Welcome to the July 2007 Edition of Island Hideaways' Caribbean Villa Newsletter!
Thank you for visiting our website at www.islandhideaways.com, which Forbes Magazine featured in its "Best of the Web" Issue.
We have represented Luxury Villas and Private Islands for rent in Barbados, the Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Mustique, St. Croix, St. John, St. Lucia, St. Martin, St. Thomas, Tortola, and Virgin Gorda for more than 21 years. It would be our pleasure to assist you with your next Villa Vacation!
This month, we are excited to give you a glimpse of what a villa vacation in Jamaica has to offer.
Villa of the Month:
Bienvenue, Spring Farm, Rose Hill, Jamaica
"What was most rewarding about our villa rental was that it got us inside a country that many tourists, who are gated off in resort compounds, never see: an authentic Jamaica that is friendly and safe."
- Wendy Perrin, Condé Nast Traveler, June 2007
Situated on two acres of impeccable landscaping in an upscale community outside the city of Montego Bay, Jamaica, Bienvenue offers supreme flexibility at an unbeatable price. A friendly staff of five, including butler, housekeeper, cook, laundress, and gardener, as well as the finest amenities makes luxury living effortless and ensures that guests never have to leave the premises if they are looking for a secluded experience. On the other hand, for those who want to get out and sample the carefree, social nature of a Jamaican lifestyle, the famed Hip Strip (see below) is just minutes away in Montego Bay (known locally as MoBay.)
Lauded by Condé Nast Traveler as a villa that has a "full-time staff yet [does] not break the bank," this 4-bedroom property comes fully equipped with state-of-the-art amenities, a newly refurbished kitchen, an open-air living room, and many intangibles, like panoramic views of the Caribbean Sea. Each bedroom is air-conditioned, has its own private bathroom, and opens onto the villa's central veranda where a private pool sparkles invitingly. Many luxuries of modern living, such as cable television and wireless Internet, help to make guests feel at home. Other amenities include an outdoor grill, collection of books, a stereo with CD player, and ceiling fans.
Bienvenue also offers security hard to find in Jamaica outside a gated resort compound. A 12-foot wall surrounds the property, and a security guard provides nightly patrol. In the June 2007 edition of Condé Nast Traveler, Wendy Perrin writes, " . . . we felt totally safe-so much so that we kept our bedroom doors open, left our laptops and cameras in the living room overnight, never locked up our wallets, and indeed never held a key of any kind."
Guests who can manage to tear themselves away from villa living at its most alluring will discover a whole world of unique opportunities awaiting them. Golfers can choose among four world-class golf courses, while horseback riding, parasailing, and water skiing are only a few of the many activities available to others. Membership privileges at the nearby Rose Hall Hotel allow guests access to the resort's many offerings, including a health club, six tennis courts, a private beach, and a water complex with three terraced pools and a swim-up bar.
For more information, please go to the listing on our website by clicking here: Bienvenue, Jamaica.
It would be our pleasure to personally describe this exquisite property to you; please call us toll-free at 800-832-2302 for more information or to make a reservation.
MoBay's Hip Strip
Gloucester Avenue, better known as the "Hip Strip," is Montego Bay's lively center of entertainment and culture, boasting great beaches, restaurants, clubs, duty-free shopping, and more. A charming combination of laid-back Jamaican culture and dynamic city energy characterize this colorful stretch, where the weather is perfect, the food is delicious, and the possibilities are endless.
The Hip Strip's picturesque seashore is a great place to make a Jamaican escape or just enjoy an old-fashioned beach experience. The roomy clubhouse at Doctor's Cave Beach features changing areas, showers, gift shops, and off-the-grill dining. Located within the Montego Bay Marine Park, the beach's protected reefs and marine life also make it a great place for snorkeling. Nearby, Walter Fletcher Beach is home to the fun and exciting Agua Sol Theme Park, where there are water trampolines, jet skis, banana boats, tennis courts, go-cart courses, and live reggae shows.
Restaurants along the Strip feature a diverse range of cuisine, from authentic Jamaican to French and Chinese with a tropical twist. The Pelican, The Native, and the Pork Pit serve local favorites like jerk pork, jerk chicken, ackee, and saltfish in a casual environment, while Marguerite's and Ma Lou's at Coral Cliff offer fine dining with breathtaking views of the ocean.
When the sun goes down, the night is just beginning at the Hip Strip's great clubs. The Brewery and PO'Knockers are great places to meet with friends, shoot some pool, or listen to great live music. For a Vegas-style atmosphere, Coral Cliff offers live shows, upscale dining featuring pan-Caribbean cuisine, and the island's largest gaming lounge filled with a variety of entertaining slot machines.
All these great choices make the Hip Strip the place to be in Montego Bay. With so many options, decisions can be hard and recommendations helpful. That's why we suggest our featured hotspot, Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville...
Restaurant of the Month:
Margaritaville, Montego Bay, Jamaica
Attended by a balanced mix of visitors and locals, Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville is a great place to be initiated into the culture and electric atmosphere of the Hip Strip. Exciting entertainment, a lively atmosphere, and delicious food are just a few of the attractions of this restaurant/bar.
Three stories tall, Margaritaville is a world unto itself. The restaurant features several bar areas, a DJ booth, a store that would satisfy any Parrothead, two giant water trampolines anchored just offshore, and a rooftop terrace with a whirlpool. For children and audacious adults, there is even a 110-foot waterslide that winds from the terrace into the warm waters of the Caribbean. Warning: this slippery trip is not for the feint of heart.
The fare at Margaritaville is as diverse as its customers. Sizzling fajitas, salads, pizza, and the world famous "Cheeseburger in Paradise" are menu favorites. Cosmic Key Lime Pie and the Last Mango Cheesecake are among the mouthwatering desert options. There is also a kid's menu large enough to satisfy even the pickiest of little ones.
Of course, a joint called Margaritaville wouldn't be complete without a nod to the man who made the song famous. By day, patrons can enjoy international sporting events on the big screen televisions and chill to the laid back sounds of Jimmy Buffett. Come nightfall, Margaritaville puts the "hip" in the Hip Strip. Crowds groove to tunes spun by in-house deejays, while bartenders serve up a wide variety of tropically-flavored margaritas. Karaoke Night, Pajama Party Night, and other theme nights keep the fun fresh and constant.
Margaritaville opens daily from 11:00am until the party ends.
Please contact us toll-free at 800-832-2302 and we would happy to make a reservation for you during your next trip to Jamaica.
Passport Reminder
With recently implemented exceptions for special cases*, all travelers must present a passport to enter the United States. This includes U.S. citizens returning from the Caribbean. U.S. citizens visiting the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico do not need a passport because they are U.S. territories. Obtaining a passport can take a month or more, so plan ahead for holidays in the Caribbean.
* Announced by the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security on June 8, 2007: Through September, 30, 2007, United States citizens flying back from the Caribbean who have applied for but not yet received passports because of huge backlogs can be readmitted with government-issued photo identification and online receipts of their passport application.
About Island Hideaways
Island Hideaways has specialized in Caribbean villa vacations since 1986. We represent hundreds of luxury vacation villa rentals throughout the Caribbean islands. Island Hideaways was named "A first-rate agency that specializes in Caribbean properties" by Business Week Magazine and our website received the prestigious "Best of the Web" award by Forbes magazine each summer from 2000 - 2005. Please call us toll-free at 800-832-2302 or e-mail us at villas@islandhideaways.com with any questions, suggestions or comments.
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