Planning a Family Villa Vacation in Jamaica

Why a villa

Three generations in a resort means three rooms on three floors and a buffet. Three generations in a villa means one kitchen, one pool, one long table and a grandparent who does not have to take the stairs. At Bay Vista two bedrooms are on the ground floor and two upstairs, and every one faces the water. Eight people sleep comfortably.

Dividing the rooms

The Heliconia Suite, upstairs, for the couple who booked (the balcony, the tub). Blue Serenity, also upstairs, for a parent with a child, since it has a king and a single. Yellow Bird and Forget-Me-Not, on the ground floor, for grandparents or anyone who would rather skip the stairs. A high chair, children’s books and board games are in the house; ask about a cot.

Children and the pool

The pool is private and enclosed by the house and the terrace, but it is not lifeguarded. Agree the rules on the first afternoon. A floating breakfast tray (arranged as an extra) is the fastest way to get anyone under ten into the water at seven in the morning.

What children love here

The giant chess set. The swan float. Counting fruit trees with the caretaker. Watching the cruise ships come in from the balcony. Dunn’s River Falls (from about five up, with water shoes). Mystic Mountain’s bobsled. Dolphin Cove. The White River on a tube, which even teenagers admit to enjoying.

The questions to ask

How many can really sleep, and where? Is there a room without stairs? Is the pool private? Can we have a chef for the nights nobody wants to cook? How far is the nearest beach and the nearest hospital? How do we get from the airport? At Bay Vista the answers are on the villa page and in the FAQ, and the host answers WhatsApp within the hour.