What They Are Saying.....Testimonials

From: Joseph Bergfeld
Sent: Wednesday, July 02, 2008 9:42 PM
To: Lisa - Jamaican Treasures Villas
Subject: Stone Harbour Villa, Ocho Rios

Lisa,
Thanks for contacting us and giving us an opportunity to tell you about our stay in Jamaica. Our time at Stone Harbor was absolutely wonderful. The spacious and comfortable home, its private beach, freshwater pool and beautiful grounds were perfect, but for us, the true Jamaican Treasure was the capable, friendly and attentive staff. Courtney, our driver, was always on time in his clean and comfortable van. Miss Sadie, our fantastic cook and "lady of the house", prepared excellent meals, and the variety (and spice) of our meals was appreciated and enjoyed by all 8 of us. With Tony's help, a beautiful table was set every evening, and even though our 4 course meals were hearty, there were rarely any 'leftovers". Miss Sadie's "from scratch" pies and desserts were a special favorite. Tony was always available to tend to our needs around the pool and grounds, and to get us rigged up with masks and snorkels when we wanted them. He even took us on a hike to a wonderful "secret" cove, where a river spilled into the ocean. Every day, Miss Joy made up the rooms, laundered and folded our clothes, and cleaned the house. Second, Tony's assistant, saw to it that the lawn and grounds were in tip top shape. When we wanted privacy we got it, and when we wanted quiet time we got it, yet everyone attended to their duties with an obvious desire to see to it that we had an enjoyable and relaxing time. Stone Harbor was perfect for us and we would highly recommend it to anyone who wants a Caribbean villa vacation.

Sincerely,
Joe, Jeanne and Family Bergfeld

From: Karen Kolish
Sent: Wednesday, July 02, 2008 8:19 PM
To: Lisa - Jamaican Treasures Villas
Subject: Carib Sands Villa, Montego Bay

Lisa,
I can't even begin to tell you how much we enjoyed our stay at Carib Sands in Montego Bay. It was, without a doubt, the best vacation my family and I have ever experienced.
The staff - Stephanie, Sharon, Hillary, and Robert, our driver - were phenominal. They looked after our every need - we were spoiled beyond belief! The villa was very comfortable and we felt right at home there. There is not one negative thing I can say about it. I just wish we could go back there but since it has been sold, we'll just have to search for an equally wonderful place the next time we go.
Thanks so much for all your help. I will definitely recommend Jamaican Treasures to all my friends.
Karen Kolish

From: Shirley Nixon
Sent: Tuesday, July 01, 2008 8:08 PM
To: Lisa - Jamaican Treasures Villas
Subject: Terra Nova Villa, Ocho Rios

Hello Lisa,
Thank you for the beautiful welcome back message.
First let me start off by saying that I could not have asked for a better staff.

Elsie: She was the sweetest, soft spoken lady I had ever met. Everyone of her meals was fantastic. She blew us away with her "pancakes" "pumpkin soup" "poached eggs and calaloo", peas & rice, Bar-B-Q Chicken, plantains, just to name a few. Each meal was a dining experience. My family fell in love with Elsie and her cooking..

Val: She kept the rooms fresh and clean. Everyday, we had a different bed setting. Unlike hotels that just make the beds with the same bedding, we had fresh linen daily. Our towel supply was plentiful. She had a beautiful table setting at every meal. Each table setting was more beautiful than the next. She served us our meals and always had a smile and a kind word. She too was the perfect hostess.

Denzel: The pool was cleaned daily and he kept the grounds spotless. He also kept our cooler filled with blocks of ice so that our beverages could stay ice cold. He was very helpful with suggestions on horse back riding and other island excursions.

Georgette: She was a good assistant to Val. She helped with the upkeep of the house and she assisted with serving us as well. She had a warm personality and a friendly personality.

Maureen from the private transfer service was very professional and kept tabs on our every move. She knew our flight had been cancelled and still made sure were picked up when we did finally arrive. She kept in touch on a regular basis and got us to/from the airport. She was amazing and very accommodating.

Terra Nova is a beautiful villa. The villa could use an upgrade on basic items; a dishwasher, refrigerator with an ice maker or an ice machine, new living room furniture, television in every room, dryer, and a computer with internet access would all be very helpful. The bedrooms and bathrooms are large and the ocean view is amazing. There could be a nice beachfront area if they cleared out the rocks. Our Security Guard at night made us feel very safe on the grounds.

