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Style: Very private, well appointed, superior hillside retreat, built in a mix of traditional Jamaican and modern international architectural styles, using louvers, rounded arches and shingle roofs and light, bright furnishings
The Beach: The nearest accessible beach with good facilities is Doctor’s Cave Beach in Montego Bay (entrance fee)
The Rooms: 3 bedrooms in the main house and 1 in the separate owner’s wing, all with en suite bathrooms
Key features: 7 acre tropical Jamaica villa hillside retreat, infinity swimming pool (20ft x 40ft), dining room and dining terrace, gazebo with wet bar, breakfast terrace, satellite TV, DVD and VCR, internet access, open air gym, 2nd pool in owners’ suite with lounge and piano, Master bedroom with roof deck, gas barbecue, use of floodlit tennis court.
Children: Welcome
Staff: Butler, chef, pastry chef, 2 housekeepers, 2 laundress, gardener, maintenance and night watchman – resident staff on a rotation basis |
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Description
Destiny is a top-quality villa set in seven acres of hillside gardens west of Montego Bay on Jamaica’s north coast. It has a wonderfully dramatic setting, hanging at five hundred feet above the Great River valley and the shoreline, with views that reach nearly a hundred and eighty degrees along the coast, from Round Hill in the west around to the town of Montego Bay. It is quietly stylish, in a clean and lean, though not aseptically minimal design, but above all, it is well designed for open-air living. Destiny has four bedrooms - one of them an exceptional separate suite – and a very high level of privacy, so it is an ideal setting for small gatherings of friends and adult family get-togethers. It is set close to the top of the exclusive Great River Estate and shares an electronically gated driveway with another top-notch and extremely stylish property, Silent Waters (which was designed by the same architect, Tom Reid, in a more Balinese style). When they are rented together, the two villas can sleep twenty eight in all, making an excellent hideaway for large groups.
Arriving at Destiny, you turn into a pleasant cobblestone courtyard with room for parking. From here there is access to the main villa and separately to the Master bedroom and to the owner’s suite. As you enter the main house the first thing to meet your eye inside the front door is a very large and attractive abstract work of art, which sits alone along a beautiful white, open ended marble passageway. This opens first into the main living area, and onto the excellent view of the river valley, and then to the other side it brings you, via a series of rounded Georgian arches, to the pool and two of the bedrooms. The villa has been designed to make the most of the light and the views, so there are lots of open areas that bring a sense of the outdoors within.
The spacious open-plan living room and dining area has a pitched shingle roof supported on square columns and fabulous views through huge glass sliding doors on three sides. When they are pushed back into the walls it feels almost like an open-air pavilion. It is simply furnished with an arrangement of fawn coloured leather sofas and chairs grouped around a large brown granite-topped coffee table. Set to one side is a dining area which also has open views to the hills. It has unusual ebony-stained dining furniture, a wooden table top on stone pillars and carved shell-backed chairs. From the living area a couple of steps lead down onto a tiled veranda which skirts the front of the villa on two sides.
There are several other dining areas. Beside the swimming pool, just off the living area is a gazebo supported on slender white columns with a round, stone topped table. This is used for casual dining, mostly for lunch. And beyond the living area, tucked into the furthest corner of the veranda, there is also a breakfast terrace with excellent views down the valley. Finally, there is an open area of veranda between the bar and formal dining room which can also be set up for alfresco dining, with the barbecue close at hand. The bar itself, which has a thatched roof, is set right above the river valley and has superb views. It is a popular spot to chill out. A satellite TV is set into the bar counter, facing a semi-circle of cushioned, built-in seating. Peer over the seating and you are looking straight down to the valley. The bar also contains a DVD, VCR and CD player.
The four bedrooms at Destiny are set apart from one another, giving added privacy and making the villa ideal for couples. All rooms are air-conditioned, have ceiling fans, satellite TV and, with the exception of the owner’s suite, wicker chairs for reading. Two bedrooms are located at the end of the entrance passageway, looking out through the rounded arches to the swimming pool. Each has a sturdy looking, king-size four-poster made of cedar with a draped canopy and en suite marble bathroom with tub/shower. The corner bedroom has louvered doors onto a small side-balcony that looks towards Montego Bay and both have large louvered doorways which open onto the pool terrace. Between the two bedrooms is an inner garden room, which gives them some privacy from one another. This has built-in seating and views through the arches to the pool and terrace. It is generally used as a reading or sitting area.
The Master bedroom is upstairs. It is reached by its own stairway direct from the entrance courtyard. Inside, you will find an eye-catching king-size four-poster made of intricately carved, white-painted wood, which is draped with a lace canopy. The shingle-roofed room has two sets of French doors, one giving onto a small balcony looking towards Montego Bay, and the other leading onto a roof deck, a tiled area that overlooks the swimming pool. The room has a grey marble en suite bathroom with dressing area, a tub and a large separate shower.
