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Style: A remarkable villa, very luxurious, using the best of traditional Jamaican style – hardwoods, floors and furniture, louvres and high ceilings. Top-notch service and accommodation.
The Beach: Guest membership privileges at the Rose Hall Resort & Country Club, 1,100ft of white sand beach approximately 5 minutes drive
The Rooms: 5 bedrooms with en suite bathrooms
Key features: Greatview is one of the best villas in Jamaica for rental, coastal views, infinity edge swimming pool (20ft x 40ft) with waterfall to plunge pool, Jacuzzi, air-conditioned gym, cable and satellite TV in all bedrooms, 40ft high ceiling great room with sitting and formal dining areas, large living veranda with bar and TV, air-conditioned family room with 30” plasma TV, DVD, VCR and library, gas barbecue, massage room with therapist on call, roof deck with telescope, weddings, meeting facilities, 24-hour concierge service and complimentary full time driver. Guest membership for Rose Hall Resort & Country Club.
Children: welcome – water toys, floats and basket ball hoop plus crib, playpen, high chair and baby toys
Staff: 2 butlers, chef, driver, housekeeper, laundress, gardener – separate staff quarters for resident staff |
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Description
Greatview is a first class Jamaica villa set high above the Half Moon golf course to the East of Montego Bay. Completed in 2004, it is a spectacular modern villa that uses the best of traditional Caribbean style to create a grand but extremely comfortable holiday home. The house is tucked away at the at the end of a cul-de-sac near the top of the well established Spring Farm Estate, where it sits behind electric gates down a steep drive. It has been built into the hillside, which gives a good deal of privacy but also spectacular views over the fairways and the surrounding hills and eventually the coast. Greatview is conveniently located for golfers of course – and besides the Half Moon course, there are several other excellent golf courses within easy striking distance – but it is is also within easy reach of Montego Bay and its hotels, where there are plenty of activities, places of interest and good restaurants,
Greatview has quality stamped all over it, something that is noticeable from the moment you glimpse the grand interior on arrival. Its owner (and manager) is Canadian Dr Margaret Kerr, who lives just below the villa in a separate cottage when guests are staying, has a terrific eye for detail. The villa was designed by architect Jeremy Millingen and features Barbados coral stone render walls, pale French travertine tile floors in the main areas, pressed bamboo flooring in the bedrooms, unusual Venetian glazes and marble in the bathrooms and wooden windows, shutters and door frames crafted locally from Columbian cedar. Inside, furnishings include antiques from Asia, family heirlooms from Canada and colonial style pieces. The effect is striking, elegant and luxurious. In fact the setting and the facilities give the house the feel of a small and intimate hotel, with top class service to match.
As you enter Greatview, a lofty portico leads you into an amazing, light-filled living space, with a huge 40ft vaulted roof and tasteful neutral décor. The Great Room, as it is known, is large and has a series of French doors that open it up to the veranda and the views. There is a formal sitting area on the left with a grouping of comfy, plump sofas and chairs. A card table sits to one side and looking back onto the drive through a double set of windows is a pair of reading chairs. On the other side is the formal dining area, which is set around a beautiful antique walnut table. This is large enough for ten to twelve diners and is graced by a pair of brass candle-holders with traditional hurricane shades and overhead an attractive wood and crystal chandelier. A 19th century Burmese wood carving of two full size figures holding a gong - one of many interesting artefacts to be found at Greatview - is used to announce dinner. The dining room is serviced by an impressive, extremely well equipped kitchen. It has been known for the guests at Greatview to be serenaded by live music over dinner, but the villa does of course have a CD sound system linked to speakers into all the main areas, including the pool deck and gardens. A mezzanine area, which leads to a couple of the bedrooms, overlooks the Great Room and has some seats if you would like somewhere different to sit.
