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Style: Grand family Jamaica rental villa in a mix of local stone, some Scandinavian-style wood and touches of the Orient, all set in lovely tropical gardens. The interior has visible cut-stone walls and has Persian rugs and Oriental furniture, screens and paintings
The Beach: Set on the hills above San San Beach (5 minutes). Frenchman’s Cove close by (10 minutes)
The Rooms: Four large bedrooms with en suite bathrooms (4th with shower-room) and private balconies
Key features: Smart hillside Port Antonio villa rental set in 8 acres of excellent tropical gardens, pool (36ft x 10ft), drawing room, bar, dining room, covered terraces for meals, satellite TV, superb gardens.
Children: Welcome, with a den-like bedroom downstairs
Staff: Chef, butler, housekeepers, gardener, maintenance, night watchman |
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Description
Norse Hill is a large and grand Port Antonio villa, which sits high on a hilltop in sweeping lawns and gardens above San San to the east of the town. It has a lovely view down over the coast at Alligator Head and the Blue Hole. The house was built in the 1960s as the home of an international shipping family – a Norwegian family that was based in Hong Kong - and that is the key to the unexpected design and decoration in the villa. You will find oriental screens and statuary, and Chinese furniture and prints on the walls and its roof has a slightly curved pitch, which hints at a pagoda. And yet the house itself is extremely solid and untypical of the Tropics, with Scandinavian-style wooden cladding on a base of cut stone. And then there is the name of course, which also speaks of Norway. The villa is certainly different from anything else in the area and a little unexpected, but it has its own strong, individual character. It is a very elegant and comfortable Jamaica villa rental to spend time in.
To reach Norse Hill you must drive up a steep hill into the jungly fertility of this incredibly attractive part of Jamaica. You pass massive trees, their limbs hung with airplants and vines that reach down towards the rampant undergrowth. Eventually you run down to a circular drive in which a slender palm stands in a rough-stone bed. The house sits before you, its two wings hinged at the centre on a circular stone tower. The wings run left and right, folded back slightly to enclose the drive – which means of course that on the other side they get the best of the view, looking out over more than 180 degrees.
You enter just to the left of the tower and come into a hall. The interior walls continue the theme of cut stone, slightly pink and white here because it is unweathered. There is a powder room in the corner to your left and then the wall opens up into the dining room. The front of the room is glass (like much of the front wall of the house) and it opens out onto the lawn. The wooden table and armchairs can be set for eight. At the rear of the room stands an oriental wooden screen. It closes off the entrance to the kitchen, which is beyond.
Turning the other way from the hall you pass to the front of the circular tower, where you will see the main staircase. This is made of hardwood steps and it has a slender wrought–iron balustrade. There is a small rockery with clambering plants in a bed beneath it. Opposite it, flanking the doors in the front wall, are two lovely blue porcelain urns. Beyond here, a few steps take you down into the main drawing room, where most of the walls are now painted white. This emphasises the colours, the red and white sofas with their gold cushions, the Persian carpet at the centre of the room and the paintings and decorations. Chinese statues stand on display on the cabinets and on the far wall there is a superb Japanese landscape painting. There is a bar in the rear corner of the room and at the front the sitting room looks onto a full wall of glass and screens that fold back to give access onto a veranda. Here you will find chairs and a simpler outside dining area.
At the far end of the room an opening gives onto some stairs that lead to a mezzanine floor where there is a children’s bedroom with two double beds. The floor is washed concrete, the walls are white and the room gives onto a small veranda.
The three other bedrooms are on the upper floor. To the left as you arrive upstairs is the master. This is very large and very light, with a full wall of glass giving onto a balcony both front and back. The floor is made of highly polished wood and the ceiling is steeply pitched natural wood, but the décor is mainly white, in the bedspreads, a huge rug and the light-coloured furniture. The room is ventilated by fan and there are glass louvers in the windows in case you wish to close them at night. There is a dressing room and beyond it the bathroom has a sunken bath. Two more bedrooms are the other side of the staircase, reached by a corridor at the rear of the building. They each have an en suite bathroom and a balcony and they follow the same theme of wooden floors and ceilings.
The gardens, which cover eight acres, are a key feature of Norse Hill. The house looks out on a flat section of land in an otherwise steep area. Lawns run from the glass doors to a point where there is a vast fig tree. Beyond the point the land drops away, giving a lovely view over Alligator Head, through a line of tall and slender palms. There are plenty of beds of flowers and borders in the gardens and so you can expect to see hummingbirds and other birds flitting around. The pool is set into the lawn just below the dining room. It is long and is bordered on one side by a terrace on which there are loungers and parasols. |
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Beach & Swimming
You will find two very nice beaches at the foot of the hill. The first is San San, a pretty stretch of sand with a beach bar but no sports facilities. There is a small entry fee to get in. You can also swim in the Blue Lagoon. The lovely Frenchman’s Cove is also nearby. It is set in a tiny cove overhanging with fantastic greenery on the grounds of a hotel. There is a beach bar there down on the sand and there is also an entry fee.
Norse Hill has a large freshwater swimming pool (36 x 15ft) just below the dining room. The corner has been ‘stretched’ to accommodate steps into the shallow end. It sits in its own terrace, which is partly shaded by the trees and other extraordinary greenery. Loungers and a parasol are provided. |
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Sports & Recreation
Port Antonio has several good activities that explore the wonderful natural life in the area. 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, just below the villa, 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
Norse Hill is located a few miles to the east of the town of Port Antonio, above San San. The area has long been popular with holidaymakers and there have been several hotels, and particularly private villas, since the 1950s, when Errol Flynn entertained Ginger Rogers here.
The Blue Lagoon, visible in the distance from the garden, 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. 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 surrounding hills. 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 the Rio Grande, where you will find Jamaica’s finest river-rafting. The ride takes over two hours but it is well worth doing and it is exceptionally beautiful.
Heading east beyond San San you eventually come to Boston Bay, the home of jerk, a traditional form of cooking meat 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 at Norse Hill. 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 chef and butler 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 trip. 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’. It is recommended that you set aside 10% of the total villa rental fee for this and 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 not actually 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.
Weddings
Permission to hold a wedding or any large function at the villa should be obtained in advance when making your initial reservation enquiry. Norse Hill is happy to allow receptions of up to 100 people. You will be expected to use the services of an outside caterer or wedding organiser. Yvonne Blakey would be happy to help you with this. There is a location fee to hold a wedding at Norse Hill of US$1500. |
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Rates
| | 10 Jan-14 Apr 2008 | 15 Apr-14 Dec 2008 | | Norse Hill 1-8 guests | 5000 | 4200 | All rates are quoted in US$ 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 can 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. The balance is then due four weeks prior to your arrival. A security deposit may be requested against damage to the villa or contents during your stay. It is refundable on your return home assuming no damage occurs. 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), but if you can only get to Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay that is workable too (transfer four hours). The rate through Villa Vacations is US$100 for two people one way from Kingston (it reduces per person 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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