I will recommend Jamaican Treasures to my friends and relatives for future villa rentals. Your entire staff was a pleasure to work with and they went above and beyond to make our vacation an enjoyable one.
Thank you for all your assistance.
Shirley Nixon

From: Marilyn Youman
Sent: Tuesday, July 01, 2008 5:47 PM
To: Lisa - Jamaican Treasures Villas
Subject: Whispering Waters (7 bedrooms) and A Summer Place Villa (7 bedrooms)- Discovery Bay

Hello Lisa
The trip was absolutely the best ever. The staff was wonderful, very professional and attended to our every need. The Chef did an excellent job on the food. Yum Yum. Not one food item taste bad. Whispering Waters was beautiful. I plan to rent Whispering Waters again in 2010. We're thinking about making Jamaica an annual trip. Where ever the Chef and staff of Whispering Waters goes, we'll be there, renting from you Lisa, at Jamaica Treasures.

A Summer Place-the Staff and the Cook did an excellent job. My family enjoyed themselves to the fullest. Phillip roasted a pig for us. Yum Yum Yum. The Staff was very professional, a job well done. The drivers were fine also.
Thanks!
Marilyn

From: Kim Crane
Sent: Tuesday, July 01, 2008 4:38 PM
To: Lisa - Jamaican Treasures Villas
Subject: Wag Water, Ocho Rios, Prospect Villas

Dear Lisa,
We had a wonderful time at Wag Water. The staff - Devon, Latoya and Paulette were capable and very accommodating to the whole family. Mr. Ian Banks, the Prospect Villa manager, personally helped us to arrange activities and suggested a great local restaurant for us to try. Our week went by too quickly.
Thank you for your help in arranging the villa for us.
KIM CRANE

From: Jack Williams
Sent: Monday, June 30, 2008 11:40 AM
To: Lisa - Jamaican Treasures Villas
Subject: JACK WILLIAMS-CORAL CAY, Ocho Rios-JUNE 21 TO 28, 2008

Lisa –
I hope you are doing well.
I just wanted to inform you that everything was absolutely wonderful during our stay at the Coral Cay Villas. Barbara, Seymour, Hamilton, Beverly, and all the rest of the staff was excellent. They truly made everyone’s vacation the best ever! Our wedding was absolutely beautiful and we enjoyed every bit of it. We hated to leave.

Anyways, I just want to thank you and you staff for working with us to help make our dream wedding become a reality. Everyone you put us in touch with (Michelle and Maureen) were great. Everything was perfect and once again Jenna and I want to thank you for all of your hard work.

We will definitely recommend Jamaican Treasures to anyone we know looking to go to Jamaica!!!
Thanks again!
Jack Williams

From: Susan Rayburn
Sent: Monday, June 30, 2008 8:28 AM
To: Lisa - Jamaican Treasures Villas
Subject: Tradewinds Villa, Tryall Club, Montego Bay

Hi Lisa:
I just wanted to let you know that we are back and we had a wonderful time in Jamaica.
Tradewinds was wonderful, and we had a different chef with us for the week, his name was Ray and he did an outstanding job. Miss Ivy was recovering from some surgery, and though we missed her, we were very grateful for Ray’s talents in the kitchen and his kindness. Tina was lovely, although we did not see her much, she did a great job keeping us all in clean clothes for the week… a big job. We were so happy to see Gina again, she is absolutely spectacular… you know I have stayed at quite a few houses island wide and she stands out as the best staff member we have ever had the pleasure of having take care of us.
Everyone really enjoyed their time in Jamaica and we are grateful for all of your assistance.
My brother-in-law and sister are interested in going back alone so that they can do some more golfing. They were absolutely blown away by their experience on the course, especially as beginners. Their Caddy, named “Bunny” was reportedly extremely patient, talented and funny. I told them I would check with you on one and two bedroom rates for both private villas and the great house suites. Please let me know which villas offer a one or two bedroom rate and also what the weekly fee is for the great house suites.
THANKS AGAIN!

Susan

From: Pam Firster
To: Tricia- Jamaican Treasures Villas
Sent: Wednesday, June 18, 2008 8:46 AM
Subject: Valley High, Runaway Bay - June 17-24 2008/ P. Firster

Tricia:
Having a wonderful time in paradise! The pictures don't lie - Valley High Villa is amazing!
What your pictures couldn't show is how wonderful the staff is here. Derrick is an incredible cook and Kadian is an incredibly warm and thorough housekeeper, who goes to great lengths to take such good care of us!