For general living, guests tend to use the large covered living/dining veranda, which gives onto the pool and sundeck and which has fabulous views. Again it is tastefully furnished with wicker in muted colours. There is a seating area just outside the inner formal sitting room and outside the formal dining room there is a corresponding casual dining area, where most meals tend to be taken. Next to this is a good size, fully equipped wet bar with TV. The other room with entertainment includes a den and family TV room off the Great Room, which has a 36” plasma TV with DSS satellite, DVD, VCR, a library and CD system. Next to that, on the eastern corner of the villa, is a well equipped, air-conditioned gym. This has lovely views of the coast and hills behind the house. Both of these rooms can be accessed from an inner hallway, which also serves as an office area. It is from here that a Jamaican teak staircase leads to the two bedrooms on the mezzanine level. Elsewhere, between the bathrooms of the master bedroom and the Orchid bedroom, is a partially roofed garden spa room, with stone walls and a Swedish and a drench/rain shower. Beauty and massage therapists are on call. This delightful area has wrought iron gates facing the gardens, so you can enjoy sea views from your massage table.
Sunbathers have the choice of the wooden deck by the swimming pool, or a lower deck within the terraced gardens by the lagoon pool. Or there is a sun terrace located above the kitchen, which is strategically placed to get the last rays of the sun. This is also an excellent spot for star gazing and there is a telescope for the purpose. The main pool, which sits just steps beyond the veranda, is almost two in one. It has a shallow paddling area for children, from which steps lead down into a deeper section. Its infinity edge spills down to a small lagoon-like pool in the gardens below, which is ideal for lolling in. And just beyond that is a separate jacuzzi hot tub. The gardens at Greatview are entirely enclosed by fencing and are extremely well tended. There is an upper and a lower terrace, which are reached by a series of broad stone steps. On the lower lawn you will find a wooden arbour that can be used for weddings. There is also a cook-out area with a stone barbecue pit, where the chef will do a Jamaican grill night. The table is set out on the lawn and dinner is followed by marshmallows toasted on an open fire.
There are five bedrooms at Greatview, each of them individually decorated. They are all air-conditioned, have ceiling fans, cable TV, en suite bathrooms with hairdryers and either a balcony or patio. The Burmese Room is located on the east wing above the gym and TV den and it features an antique, dark-stained, queen-size four-poster bed and Asian art and collectibles. Set on a corner, its balcony looks to the coast on the front but wraps around to take in the hills behind the villa. There is also a small patio to the rear. Its en suite bathroom has a tub/shower. Two bedrooms are located off the mezzanine level overlooking the Great Room. They are identical in size and have mirror-image layouts, but different themes, from which they take their names. The Palm Room has a king-size, white-painted sleigh bed and the Frog Room has a pale rattan king-size bed. Both have en suite bathrooms with tub/showers and ocean-view balconies. The two remaining bedrooms are located on the west wing, off a covered passageway that leads from the Great Room. The Orchid Room, the second master bedroom, has two queen-size, woven wicker beds, a day bed, a comfy chair and a lovely 19th century walnut armoire. Its patio overlooks the gardens and it has a large bathroom with unique Venetian plaster walls (as does the master bedroom), a walk-in shower, whirlpool tub, and direct access to the spa room. The master bedroom or Plantation Room is furnished in colonial style, with a handsome, mahogany king-size four-poster, a planter’s chair with traditional extendable arms, a day bed, a corner sofa and a small fridge. It has a private patio giving onto the gardens. The large en suite bathroom has a walk-in shower with steam feature, a whirlpool bath, and again connects to the garden spa room. All of the bedrooms are no-smoking zones. |
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Beach & Swimming
Guests of Greatview benefit from complimentary membership privileges at the Rose Hall Resort & Country Club which is within 5 minutes drive. The resort has 1,100ft of beach frontage and the multi-million dollar Sugar Mills Falls Water Theme Park which boasts 2,760 square feet of water features including a 280ft long and 30ft high thrill slide, waterfalls and lagoons, three terraced swimming pools with interconnecting body flumes with the main pool with an adjoining children’s pool, a lazy river for tubing, rafting and swimming, a water tunnel and rapids area, a swim-up bar and a jacuzzi. A range of non-motorised watersports are available including sun fish sailing, kayaking, windsurfing and snorkeling, with motorized watersports at a nearby beach which includes water-skiing, parasailing and banana boat – charges apply.
