Vila Haven, Jamaica

o 4 bedrooms with mini-split air conditioners and bathrooms en suite
o Cable and Satellite TV, VCR, CD, DVD, Bluetooth stereo
o Man-made beach area, easy access to fantastic swimming
o 21’ x 11’ mosaic plunge pool with 16 jets, bench, air blower
o Wet bar with under-counter ice-maker
o Free wifi
o Seaside Gazebo, cut-stone barbecue, 12’ offshore swim platform
o 2 Ocean Kayaks, 2 paddleboards, snorkeling gear for 6, offshore raft
o Personal Chef and housekeeper are full time, laundress and gardener are part time

The House

Located on a private waterfront acre, Sea Haven is a traditional West Indian home dressed in a miracle of colour. Periwinkle blue outside, sunshine yellow inside, with a high, barrel vaulted blue sky ceiling and yet more sea to view on the trompe l’oeil end wall. Antiques include a 200 year old twig rocker made by slaves, and tortoise-back mahogany dining chairs which came from Admiralty House in Port Royal and were used by Admiral Lord Rodney, and Horatio Nelson when he was an ensign. A rough-hewn chair in the master bedroom belonged to the Captain of a schooner that plied between the islands in the seventeen hundreds. The living room opens wide to the 60″ foot verandah, which is a feast of pickled wicker, tropical blooms, and more colour.

A bird “feeding tree” frames the view and dapples the gazebo, and in the afternoon, the plunge pool. On one side of the waterfront is a built-up sandy area, and on the other, cut-stone steps lead you to perfect snorkeling and the off shore raft. The chef will serve you in the dining room, on the verandah, in the gazebo or “al fresco” by sunlight or by candlelight, according to your whim. Relax in the warm glow of the sunset from across the bay.

Just under 50 minutes, on the new North Coast Highway, from Montego Bay’s airport, Discovery Bay is absolutely unique, an incredibly clear, blue, beautiful and placid body of water, a perfect sheltered horseshoe bay, one mile across, protected by coral reefs.

This “strip” of houses on the eastern shore is colloquially known as both “Millionaire’s Row” and “Jamaica’s Riviera”. It is now the villa destination of choice in Jamaica. It is a gated, guarded community.

The Grounds

Sea Haven sits in just under an acre of tropical shrubs, and tree-trunks are smothered with Broughtonia, Brassavola and Oncidium orchids. Fruit trees abound, including Mugulba and Julie mangos, ackee, sweetsop, soursop and lime. An exotic Alamanda vine shades the entry. Humming bird trumpet and Ixora attract humming birds to the verandah.

Just in front, we built a perfect half moon pool, 21’ x 11’, tiled with ocean blue mosaics, with a bench, air blower and 16 jets. From the hammock and gazebo, from everywhere, in fact, the murmur of the sea is ever heard. Beside the man-made white sand beach is an outdoor shower and a cut-stone barbecue.

The Rooms

Sea Haven has a total of 4 air conditioned bedrooms with en suite bathrooms Other rooms in the villa include living room, formal dining room and kitchen. Lounging areas like the verandah, patio and gazebo are ideal for intimate gatherings.
Master Bedroom 15×11 feet and has a king bed and full bathroom with freestanding tub
Bedroom 2 14×11 feet and has a king bed and full bathroom with shower/tub
Bedroom 3 15×11 feet and has twin beds (king optional) and full bathroom with shower/tub
Bedroom 4 11×11 feet and has twin beds (king optional) and full bathroom with shower

Location

History says Columbus “discovered” Jamaica in 1494 when he landed in Discovery Bay. Recent research, however, suggests that he only sailed into the Discovery Bay Harbor in search of fresh water. Finding none, he named the place “Puerto Seco” (Dry Harbor) and proceeded west, where he found a bay with a river which he named Rio Bueno. But the name Discovery Bay remains to this day, and seems to impart an entirely new meaning as a Villa destination. Only 50 minutes East of Sangster’s International Airport in Montego Bay, the Discovery Bay harbour has developed slowly into a quaint town of 4,000 people, offering all the basic amenities. Local bars, shops and restaurants will give any visitor a true sampling of the real Jamaican lifestyle. Along the Eastern shore of the Bay lie 14 luxurious Villas each with their own private swimming. Just down the road is a new beach club on one of Jamaica’s best beaches at Puerto Seco; villa guests have free access.
Within minutes are the Runaway Caves, golf at Runaway Bay, scuba, riding, canopy tours and river tubing at Chukka Cove Adventures. A mere 30 minute drive eastbound along the picturesque coastline brings you to the bustling tourism centre of Ocho Rios where there is a huge variety of entertaining activity and nightlife. The “Mystic Mountain” with canopy tours, has just opened. Much information on activities, and transportation, may be obtained from our web site at www.jamaicasvillas.com

Driving Directions

From Montego Bay (Donald Sangster International Airport) take the main road east for fifty minutes.
The last village before Discovery Bay is Rio Bueno. Entering Discovery Bay, pass the Library on the right, then Puerto Seco Public Beach on the left. Before the Post Office, turn left on to Fortlands Road, Sea Haven is on the left, three quarters of the way down the road, signposted.

