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Style: A cheerful and comfortable seafront home with light Jamaican architectural style (louvered door surrounds and a double-pitched shingle roof reaching out over a large veranda) and brightly decorated interiors with classic and antique furniture. Sea Haven is fairly informal and the service is friendly and low key
The Beach: The sandy white Puerto Seco beach is within walking distance. Sea Haven’s immediate setting has no beach, but there are steps leading down the low cliff into the sea, where there is swimming and snorkelling and a swimming platform in the bay
The Rooms: 4 bedrooms with en suite bathrooms
Key features: Seafront setting, half-moon 16 jet heated plunge pool (11ft x 21ft), barbecue deck, dining gazebo, furnished veranda, wet bar, 2 sea kayaks and snorkelling equipment, floating platform, 42" plasma TV with cable and satellite, DVD, VCR and CD system, iPod port, fax/scanner/copier and free ADSL internet access.
Children: Welcome - not suitable for very young children due to cliffside location and unfenced pool
Staff: Butler/chef, housekeeper, laundress and gardener – staff do not sleep over but leave after dinner |
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Description
Sea Haven is charming four bedroom villa set on the seafront near the top end of the extremely popular Discovery Bay residential estate on Jamaica’s north shore. The house has plenty of Caribbean style, with a pretty grey shingle roof that reaches out over a large veranda and pale blue walls off-set by the white of the louvered windows, doors and balustrade. Inside there is some elegant tropical furniture, including some antiques, but in atmosphere Sea Haven is generally informal and laid back (certainly when compared to some of the larger properties in this area). It has lovely sea views, looking west from the veranda over a plunge pool, the lawn, the low sea cliff and then across to the other side of the bay. If you are looking for somewhere friendly and easy-going with a modern Jamaican feel, where you can relax by the sea in comfort, and you like the idea of being in a small holiday community (the villa is one of about fifteen along the shorefront of the magnificent horseshoe-shaped bay), then Sea Haven is ideal.
The house is situated near the far end of Fortlands Road, which runs up the eastern side of the bay. As you enter the house, you come into the pale yellow open plan living and dining room. To one side there is a pleasant sitting area, with three comfortable upholstered sofas, which have views onto the sea via double French doors that open onto the veranda. There is also a 42” satellite and cable Plasma TV with DVD and VCR, plus a CD system and iPod port. On the other side of the room is the formal dining area, which has an antique mahogany table with some mahogany chairs reputedly from the 18th century. You will find other fine pieces of antique furniture dotted around the villa, including a 19th century rocking chair and a lady’s writing desk. And there is a wet bar at this end of the dining room, with a breakfast bar to the adjacent kitchen.
One of the key features of the living area is the unusual coved ceiling with its hand-painted mural of the sky. The painting continues down the wall behind the dining area, where it becomes a seascape of a pillared terrace and a sea view –mimicking the real thing outside, down to the point of matching up the horizons. However, as there is another very pleasant dining area out on the covered veranda, and a dining gazebo on the cliffside, both of which have lovely sea views, there is really no reason, unless the weather is being unhelpful, to restrict yourself to an imitation inside.
French doors lead from both ends of the living area onto a 60ft covered veranda, which is furnished with wicker furniture. This is where breakfast is served and it is a popular spot at any time of the day to eat or to chill out. A couple of steps lead down onto a small, slightly sloping lawn, where you will find the half-moon-shaped plunge pool just below the veranda. This has sixteen water jets and a long sitting ledge along the straight edge from which you can enjoy the views. Below the pool, the grass leads down to a wooden, fenced-in sundeck. Perched just above the sea, it has a built-in barbecue tucked into a corner nearby. A few steps to the side, again perched on the edge of the low sea cliff, is a gazebo which can be used for relaxing on a hammock or dining. Two sets of steps, which have been cut into the rocks, lead down into the sea. The snorkelling is good and there is a floating platform not far out in the bay on which you can sunbathe.
Sea Haven has four individually decorated bedrooms, all with air-conditioning and high, white painted tray ceilings with fans. Three are located on the south side of the villa off the living room and the old master bedroom faces the ocean. This has taupe walls and a king size bed with en suite bathroom with tub/shower. Next door, the middle bedroom has two twin beds that can be made up as a king, and an en suite bathroom with a tiled walk-in shower. The end bedroom also has twins or a king size bed and a new en suite bathroom with tub/shower. On the other side of the villa, accessed both from the veranda and the kitchen passage, is the new master bedroom, which has a king size bed and walls of pale blue. Like the other rooms it has pleasant floral fabrics. The en suite bathroom has tub/shower. |
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Beach & Swimming
Sea Haven is a seafront villa, with two sets of steps (to the left one set of cut-stone steps lead into approximately 2ft of water and on the right a stainless steel pool ladder into approximately 6ft of water) from the low cliff at either side of its garden. There is good snorkelling in the bay and a swim-up platform for sunbathing is located not far offshore. The villa has snorkelling equipment for guests to use and two sea kayaks. A public beach, Puerto Seco, is just a few minutes walk away. It has lovely white sand and good swimming, with various watersports and facilities. It is popular with locals on weekends.
