Reviews for Port Antonio Vacation Rental - VRBO 299771 - 1 BR Jamaica Villa, Honeymoon in Secluded Paradise at Norse Point

Fantastic Holiday Villa

Guest Andre
Date of stay 05/04/13
Review Submitted 05/12/13

My wife and I have just returned from a spectacular week staying at Norse Point which was really tremendous, as all the reviews on this page seem to unanimously attest to! Our first impression on arrival was that the house and surrounds were actually even more beautiful than the pictures on this site depict. It really is super gorgeous, light and airy, and very comfortable.The water outside is full of spectacular Caribbean blues (light turquoise, dark blue, even green) which is quite an incredible thing to wake up to and be able to dip into any second of your stay. Adjacent Monkey Island is terrific too and good for a bit of exploring. Also, Verona, the lovely lady who comes to cook was just fantastic. Loads of fun to have around, and an incredible cook who plied us with amazing meal after amazing meal. With very hectic lives where we live in New York, this week was really a perfect slice of relaxing bliss for us and allowed us to decompress totally. I would definitely give a strong recommendation to all considering this villa. Book it, and have fun!

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway.

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Extremely relaxing, magnificent views, wonderful place

Guest Jerin
Date of stay 03/28/13
Review Submitted 04/21/13

First the good (great): Incredible water's edge location, with swimming, snorkeling, fishing, kayaking, and spectacular views a few feet from your bed. When the weather is nice, the water is all kinds of shades of blue and the blue lagoon a short kayak trip away (HIGHLY recommended) is unlike anywhere else you've been. The main bedroom is divine, with doors that open to the water and views, and with a temperature and sound of crashing waves that made for the best nights of sleep we've maybe ever had. Verona will cook whatever you like and otherwise take excellent care of you, staying away if you want privacy or staying present if you want conversation. Our trip was dramatically improved because of her service. The less good: The location is amazing for water access but comes with a couple of very mild drawbacks. One is that the backside of the property is just a few feet below the road. We often heard or saw people/kids talking and playing just above the roof. On the weekend, there were also a number of small boats out on the water ferrying tourists back and forth, just off the end of the dock. Neither of these were really that bothersome to us, but you shouldn't go expecting total quiet and isolation. The interior of the property is clean, and the Jamaica/marine-themed paintings done by the owner are tremendous and charming pops of color throughout, but it falls short of five stars overall in a few ways: It's missing a really comfortable place to sit inside (for bad weather, as we had part of the time), and the outside is great during the day but only has a couple harsh fluorescent lights at night; the shower basically only drips out; and the concrete deck + bench and walkway, as well as some of the other areas, look a bit run down. Again, none of this much dampened our stay – we had a lovely time and would highly recommend it to all. Go with your expectations in check and you will find it a charming slice of paradise. Thank you to Alex and Verona and all for a most excellent stay.

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

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Norse Point

Guest Dave S.
Date of stay 03/01/13
Review Submitted 03/13/13

I have been back for two days after spending 10 days at Norse Point, and the first thing I would have to tell someone is to get on a plane as soon as possible and go there. The place is amazing, noting huge on the inside, but enough for what you need and a good sized master bedroom. The reality is except for sleeping and having a few meals inside when it was a little to windy to eat outside, all of our time was spent outside. Keep the lights off outside at night, have just a little light coming through the kitchen window to see your way around and just enjoy having drinks under the stars. Work out the light situation with Owen the night guard and you won't be interrupted. Basically when the inside lights are on he leaves you alone, and when you go to bed turn on the one light outside out back. The switch is by the kitchen door. For the most part you will probably have the island to yourself until about 10 am. After that some of the boat tours start coming by from the loading dock at the blue lagoon, but they don't always stop at the island. Kayak over to the Blue Lagoon at least once a day, even if the water is a little choppy, just stay close to the houses and paddle through it. We were there for several windy days(very windy according to Verona) but the kayaks made it through with no problem. Speaking of Verona, you couldn't ask for anyone better to be running the show, and to be your personal chef. Almost always a smile, obviously loves her job, and will make your stay even that much more enjoyable. We only ate out once, and that was when we went out for some Boston jerk pork and chicken. Boston beach is interesting enough, but I personally wouldn't go out of my way again to go there even though it is only 10 minutes down the road. It was basically some decent bar b que but I would rather have had another night of Verona's cooking. Rent a car if you want but if you have never been to Jamaica it might be a little different than you are used to. Cheap enough to get around on the taxi's that cruise by constantly. Right about two and a half hours from the Kingston airport, and mountain drive is very interesting. I hope to be able to make it back in the next few years, and was just looking at the calendar to see when it was booked for the rest of the year. Started dreaming of booking it again for later this year, but for now that will just have to be a dream.