Supplies

We normally, based on information provided by you, put in the first three meals, plus drinks and snacks. An account is opened at the local supermarket which guests may pay with any major credit card, from an itemized bill. Further supplies may be ordered and delivered; Elva has been doing this at Sea Haven for 25 years. The Villa staff are trained and competent to plan menus, shop and prepare meals. You are on holiday, and you may get as little or as much involved in this, as you choose. Staff can “top up” supplies at any time.

Or you may prefer to simplify matters and prepay an estimated grocery cost when paying for the villa. There is no extra charge for this.

Very importantly, we need to know ahead of time, about:
• preferences for your shopping list
• specially desired meals
• vegetarian, diabetic or other diets, and allergies.
• drinks preferred, and whether you wish bottled water, etc.

The following figures will guide your budget planning, but remember that it is an estimate and will depend on your tastes. Local lobster, for example, is expensive, as is imported beef, lamb, and wines and liquor. Allow approximately $30 per day per adult and $15-$25 per day per child.

First Dinner

After a welcome drink or two and whatever nibbles you wish for, the evening meal will be served. The following will be served unless we are otherwise instructed.

Starter: Pumpkin soup with buttered bread
Main course: Roast Chicken and Gravy, Rice and Peas – Mixed Vegetables
Desert: Key lime pie

Typical Dishes

A few favourites are listed below. But Elva is able to offer almost anything, on request.
Breakfast: 8:00 am-10:00 am: Fresh Juice, Blue Mountain Coffee and fresh fruit. Guests choice of traditional dishes of eggs, scrambled, poached, fried or boiled, bacon, pancakes, or the adventurous Jamaican experience of salt fish and ackee, mackerel rundown, seasoned callaloo, or fried fish and bammy.
Lunch: 12:00 pm-1:00 pm: Light lunches such as baked channel crab, tuna salad, Welsh rarebit, or soup such as pumpkin, red pea, pepper pot, gazpacho and salad or coleslaw. Fruit, brownies, ice cream, Blue Mountain Coffee.

Dinner: 6:00 pm-7:30 pm: Soup, Crab, Salad. Fricassee, roast, jerked or brown-stew chicken,, roast, grilled or stewed, pork, beef or lamb, fresh caught fish or lobster, prepared however guests prefer, barbecue, or Jamaican dishes such as curried goat or stewed oxtail, fresh vegetables in season. Fruit tarts and pies, stewed guavas in season, coconut mole, cheesecake

Highlights

You may travel to the exciting vegetable market in Browns’ Town with your cook, or to the grocery for a “local experience”, otherwise let staff do it all while you “take it easy”. At Sea Haven’s waterfront, meet the fisherman coming in from sea, and see what they have to offer, absolutely freshly caught. It might be snapper, butter fish, king mackerel, reef fish for “fish tea”, channel crab, or lobster if it is the season, and occasionally conch. Elva or Angela will negotiate the best price for you.

Staff

The staff are the soul of any villa. It is often your villa staff, with their lively humour and willing ways that you remember most fondly about your entire villa experience. Your Chef is Elva, who is dedicated, devoted and always smiling and eager to please, the best Jamaican cook ever. Your housekeeper, Angela, is sweet-natured, enthusiastic, exuberant and energetic, and careful in her desire to provide everything that guests might wish for. Elva’s daughter, Camoy, is your assistant housekeeper; she has been well trained by her mother and works 4 days per week, full-time if needed. Your gardener, Stafford, works three days a week.

After guests have been served dinner, and are settled and happy, with everything washed and put away, Elva will lock up, part way, set up the morning coffee, give you her cellular telephone number, and go home, thus ensuring your absolute privacy. Elva will be back by 8.00 am.

Tipping

We are always asked for guidelines on this sensitive issue. The Jamaica Tourist Board’s recommendation is 10-15% of the Villa cost, divided between all, but your generosity should really be a reflection of your satisfaction with the level of service you feel you have received. Typically the largest share would go to the butler and cook, with the remainder divided up between less visible members of staff. Remember, the numbers below are only suggestions and you can certainly vary them according to your experience with each person
Job Name Tip
Chef Elva 40%
Housekeeper Angela 30%
Assistant Housekeeper Camoy 20%
Gardener Stafford 10%

Addresses

Villa Sea Haven
Fortlands Road,
Discovery Bay,
St. Ann, Jamaica

Telephone 876-973-2238

Office: Erica Downer
Townhouse A3,
59a & b Paddington Terrace, Kingston 6, Jamaica