Greatview has a freeform, freshwater infinity edge pool (20ft x 40ft) beyond the main living veranda. It is surrounded by a small teak sundeck and is enclosed by railings as it hovers over the gardens. There is a shallow paddling area for children and steps down into the swimming end, which is 9ft at its deepest point. There is also a sitting ledge along the villa side. The pool has an infinity edge, from where the spillover cascades into a smaller lagoon pool in the gardens below, creating a waterfall under which you can stand. There is another sundeck and a separate Jacuzzi hot tub down below too. |
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Sports & Recreation
Greatview has its own sea and mountain-view gym, which is fully air-conditioned but which can also open out through windows and French doors to a patio. There is a TV, treadmill, bicycle, stairmaster, free weights and exercise mats. There is also a partly open-air spa room, located between the two master bedrooms, with a Swedish shower and rain/drench shower. The massage table looks out onto the gardens and the view through a wrought iron gate. Therapists are on call for massage and beauty treatments (at additional charge).
Montego Bay is known for its golf courses and there are several to choose from on the eastern side of the city. The Half Moon course beneath the villa is a par 72, 7,119 yard course. There are other 18 hole courses on the Rose Hall Estate within five minutes drive, the White Witch, a par 71, 6,718 yard course and Cinnamon Hill, a par 71, 6,637 yard course. There is an equestrian centre (Rocky Point Stables) at Half Moon resort, which offers trail rides and private lessons in jumping, dressage and even polo. It also offers mountain bike tours. Tennis can be arranged by the villa, which has access to private courts within walking distance. |
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Locality
Greatview is in the exclusive Spring Farm Estate, a hillside residential community above the Half Moon Golf Course where there are a number of villas among the permanent homes. The stretch of coastline beneath, called Ironshore, is one of Jamaica’s tourist heartlands and there are several well established hotels there. Five minutes away is Half Moon, where you will find the Shopping Village, a pleasant arcade of shops and restaurants with shady spots to sit overlooking a central avenue. There is an English-style pub called the Royal Stocks, a commissary, a small crafts area within the bandstand, a Blue Mountain Coffee Shop, the Sun Art Gallery, a photo studio, the Norma Webster beauty salon, several boutiques and souvenir shops and a post office. The Bob Marley Experience sells memorabilia of the reggae star’s life, including music and souvenirs such as hats, shirts, posters and towels. The small theatre shows a film about him. A short drive to the East are the historic great houses of Rose Hall and Greenwood, which have been restored and give an idea of plantation life in the Eighteenth Century. Just over half an hour away is the historic town of Falmouth and beyond there is the Martha Brae River, which is popular for its excellent bamboo rafting trips. Headed the other way, on the road towards Montego Bay, you will find a supermarket at the Blue Diamond Shopping Centre at Ironshore. The Texaco and PetCom service stations at the Golden Triangle Mall off the main road at Ironshore also have mini-marts, like most of the larger service stations in Jamaica. The Holiday Village Shopping Centre, close to Ironshore, has a selection of souvenir, craft and duty free shops.
Greatview is approximately 20 minutes from Montego Bay, Jamaica’s second largest city and the island’s tourism epicentre. In the downtown area of the city there are several craft markets and shopping centres, including duty free outlets. On the northern edge is Gloucester Avenue, which calls itself the “Hip Strip”. Here there are cafes, shops, craft markets and restaurants serving anything from jerk at the Pork Pit to fine cuisine at The Townhouse by the Sea, as well as some lively clubs and bars, including Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville. The best beach in the area, Doctor’s Dave Beach, is also on the strip. Beyond the town is the Freeport peninsular, where you will find a shopping mall next to the cruise ship berths, and the Houseboat Grill restaurant on the lagoon itself. In nearby Bogue is the Fairview Shopping Centre with SuperPlus, a large, well-stocked supermarket, a cinema, department store, hardware store, pharmacy, fast food jerk centre, service station and a KFC. Closer to town is the Westgate Shopping Centre with a bank, supermarket, off-licence, McDonalds and service station. |
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Useful Hints
Provisioning: The chef at Greatview will pre-stock for your welcome meal and buy in initial food and drink supplies. You may opt to prepay your groceries (if so, this should be done 60 days prior to arrival). If you are booking direct, ask your travel organiser or the villa agent for a list of suggested items. If you do not pre-pay, the bill for the initial provisioning (plus the costs for transport) should be paid in cash on arrival and you should then also provide the chef with funds for all subsequent shopping, including transportation costs.