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

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Perfect Honeymoon

Guest Kara
Date of stay 02/18/13
Review Submitted 02/24/13

After getting married in Negril, we stayed 5 nights at Norse Point and it was the perfect honeymoon location. The cottage is the perfect size for a couple although it could definitely fit a few more people if your party is larger. We loved sitting on the porch and ate many meals out there as well. Kayaking to the blue lagoon or san san beach is a very easy trip and both are worth seeing. Winnifred beach and boston beach were two of our favorite locations. You can get a taxi to either very easily. Verona was an excellent hostess and fantastic chef. She was always available if and when we needed her but never in our way at all. Alex, the owner, was also wonderful and very easy to communicate with via email. We just left yesterday but are already discussing another trip to Norse Point!

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

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A little piece of heaven in Jamaica

Guest Adrian
Date of stay 01/20/13
Review Submitted 02/02/13

All the information given to us eased our route to Norse Point. We needed the full address for immigration, Alex (the owner) recommended a Juta taxi from Kingston airport. Accept no other. There are many unauthorised so be safe take a government approved Juta taxi. Alex just couldn't do enough to make our stay as pleasant as possible. When we arrived (late due to airlines) Verona the goddess of the kitchen had a warm welcome and a gorgeous meal waiting for us. Nothing was too much trouble. After a good nights sleep in a very comfortable bed. We could take in our surroundings. Beutiful, quiet, relaxing area. Step off the jetty into the water. The local area isn't anything like the hustle and bustle of the more touristy areas. Norse Point is ideal to relax and enjoy Jamaica. The real Jamaica! San San beach is in easy walking distance, Frenchmans Cove again easy walking distance, Boston Beach is ideal if your a surf fan, only a ten minute taxi ride. Use the glass bottom canoes at Norse Point to visit the Blue Lagoon or Monkey Island. Verona will accompany you to the market to buy food for the week. A must in my view, we wanted Jamaican quisine and we were not disappointed. Verona I can't rate highly enough. A wonderful person, nothing too much trouble and of course a great cook. Alex would ring Verona to make sure everything was ok. We're else do you get such care from the owner of a property? Importantly the property was clean and comfortable, with lots of character. The surrounding area, pictures can't really do it justice. Beutiful is the only word I can use. We will return. Thank you Alex and Verona for making our vacation everything it could possibly be.

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

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As advertised - great location

Guest Tobias S.
Date of stay 01/13/13
Review Submitted 01/25/13

My wife and I really enjoyed our stay at Norse Point. Just about all of what we read in the other reviews was spot on. The proximity to Monkey Island was fantastic. It was super easy to get a taxi/ride anytime just by standing on the street above the house and flagging down a red-plated car.. $1-$3 (US) gets you about anywhere. We most enjoyed nearby Frenchman's Cove - worth every bit of the $700 (JA) to access, it's best beach I've seen in all of Jamaica and I've been up and down this island over the years. Norse Point home itself was great, perfectly secluded, just a terrific location. All the amenities are as advertised. Verona was super, helped us with many aspects of our stay. Alex is really responsive too. Note: be sure to get the full address for your immigration form - we got held up at Kingston airport because I only put "Norse Point, Port Antonio" as the address for where we are staying and the immig. officer was like "that's not enough" Other tips: don't be afraid to shop downtown, it isn't a pretty scene but you can stock up on your own food and rum. And also great patties at Juici Beef! Also worth checking out: the Great Huts in 'Boston' area (a few miles East of Norse Point, they have some really fun grounds you can use). The Mockingbird Hotel nearby is a beautiful location with artisanal food that you'll pay too much for but get a great view. You don't need to rent a car unless you are planning to drive far out of Portland to Ocho Rios or such. Very easy/cheap to take the zillion cabs that cruise by constantly. We look forward to returning, thanks Alex!

