Trip Review: Jamaican Villa Getaway

June 25, 2021

The Rabbino family of 6 (2 adults and 4 teens ages 14-18) from Bala Cynwyd, PA enjoyed a spring break villa rental in Jamaica for a week-long getaway this past March.  The family loved the low-key and calm nature of the experience away from the hustle and bustle of Jamaica’s resorts and towns.  Perfect for post-COVID travel. The waterfront Noble House is located just 30 minutes west of the Montego Bay airport made even easier with VIP arrival services from Club Mobay.  The staffed villa, with 10,000 sq. ft., gave the family plenty of space to stretch out.  The one-story house featured 4 bedrooms and 6 bathrooms along with expansive grounds, gardens, pool, and beach.  The narrow stretch of beach was shared with two other villas (although still a public beach where locals congregated at times).  The family loved the large, air-conditioned bedrooms and bathrooms with nine decks to relax and take in the views including a rooftop deck ideal for morning yoga.  They appreciated the really large and deep pool and especially the baskets of towels placed all over the house!  The teen boys slept in the pool house while the large living room and connected deck were the main gathering space in the evening to play games, have drinks, watch movies, or just take in the ocean.  The property also featured a fish pond and a huge yard for recreation that included equipment for volleyball, badminton, and croquet.  Kayaks and standup paddleboards were also provided (although some windy days and seaweed made this a challenge). There were some minor/quality maintenance issues at the villa that will hopefully be addressed for future guests.  A highlight of the experience was having a private chef who provided excellent meals.  The family said Chef Jerome was truly exceptional and very attentive to their special needs and requests.  One child’s dietary needs for gluten and nut-free meals turned out to be more variety than he gets at home!  The chef is adept at kosher meals too.  The entire house staff (which numbered more than the family!) included an excellent butler, driver, and housekeeping staff who laundered their clothes as well.  The family did venture off the property with an outing to Dunns River Falls where the knowledgeable guides there helped them safely navigate the climb up the falls…a very unique experience.  A ride back to the villa off the main road gave the family a good insight into Jamaica’s daily life and standards of living.  They also had terrific meals off property at Houseboat Grill (on a floating houseboat) and Scotchies, a Jamaican institution for jerk chicken.  Overall the villa was perfect for what the family needed and they were also appreciative of The Family Traveler’s attentive service and planning for this last-minute getaway.