Valley High Villa was a wonderful, beautiful place. What a view! The villa was very nicely appointed, with all the comforts of home. The pool was essential as it was very hot when we stayed there - we all enjoyed that! The children had fun chasing down the lizards and visiting with Harmony the dog.

The staff was warm, competant, and very good at what they do. The food was fabulous - our family has a bunch of new favorite foods and meals! The staff made us feel spoiled!

We didn't have a driver through the villa. We have friends on the island with whom we arranged transportation.

It was great to see more of the "real" Jamaica while staying in the villa as opposed to staying in one of the all-inclusives where you don't really get out and meet the people and see the sights.

We will (and have) recommend(ed ) Valley High Villa to our friends and families. The owner is lucky to own a little piece of paradise.
Sincerely,
Pamela Firster

We're moving in!

P.S. It's always a little scary when you are making these kinds of arrangements over the internet - it's a lot of money. But you and your staff are so professional and attentive that it was a pleasure to work with you. I didn't have a moment of concern. That you for all you and your staff did to make our vacation so enjoyable!

From: Deborah Smith
Sent: Tuesday, June 17, 2008 9:02 AM
To: christina@jamaicantreasures.com; swady@jamaicantreasures.com; Lisa - Jamaican Treasures Villas
Subject: Summertime Villa, Montego Bay - Deborah Smith - June 2008

We want to thank you for your assistance with booking the villa for us. We had a wonderful vacation!! The staff is so great! We plan to revisit next year possible in July due to so much rain during this trip. Can you tell us if you have any other villa in MoBay that have a driver/van with the villa? We love our driver - Marvin Boswell!! He is great @ the wheel.... Can you give us the rates for 7 days in July 2009?
One Love
Deborah

From: Monique Anderson
Sent: Monday, June 16, 2008 1:38 PM
To: Lisa - Jamaican Treasures Villas
Subject: Stone Harbour Villa, Ocho Rios

Hi Lisa!
Thanks for your email…we had a FANTASTIC time!! Other than a few rough spots with transportation at the beginning, our trip was great.
Miss Sadie, Joy and Courtney were wonderful. They did everything they could to accommodate us and we never wanted for a thing. Our food was great – Miss Sadie cooked all the authentic Jamaican dishes we’d hoped for and even gave out a few recipes and cooking lessons!! Courtney took us everywhere we needed to go (with a smile and a great laugh!!) and Joy kept everything spotless (a tough task with 5 kids in the house!). We will definitely be back, and I’ll be sure to call you when we’re ready! Thanks for everything!
Monique

From: Marlene Williams
Sent: Monday, June 09, 2008 2:50 PM
To: Lisa - Jamaican Treasures Villas
Subject: Lolivya Villa, Blue Lagoon, Port Antonio

Hello Lisa,
First, I must say that dealing with Jamaica Treasures was quite a pleasure. I booked by telephone and e-mail and got prompt response to all my queries. Patricia, at the local office was very helpful. We are usual guests of Chillin, in Mamee Bay and we always have a very relaxing stay. The staff at Lolivya were always attentive and willing to please. We enjoyed the villa experience so much that we wanted to experience other villas in other parts of the Island. Our first choice was Port Antonio, specifically on the water near the lagoon. We enjoyed Lolivya very much. The staff was pleasant and Jean was an excellent cook. My children enjoyed being on the water, snorkelling and kayaking. The villa did not have any kayaks, but Xavier arranged to borrow one from a nearby villa. We also went out each day exploring Port Antonio and had a very good time at French Men's Cove nearby.

We are now talking to Patricia about our next family excursion.
Marlene Williams
Jamaica

From: Laurie Bellis
Sent: Monday, June 09, 2008 9:39 AM
To: lisa@jamaicantreasures.com
Subject: Scotch on the Rocks Villa, Ocho Rios

Lisa,

I cant tell you enough of how much we loved Scotch on the Rocks. It was the most beautiful place. The staff was wonderful. Cherry’s food was out of this world. We just fell in love with her. Pauline the maid she was constantly picking up after us. It was so nice taking clean clothes home. As for Brian and Elvis we learned so much about the Jamaican culture. I could just go on and on about the place and their staff. It was outstanding.