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

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Very enjoyable.

Guest Patrick (and Natalie)
Date of stay 01/05/13
Review Submitted 01/29/13

We found our stay to be delightful and the villa charming and spacious (for 2). Verona was a spectacular cook and wonderful person. Do make the trip to the market in PA with her. Allow Verona's son Kemar to do a lot of the driving if you'll be off on adventures -- the roads are rough. Bring and use swim shoes -- the ocean bottom is rocky off the dock and the snorkeling only so-so (actually best under the dock). Don't miss Reach Falls and rafting down the Rio Grande river -- both about an hours' drive from the villa. We took our 4W drive Suzuki up to Holywell National Park -- the hiking was great but the road was so pot-holed and rocky we had 2 flat tires! Fortunately, the people are very friendly and helpful. We never felt unsafe. We always travel and rent VRBO's the world over. You will have a great vacation!

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

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No other choice but Norse Point

Guest Hal
Date of stay 01/02/13
Review Submitted 01/20/13

Already planning a trip back to Norse Point, no other portland villa compares! It's right on the water and the house is beautiful and rustic and the service was excellent. The most beautiful view of Monkey Island every morning when you wake up, nothing beats it! If you're looking for a beautiful, romatic and relaxing spot you can't go wrong with Norse Point!!!

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

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Repeat Offenders

Guest Sugar
Date of stay 09/29/12
Review Submitted 10/16/12

this was our second stay. we could conjure all the cliched words like wonderful, amazing, beautiful, peaceful. it was all that and more. we even got caught in a fierce thunderstorm and the lights went out. Ms. Verona was extremely personable and attentive. Did i mention that she's a great cook with an equally great smile that lights up any room? We felt very much at home. She fussed over us via telephone during the storm and told us where her secret stash of candles were. The cards and the board games were also a godsend during the thunderstorm. We had to play Real Scrabble vs Words With Friends. It's only because it makes good business sense and the Dougalls have been so kind and accommodating that I'm recommending this place to others. A great time was had by all.

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

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A Perfect Place

Guest Dorothy
Date of stay 09/08/12
Review Submitted 10/14/12

"Norse Point is simply divine! We spent many afternoons kayaking up and down the coast and Norse Point is hands-down the best location in sight. We were blown away by the beauty of Monkey Island and it's perfect sandy beach a quick swim away. Put on your snorkelling gear and look no further than the steps of the dock for colourful fish. Of course, with so many coral reefs so close by, you will want to venture further! The house and location are quiet and quaint. Verona, the housekeeper, is superb. Her presence made our stay even better. She served us breakfast, lunch and dinner outside under a bamboo roof, always with a smile on her face. She helped make our stay very relaxing. We will be recommending Norse Point to our friends for years to come."

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

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The view is Gorgeous, but its VERONA and REN who make the place so special! We miss them already!

Guest al
Date of stay 07/19/12
Review Submitted 07/27/12

After travelling to Montego Bay with 30 of our closest friends and family for our wedding, my beautiful bride and I were in need of the perfect hideaway for our honeymoon! We found it, plus sooo much more!! Port Antonio is unlike anywhere else on the island. The villa itself sits on a gorgeous stretch of coast, between San San Beach and The World Famous Blue Lagoon. It sits directly across from Monkey/Pellow Island. The water between you and the island is very calm most of the time, as it is protected by a sand bar, so swimming, snorkeling and kayaking are very easy to enjoy! We loved kayaking over to the island! Snorkeling is AMAZING in this area. You can start right off of the villas porch and swim all the way to the island. Plenty of little fish and and things to see, I would recommend having water shoes though as there were some sea urchins and things. If your not into snorkeling, the villa provides two kayaks, both two seaters, with glass bottoms so you can just sit in the kayak and look down if snorkeling isnt your thing. Our absolute favorite thing we did, however, was kayak to the blue lagoon. Getting there took ten minutes at the most. Once you enter the lagoon it is like taking a step back in time! The water has a color i could only describe as Blue Lagoon Blue! There are no other shades of blue in this world to call it! All the way in the back right of the lagoon is a mineral spring, where the fresh mountain water runs into to lagoon, where it meets the Caribbean creating the blue water. Swimming in the mineral spring has to be one of the best experiences of our lives. looking out over the Lagoon, swinging on a tire swing, we stayed there for a couple of hours and never saw another person!! By far the best day of our 12 in Jamaica was spent swimming and snorkeling around the mineral spring and Blue Lagoon! If you stay at norse point, MAKE SURE YOU KAYAK TO THE BLUE LAGOON!! After all of the things to do in the area, the best thing was to come back to the villa for Veronas cooking. She is a wonderful cook. Everything we ate was delicious (try the local cuisine, its amazing). Verona will help you with your menus. PUT YOUR TRUST IN VERONA!!! YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED!!! We missed her the moment we checked out. Our night guard, Ren, was also a pleasure to have around. Once Verona would leave, we would sit out on the porch chatting with ren all night (if you want your privacy just let him know) but we enjoyed his company and conversation!

