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Style: Modern and comfortable Jamaican home (built in the Sixties and now modernised), easy-going seafront living for families and couples looking for villas in Ocho Rios Jamaica
The Beach: Small, private golden sand beach to the side of the villa
The Rooms: 4 bedrooms with en suite bathrooms
Key features: One of just a few villas in Ocho Rios with a private beach, swimming pool, poolside gazebo, sea terrace, cable TV, VCR, stereo, resort next door with day/evening pass available (couples only).
Children: Welcome
Staff: Cook, housekeeper/laundress, gardener and night watchman |
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Description
Edgewater is a pleasant, two storey Jamaican home that sits in compact tropical gardens on a low sea bluff just to the east of Ocho Rios. It is not an ultra-modern villa. Instead it has a strong Caribbean style that dates from the late 60s and early 70s and it has recently been renovated. It is pleasantly and comfortably furnished and retains some features of its original era. These include the formal sitting area, which has crazy-looking tiled flooring, with a waved pattern which does not need a rum punch for it appear to dance before your eyes. The stairs leading up to the bedroom are also unique because of their green and white swirled, marble effect tiles.
Edgewater has a gated entrance, with a good sized driveway that leads up to a covered porch and from there straight into the sitting room. Here you will find comfortable upholstered sofas, a cable TV and VCR, a powder room and the kitchen off to one side and a stairway up to the bedrooms. At the front, the living room opens via French doors onto a spacious covered veranda which is also used as a living space. West-facing, it is breezy and has full sea views through pretty lattice arches painted aqua and over the villa’s private beach below. There is a wicker swing seat near the ‘sitting’ area of the veranda (the right hand side), where you will find white rattan patio furniture. On the left, leading out to a side terrace, is the dining area.
It is here on the veranda, and the terraces just below it, that guests spend most of their time. They are ideally positioned for the oval-shaped swimming pool, which has been built onto the rocky coastline. Next to the pool is a dining gazebo which also sits directly above the water. Again this is a breezy spot. Steps lead down from the terrace to a private, golden sandy beach, which has shady almond trees. It is set at an angle to the house and looks along the shoreline towards hotels in the distance. The swimming area is partially protected by the rocky outcrop on which the villa is built. The rest of the garden is a small, shady area of lawn beneath mature trees, which makes for a pretty spot in which to relax. It would make a very pretty setting for wedding ceremonies.
There are four air-conditioned bedrooms upstairs at Edgewater. They each have ceiling fans and white-painted half or four poster beds, but they are individually furnished with floral drapes and covers. Three of the bedrooms face the pool area. On the east corner, the first bedroom has a king size, two poster bed and an en suite bathroom with tub/shower. French doors lead from here onto a private balcony that overlooks the garden and pool and then the sea views beyond. Next door, the middle bedroom has two, twin size four poster beds and an en suite bathroom with shower only. The west-facing corner bedroom has a king size, two poster bed and another private balcony that overlooks the gazebo and sea terrace. The master bedroom is located on the rear corner of the villa, but it does overlook the beach. It has a king size, two poster bed and an en suite bathroom with tub/shower. This room is bright and airy and has French doors that lead to a small balcony overlooking the beach. |
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Beach & Swimming
Edgewater has its own small, private golden-sand beach set at the side of the villa and accessed by steps. The swimming and snorkeling conditions are variable depending on the time of year. When the wind gets up the water can become choppy.
The villa’s oval shaped, freshwater swimming pool is located beyond the veranda, in a paved sun terrace with adjacent gazebo. It has entry steps to the shallow end which slopes rapidly to the deep end (the depth varies from 3.7ft to 7ft). The pool terrace is built over the low sea cliff. |
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Sports & Recreation
Edgewater is located next door to Couples Resort, a couples-only, all-inclusive resort to which a day pass to the hotel can currently be purchased for around US$70 per person. This allows full use of its the resort’s facilities, including food, drinks, activities and watersports - snorkelling, glass bottom boat tours, windsurfing, Hobie Cat sailing, waterskiing, kayaking and pedal boats. The hotel also has a spa through which treatments are available at additional cost. Couples is within walking distance of Edgewater Villa. Night passes are also available.
