Magical Prospect Villas

Latoya Grindley, Staff Reporter

An amazing setting and a very warm welcome greets you at any of the five villas at Prospect Plantation in Ocho Rios. Located just outside the town, once you enter those gates, a calm, serene atmosphere quickly replaces a fast-paced life, allowing you to slow down and enjoy all the amenities.

Our hosts for the day, Marketing Manager Rory Baugh and Maintenance Manager Ashley Jarrett were obviously happy and eager to share this treasured gem with us.

The five villas - Wag Water, Frangipani, Somewhere, Eight Rivers and Frankfort - boast a fine and rich history. Each villa has a story and, despite modern renovations, elements dating back decades have been retained to tell a tale.

• Wag Water

Wag Water happens to be the only three-bedroom villa. The first thing
that will undoubtedly captivate guests' attention is certainly the
beautiful, crisp ocean view that goes on for miles. And for those who
are adventurous, there are steps that lead straight to the sea. But if
you shy away from the sea, you can go swimming in the inviting pool that
awaits.

It is the sought-after villa, which happens to be the
least expensive, and boasts a huge verandah and a sitting and dining
room.

• Frangipani

Frangipani
is a neat four-bedroom villa, with a view similar to that of Wag Water.
This section is named after the frangipani tree which is popular on the
property.

With a gazebo close to the poolside and
well-manicured property, this villa is one that is loved by everyone.
More spacious than its neighbour, Wag Water is perfect for large
families and friends, with a budget-friendly price
tag.

• Somewhere

With an idea
of what Prospect Villas had to offer, our hosts told us it only gets
better. Was that possible? Wow! Up next was Somewhere. Yes, that is the
name.

Quaint and quiet, guests are taken closer to sea
level, with the pool and the ocean seeming to be on the same level.
Over 40 years old, Somewhere is tucked away on a piece of property that
allows privacy and seclusion.

Spacious and airy,
guests can enjoy both the outdoor attractions and indoor features, which
are nothing but cosy.

• Eight
  Rivers

For persons who like the true country-home
feel, they can get this dream fulfilled as soon as they set foot inside
Eight Rivers villa.

With the perfect country-home
layout, guests can enjoy the one and half acres of yard space, and the
huge living area, perfect for some memorable bonding
moments.

The verandah area, which also has room for
dining, offers guests a great dining
experience.

• Frankfort
  

All the villas, except Frankfort, have a private pool
and ocean view. But what Frankfort has that the others don't, is a
fantastic private, white sand beach, Jacuzzi and two buildings on the
property for guests to take over.

With both the main
house and schoolhouse totalling six bedrooms, this is the premier villa.
A beautifully landscaped property, guests can enjoy the amazing beach
view from the verandah or simply walk straight from their rooms to enjoy
the exclusive beach.

No
matter the villa of choice, everyone is guaranteed five-star
treatment.

"Each guest is treated the same, no matter
where they are from. We pride ourselves on providing excellent service
to all our guests, as service has to be maintained at the highest level.
Even locals feel like foreigners when they come here," explains
Baugh.

With each villa assigned a chef, butler and
housekeeper, guests are guaranteed to be taken care of. It helps that
they are not rotated, which results in better relationships between
themselves and guests.

"They are not shifted as each
villa they are assigned to becomes their responsibility. They ensure
everything - from the property to guests - is taken care of. They are
always on call as long as their villa is occupied."

No
stranger to celebrity guests, Prospect Villas has accommodated guests
the likes of Shakira, Drew Barrymore and Michael Manley. Their guest
list speaks to the level of appeal it has consistently maintained to
attract both locals and foreigners.

"We have a lot of
locals coming in and I must say a number of our guests are repeat. Just
the way they are treated and how they feel here helps to personalise
their story," said Baugh.

Choose your
meal

Personalisation is big at Prospect Villas and
incorporates even the food. At US$50 per day, guests can choose from a
meal plan which includes breakfast, lunch and
dinner.

There is also the option of taking food items
on property, or requesting items to be pre-stocked. The chef who is on
call is responsible for preparing all the meals.

With
modern finishing and fully equipped rooms, most guests see no need to
leave their villa, but the option is theirs to take up the complimentary
tour of Prospect Plantation and horseback
riding.

Accommodations can also be made to host small
parties at any of the villas, including small receptions. For larger
gatherings, like wedding receptions, the neighbouring Great House is
perfect! With a historic building sitting on property, there is a
stretch of beautiful and well-manicured landscape topped off by a
breathtaking
view.

latoya.grindley@gleanerjm.com

Prospect
Villas can be contacted at 994
1468.

Website:
http://www.prospect-villas.com.

Photos by Gladstone
Taylor/Photographer