I wanted to let you know that we had an absolutely fantastic vacation at Scotch On The Rocks!! Pauline, Cherry, Bryan, Elvis and Henry were amazing!! Cherry cooked the most wonderful jamacian dishes and you can tell she cooks with love! Your house is so beautiful!! We were so comfortable and loved how everybody made us just feel right at home. It was by far the best vacation I have ever had and was above and beyond my expectations.
Thank you so much for sharing your home!! We will be back!!
Sincerely,
Lisa Berry and Laurie Bellis

From: Scherie Williams
Sent: Monday, June 02, 2008 12:03 PM
To: christina@jamaicantreasures.com
Cc: lisa@jamaicantreasures.com
Subject: Stone Harbour Villa, Ocho Rios

Dear Christina and Lisa

We just returned from Stone Harbour on Friday.
Lisa I can’t thank you enough for recommending this place to us. Words cannot express the wonderful experience we had. The house was beautiful. The staff went over and beyond to make our stay a memorable and relaxing one. I can’t stop thinking about Ms. Sadie and her wonderful cooking..we are all going on diets now. But most of all our driver Courtney was the best. He always made sure we were comfortable; he never left our side when we went somewhere and he totally made us feel safe. He was always at the end of every tour waiting for us to make sure we were okay. Thanks for him…he will never be forgotten. This will not be our last trip to Jamaica and I will always request Courtney as our driver.
On another note, do you only have Villa’s in Jamaica? Do you deal with any other part of the Caribbean?
Warm Regards,
Scherie

Lisa's note: Yes, Scherie, our other website is: www.luxuryvillatreasures.com for villas worldwide!

From: Sheri Farthing
Sent: Tuesday, May 27, 2008 10:12 AM
To: Lisa - Jamaican Treasures Villas
Subject: Anchor Listing Villa, Montego Bay

Hi Lisa,
We had a wonderful time at in Jamaica at Anchor Listing. I was very pleased that it was so close to Drambuie so we could walk back and forth. The wedding was perfect!
We very much enjoyed John as a butler, driver and expert guide! He was always pleasant, professional and accommodating. Carlene was great as well although we didn’t see much of her but certainly enjoyed her wonderful cooking! Didn’t see much of the other staff but appreciated the morning coffee! A minor glitch once with the power outage and lack of water but we didn’t let it stop our enjoyment.
Thanks to you for being so helpful in answering all my questions.
Sincerely,
Sheri

From: Sarah McBrayer
Sent: Thursday, May 01, 2008 9:42 AM
To: Lisa - Jamaican Treasures Villas
Subject: Siesta Villa, Runaway Bay

Hi, Lisa,
Siesta Villa was perfect for my family, and everything and more than we expected. The pool and beach were perfect for my 5 small grandchildren, the staff was excellent and the food delicious. We loved the Villa with it's wonderful accommodations and spaciousness. Jamaican Treasures was a pleasure to deal with, you answered my many questions and made it hassel-free. I look forward to renting from you again in the near future.
Thank you,
Sarah

From: Shelby Patton
Sent: Wednesday, April 30, 2008 8:45 PM
To: Lisa - Jamaican Treasures Villas
Subject: Crystal Cove Villa, Blue Lagoon, Port Antonio

Hi Lisa,
I do wish I was back at the Blue Lagoon,sitting on the deck of our villa, looking at the water. Our cooks, Cynthia and Andrea went out of their way to meet our requests. They cooked us ,chicken, curried goat and fish, to perfection. They made us a coconut and key lime pies(s) which melted on our tougues. It took them all afternoon to prepare our evening meals, as they chopped and cut all the vegetables and salads by hand.Cynthia made us a rum punch that went down quite easily. Both of them came around 8 am, started the cooking prep, then cleaned the villa. They are lovely women, who worked very hard to see that we were happy.As a matter of fact, their cooking was so good that we only went out one night. We were very impressed with them. Richard, our security guard, made sure we were safe, as he spent every night in the villa.Although, I didn't feel particularly threatened, as the Jamaicans we did meet in Port Antonio were kind and friendly. Our driver, "cool cat", George, navigated the pot holed road adeptly. He was on time for transportation to and from the airport.We were totally spoiled and taken care of,coming back to reality has been a real eye opener. Again thank you so much for your incredible attention to detail and I do hope we can make it back soon.
Yours sincerely,
Shelby Patton

From: Gregg and Megan Glick
Sent: Tuesday, April 29, 2008 2:44 PM
To: Lisa - Jamaican Treasures Villas
Subject: Wharf House Villa, Montego Bay