The nearest golf course is Sandals Golf & Country Club, an 18 hole, 72 par, 6311 yard course located in the hills east of Ocho Rios. Established in 1951, it was formerly the Upton Golf Course. The nearest stables for riding are at Prospect Plantation, which are within five minutes drive. Guided rides are available. Prospect is actually a 900 acre working plantation that is open to the public as a tourist attraction. The White River Valley also includes horse riding in its activities. You can also ride horses and watch polo at Chukka Cove at Laughlands (about 40 minutes away by car) and at St Ann Polo Club and Equestrian Centre in Drax Hall (approximately 35 minutes away). |
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Locality
Edgewater is one of a number of hotels and villas in Tower Isle, St Mary, a small district about 2¾ hours east of Montego Bay and around 10-15 minutes drive east of the town centre of Ocho Rios. It is located next door to the original Couples Resort. Close by are the White River, which has bamboo rafting, and Prospect Plantation, a 900 acre plantation and tourist attraction. Travel east for about 20 minutes and you will come to the small town of Oracabessa, which was once home to Ian Fleming, the author of the James Bond books. Here you will find James Bond Beach, a popular public beach (admission charge) with a restaurant and bar and watersports. Just around the corner from Fleming’s former villa, Goldeneye, which is now a hotel and not generally open to outside visitors.
Headed the other way, towards Ocho Rios, you soon come into the parish of St Ann (often referred to as the Garden Parish because of its agriculture), where there are plenty of attractions and activities for nature lovers and travellers keen on the outdoors. There are botanical gardens, nature parks, a fishing park, Fern Gully, White River for bamboo or white water rafting, plantation tours, a forest canopy tour, several stables for horse riding or even polo, scuba diving, a golf course and downhill mountain biking. Watersports are available on Turtle Beach in Ocho Rios. For art lovers there is Harmony Hall Gallery – it is just a short drive from the villa and has a very good restaurant called Toscanini’s – and the Wassi Art Pottery. St Ann’s main town, Ocho Rios, and the second largest on the north coast after Montego Bay and is Jamaica’s busiest port of call for cruise ships. It has developed its shopping to suit, and there is a host of downtown shopping centres, craft markets, a themed Caribbean retail village and duty free outlets. It also has some good restaurants and a bit of night life. The town sits on an attractive bay with a sweep of white sand and a back-drop of lush, forested hills. The most famous attraction in the Ocho Rios area is Dunn’s River Falls, where you can climb 600ft falls and up into a nature park. This is next to the dolphin attraction at Dolphin Cove and is about 25 minutes drive from the villa.
Should you wish to visit a supermarket, there is the General Food Supermarket in Ocean Village Shopping Centre, Main Street, Ocho Rios which is well stocked with both local and imported goods. If you prefer, all of your food shopping can be done for you. |
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Useful Hints
Edgewater has a cook and so it will be expected that you will require initial food and drink supplies to be purchased for your arrival, so that a welcome meal can be prepared. You should ask your travel organiser or the villa agent (if booking direct) for a list, and ensure that any particular requirements are noted. There is generally an average budget of US$30 per adult and US$20 per child, per day for provisioning the villa, which includes a basic drinks package of rum, wine and beer. This is for a standard menu and will not cover extras such as lobster or imported steak, which vary according to market prices. The shopping for the rest of your stay can be done by your cook once you have liaised with them locally. When you are doing this you will receive the bill for the initial provisioning plus the costs for transport, which should be paid in cash either to the cook or - if an account has been set up - at the local grocery store. If you require the cook to take care of your shopping, you will need to provide funds for all subsequent shopping as well as transport costs. You may opt to go with them on the first trip.
