MY JAMAICA VILLA RENTAL EXPERIENCE
About a year ago, my mother-in-law asked me one of my favorite questions – “Can you find somewhere warm for our family to go next spring break?” She was completely open to both the location and the type of accommodations we would have for our family of eight adults and three kids. I began searching for resorts that had four rooms available, as well as family-friendly villas with four to six bedrooms. It didn’t take long for the pricing to make one thing clear. A villa would give us much better value for our money.
I narrowed our destination down to Jamaica for two reasons. First, there are several direct flights daily from our home airport of Atlanta. Second, Jamaica has lots of villas that come with temporary memberships to local beach clubs. We would get to have all of the comforts and space of a private home, while still having access to resort-like amenities.
We just got back from our trip, and both decisions that we made were the right ones! We stayed in an incredible five-bedroom villa that offered access to Round Hill Hotel. Our villa had a cook, a day and a night house manager, housekeepers, a groundskeeper and a driver. Every person on staff took wonderful care of us! The villa was kept in pristine condition and the food was excellent. We were in a prime location to go on many wonderful excursions throughout the Montego Bay area, including bird-watching, hummingbird feeding, bamboo rafting and rum tasting. We also enjoyed several snorkeling trips off of Round Hill’s beach.
The three kids had the best time at our villa! They were in and out of the pool at least five times a day. They loved playing with the provided toys and on the large swing set. They were able to have more independence to roam the grounds and explore than we would have felt comfortable giving them at a resort. The adults agreed that staying at a villa is a much more relaxed experience than staying at a resort, and we’d love to do it again next time we all travel together.
If renting a villa is something you’re thinking about for your next trip, read on for all of the details you might want to know to help make your decision.
Frequently Asked Questions About Vacation Villas
What are the differences between staying at a villa and staying at a resort?
Availability of shared and private spaces – One reason multi-generational families often choose villas over resorts is that they can safely put children to sleep in the bedrooms while still gathering as a group in the common areas of the villa. It’s not often possible to accomodate a larger group in a similar setting at a resort. Most resort rooms are studios, or suites with one or two bedrooms. If your group wants to spend time together, you may have to utilize public areas of the resort to do so.
Availability of amenities – Resorts tend to have more amenities than vacation villas, but any amenities at a villa are private and exclusive for your group’s use. If your kids want to swim in the pool or play outside at 6 a.m., they can! Pools and hot tubs tend to be the most common amenities found at villas, but you can also look for gyms, sport courts, playgrounds, or just about anything else you can imagine.
How does the cost of staying in a villa compare to staying at a resort?
Both villa and hotel pricing vary so much that it’s hard to provide an exact answer to this question. Generally the cost of renting a villa can be higher than staying at a resort for a smaller travel party, but it can be much less expensive than staying at a resort for a larger group.
One of the benefits of using a travel agent to book your vacation is that we can discuss your options and help you determine what the more cost-effective option is for your specific trip. You can learn more about my travel planning services here.
What services are available in a vacation villa rental?
Villa services vary greatly, and there are lots of options to choose from. If you’re looking for luxury, you can stay in a staffed villa. Services available in these villas can range from housekeeping to cooking to driving to childcare. If you’re comfortable with more of a DIY vacation, you can certainly stay in an unstaffed villa. These tend to offer a bit more privacy, but you won’t have anyone on hand to provide services to you.
What destinations offer a wide selection of villas for rent?
You can find villas just about anywhere! Popular Caribbean destinations for family-friendly villa vacations are Jamaica, Mexico . Popular European villa destinations include Italy, France and Greece.
How do I find a family-friendly villa?
Work with a travel advisor! It’s my job to understand your interests and preferences, and then provide you with a curated collection of villas that meet your needs. I work with trusted partners all over the world to ensure you’re staying at a reputable, well-managed villa and that you understand exactly what you’re getting. No last-minute Airbnb cancellations here!
Are there any potential considerations travelers should be aware of when choosing a vacation villa?
It’s important to understand what costs are included in your villa rental and what costs are extra. Things If you are staying in a staffed villa, you want to budget for gratuities for the people taking care of you on your vacation. Other costs that may not be included are gas, food, additional excursions, and ground transportation.
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