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Style: Comfortable, cheerful and informal Caribbean holiday home in a mix of contemporary and traditional styles. Ideal for an easy-going family holiday for lazy days around the pool and the beach
The Beach: A Jamaica beach villa with 50ft private, golden sand, man-made beach in a protected bay below the garden
The Rooms: 4 bedrooms with en suite bathrooms
Key features: A Jamaica villa rent with a private protected swimming bay, swimming pool, flood-lit tennis court, games room with bar, cable TV, board games and dart board, cable TV, DVD, VCR and CD system, basket ball hoop, barbecue and beach side gazebo.
Children: Welcome
Staff: Cook, housekeeper/laundress, 2 gardeners and night watchman |
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Description
Four Winds is a pleasant and very welcoming four bedroom beachfront home set in two acres of well landscaped gardens just west of Ocho Rios. It is a modern, low lying house and it is ideal for families. There is a good pool, a large games room and plenty of space in which to run around and play in the gardens. An added bonus is its own private beach. The owner of Four Winds is a keen horticulturist and so adults may enjoy the tropical gardens, which are full to bursting with plants and flowers. As you approach the house, beyond the gated entrance, you pass a shady area of lawn with a variety of fruit trees including shaddock, lime, breadfruit, ackee and golden apple (also known as June plum). Opposite the lawn is a private, floodlit tennis court. Then, when you walk up to the front porch, your eyes are drawn to the side onto a small fishpond and a waterfall. It is stocked with grasses, palms and other shade-loving plants and looks particularly good when it is lit at night.
You enter the villa and step into an L shaped, open-plan living area. The first section of this is a cosy family room with a comfy sofa and couple of chairs and wall cabinets featuring a cable TV with DVD, VCR, a CD system, fax machine and a selection of paperbacks. This in turn gives into a casual sitting room, also known as the Sun Room, which is furnished with rattan. Its glass sliding doors reveal the sea views and open onto the lawn, which is enclosed by a white picket fence. The beach is beyond it below, and to the side, out of view, is the pool terrace. Leading off the sitting room is a pleasant formal dining area, with tall arched windows and more French doors that give views to the garden and sea beyond. The whole room is so light and the views so good that it gives a feeling of being in a pavilion.
The most popular room in the house is the spacious pool/games room downstairs, which is located on the east corner of the villa facing the pool. This has a large wet bar with fridge and icemaker and two whole walls of glass doors and windows. These slide back and open onto a huge sun terrace with swimming pool. In the games room you will find a collection of paperbacks, magazines and board games, plus a dart board and cable TV. There is a dining table and chairs (lunch is often served here) and a set of patio chairs with a low drinks table that is also suitable for playing games.
Outside, the paved pool and sun terrace is of a good size, and large enough to have space to dine, sunbathe and even play some basketball at a hoop to one side. On the far side of the swimming pool is a wooden arbour which can be used for shade or as another dining spot. To the left is an expanse of lawn, enclosed by a white picket fence, with a gazebo, which is used for hammocks, or dining, or for serving early morning coffee. It is also a pretty location for weddings. Steps lead down from the gazebo to a reasonably deep, 50ft curve of golden sandy beach which was created within the man-made, protected bay. The water is calm for swimming. Beach chairs can be set down on the sand, and at night on special occasions the staff will happily light a bonfire for after dinner drinks and toasting marshmallows.
There are four air-conditioned bedrooms with ceiling fans and polished wooden floors at Four Winds, three of which are located downstairs. A small twin bedded room (in which the beds can be pushed together to make a king) is located to the left of the entrance foyer. It looks onto the drive and has an en suite tiled shower-room. There is a powder room next to it. On the opposite side of the foyer is another twin bedded room with sea views, and en suite tub/shower. The third bedroom has a queen size bed, sea views and a door leading out to the tiled pool terrace. It has an en suite bathroom with a tub/shower. The master bedroom is upstairs. It is very spacious and has a king size, two poster bed, a couple of small reading chairs, cable TV, a dressing area and en suite with tub/shower. Glass sliding doors give onto an enclosed, breezy, wooden lattice balcony, with wooden shutters that open to reveal the pool below and sea views. |
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Beach & Swimming
Four Winds sits above a small private beach, a 50ft curve of golden sand, within a man made protected bay. A jetty on the west side and a longer, elevated sea wall on the east create a calm area for swimming. Beach chairs can be set down on the sand. Steps lead down to the sand from the gardens via the gazebo, which has a lovely sea view.