The fourth bedroom is the owner’s suite and it is located in its own private wing overlooking the Great River Valley. This suite is amazing and perfect for honeymooners. The centrepiece of the bedroom is an impressive hunk of a four-poster, king-size bed, hewn from local hardwood, with a dark finish, carved head and foot-boards, and posts that might be made from whole beams. The TV is housed within a carved armoire just beside the sitting area. If you prefer a more natural scene to look at than a television, the bed looks through onto the valley three sides of glass. The glass and louvered doors fold right back, opening the room up entirely and giving it the feel of a pavilion. The suite has been furnished simply so not to detract from the views. It has two sets of plump white sofas, a coffee table and a white baby grand piano. There is also a CD player and, in the dressing area at the rear of the bedroom, a small fridge. The adjacent bathroom is partly open-air. A double marble vanity, set under a partial roof covering, stands against the back wall entirely of mirrors that reflect the view of the hills. For an exotic and natural experience you can use the garden shower with rainshower head, which is built into the rockface by the pool terrace and a small fish pond. Beyond the pool there is a thatched sunshade with stone table where you can enjoy cocktails and snacks. Set next to the living area, the pool itself is extremely comfortable and very private. It is made from green marble tiles with mother of pearl mosaic trimmings and has entry steps to one corner and sitting ledges running down both sides. It points out into the valley, and has a unique feature of a raised glass edge at the far end, giving onto the valley, which is of course stunning. A wooden stairway leads down from a side garden, winding several feet down the hillside to a wooden gazebo which hovers above the valley. This houses a treadmill, weights, a CD system in a wood cabinet and an Indonesian-style carved wooden day bed. This area can be used for simply reading and listening to music, or for meditation and yoga. |
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Beach & Swimming
The nearest public beach to Destiny with good facilities is Doctor’s Cave Beach on Gloucester Avenue just north of the city centre in Montego Bay. It is home to the Doctor’s Cave Bathing Club. It charges a daily admission. There are changing rooms, showers, a cyber café, and two gift shops, as well as lifeguards, some watersports, beach chairs, umbrellas, lilos and snorkelling gear for hire. The Groovy Grouper Beach Bar and Grill is located on the beach and is open for lunch and dinner.
Destiny has two stylish, freshwater swimming pools. The main pool is located on the sun terrace next to the dining pavilion, on the same level as the two lower bedrooms. It has a curved infinity edge that juts over the hillside and terrific views, and is a good size. It measures 20ft by 40ft and has entry steps to the side. The second pool is next to the owner’s suite to the side of the main villa and is smaller but very impressive. Made from green marble tiles with mother of pearl mosaic trimmings, it has entry steps to one corner and sitting ledges running down both sides. It also has an infinity edge and, even more impressive, glass edges at the far end which give a fantastic view over the Great River Valley. |
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Sports & Recreation
Destiny shares a floodlit tennis court with Silent Waters (the villa above), which has a DecaTurf surface. Rackets are available and there is a serving and ball machine. There is also a viewing stand with a bar. A gym is located below the owner’s suite, in a wooden pavilion perched on the hillside. This has a Balinese day bed and CD player as well as a treadmill and free weights.
There are several excellent 18-hole golf courses in the Montego Bay area. The closest is at Tryall Club, a par 72, 6772 yard course about 10 minutes drive away. The others are on the other side of Montego Bay and can take 30 minutes to reach by car, depending on traffic through the town. The White Witch at the Ritz Carlton is a hilly par 71, 6,718 yard course, the Cinnamon Hill course at Rose Hall is par 71 and 6,637 yards and there is a par 72, 7,119 yard course at Half Moon. The nearest riding stables are at Chukka Blue near Tryall and at the equestrian centre at Half Moon. |
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Locality
Destiny is set in the exclusive, park-like Great River residential estate, on the hillside above Unity Hall (where the villas Noble House, Tranquillity and Serenity are located on the waterfront). Passing over the Great River to the west you come to Round Hill Hotel and Villas, and further along to Tryall Club, where there is an 18 hole golf course. Both properties have popular beach party nights with barbecues and live music (reservations required), in addition to their normal fine dining. Just above Round Hill is the village of Hopewell, which has a supermarket and liquor store/off-licence, pharmacy, AMT, post office, library and service station. Continue driving for an hour west, and you will be in Negril. The Great River valley, which Destiny overlooks, is known for its bamboo river rafting (from Lethe village), a very popular activity. Inland from the small community at Reading, after a pleasant drive through a rainforested gully, is the Rockland’s Bird Sanctuary where you can hand feed humming birds.
Destiny is approximately 20 minutes from Montego Bay, Jamaica’s second largest city and the island’s tourism epicentre. In the centre 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 Cave Beach, is also on the strip. Closer to home is the Freeport peninsular, just south of Montego Bay, 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 you will find 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
The chef at Destiny will pre-stock for you welcome meal and buy in initial food and drink supplies. You may opt to prepay your groceries (if so, this should be done at least 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 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 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 him 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 will be included in the guest’s villa manual, and you may find an envelope is provided.
Your villa’s laundress will attend to your personal laundry (excluding dry clean items). If you hand laundry over in the morning is usually ready later that same afternoon.
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$15 per person. Also note that if party numbers exceed the maximum villa occupancy you will normally be required to use the services of an outside catering company to arrange food and beverage. |
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Rates
| Destiny | 16 Apr- 14 Dec 2009 | Thanks- Giving 2009 | 15 Dec- 15 Apr 2009-10 | Christmas/ Christmas & New Year 2009-10 | 16 Apr- 14 Dec 2010 | | 1-4 bedrooms | 7,500 | 9,250 | 11,000 | 17,275/ 18,275 | 7,500 |
Rates are quoted in US$ 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 is also required, against damage to the villa or contents during your stay. It is refundable on your return home if no damage has occurred. 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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UK Tour Operators
If you wish to book through a tour operator or travel organiser that features this property, please follow the link.
See List of UK Tour Operators
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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 strongly 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 booking your accommodation.
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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