Dear Lisa,
There are no words that would adequately express the wonderful time that we had at The Wharf House. It is an absolutely beautiful property - the photos on your website don't even begin to do it justice. It is immaculate, elegant and comfortable. The grounds are amazing! We also spent a lot of time in the extra building - it was a very cool bonus space that was a nice surprise.
We went there with our 4 kids (ages 17-23) and our daughter's fiancee and our other daughters boyfriend. We had so much fun just hanging out at the villa - we went into town a couple of times, went to Doctor's Cave, went on a canopy tour, and went to Round Hill Resort a couple of times -- and had a great time at all these places - but hands down - our favorite place was The Wharf House itself!
The villa truly passed our expectations. But the staff? I can't believe that there is a better staff anywhere in the world! Robert was warm, charming, professional and incredibly helpful. Leisha took amazing care of our laundry (even taking on the extra task of dealing with my wedding gown!) -- all the time smiling. Sharon kept the place spotless and made us feel wonderful. Peadove is one of the most interesting people we've met and he was incredibly informative about the plants and flowers, etc.. And Andrea? That woman can definetely cook! Every meal was better than the last delicious meal -- and her pies are amazing! Since we've been home, we've gone out to dinner a few times and each time, we say that the food is good "but it's not as good as Andrea's cooking!"
We had our wedding there at The Wharf House. It is the most spectacular place in the world for a wedding. Perfect really. We've all come home from vacations before harboring the usual regrets at having to end our trips and come back to our real worlds, but this time it was different --our kids are all calling us from college and asking us when we can go back to the Wharf House and see our friends - Robert, Leisha, Andrea, Sharon, Peadove and our driver Levan again. All we can tell them - is that we're working on getting out there again as soon as possible!
Thank you so much!!!!
Gregg and Megan Glick

Lisa-- I know that Gregg's family had a great time at Wild Orchid as well. They said that they truly felt spoiled in a very beautiful place.

From: Erin Ray
Sent: Wednesday, April 16, 2008 5:43 PM
To: Lisa@jamaicantreasures.com
Subject: Golden Clouds, Oracabessa

Hi Lisa,
We had stayed at the Golden Clouds the week of April 1 -8, 2008. (Elms/Ray group) We had amazing time. The house was more than we expected. Very beautiful, private, with many activities to do to keep busy. The staff was really what made our time in the house so enjoyable. They are all so kind and friendly. They went above and beyond our expectations. It was a very sad day having to say good bye to Blossom, Jackson, Ken, Vincent, Yogi, Rohan, Peggy & Tilly. I think even a few tears were shed. We really miss them!! We will definitly be returning to this house. This was one of the best vacations we have had!!! Thank you soo much,
Erin & Derek Ray
along with the rest of the Canadian group!!!

From: Sarah Curme
Sent: Wednesday, April 09, 2008 11:30 AM
To: 'Lisa - Jamaican Treasures Villas'
Subject: Drambuie Estate, Content, Montego Bay

We had a great time at the Drambuie Estate. All of the staff went the extra mile to make it fun, relaxing and easy while we were there. We will definitely recommend Jamaican Treasures and this villa in particular to others. Jon the driver was excellent. He did work some overtime without complaining and completely trustworthy in taking the teenage girls out in the evening into town. They had a driver and a chaperone! Tony was very accommodating and saw that all of our needs were met. He had someone come in to braid the girls hair and another woman who tailored some shirts for the men. The new chef carlington was excellent and was very accommodating with some picky kid eaters as well. We especially like the membership at Round Hill for the fitness center, tennis and beach. That is a big selling feature of the house. We loved all of the other staff there as well.
Thanks again for everything.
Sarah Curme

From: Dan King
Sent: Tuesday, April 08, 2008 4:47 PM
To: Lisa - Jamaican Treasures Villas
Subject: Bluefield Villas, South Coast, Jamaica

Dear Lisa,
I hope this finds you well. Daniel and I (and our family) have returned to the states following our vacation/ wedding at Mullion Cove.
I have been in touch with the owner about our experience and she asked me to share with you she said that this was the first time you had sent someone to Bluefields.
Well where do I start! WOW! What an amazing week we had at Mullion Cove. The Villas were more beautiful than we ever dreamed of. The staff was absolutely amazing. Earl, Carmen, Rose, Sharon, Greg, Andin, Maurice, James, and everyone else took great care of any need we had. They were the most loving, friendly people. By the time the wedding came on Thursday..it felt we were getting married at home and that the staff had become family. The service, the food, the music, the rooms, were second to none! The seclusion and privacy the Villas provided were second to none...after we left, Danielle and I spent 3 days at a resort in Montego Bay. Although we had a great time, we missed all that Mullion Cove and the staff had offered.
Also, the wedding, wedding meal, and reception all went VERY well. Everyone had an amazing time. The entire staff worked so hard and under pressure to move the wedding at the last minute from the sandy, cliff area below mullion cove to the beach pavilion because of rain. (Which stopped of course as soon as the bride walked outside) The food, the flowers, the band and the service could not have been any better.
Thank you for your assistance in helping us secure the rental. Danielle and I and our families hope to return soon.
I would highly recommend the Villas to anyone.
Respectfully,
Daniel E. King, MS, ATC
Director of Sports Medicine