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

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Private House in Paradise

Guest Tasha
Date of stay 06/07/12
Review Submitted 07/01/12

Overall we had a wonderful time and would recommend this villa. It is an amazing and unique location because you have a little sandy island less than a 1 minute kayak ride away. It’s actually better than having a beach right on the property as you would likely have people hanging out there all the time. People do stop at the island, but usually not for long and it’s big enough to share. There is wonderful snorkeling off the island as well as right off the dock at the house. We explored other beaches in the area, but kept going back to the island because it was closer, more private, and had better snorkeling. The place seemed expensive to us, but once we arrived in Jamaica we understood better that everything is expensive. So I think it’s reasonable for the area. One huge highlight is having Verona – not only is she a very good cook, she is an extremely trust-worthy and helpful person. She’ll stretch your dollar as far as she can and will introduce you to delicious local foods. She took us to town which I would highly recommend and also accompanied us on some of our outings, which ended up helping us navigate better (that wasn’t why we brought her along – we enjoyed her company). Bring some extra money to tip Verona well and also bring a bit to tip Ren, your night guard. The taxi ride from Kingston to the villa is long and intense. If you are at all prone to motion sickness, take some medicine before this drive. If you get sick along the way there really is nowhere to stop and you probably still have a long way to go. The trip back was a complete 180 thanks to Verona’s son, Warren, who drove very cautiously while we enjoyed the amazing rainforest landscape through mountain switchbacks. Bring aqua shoes: the sea floor is not great to walk on barefoot and the stairs from the house’s dock are slippery. Make sure your expectations are set correctly: this is not a sterile new resort. The house is lovely, but it’s also older and it’s right on seawater so there’s naturally been some wear and tear. Look past that at the fun and bright colors decorating the house and take the chance to pretend that you actually live in a location like that. It does have all modern amenities that you need, including A/C that works well.

Recommended for: Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway.

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Lovely getaway

Guest Paul
Date of stay 02/10/12
Review Submitted 02/19/12

My wife and I just spent 8 wonderful days at Norse Point. We cannot say enough about what a positive experience we had: from the helpful pre-arrival instructions we received from the owners; to the dreamlike location; to the simple, cozy, but beautifully appointed villa; to the warm, friendly service of the housekeeper, Verona. It was our first visit to Jamaica, and as luck would have it, I cannot imagine having chosen a more ideal introduction. The posted photos accurately depict the house and its setting, but can't do justice to all the surrounding beauty of this sleepy location. We are looking forward to a return to this magical place.

Recommended for: Romantic getaway

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Refreshing...