The chef is a graduate of Villas by Linda Smith’s gourmet cuisine cooking course, which offers guests menus of a slightly higher standard. They work to an average budget of US$45-60 per adult/US$20 per child, per day when provisioning the gourmet menu (this excludes alcohol). Pre-stocking does not cover whole lobster or imported steak, which vary according to market prices. The rest of the shopping for your stay will be done by the chef once you have liaised with them on arrival. You may opt to go with your chef on the first trip.
Gratuities: 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 a gratuity for the staff. You will be expected to pay this directly to the staff before you leave. Information on how it is to be divided is included in the guest’s villa manual, and you may find an envelope provided.
The laundress will attend to your personal laundry, except dry clean items. If handed over in the morning, it will usually ready later that same afternoon.
Two cell phones are available for guests to use with calling cards. Cards can be purchased at the villa, as can phone cards that can be used on landlines for overseas calls.
Although Greatview welcomes children, and provides toys and other facilities for them, it should be noted that due to the design of the villa and its hillside situation both young and adventurous children should be supervised at all times. There are stairs, steps, balconies and sundecks, two pools and a Jacuzzi, the last of which cannot be monitored from upstairs.
Please note that the bedrooms at Greatview are non-smoking areas.
Greatview welcomes small corporate groups. Boardroom-style meetings can be catered for during the day in the dining area. The table seats 12 people and flipcharts and a screen are available. The villa has high-speed internet access and both cell and landline phones.
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 attending the ceremony/reception exceeds the villa’s maximum occupancy. This fee for Greatview is US$15 per person. Also note that if party numbers exceed the maximum villa occupancy you will normally be required to use the services of an outside catering company to arrange food and beverage. The maximum number of guests for a wedding reception at Great View is 100, and an extra damage deposit fee of US$2000 applies. |
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Rates
| Greatview | 16 Apr- 14 Dec 2008 | Thanks- Giving 2008 | Christmas/ Christmas & New Year 2008-09 | 15 Dec 08- 15 Apr 09 | Easter 2009 | 16 Apr- 14 Dec 2009 | | 1-3 bedrooms 4-5 bedrooms 6 bedrooms | 8,500 10,500 N/A | 11,700 11,700 N/A | 24,000/ 25,000 24,000/ 25,000 24,000/ 25,000 | 9,500 12,900 15,800 | 15,800 15,800 N/A | 8,500 10,500 13,000 | Rates are quoted in US$ per week (7 nights), room only (EP). Rates are based on double occupancy per bedroom. There is a surcharge of $30 per night for each extra guest in any room. All rates are subject to change without notice. Minimum stay of 5 nights from 16 Apr-14 Dec except during Easter, Thanksgiving and 15 Dec-15 Apr when the minimum stay is 7 nights. There is a minimum stay of 14 nights over the Christmas/New Year period, unless booking for the Christmas week (lower rate) only and departing by 29 Dec. |
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How To Book
If you wish to book direct, bookings should be made through the villa agent, Jamaica Villas by Linda Smith. To confirm a reservation you must send a deposit of 25% of the total rental fee (50% for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year). Payment of the remaining 75% is required 60 days prior to your arrival (90 days for Thanksgiving and 120 days for Christmas and New Year) and no refunds will be made during this time. For cancellations made more than 60 days prior to scheduled occupancy, deposits will be refunded less a 10% cancellation fee and relevant credit card processing or wire fees. If you are booking within 60 days of your arrival, full payment must be made to secure the booking. A US$1,000 security deposit is also required, 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 Jamaica Villas by Linda Smith by using the WEB LINK or DIRECT ENQUIRIES facility at the top of this page, or if you wish to telephone them, please click on TELEPHONE CONTACT to reveal the number. For a review of Jamaica Villas by Linda Smith please see here. |
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Airport Meet & Greet
If you are booking direct you can make arrangements for the villa agent to send a driver to meet you at the airport, which will then be pre-paid with your balance for the villa. The airport transfer from Montego Bay will take approximately 15 minutes.
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. |
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Getting Around
A complimentary full-time driver is provided by Greatview (including one free full tank of petrol) for trips to the beach, for shopping, to restaurants and places of interest. Guests are requested to tip the driver directly for his services.
If you wish to hire a car you can do so through Jamaica Villas by Linda Smith at the same time as booking. You can also ask for your vehicle to be delivered to the property (there may be a delivery fee). Vehicles can be returned at the airport or collected from the property at a pre-arranged time on your departure day. |
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