The Villa Alternative - Jamaican Style

by Sherry Woodhouse

Does the idea of renting a villa sound like an option only for the rich and famous? Well, the villa alternative is probably the best-kept secret in Jamaican travel today - and you don't have to be rich or famous to enjoy the experience.

Who is the typical villa guest? You are! People choose villas for different reasons. Budget-conscious people may appreciate the cost-effectiveness of villas, especially for groups. Adventure seekers often feel that villas provide more opportunity to explore their surroundings as they see fit. People with more disposable income love the privacy, service, and luxury that come with villas in their price range.

Almost all villas in Jamaica come staffed with at least a cook, housekeeper, and gardener. You'll have no meals to cook, no dishes to wash, and no beds to make - just like at a hotel. So, why choose a villa over a hotel, especially an all-inclusive hotel where everything is included? Read on. We'll show you eight reasons a villa vacation may offer you a welcomed vacation alternative.

1. More space and privacy than a hotel

At a hotel, you are assigned to a room. You share public spaces with all the other guests. Finding a quiet and private area outside your room may be a chore at a hotel but not at a villa where your group alone has run of the house and grounds.

2. Less crowded

At one hotel where we stayed, we had to reserve a space on the beach* for a predetermined length of time. If we left to get a drink, we had to mark our spot so it wouldn't be taken when we returned. Not so at a villa. Even if you have a shared beach, it is unlikely to be crowded. Likewise, the swimming pool is usually private and only used by you and your guests.

*It is not widely known but, technically, under Jamaican law, there is no such thing as a private beach. The land to get to the beach is private; but, the actual beach - sand and sea - is not. Usually, however, beaches that are called private are visited only by people who have rights to visit the beach either by paying an entrance fee or by staying at a property that has beach rights.

3. More value for money

Unless you are renting a villa for just one or two people, a villa vacation is often less costly than a hotel of a comparable standard. Will you miss out on the amenities provided by hotels? Not necessarily. Some villas offer more than your average hotel. Mais Oui Tennis and Spa Villa, for example, has a tennis court, a gym, swimming pool, Jacuzzi, beach access, and an on-site spa offering massages, facials, manicures, pedicures, body scrubs, body wraps, and steam treatments - all for the exclusive use of its guests.

A villa is most cost-effective if rented by a group - the more the merrier and the cheaper too! A week's stay in a luxury all-inclusive hotel during the peak season may cost US$1500-2000 per person excluding airfare. Renting a comparable villa may cost half that price or less after adding in accommodation, meals and the shared cost of hiring a van or car and driver service for the week. The savings are especially dramatic with large groups and for longer lengths of stay. For smaller groups, the dollar cost may be more but the expense may be balanced by the more personalized service and attention possible at a villa.

4. Less likelihood of add-on expenses

Extras at hotels such as service charges for telephone calls, both local and long distance, can cost you plenty. At a villa, however, you typically pay only for the actual costs of these services. Many even allow you to make local telephone calls for free.

5. Lower direct costs

Meals and light laundry, for example, cost less at villas since the rental fee includes the staff's salary. Your costs for meals represent the cost to purchase food and supplies. The prices that you pay are usually what locals pay. Likewise, charges for room service are unheard of at villas. You eat when and where you want.

6. More luxury

Often, you are able to get more luxury at a villa than at a hotel of comparable price. Villas tend to reflect the style of their owners. They tend to have more character than non-descript and predictable hotel rooms.

7. More personal experience

At a villa, the same staff typically attends to your needs for the duration of your stay. They get to know you and you get to know them. Not so at a hotel where you are likely to encounter different staff members at various times during your stay.

8. More opportunity to experience the local flavor at your comfort level.

A villa experience is usually less canned than a hotel stay. You have more freedom to be yourself and to pursue your interests - not those of a social director.

Seize the opportunity to have a relaxing and memorable vacation tailored to your needs - Jamaican style. A villa vacation is within your grasp - especially if you split the costs with a group of friends.

© Sherry Woodhouse Sherry Woodhouse, markets Mais Oui, Jamaica's only true Tennis and Spa Villa. Her free ezines provide travel reviews and recommendations, cultural insights, and practical tips for the best Jamaican vacation experience ever. Author Profile