Guest Darrell H.
Date of stay 07/07/11
Review Submitted 07/11/11

I've been working in Jamaica for 3 years now, and this is the best place I've found for a relaxing getaway. Tremendous location if what you really would like to do is relax. Cannot say enough about the housekeeper and her hospitality - not to mention that she is a fabulous cook (ask for red bean or pumpkin soup with plantain and fresh lobster!). This place is truly a steal-away bargain. Spent the days on the kayaks snorkeling the nearby reef (sea turtles and manta rays, among other amazing marine life there). Views were spectacular, with cool evening breezes on the deck/patio. Kayaked to blue lagoon - splendid swimming. Swam to monkey island (a short swim away - essentially your own private island) - climbed to the top. If you are a couple that likes doing your own non-traditional getaway - there is plenty to do here, and you will be spoiled in the process by the beauty and serenity of this place. If you want to watch a lot of TV, be on a beach with lots of tourists, have a full bar available, like really active night life, and be entertained, go somewhere else. If you like to read, spend lazy days lying in the sun, swim in the sea, find your own fun and relax without crowds - this place is for you. Food: Boston jerk Centre is just 4km away (east) - you absolutely must go have some of the best jerk chicken/pork and pepper sauce available on the entire island in Boston, JA! Went to the open air market in Port Antonio with the housekeeper and procured everything we needed with her for the meals. She was there when we needed her, and completely absent when we wanted privacy.

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

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Better than the pics!

Guest ez
Date of stay 06/10/11
Review Submitted 06/16/11

Wonderful getaway! Great for a special couple retreat! Beautiful lagoon, cute cottage literally on the water! So, beware of the sun, just be prepared! Good and very helpful service with a lot of respect with your own needs!

Recommended for: Age 55+, romantic getaway.

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Outstanding! Nothing Describes It Better Than Being There

Guest Maury&Mike
Date of stay 12/10/10
Review Submitted 12/14/10

We’ve been to islands all over the world including Bali, and yes, there are still some paradises yet to be seen…but the villa at Norse Point in Port Antonio, Jamaica has become one of our favorites. The amazing people, spectacular cuisine and relaxed vibe make Norse Point an ideal destination for anyone. Our adventure began with being met by Warren (aka Garfield) at the Kingston Airport for the trek to Port Antonio. It was as though we had been reunited with an old friend; Warren made us feel really welcome. When we arrived at Norse Point, we have to say it was even better than the pictures on the internet because it would be impossible to capture such a setting. The villa is situated on a private spit of land with a 180 degree views (and access) to the turquoise waters that make Jamaica famous. We were greeted by Verona’s kind, warm smile and a sumptuous home cooked meal with local flare. Serving as the housekeeper as well as the chef, Verona keeps the villa spotlessly clean, and a seemingly endless supply of fantastic recipes for us to try (the pumpkin soup is to die for). Verona is always available to assist with anything; she is helpful but just as importantly not intrusive. The villa has everything you could possibly want in terms of home comforts - and then more. The owners have thought of everything from the sea kayaks, snorkels and fins to the cozy lounge chairs. The very knowledgeable Verona suggested various places to visit and Warren was our driver whenever we wanted - he made the trips really enjoyable as he explained about the culture, the island and so on. Lush tropical scenery, dense rainforests and plunging waterfalls provide a backdrop that is unmatched. Norse Point is just steps (or paddles) away from the world famous Blue Lagoon, San San Bay and Pellew (Monkey) Island. It is also the perfect spot to waste the days away, relaxing, sipping cocktails and swimming in crystal clear waters from the private dock. So if you are looking for a place where you can sit back, relax, enjoy the sun, and wonder if you really should board that flight home, Norse Point is for you.

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, sightseeing.

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Vacation Rentals by Owner

Honeymoon in Secluded Paradise at Norse Point [#299771] | View Property

Traveler Reviews (16)

Fantastic Holiday Villa

Fantastic Holiday Villa

Extremely relaxing, magnificent views, wonderful place

Extremely relaxing, magnificent views, wonderful place

Norse Point

Norse Point

Perfect Honeymoon

Perfect Honeymoon

A little piece of heaven in Jamaica

A little piece of heaven in Jamaica

As advertised - great location

As advertised - great location

Very enjoyable.

Very enjoyable.

No other choice but Norse Point

No other choice but Norse Point

Repeat Offenders

Repeat Offenders

A Perfect Place

A Perfect Place

The view is Gorgeous, but its VERONA and REN who make the place so special! We miss them already!

The view is Gorgeous, but its VERONA and REN who make the place so special! We miss them already!

Private House in Paradise

Private House in Paradise

Lovely getaway

Lovely getaway

Refreshing...

Refreshing...

Better than the pics!

Better than the pics!

Outstanding! Nothing Describes It Better Than Being There

Outstanding! Nothing Describes It Better Than Being There