From: Marilyn Pollock
Sent: Sunday, March 30, 2008 4:50 PM
To: Lisa - Jamaican Treasures Villas
Villa: A Summer Place Villa, Discovery Bay

Hi Lisa:
Our vacation was wonderful. We can't say enough about the staff. They anticipated our needs. The food was incredible. At first we thought about making menu suggestions, but we quickly learned to just let them do it and it was fantastic. My kids say it was the best vacation ever. Wish I could afford to do it every year!
Please feel free to use me as an email referral for future guests.
Cheers,
Marilyn

Hi, Lisa:
This is what my eldest daughter has up on her blog:
A Summer Place
For my mother's 70th birthday, she took my whole family, and the families of my brother and sister - 14 of us in all, to Jamaica. Here's where we are staying! Wow! But what makes this place truly amazing is the wonderful staff. They are totally flexible. They make the most wonderful meals, keep the place looking great, despite the mess that kids can make, do all the laundry and we have a chauffeured van with a tour guide. We've been shopping, climbed waterfalls, gone kayaking, and several (not me) went to Bob Marley's mausoleum for the tour. But mostly, we sit, eat, talk and play games - all in our swimsuits. A once in a lifetime vacation. But I am seriously trying to figure out how to make it a regular event!!! Thanks mom!

How's that for rave reviews!
Marilyn

From: Laurice Wicijowski
Sent: Wednesday, April 02, 2008 1:35 PM
To: Lisa - Jamaican Treasures Villas
Villa: Jamaican Holiday at Idleawile Villa, Rio Bueno, near Discovery Bay.

Hi Lisa,
Just wanted to thank you again for all of your help. Our stay at Idleawile was great! We enjoyed Brenda, Craig and Gary and they really helped to make our holiday relaxing. Ferdinand was an excellent driver and we got to see alot of that part of Jamaica. I am going to recommend Jamaican Treasures to all my family and friends here in Canada. All of the services you provided were greatly appreciated. We would definitely go back to Jamaica and rent a villa again. Until next time...
Laurice and Family

From: Dr Lags
Sent: Wednesday, April 02, 2008 12:38 AM
To: Lisa - Jamaican Treasures Villas
Villa: Fantasy Villa, Rio Bueno, near Discovery Bay

Hi Lisa
Thank you so much for everything you did for me and family. I have never had a better travel experience from beginning to end and you had a lot to do with it. We can not wait to come back and have been telling everyone here about our villa experience. The staff was great and we liked all of our drivers- very professional. I will probably hire a driver for the week next time.
Only comments about fantasy villa would be to update master bathroom- especially tub and to get some beach toys(for families with younger children) and some water toys(canoe/kayak/dingy)- I did meet owner and he said he was planning to bring kayaks over soon.
Not that I missed them terribly but internet access wouldn’t be bad at villa either. You and your father are so kind and generous(he bought us lunch in Ocho!)
Believe it or not we never made it to Peurto Seco beach- just ran out of time- we will hit it next time.
We will send you pictures soon. Please stay in touch and good luck with everything.
Take care,
Keith and Jan

(Jamaican Treasures Follow Up: The owner has installed wireless internet and there are plans underway to upgrade the bathrooms. The kayaks are due to arrive any day now!)

