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Style: A stylish and artistically decorated seaside villa with some traditional Jamaican features but a fresh contemporary feel. Very comfortable. Perfect for honeymooners, weddings and relaxing get-togethers
The Beach: The sandy beach at Round Hill is within 7 minutes walk. Seaside Cottage itself has lawns leading down to a rocky shoreline
The Rooms: 2 bedrooms with en suite bathrooms in the main house and 2 bedrooms with en suite bathrooms in the cottage
Key features: A Jamaica oceanfront villa rental with panoramic views of Montego Bay, swimming pool (12ft x 24ft), Jacuzzi hot tub, large covered terrace and pool terrace, separate guest cottage with balcony and eating area, formal dining room, comfy sitting room with satellite TV and DVD, all bedrooms with STV, internet access, golf cart available, Round Hill Hotel and Beach Club membership, can be combined with Hillside Cottage to sleep 16.
Children: Welcome, however a security deposit is required for all young guests up to the age of 18
Staff: Cook, housekeeper, laundress and 2 gardeners – resident cook and housekeeper |
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Description
Seaside Cottage is a very attractive, contemporary two-bedroom villa with a separate two-bedroom cottage. As a relatively new house set above a delightful seafront in the exclusive Round Hill Estate on the north coast of Jamaica, it is beautifully turned out and has artistic decoration. It sits in three acres of well tended gardens, with beautiful lawns that roll down to a generous sea front and sweeping views across the ten mile stretch of water beyond to Montego Bay – the view is particularly good at night, when the twinkling lights add to what is already a very romantic spot.
Seaside Cottage is an ideal choice for honeymooners. It has no neighbours on either side so it has a very private setting. Guests at the villa have the best of both worlds, with the space and independence of a private house set in large grounds and the top class facilities of Round Hill Hotel just over the other side of the hill. It is also an excellent setting for a wedding or a group gathering for a special occasion. It can be combined with its older sister property, Hillside Cottage, which is located behind. Together the two villas have a total of eight bedrooms in ten acres and the staff is happy to serve meals for the entire party at either villa.
The property is split between a main villa and a cottage which sits just off the side of the pool terrace. They both have elements of classic Jamaican architectural design – most of the rooms, and the gazebo, have the very attractive traditional peaked roof and ceiling of exposed, lime washed shingles. Inside, the main villa has been stylishly decorated with strong use of modern art and design and local Jamaican craftwork, in addition to the occasional colonial piece. The central living room is furnished in comfortable bamboo and its walls are decorated with a good collection of original modern paintings. For entertainment there is a 32” digital satellite TV system, VCR and DVD, CD player. An air-conditioned formal dining room is located to the rear of the living room, but actually it is not used that much as most guests prefer to dine on the veranda, which again features local artwork. The kitchen is located behind the dining room.
Along the front of the villa the living room opens via a series of French doors onto a tiled terrace and a sweeping view to the bay. A section of the terrace is covered, which provides a shady spot to relax on the collection of patio furniture, and there is a dining area to one side. This is where most meals are served. In the extended terrace is the swimming pool, beyond which the lawns drop away, giving a clear view of the bay, even when you are swimming. To one side of the pool is a gazebo, from which the hammock can be removed to make an alfresco dining room, which on clear or moonlit night is particularly nice. A step up Jacuzzi is set amongst the greenery next to the pool terrace, in between the villa and the cottage.
The bedrooms at Seaside Cottage are situated so that they each have privacy from one another, making the villa ideal for couples, groups of friends and older families. All four are air-conditioned, have intercoms which also connect to the kitchen and staff quarters, internet access and digital satellite TVs (these are linked to the main TV in the living room and can only view that channel). The two bedrooms in the main house stand either side of the living room and consequently share the superb view, through the French doors that lead onto the main terrace. The bedroom on the south side has a colonial theme and an en suite bathroom with a custom made, mosaic tile bathtub that is set into a slight recess in the wall, with three sets of louvered windows that give it a lovely, open feel. It has a VCR in addition to the DSS TV. The bedroom on the opposite side features a marvellous Jamaican-made king size four poster bed with hand-carved and painted posts with exotic birds in tropical foliage. Each post is topped with a carved parrot. The en suite bathroom has a bathtub and a separate shower with a glass block wall.
The remaining two bedrooms are in the two-storey cottage, which is located at the end of the pool terrace. Its upper level, where you will find the master bedroom, has a spectacular view of the bay. Its covered terrace has a wicker sofa and a table and chairs, which makes it an ideal place to relax, but also a lovely spot for breakfast or even a romantic dinner. At the centre of the master bedroom is a king size bed, from which, if you open out the French doors, you can get the full expanse of the lovely view. The bathroom has a shower indoors but it also has a delightful tiled outdoor shower with a rain shower head, screened by a wall from the bedroom’s balcony and facing out to sea. The fourth bedroom is located downstairs, built into the gardens on a lower level from the rest of the property. It is accessed from the back, via stone steps that lead down from the main terrace. This is the smallest room in the property and it is not of the same standard of comfort as the others. It wouldn’t suit a group of four couples each of whom would like a room more or less of equal standard. It has two twin beds which can convert to a king facing the ocean and it has louvered windows but the views are limited. The en suite bathroom has a walk-in shower.
