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Style: An idyllic, comfortable, three storey home in contemporary Caribbean style, one of a row of several striking Port Antonio villas right on the waterfront
The Beach: Lolivya is located on the water’s edge at Blue Lagoon Jamaica, giving swimming and excellent snorkelling right off the private jetty. The nearest actual beach is at San San, five minutes walk away (free entrance to guests) and there is a small beach on Pellew (Monkey) Island within swimming/rowing distance
The Rooms: 4 bedrooms with en suite bathrooms
Key features: A super Port Antonio villa rental with a waterfront setting, private jetty and sun deck, 4 seater dinghy, kayak, cable TV, CD player, barbecue.
Children: Welcome, however due to its location is not suitable for young, unsupervised children
Staff: Cook, housekeeper and butler, personal laundry extra |
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Description
Lolivya is a very attractive contemporary Jamaican home set on one of the island’s loveliest stretches of coastline, on the Blue Lagoon outside Port Antonio. It sits right on the waterfront opposite Pellew Island and uses its glorious setting to best advantage - all the rooms, over the three floors, open up onto a balcony and from there onto the fantastic view. The house is one of three houses that stand side to side together. Lolivya sits in the middle and as you approach you can see the mix of traditional and contemporary styles that give it its character. The front door is set among planters under a pyramid-shaped portico on pillars, but instead of a classic Jamaican style, the portico has a leaner and more modern design. Inside Lolivya has bright and contemporary Caribbean décor and a friendly feel.
You enter the house on the middle of the three storeys. The front door brings you straight into a sitting room, where large sofas, with classic, palm-print cushions, are set on three sides around a low glass-topped table. There is a drinks’ cabinet in the corner and the walls are decorated with brightly coloured Caribbean prints. The room is light and airy because it is double height, open into a gallery on the floor above. But the main impression of the room is in looking forward, to where the front wall opens up, through sets of full-length louvered shutters, onto the balcony and the view.
The balcony, which has a classic Jamaican, criss-cross balustrade made of white wood, stretches the full width of the house and can be used to access the other rooms. To the left of the sitting room (looking towards the sea) you will come into a large living/dining room, part of which is also open double height. It is divided into the two areas – you first come into the TV area. Here a corner sofa looks at the television, which is actually tucked under the stairs to the upper floor. There is also a bookshelf and several plants in urns in this part of the room. The other rear section of the room, actually a separate room, is the kitchen. The front half of the room is the dining area. A large glass dining table with metalwork chairs for eight sits at the front of the room, straddling the two huge windows with full length louvers.
A set of stairs outside the dining room leads down from the balcony to the lower level. Here you will find a large open-fronted space supported on blue pillars. It is paved with terra cotta tiles and has several blue and white wooden loungers which can be withdrawn under cover when the sun gets too strong in the open. The floor is often be set for lunch and dinner and there is a small storage area for the watersports equipment, the lilos and a kayak, at the rear. One of the four bedrooms is set under here too. Like the other bedrooms in the house it has bright yellow furnishings, but in keeping with the colour scheme of the lower floor, it is also touched with blue. The bedroom is air-conditioned and has an en suite bathroom. There is a separate lavatory and a shower for guests using this lower floor and the deck for sunbathing.
At the front of the villa, the paved floor juts into a sea terrace in front of the bedroom. Set just above water level, it extends into a wooden jetty. A walkway leads out to a large sitting area set out into the bay. There are two low benches where you can sit in the evenings and of course you can take the loungers out there during the day to sunbathe.
The three other bedrooms are in the main house. One is on the middle floor, to the right of the entrance and main sitting room as you enter, and the other two on the top floor of the villa, reached by the stairs in the dining/TV room, which bring you into the gallery, where there is a wicker sofa and small palms in urns. All the bedrooms are air-conditioned and have an en suite bathroom. They are furnished mainly in white (though there are some reproduction antiques in the master bedroom) and they are decorated mainly in yellow (though the master also has shades of green). And of course, though the full-length glass doors, they each have a covered balcony from which there is a lovely view of the lagoon and Pellew Island offshore.
You might wonder how the villa came to be called Lolivya. The name is a shortening of the words ‘Lo lives here’. Lowe is the owner of the house. |
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Beach & Swimming
The closest beach to Lolivya is San San, a lovely stretch of sand just a couple of minutes drive away. There is a beach bar but no sports facilities. Guests of Lolivya have free entry. The lovely Frenchman’s Cove is just a couple of minutes further on. The beach is set on the grounds of a hotel in a tiny cove overhanging with fantastic greenery. There is a beach bar there down on the sand and there is also an entry fee.
Lolivya does not have a swimming pool, but of course it is set right on the lagoon, where the swimming is excellent. The water varies in depth to about 10 feet and it is calm because it is protected by the reefs that run across to Pellew Island (aslo known as Monkey Island). You can swim across to the island and snorkel on the reefs. There are also masks and fins. You can launch the lilo and kayak from the water-level platform. There are steps out of the water up onto the platform. You can of course walk down and swim in the Blue Lagoon. |
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Sports & Recreation
There are several good activities that explore the wonderful natural life around Port Antonio. If you are interested in hiking, then Valley Hikes take day and multi-day walks around this end of Jamaica, heading up to the local villages and into the John Crow Mountains behind the town. There is excellent birdlife in this area and guides can be arranged. Horse-riding is available near Frenchman’s Cove (contact the villa manager, who can also arrange massage and spa treatments for you). The nine hole golf course at San San is currently closed.
