Santa Maria is in Ocho Rios on the North coast of Jamaica. The building is in colonial style. The apartment for rent is the home of a very well known Caribbean Hotelier/ ceramist and interior designer wife who have lived there for the last 28+ years.
From the first floor the apartment is entered either by curved gentle stairs or by elevator. As you enter the door you see the living room which is mostly in white, the terrace beyond and further to the large pool, the gardens and the Caribbean Sea.
The apartment is by the sea, small beach and you have it's view from both bedrooms and bathrooms. There is air conditioning and ceiling fan in the living/drawing room as well as in bedrooms. Of the two bedrooms, one has a four poster king size bed( 78 inch by 74 inch ), it's ensuite bathroom, toilet with bidet( jet stream) and closet with the other a single ( 74 inch by 38 inch ) with it's own closet, bathroom and toilet with bidet(jet stream). Each bathroom has a shower head. Linen and terry is provided.
The size of the apartment is 1754 sq ft.
I understand that there is no 2 bedroom 2 bath apartment on North Coast condos as large as in Santa Maria.
There are books to read, to cook and original art works around.
Ms. Claudette Jamaican chef/ housekeeper is the strength of the apartment. Ask her to cook some Jamaican cuisine. You would love it. She is a lovely Jamaican, always with a ready smile, always helpful and quite amenable. She works 6 days/ 40 hours per week to clean and cook. Her normal day off is Sunday. She comes around noon makes your beds, cleans the apartment, cooks your lunch and then takes a break. She returns to make your afternoon tea and prepare your dinner. If you would like her to work on her day off or prepare your breakfast, please make private arrangement with her.
There is full kitchen with fridge, freezer, large & small oven, electric cooking range, juicer, blender, microwave, coffee makers, toaster and sandwich toaster etc.
All meals seem to be eaten on the terrace, because of the beautiful surroundings. It is lovely to sip your morning tea or coffee on the terrace or gazebo and see the sun rise and watch cruise ships pass by in distance.
There are many things to do around Ocho Rios. Dunns River Falls, Mystic Mountain as well as Dolphins Cove, Blue Hole,White RiverbRafting are only 10-20
minutes away by car. In the other direction you are headed for James Bond country, Golden Eye( Ian Fleming), Firefly Guest House( Sir Noel Coward) and Ian Fleming Airport. Port Antonio is a 2 hour drive.
Several restaurants are well worth a visit and the small hotels Jamaica Inn and Hermosa cove can be counted for a very pleasant evening. Reservations required. You can taste cuisines from Jamaica, Italy, India,China and
North America around. Of course there are fish restaurants too. Particularly General Foods and Progressive supermarkets carry imported and gourmet food items as well as local specialties. Not far from Santa Maria every Friday there is a Farmers Market.
There is a tennis court on the property. A tennis instructor is available by prior arrangement for lessons or to play at price. There is a reserved parking space for the apartment.
Santa Maria is 85 minute drive from Montego airport, 100 minute drive from Kingston airport, 20 minute drive from Ian Fleming Airport or from Ocho Rios cruise ship pier.