From: Graham Farrell
Sent: Monday, March 31, 2008 10:12 AM
To: Lisa - Jamaican Treasures Villas
Subject: Villa Viento, Ocho Rios

Hi Lisa,
We had a super time at the Villa; thank you for helping us secure it under such short notice. Overall, our entire family had an incredible time and the staff were amazing, especially Nicky's cooking…we all looked very forward to every meal.
As far as feedback goes, I would like to provide you with a few observations/comments:
1. The pictures on the website do not do justice to the beauty of the property; I think you need to consider updating the web link…I would strongly suggest adding images of the gazebos and waterfront, perhaps more flowers (see attached)
2. You should probably let people know there is currently not very good water access;.... we had to stay in the pool or walk to the beach - which wasn't very far. (NOTE from Jamaican Treasures: Yes, we always suggest Reggae Beach which is a 2 minute drive away from Villa Viento)
3. While the grounds were spectacular (we all took pictures of all the flowers), a bit more attention to detail would make the overall experience even better; (NOTE from Jamaican Treasures: Yes, this has been rectified and is all beautiful in the garden areas and well attended)
4. It would be good to have a van at the villa.
5. I think the tipping protocol should be spelled out more clearly; it suggests tipping 10% but there was disagreement among our group about this; I don't think people realize how little the staff earn at the villa; people here in Canada have no problem tipping 15% in restaurants because they know serving staff don't make much money - but no one really had a clue about the situation at Villa Viento.
Lisa, I hope this is helpful; we absolutely loved our trip and the entire staff was great. We will certainly consider using your service again; for me the best part was introducing my entire family to the beautiful island of Jamaica; I have been there 10 or 12 times but no one else in my family had ever been; unfortunately, they had heard all the negative stories that seem to haunt Jamaica's perception among many people here; all agreed that Jamaica is not what they expected and does not deserve this distorted image, so I think they have all become converts too.
Thanks again so much.
Best regards,
Graham Farrell

From: ERICA COLEMAN
Sent: Monday, March 31, 2008 9:37 AM
To: lisa@jamaicantreasures.com
Villa: Villa Roccoco, Montego Bay

Lisa,
I had so much fun and the staff was awesome I loved everyone they were so helpful an courteous during our stay that we hated to leave I almost started to cry.
Listen, I am looking forward to staying there again and was wondering do you offer discounts to repeat renters if so please let me know so that Icould discuuss this with my husband because we would love to rent this villa out if possible every year on or around the same time. Please email me or call me.
Again my stay was wonderful I truly enjoyed Mr. Lloyd as well as Kamer the chef and I forgot Mrs.Maid name but, she was delightful. Please let the staff know that we miss them and look forward to seeing them again.
Thanks
Erica Coleman

From: Brian Colona
Sent: Sunday, March 30, 2008 8:13 PM
To: Lisa - Jamaican Treasures Villas
Villa: Bolt Hole, Port Antonio

Hi Lisa
Sadly - we had to come back to reality but our week at Bolt Hole was fantastic. The house was just right for our needs and we enjoyed it very much. The staff (Faye / Marva / Erroll / Rudolph) took excellent care of us and we made some nice connections with them across the course of the week. Max (the driver) was great as well and I very glad we decided to take a car & driver. Max even called me on my cell in Houston after the trip to see that we made it home fine.

Thanks as well for your assistance and that of the entire Jamaican Treasures staff for their professional help with all the arrangements.
Best Regards,
Brian

p.s. - We also really enjoyed spending some time with Yvonne Blakey and her daughter, Tamika. Yvonne was very friendly and very helpful. Tamika is the same age as our kids and she joined us for a day at the beach.

From: Jennifer Rawley
Sent: Sunday, March 30, 2008 7:05 PM
To: Lisa - Jamaican Treasures Villas
Villa: Highland House, Montego Bay

Lisa,
We had a wonderful time in Jamaica and want to go back as soon as possible. The Grannies really loved that rum punch! Everything was perfect! Candace... the manager.... She did a beautiful job--so poised and friendly and professional.
The food was just as we remembered. Everyone took such good care of us. Vincent was always available to take us places--but because the villa is so beautiful and soothing, it was difficult to get them to go anywhere. We never did make it down to the resort.

From the moment we arrived Candace endeared herself to everyone without being obtrusive. She arrived every morning bright and early with a smile on her face and a good word for everyone. She made sure she didn't leave until we were settled down for dinner. She was available to answer any questions and never made it seem that any issue was too small or big to accommodate. I really liked the fact that she gathered us all together on our first full day to discuss the different activities available to us, always letting us know that if we didn't want to go anywhere it would be fine. We would not have known about the Anchovy School or the Croydon Plantation without her input. We are grateful for her knowledge of the area. Candace was extremely professional in attitude, appearance and knowledge. We actually felt as though she was part of our little family. We tried, but failed, to get her into the pool.
We look forward to returning to our "home away from home."
Jennifer

From: Mary Mackiernan
Sent: Sunday, March 30, 2008 5:29 PM
To: Lisa - Jamaican Treasures Villas
Villa: Belmont Villa, Port Antonio
(This family also rented Sandpiper Villa and Lolivya for a large family reunion)

Lisa
We are indeed back and had a great time in Jamaica. Mary and I had the whole villa to ourselves and this was very relaxing! Here are a few comments from me (Mary may comment separately): -

Transportation: Under NO circumstances would I recommend renting a car and driving! It was much cheaper and more relaxing to use the drivers and their vans....