Seaside Cottage has a lovely position in the 100 acre Round Hill Estate to the west of Montego Bay, which is also home to the renowned Round Hill hotel. Its location offers the best of both worlds. All the hotel’s facilities are close by, and there is a golf cart available for hire to get you there. The resort offers fine dining and a popular beach party night with a barbecue, occasional live music, a piano bar, beach bar, pool bar, a full service spa, a children’s club, an art/craft gallery, gift shop and resort boutique. There is a PADI dive and watersports shop, a fitness centre, five tennis courts and a jogging trail. |
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Beach & Swimming
Lawns descend to a rocky shoreline below Seaside Cottage which is not ideal spot for swimming or snorkelling. Sea conditions vary, depending on the time of year, and it can sometimes get a bit choppy. Guests at the cottage have full use as Beach Club Members of the facilities at Round Hill, which is short a drive away or ten minutes on foot. There is a golden sandy beach with good swimming and snorkelling and a range of watersports is available, including scuba diving (at extra charge).
Seaside Cottage’s fresh water swimming pool (12ft x 24ft) is set into a large paved terrace at the front of the villa so there is plenty of space for sunbathing. The pool has steps into the shallow end. It is close to the villa and exposed so small children will have to be watched. Off the edge of the pool terrace, between the villa and cottage is a Jacuzzi hot tub. |
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Sports & Recreation
Beach Club Membership of Round Hill allows use of the resort’s fitness centre, which is set next to a full service spa (treatments are not included). There is a jogging trail around the resort and there are five (2 floodlit) tennis courts (at a fee). For children there is the Pineapple Kids Club, for which there is also a charge. The nearest riding stables are Chukka Blue near Tryall and there is an equestrian centre at Half Moon, beyond Montego Bay.
There are several excellent 18 hole golf courses within the Montego Bay area. The closest is at Tryall, a 72 par, 6772 yard course around 5 minutes away by complimentary hotel shuttle. Other courses include White Witch a 71 par, 6,718 yard course, Cinnamon Hill a 71 par, 6,637 yard course and Half Moon, a 72 par, 7,119 yards long course, within the Rose Hall Estate. These are about 30-40 minutes away by car. |
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Locality
Round Hill is closest to the village of Hopewell which has a supermarket and liquor store/off-licence, pharmacy, AMT, post office, library and service station. Five minutes away is the Tryall Club, a villa resort which has a championship golf course. A free shuttle runs across for those who want to play golf. Travel further west, and in less than an hour you will reach the popular beach resort area of Negril.
Headed in the other direction is the Great River Valley, where bamboo river rafting from Lethe village is a main tourist attraction. Beyond here, Montego Bay is 20-30 minutes drive away. It is Jamaica’s second largest city and tourism epicentre. A free shuttle takes guests in for shopping trips. In the downtown area 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 Cave Beach, is 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. In nearby Bogue is the Fairview Shopping Centre with SuperPlus, a large and 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 which has a bank, supermarket, off-licence, McDonalds and service station. |
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Useful Hints
The chef at Seaside Cottage 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. 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 per adult/US$20 per child, per day when provisioning the gourmet menu. Pre-stocking includes a basic drinks package of rum, wine and beer, but does not cover extras such as whole lobster or imported steak, which vary in price 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% in 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 will be included in the guest’s villa manual, and you may find an envelope provided.
Your villa’s laundress will attend to your personal (excluding dry clean items) laundry, which if handed over in the morning is usually ready later that same afternoon.
A refundable damage deposit of US$1000 is required for any children under 18 years occupying Seaside Cottage. This will be refunded in full on your return home subject to breakages or damage.
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 is currently US$15 per person. Also note that if party numbers exceed the maximum villa occupancy you will normally be required to use the services of an outside catering company to arrange food and beverage. |
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Rates
| | 16 Apr- 14 Dec 2009 | Thanks- Giving 2009 | 15 Dec- 15 Apr 2009-10 | Christmas/ Christmas & New Year 2009-10 | 16 Apr- 14 Dec 2010 | | Seaside Cottage 1-4 bedrooms | 6,500 | 5,900 | 12,000 | 12,500/ 15,500 | 6,500 | Rates are quoted in US$ per week (7 nights), room only (EP). Rates are based on double occupancy per bedroom. There is a surcharge of $29 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$500 security deposit (US$1,000 if children are staying) 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 30 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 hired car is highly recommended for all private villa holidays but a popular alternative in Jamaica is a private driver service, which is easily arranged and particularly useful if you go out in the evenings. For shopping or sightseeing, you may wish to be independent and drive yourself around as it gives you an added element of freedom to explore the island, which is exceptionally beautiful. If you are booking the villa direct or through a tour operator, you can organise car hire at the same time as you book your accommodation. Otherwise you can reserve your car with Jamaica Villas by Linda Smith at the same time as booking your villa.
If you do decide to go for a hire car, ask for your vehicle to be delivered to the property (there may be a delivery fee) approximately three hours after your scheduled time of arrival on Jamaica or the following morning. Vehicles can be returned at the airport or collected from the property at a pre-arranged time on your departure day. All drivers booked through the villa staff or through Jamaica Villas by Linda Smith are registered JUTA tour guides. |
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