of Montego Bay and around 10 minutes drive east of the town centre of Ocho Rios, where it is set well back and completely hidden from the main north coast road. The San Souci Hotel is next door to the west, not that you would know unless you were told, as it cannot be seen from the villa. To the east is a string of holiday homes. Prospect Plantation, from which the area gets its name, is practically across the road. It is a 900 acre working estate and tourist attraction. Travel east for about 30 minutes from the villa you will reach the small town of Oracabessa, which was once home to Ian Fleming, the author of the James Bond books. Here you will find James Bond Beach, a popular public beach (admission charge) with a restaurant bar and watersports. Goldeneye, Fleming’s former home, is just around the corner, but it is an extremely private small hotel and so it is not open to the general public.
Headed the other way, towards Ocho Rios, you soon come into the parish of St Ann (often referred to as the Garden Parish because of its agriculture), where there are plenty of attractions and activities for nature lovers and travellers keen on the outdoors. There are botanical gardens, nature parks, a fishing park, Fern Gully, White River for bamboo or white water rafting, plantation tours, a forest canopy tour, several stables for horse riding or even polo, scuba diving, a golf course and downhill mountain biking. Watersports are available on Turtle Beach in Ocho Rios. For art lovers there is Harmony Hall Gallery – it is just a short drive from the villa and has a very good restaurant called Toscanini’s – and the Wassi Art Pottery. Ocho Rios is St Ann’s main town, the second largest on the north coast after Montego Bay and Jamaica’s busiest port of call for cruise ships. It has developed its shopping to suit, and there is a host of downtown shopping centres, craft markets, a themed Caribbean retail village and duty free outlets. It also has some good restaurants and a bit of night life. The town sits on an attractive bay with a sweep of white sand and a back-drop of lush, forested hills. The most famous attraction in the Ocho Rios area is Dunn’s River Falls, where you can climb 600ft falls into a nature park. This is next to the dolphin attraction at Dolphin Cove and is about 25 minutes drive from the villa.
Should you wish to visit a supermarket, there is the General Food Supermarket in Ocean Village Shopping Centre, Main Street, Ocho Rios. It is well stocked with both local and imported goods. If you prefer, all of your food shopping can be done for you. |
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Useful Hints
Emerald Seas has a cook and so it is expected that you will require initial food and drink supplies to be purchased for your arrival, so that a welcome meal can be prepared. You should ask your travel organiser or the villa agent (if booking direct) for a list, and ensure that any particular requirements are noted. There is generally an average budget of US$30 per adult and US$20 per child, per day for provisioning the villa, which includes a basic drinks package of rum, wine and beer. This is for a standard menu and will not cover extras such as lobster or imported steak, which vary according to market prices. The shopping for the rest of your stay can be done by your cook once you have liaised with them locally. When you are doing this you will receive the bill for the initial provisioning plus the costs for transport, which should be paid in cash either to the cook or - if an account has been set up - at the local grocery store. If you require the cook to take care of your shopping, you will need to provide funds for all subsequent shopping as well as transport costs. You may opt to go with them on the first trip.
Rental rates for villas in Jamaica do not include ‘tips’ and it is recommended that you set aside 10% of the total villa rental in winter and 15% for summer as tips. You will be expected to pay this directly to the staff before you leave, dividing the amount according to staff seniority and the level of service received, placing the tip in individual envelopes with the staff’s names on. Normally the largest portion goes to the cook and butler.
Your villa’s laundress will attend to your personal laundry (excluding dry clean items). If laundry is handed over in the morning, it is usually ready later that same afternoon, or the following morning.
Children: Although Emerald Seas welcomes children and supplies toys, games, videos and Nintendo its cliff-side location should be taken into consideration. Small or very adventurous children will have to be well supervised. Do discuss this with the villa agent before booking. There is a gate to the steps that lead down the cliff to the sea platform, but note also that the pool, like many in the Caribbean, is not enclosed and that the cliff-edge it has just a balustrade at thigh height. Inside the house the staircase linking the two floors has an open stairwell surrounded by railing.
Weddings: Permission to hold a wedding, or any large function, at your rental villa should be obtained in advance when making your initial reservation enquiry, as each villa has its own restrictions. Most villa weddings/functions will attract a guest surcharge if the number exceeds the villa’s maximum occupancy. This fee at Emerald Seas is currently US$15 per person. Also note that it is normally a requirement for the services of an outside catering company to be arranged if numbers exceed the maximum villa occupancy. The maximum number of guests for weddings or functions at Emerald Seas is 50. |
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Rates
| | 25 Nov- 14 Dec 2007 | 15 Dec- 26 Dec 2007 | 27 Dec- 05 Jan 2007-08 | 06 Jan- 15 Apr 2008 | 16 Apr- 17 Nov 2008 | | Emerald Seas 1-8 guests 9-10 guests | 7,000 7,500 | 13,000 13,000 | 14,000 14,000 | 8,500 9,000 | 7,000 7,500 | All rates are in US$ per week, including Government Consumption Tax. Gratuities are not included. All rates are subject to change without notice. Minimum stay 5 nights during the summer season and 7 nights during the winter season (including Thanksgiving and Easter), except during Christmas/New Year when the minimum stay is 14 nights. |
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How To Book
If you wish to book direct, bookings should be made through the villa agent, Prendergast Villas. To confirm a reservation you must send a deposit of 30% of the total rental fee (50% for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year). Payment of the remaining 70% is required 60 days prior to your arrival (90 days for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year). If you are booking within 60 days of your arrival, full payment must be made to secure the booking. Cancellations 60 days (90 days for Christmas/New Year) prior to arrival incur a 10% charge and within 60 days (90 for Christmas/New Year) payments are non-refundable, unless the villa is rebooked for the same period. All cancellations incur a minimum 10% service charge. A US$500 security deposit may be requested against damage to the villa or contents during your stay. It is refundable on your return home if no damage occurs during your stay. You may contact Prendergast Villas by using the DIRECT EMAIL ENQUIRIES facility at the top of this page, or if you wish to telephone them, please click on TELEPHONE CONTACT to reveal the number. |
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Airport Meet & Greet
If you are booking direct you can make arrangements through the villa agent for a driver to meet you at the airport. The fee for this will then be pre-paid with your balance for the villa. Your airport transfer from Montego Bay will take approximately 2 ½ hours. Alternatively, if you would prefer to be taken care of from the minute you arrive at the airport, with a range of services that can include stretch limousine transfers, and a personal Concierge Service, this is offered by Glamour Tours.
If you are booking through a travel organiser, it is likely that their representative will be at the airport to meet you. This service and your return airport transfers should be included in the cost of your holiday. Please check at the time of booking.
Note that Boscobel Aerodrome is located nearby, just outside Oracabessa, nine miles east of Ocho Rios. The small airstrip sees domestic charter services out of Montego Bay (25 minutes flying time) and out of Tinson Pen Airport in Kingston (15 minutes). Boscobel operates during daylight hours only. |
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Getting Around
A hired car is strongly recommended for all private villa holidays. A vehicle gives you an added element of freedom and will be useful if you want to dine out in the evenings, visit the sights or go shopping. If you are booking direct or through a tour operator, you can organise your car hire at the same time as booking your accommodation. Ask for your vehicle to be delivered to the property approximately five hours after your scheduled time of arrival on Jamaica or the following morning. Vehicles can be returned at the airport or be collected from the property at a pre-arranged time on your departure day. |
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_edited_normal.jpg "Emerald Seas - Vacation villa in Jamaica, Sans Souci resort")