Belmont Villa house and grounds: One of the most beautiful settings we have seen. House very comfortable and not too fussy. Mary said it was like staying at your rich aunt's house (I wish). One day we did not even leave the grounds, just sat around the pool or wandered the gardens. The pool is wonderful. Note that the computer system did not work- I attempted to troubleshoot this and spent some time on the phone with the computer help desk. In the end I decided the modem was bad, and on turning it over, found that a previous guest had written "faulty" on it! I discussed this with the owner - this was not a major problem for me, but could have been had I had pressing business to attend to. I suggest that the owner make sure the system works prior to guests arrival, and that she get a wireless router (the current DSL system is not wireless). None of this would cost more than $100 or so.

(Lisa's comments: This has now been attended to and rectified.)

Belmont staff: Everyone was wonderful! Sheila's cooking was terrific and Weston was always there to help, especially with his special rum drinks. Hyacinth was also super. I also talked to Mr. Bonny the gardner and Kingsley the night watchman who were equally nice people. We had a dinner party for Mary's dad and brother and family one night which was very successful. We had bought 10 pounds of lobster from the fisherman who came to the door.

Finances: One thing we would recommend is pre-paying for much of the food. We did not come with a lot of cash, and had to go into Port Antonio to the bank to get massive amounts of Jamaican dollars (we are talking over $J 100,000 which went for food, drinks, drivers, tips etc). Food at the villa turned out to be quite inexpensive (ca $30/day/person including lobster). We recommend a healthy pre-paid food and drink allowance (say $30-50 per/day/person) which could be reckoned upon leaving- any excess might also be figured into tips. There was clearly no reason to pre-shop on the way to the villa (we went into a store but did not buy anything but some beer) as the staff knows the best places to shop, and what is needed.

Birthday party: Sandpiper/Lolivya was a much better venue as almost everyone was staying there, many of whom were not mobile and many of whom were drinking quite a lot. Mary and I did not wish this crowd on Shiela, Weston and Hyacinth! The staffs of the two houses did a great job under the circumstances and the calypso band made the party. Next time we will have these guys come up to Belmont for a private concert.

That's enough for now. The bottom line is that we would very much like to return to Belmont and have recommended it to our friends already. Unfortunately, many people we know just like to go to the self-contained mega-resorts where they do not even leave the property. Belmont is for those who are more refined and know how to relax (like us!).

There is actually quite a bit to do in the Port Antonio area once one gets used to the driving times- but always use the drivers, all of whom were great guys and fun to be with (with names like Kiddy and Kool-cat). Our only regret was that we had to leave, or that we could not take the Belmont staff home with us!
Any questions, let me know.
Robin

From: Colleen Opack
Sent: Sunday, March 30, 2008 5:28 PM
To: lisa@jamaicantreasures.com
Subject: Thank you!
Villa: Caribbean Fairway (5 BR) and Fairway Manor (7 BR) , Springfarm, Montego Bay

Lisa,
We just arrived home from our trip to Jamaica and want to tell you how wonderful everything was. The people working at the villa exceeded our expectations and made our trip extra special. We hope to schedule another trip for next year…once we settle back home and have time to talk schedules we will give you a ring.
Many thanks,
Colleen

From: Jan Lagnese
Sent: Friday, March 28, 2008 10:05 AM
To: Lisa - Jamaican Treasures Villas
Villa: Fantasy Villa, Rio Bueno, near Discovery Bay

Lisa,
Just wanted to let you know how much we enjoyed our villa! We were in paradise. We realized that after we went to the Rosehall Resort! We really missed the villa. We will definitely be back some day. The staff was incredible. Vaughn and Gloria were great cooks and we did get to have their jerk chicken! The massage was so nice out near the ocean. We had a wonderful time and enjoyed the local Jamaican folk. They were all so welcoming. Thank you for your excellent customer service. We’ve already given your company’s name to people interested in our villa. I guess we made it sound so good!
Thanks again and hope to work together