The Best Villas to Stay on Jamaica, the Caribbean

Come to Rondel Village for the freshest, hyper-local produce around, plucked straight from the onsite vegetable garden. You can also tuck into Caribbean fare – try escovitch fish with bammy, or jerk chicken – at the seaside restaurant. Backing onto the Seven Mile Beach, dinner views are magical. These Jamaica villas all come with a wraparound veranda and a hammock, while a pool winds through the complex.

Snorkel the reef, laze in the infinity pool, and dance barefoot to live bands at the frequent beach fiestas. These villas in Jamaica – plus some guest rooms – are found on 44ha (110 acres) of land, along with a spa, a kids’ club and a restaurant. You won’t need to venture far to begin the day – enjoy a cooked-to-order breakfast on your private terrace, prepared by your housekeeper.

Head north to Ocho Rios, and stay at Prospect Estate, where five waterfront villas in Jamaica are hugged by tropical trees and plant life. It was originally home to Sir Harold Mitchell – who purchased the estate unseen in the 1930s – and used it to grow crops including Jamaican pimento, coconuts and limes. It’s now a health-forward getaway, where jogging trails, a tennis court, a gym and active tours make it a good choice for the more energetic traveller.

For a five-star villa stay in Negril, this is ideal. Guests are allocated a personal chef, housekeeper and butler, plus in-room spa services. Hobie cats, paddleboards and catamaran adventures provide the thrills. Access to the extensive sports facilities at the nearby Couples Swept Away resort is also included. Six premier villas range from one to five bedrooms and are popular with the glitterati, so keep your eye out for celebrity guests.

For exclusivity and lots of living space, hire this six-bedroom Portland villa at the Geejam Hotel. Modern art hangs on the walls, high ceilings create an expansive feel, and chic terraces are furnished with sleek loungers. Forest and ocean views provide the backdrop for outdoor dining (meals are planned daily), and the Jolly Boys mento band plays weekly. There’s also an onsite music studio, where Drake, Kanye West and Amy Winehouse have all recorded.

Catering for up to eight guests, the four-bedroomed Panorama Villa in Jamaica sits within the Geejam Hotel estate. The resort, which sits at the foot of the Blue Mountains, has a gym, a steam room, a pool, private staff, lush landscape views, weekly entertainment, recording facilities and indoor-outdoor dining options – whether self-catered or crafted by your private cook.

Two minutes from the beach in the romantically named Runaway Bay, this 12-person villa in Jamaica has plenty of staff: a housekeeper, chef, gardener, security guard and caretaker, and, for stays more than five nights, a full-time driver. There are four ocean-view rooms, and one looking over the gardens. Most days, however, will be spent around the private swimming pool or dipping in and out of the Jacuzzi.

A 24-hour white-glove butler service, private chefs, a spa, watersports and as much food and drink as you desire come as standard at Bluefields Bay. Six villas with a pool, ranging from two to six bedrooms, have their own personalities and ensure holidays can be tailored to couples, groups, and families of all ages. A helipad will provide you with a true VIP arrival.