Rental rates for villas in Jamaica do not include ‘tips’ and it is recommended that set aside 10% of the total villa rental in winter and 15% for summer as tips. You will be expected to pay this directly to the staff before you leave, dividing the amount according to staff seniority, and the level of service received, placing the tip in individual envelopes with the staff’s names on. Normally the largest portion goes to the cook and butler.
Your villa’s laundress will attend to your personal laundry (excluding dry clean items). If laundry is handed over in the morning, it is usually ready later that same afternoon, or the following morning.
Couples Resort is located next door, on the east side of the villa. The side of one of its accommodation blocks is clearly visible and it overlooks the villa. The resort is a couples only, all-inclusive resort, for which a Day Pass can be purchased for around US$70 per person. This allows full use of the resort facilities, including food, drinks and all activities. Couples is within walking distance of Edgewater Villa. Night passes are also available. Due to the close proximity of the main road, there may be some road noise.
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 of guests exceeds the villa’s maximum occupancy. This fee at Edgewater is currently US$15 per person. Also note that it is normally a requirement for the services of an outside catering company to be arranged if numbers exceed the maximum villa occupancy. The maximum number of guests for weddings or functions at Edgewater is 20. |
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Rates
| | 16 Apr- 17 Nov 2008 | 18 Nov- 24 Nov 2008 | 25 Nov- 14 Dec 2008 | 15 Dec- 04 Jan 2008-09 | 05 Jan- 15 Apr 2009 | | Edgewater 1-6 guests 7-8 guests | 3,000 3,500 | 4,000 4,000 | 3,500 3,500 | 6,000 6,000 | 5,000 5,000 | All rates are in US$ per week, including Government Consumption Tax. Gratuities are not included. All rates are subject to change without notice. Minimum stay 5 nights during the summer season and 7 nights during the winter season (including Thanksgiving and Easter), except during Christmas/New Year when the minimum stay is 14 nights. |
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How To Book
If you wish to book direct, bookings should be made through the villa agent, Prendergast Villas. To confirm a reservation you must send a deposit of 30% of the total rental fee (50% for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year). Payment of the remaining 70% is required 60 days prior to your arrival (90 days for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year). If you are booking within 60 days of your arrival, full payment must be made to secure the booking. Cancellations 60 days (90 days for Christmas/New Year) prior to arrival incur a 10% charge and within 60 days (90 for Christmas/New Year) payments are non-refundable, unless the villa is rebooked for the same period. All cancellations incur a minimum 10% service charge. A US$500 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 Prendergast Villas by using the DIRECT EMAIL ENQUIRIES facility at the top of this page, or if you wish to telephone them, please click on TELEPHONE CONTACT to reveal the number. |
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Airport Meet & Greet
If you are booking direct you can make arrangements for a driver to meet you at the airport through for the villa agent, the fee for which which will then be pre-paid with your balance for the villa. Your airport transfer from Montego Bay will take approximately 2¾ hours. Alternatively, if you would prefer to be taken care of from the minute you arrive at the airport, with a range of services that can include stretch limousine transfers, and a personal Concierge Service, this is offered by Glamour Tours.
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.
Note that Boscobel Aerodrome is located nearby, just outside Oracabessa, nine miles east of Ocho Rios. The small airstrip sees domestic charter services out of Montego Bay (25 minutes flying time) and out of Tinson Pen Airport in Kingston (15 minutes). Boscobel operates during daylight hours only. |
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Getting Around
A hired car is strongly recommended for all private villa holidays. A vehicle gives you an added element of freedom and will be useful if you want to dine out in the evenings, visit the sights 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. Ask for your vehicle to be delivered to the property approximately three hours after your scheduled time of arrival on Jamaica or the following morning. Vehicles can be returned at the airport or be collected from the property at a pre-arranged time on your departure day. |
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