The villa has a semi-circlular, freshwater Jacuzzi plunge pool just off the veranda. It has 16 jets, an air blower and heater, and a ledge built into the back edge so that you can sit facing the ocean. The pool measures 11ft at its broadest point and is 21ft long with entry steps at one end. |
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Sports & Recreation
Sea Haven provides guests with the use of two kayaks, snorkelling equipment and a swim-up platform in the bay. The nearest golf courses are Grand Lido Braco Golf Club, west of Rio Bueno, which is a 9 hole par 28, 1,357 yard course, and SuperClubs Golf Course an 18 hole 72 par, 6,814 yard course located in Runaway Bay. Both are around 15 minutes away by car. Around an hour’s drive away is Sandals Golf & Country Club, with an 18 hole, 72 par, 6311 yard course. Formerly known as the Upton Golf Course, it was established in 1951 and is located in the hills east of Ocho Rios. The nearest stables for riding or polo are both in St Ann. Chukka Cove at Laughlands is about 30 minutes by car and St Ann Polo Club and Equestrian Center in Drax Hall is approximately 40 minutes away. |
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Locality
Sea Haven is set in an extremely popular and exclusive residential enclave, often referred to as “Millionaires Row”, on the eastern shore line of Discovery Bay. It is about an hours drive east of Montego Bay and around 30 minutes west of Ocho Rios. Just over a dozen luxury Jamaica holiday rental homes are strung along the private Fortlands Road. The majority are owned by wealthy Jamaican families and you will find that there is a certain sense of community about staying here. You can expect to smell the barbecues at neighbouring villas, and to hear and see other villa residents. On approach to the villas you will pass Puerto Seco Beach, a pretty white sand public beach from which local fishermen operate. It is a popular spot with locals at the weekends. You can easily kayak along the strip of villas from the top of the bay at Fortlands Point down to Puerto Seco.
Discovery Bay itself is a fairly low key area, with just a small number of rental properties dotted around the hillsides. Further up the road, on the west side of the bay, is the Kaiser Bauxite Plant, whose large metal, dome shaped storage tank is the dominant structure on the bay. This is the terminal from which the bauxite is shipped. Nearby by is Columbus Park Museum, a commemorative park to mark the 1494 landing of Christopher Columbus in Discovery Bay (though it was later confirmed that he landed in Rio Bueno nearby). It is an open-air park with a collection of artefacts including an old water wheel from a sugar estate, an Indian dug-out canoe, cannons and various agricultural equipment. The village which is just across the road from the Fortlands Road entrance, consists of a post office, public library, petrol station, police station, small supermarket and patty shop. If you want serious shopping or nightlife then you will need to head for Ocho Rios. |
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Useful Hints
Provisioning:
The chef at Sea Haven will pre-stock for your welcome meal and buy in initial food and drink supplies. The chef works to an average budget of US$45 per adult/US$20 per child, per day when provisioning the 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 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 them on the first trip.
You can prepay your groceries (if so, please do so 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 transport costs.
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 provided.
Your villa’s laundress will attend to your personal laundry (excluding dry clean items). If you hand it over in the morning it will usually be ready later that same afternoon.
Staff at Sea Haven do not sleep over, nor is there a night watchman (this can be arranged for an additional cost). Alfred the butler, who has been at the villa for over twenty years, will partially lock up after dinner is served and will make sure everything is in order before taking the other staff home. He will leave the keys and his telephone number (he lives nearby) and will return around 7.30 the next morning.
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$15 per person. Also note that if party numbers exceed the maximum villa occupancy you will normally be required to use the services of an outside catering company to arrange food and beverage. |
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Rates
| | 16 Apr- 14 Dec 2009 | Thanks- Giving 2009 | 15 Dec- 15 Apr 2009-10 | Christmas/ Christmas & New Year 2009-10 | 16 Apr- 14 Dec 2010 | | Sea Haven 1-2 bedrooms 3-4 bedrooms | 2,500 3,500 | 5,500 5,500 | 3,500 4,500 | 7,000/ 8,000 7,000/ 8,000 | 2,500 3,500 | Rates are quoted in US$ 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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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 about an hour depending on traffic. 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 five 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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