Warning - your stay here will make you want to return very soon!
Our wonderful stay a Villa Paradiso began with our airport pickup by Ronnie, the most professional, pleasant, competent and safe driver who easily took care of our complicated pick up that involved many flights and even other family members who were staying at nearby villas. We were greeted by the friendly, welcoming villa staff, cool drinks and a moist towel after long travels.
The housekeeper, Marie, was exceptional. One would not have guessed that this was her first month with Paradiso as she performed as a veteran, ensuring that all guests had everything they needed and more.
We were a complicated group - a family gathering of Jamaican-born cousins and our families who were born in the US and the UK. Many first timers to Jamaica and a revolving group of visitors, other cousins who still live on the island, along with close friends from decades ago. We had 10 month old babies up to a 79 year old great-grandmother. Marie made sure every guest was welcomed and taken care of, even enabling us to feed the never-ending group of some 30 diners in the evening who gathered very comfortably at the very spacious villa.
The chef took care of the palates of meat eaters and vegetarians. Ronnie took some on day-long trips to visit old stomping grounds and Michael, the groundskeeper, made himself available to those who had short trips nearby when Ronnie was already occupied.
The private beach area was lovely. The gazebo was a great place to have a quiet morning coffee. Watch out for rocks in the shallow ocean, easy to see in the crystal clear waters.
Laid out very beautifully, the villa's main house has 3 king bedrooms and 2 bedrooms with 3 twins. All kings had ocean views. An additional, spacious king bedroom sat alone facing the ocean and a separate cottage, behind the main villa, housed a full bed with a private outdoor bathroom as well as another room with 2 twins, a bathroom and small living room.
The stand alone king had a couple of random issues, the air conditioning unit malfunctioned and leaked all over the luggage and the toilet ran incessantly, then didn't flush. These problems were addressed immediately. The house could stand to have some updates. The salt air is not kind to faucets and the tile grouts are showing wear. But these small things did not diminish our exceptional stay at Villa Paradiso and it very deservedly earns all of the 5 stars that it routinely receives.