Sundown on the Beach

Todd P.
Jan 5, 2019

First Time, Definitely Not Last Time

I never pulled the trigger on renting a staffed villa before. Growing up, my family would rent houses/villas in various places, preferring them to hotels. I often tried to convince my wife it was the way to go. Her response was always something to the effect of “I work hard. I go on vacation to relax. I don’t want to shop, clean or cook.” Fair points. I’d heard of the staffed villas, but was always worried if the reality would meet the expectation. We decided to give it a try and found Rental Escapes. I worked with Parissa to find a villa. We rented Sundown in Jamaica. Parissa was excellent, but I was still skeptical; i was spending a fair amount of money and didn’t want to be let down. After booking, Parissa put me in touch with the concierge, Tim. My confidence grew in each exchange. Both he and Parissa were totally professional and incredibly helpful. By the time we left for Jamaica, we had a number of activities booked and meals picked out for the first day. We also had a private van and driver - no question it is the way to go on Jamaica. Denton from Dengast Transport turned out to be a highlight of the trip - super accommodating and an incredible conversationalist. The airport transfer was ready for us when we arrived and took us to the villa. (One recommendation on airport transfer - without question, you need the fast pass. It will save you an hour or more. Tim can help.) When we arrived at the villa, I could let my shoulders down. First impressions make all the difference and I looked to see how my wife reacted. The villa and grounds are beautiful and the staff is amazing. The way the house sets up with the porch and dining areas adjacent to the beach, pool and pier worked out great. From Andre, the butler, Norman, the chef, Sheldon, his assistant, Veronica, the housekeeper . . . for that matter the entire staff . . . the service is first class. It feels pretty weird at first having staff and you’ll be a little hesitant to ask for much and maybe even a little uncomfortable responding freely when someone asks “Do you need anything?” Don’t be; these aren’t staff hired to fill positions just because they are available, they are professionals who are really, really good at their job. Andre has worked for years in the Sandals group, moving to Sundown a year ago. Norman was trained in New York City and Sheldon has been with Sundown for more than eight years. They all take pride in their job and have a particular affinity for Sundown. Veronica summed it up best. I mentioned to her how happy I was with the whole experience and how nervous I’d been about it working out. She said “The only thing you won’t find at Sundown is Disappointment.” All in all, there is no question I’d recommend Rental Escapes, the property or each member of the villa staff. I plan to go back and would like to be there now. It’s 37 degrees where I live and I managed to make buttered noodles and some half-hearted paninis for dinner last night. That hardly compares to enjoying a first class meal with your toes in the sand. Guess I’ll be going into work this weekend to try and expedite my return!