A large, fresh water swimming pool sits next to the villa, set in a spacious tiled sundeck. There are steps into the shallow end (4ft) and a ladder at the deep end (8ft). |
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Sports & Recreation
There is a private, floodlit hard tennis court in the grounds at Four Winds. Tennis tuition is available on request, subject to availability, at additional cost. Note that rackets and balls are not provided. There is a spacious downstairs games room, which is kitted out with dart board, cable TV, paperbacks, board games and wet bar. The room leads out onto the pool deck, where there is also a poolside basketball hoop.
The nearest golf courses are Grand Lido Braco Golf Club, west of Rio Bueno (a 9 hole par 28, 1,357 yard course) and SuperClubs Golf Course, an 18 hole 72 par, 6,814 yard course located in Runaway Bay. They are both around 20 minutes away by car. About 35 minutes drive is Sandals Golf & Country Club, an 18 hole 72 par, 6311 yard course located in the hills east of Ocho Rios. Formerly known as the Upton Golf Course, this was established in 1951. The nearest stables for horse-riding or polo are both in St Ann. Chukka Cove is at Laughlands, about ten minutes away by car, and St Ann Polo Club and Equestrian Centre is in Drax Hall, approximately five minutes away. |
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Locality
Four Winds is located in the parish of St Ann, in Old Fort Bay, a well to do, residential estate just south of Mammee Bay. It is around 15 minutes west of the centre of Ocho Rios and a good two hour drive from Montego Bay, depending on road conditions. There are a fair number of similar, executive-style homes and holiday villas in the estate. Four Winds is a couple of minutes off the main road, tucked well away within the estate, with a gated entrance and two acres of well landscaped grounds. Other beachfront properties sit either side of it.
Ocho Rios is Jamaica’s busiest port of call for cruise ships and has developed its shopping to suit, with a host of downtown shopping centres, craft markets, a themed Caribbean retail village and duty free outlets. There are also some good restaurants and a bit of night life. The town sits on an attractive bay with a sweep of white sand, CDC Beach, and has a back-drop of lush, forested hills. The most famous attraction in the area is Dunn’s River Falls, where you can climb the 600ft falls up into a nature park. Next to it is the dolphin attraction at Dolphin Cove, a short drive from the villa. To the west of the villa are the quieter areas of Runaway Bay (about 20 minutes by car) and Discovery Bay (40 minutes away).
The parish of St Ann, which often referred to as the Garden Parish, has plenty of attractions and activities for nature lovers and those keen on the outdoors. There are botanical gardens, nature parks, a fishing park, Fern Gully, White River for bamboo or white water rafting east of Ocho Rios, plantation tours, a forest canopy tour, several stables for horse riding or even polo, scuba diving, several golf courses and downhill mountain biking. Watersports are available on Turtle Beach in Ocho Rios or at James Bond Beach in Oracabessa (east of Ocho Rios). There is an excellent art gallery at Harmony Hall near Prospect and you might also want to check out the Wassi Art Pottery.
Should you wish to visit a supermarket, there is the General Food Supermarket in Ocean Village Shopping Centre, Main Street, Ocho Rios which is well stocked with both local and imported goods. Note, however, that all of your food shopping can be done for you if you wish. |
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Useful Hints
Four Winds has a cook and so it is expected that you will require initial food and drink supplies to be bought 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.
Those who are highly allergic to animals should note that Four Winds has three pet dogs and a couple of cats. They can be moved out or kept in during the day and only let out at night during your stay.
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$15 per person. Also note that it is normally a requirement for the services of an outside catering company to be arranged if numbers exceed the maximum villa occupancy. The maximum number of guests for weddings or functions at Emerald Seas is 30. The beach side gazebo is an ideal spot to hold the actual wedding ceremony. |
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Rates
| | 15 Dec- 26 Dec 2007 | 27 Dec- 05 Jan 2007-08 | 06 Jan- 15 Apr 2008 | 16 Apr- 17 Nov 2008 | | Four Winds 1-8 guests | 9,000 | 9,000 | 7,000 | 5,000 | All rates are in US$ 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 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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