There is quite good scuba diving on the coastline here. It ranges over the reefs and drop offs just offshore east and west of Port Antonio itself. Contact Lady G’ Diver, who operate out of the Errol Flynn Marina in the town. The area is well known for its deep sea fishing (the Port Antonio International marlin tournament is held each September or October). Fishing boats also operate out of the marina in Port Antonio. |
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Locality
Lolivya is located a few miles to the east of the town of Port Antonio, in San San. The area has long been popular with holidaymakers and there have been hotels, and particularly private villas, since the 1950s when actor Errol Flynn entertained Ginger Rogers here.
The Blue Lagoon, a short walk away, is one of the most famous and prettiest sights in Jamaica. The pool, actually a limestone sinkhole, is a beautiful shade of royal blue and it is surrounded by hanging greenery, which makes it a nice place to swim - if you dare – local lore says that it is fathomless. There is a restaurant and bar but it is currently closed for renovation.
The town of Port Antonio is a few miles to the west of the villa. It is a fairly simple Jamaican town, whose heyday was a century ago, when it benefited from the banana trade. Now the fading grandeur of the buildings is gradually being taken over by modern development, though there are still some nice old houses to be seen on ‘Titchfield Hill’, the point that stretches out to sea. It is fun to visit Musgrave Market, where fruit and veg is brought for sale from the hills around. There is a lovely view of the town and the bay (which Errol Flynn described as ‘more beautiful than any woman he had ever known‘) from the Bonnie View Hotel. Beyond Port Antonio heading west you come to Rio Grande, where you will find Jamaica’s finest river-rafting. The ride takes over two hours but it is well worth doing and is exceptionally beautiful.
Heading east from the villa you come to Boston Bay, the home of jerk, a traditional form of cooking that has now been adapted to daily barbecue. It is always fun to visit. Beyond here there are some very pretty waterfalls at Reach, inland from Manchioneal.
There is a handful of good restaurants in the area, including a number in the hotels. Try Mille Fleurs at Mocking Bird Hill, Frenchman’s Cove and San San Tropez and Norma’s at the Marina in Port Antonio itself. For local fare you can try Anna Banana in town and of course there is Boston Bay for jerk. |
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Useful Hints
Villa Vacations is happy to arrange initial provisioning for your arrival. You should send a list with any special requirements and they will provide enough for an evening meal, breakfast and lunch the next day. You should then liaise with the butler and cook and they will plan a menu for you for the remainder of your holiday. They will also shop for you if you wish, though you might want to join them on their first visit. You should budget on US$20 per adult per day ($15 per child) for a standard menu with some drinks. It will not cover extras such as lobster or imported steak, which vary according to market prices, or large amounts of alcohol. An account will be set up at the local supermarket and your bill will be settled on departure.
Personal laundry (except dry cleaning) is included in the rate. It is usually returned that same afternoon or the following morning.
Rental rates for the villa do not include ‘tips’ and it is recommended that you set aside 10% of the total villa rental for this. You should leave it in cash when you depart. Yvonne the manager is happy to help with the proportions, so that the gardeners, who you may never see, are not forgotten.
The owner of Villa Vacations, Yvonne Blakey, has a very hands-on attitude and she is happy to help guests to get the best out of their holiday in the area. She is on call if you have any requests, for activities or advice, and she can also help to arrange a special event or a wedding.
Children
Lolivya has quite a family feel about it, however, because of the location on an unfenced waterfront, the villa is only suitable for older children that swim well and do not need to be supervised. |
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Rates
| | 10 Jan-14 Apr 2008 | 15 Apr-14 Dec 2008 | | Lolivya 1-8 guests | 5500 | 4200 | All rates are quoted in US$ per week including tax and are subject to change without notice. Nightly, pro rata rates are available for stays over 7 nights. Minimum stay of 14 nights during 15 Dec-09 Jan. Gratuities are not included. |
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How To Book
If you wish to make further enquiries or a reservation, this should be done through the villa agent, Villa Vacation. To confirm a reservation you must send a deposit of 50% (non refundable) of the total rental fee with the balance due 4 weeks prior to arrival. A 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 Villa Vacation by using the WEB LINK or DIRECT EMAIL ENQUIRIES facility at the top of this page, or if you wish to telephone them, their telephone number will be revealed if you click on the CONTACT TELEPHONE NUMBER link. |
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Airport Meet & Greet
Villa Vacation is happy to arrange your airport transfer for you (and will probably get you a better rate than you will if you get a taxi at the airport). You should arrange this with your initial booking. If you can, head for Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston (transfer time 2½ hours), rather than Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay (transfer four hours). The rate through Villa Vacations is US$100 for two people one way from Kingston (less if there are more of you in a minibus) and US$200 from Montego Bay. The price of your transfer will be added to your final bill.
You can transfer to Port Antonio by air to the Ken Jones Aerodrome just west of the town if you arrive early enough in the day – the airstrip operates during daylight hours only. Private charter flights are available from the international airports. Transfers by helicopter are also available and will land on the golf course in San San.
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
Because of the distance to Port Antonio and the likelihood of your having to drive the unfamiliar roads in the dark, Villa Vacations does not really recommend you to pick up your hire car at the airport on arrival in Jamaica. However, once you have reached Port Antonio, you may want to get one. A vehicle will give you an added element of freedom and will be useful if you want to visit the sights, eat out 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, or Villa Vacations can help you. There is a delivery fee. Vehicles can be returned at the airport or be collected from the property at a pre-arranged time on your departure day. The other option is to hire a care with a driver by the day. |
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