Rondel Village: 2br villa or 1br beachfront villa?

[kchristopher]

We plan to book a villa at Rondel for our visit this fall. Will be our first trip with kids (6 yr old daughter and 9 yr old son). Have been eyeballing the 1 br beachfront villa, as it will sleep 4 with the murphy bed in the LR. But, with the current special, I can stay in a 2br (not beachfront) villa for about the same price as the 1 br beachfront. Anyone with experience at Rondel have an opinion as to which villa I should choose? I have seen comments on the 1 br beachfronts, but not much about the 2 br villas.

[negril#1fan]

I really like Rondel, their staff and owners. Always enjoy my stay..... I've never sayed in the one bedroom beachfront, but if available, I would book that in a nanosecond...... Beautiful porch, beautiful location... I've sayed in the two and three bedroom villas and they are excellent.... But the beachfront is just that, beachfront and easy to keep track of the kids.....

[Jambarney]

Rondel is very nice, probably the nicest of the hotels we've stayed at while on the beach in Negril.

I think the Ortanique Villa is the best of the 1 bedrooms, we've stayed in it a couple of times and it's super. Incredible porch, sea view, nice, no wicked nice hot tub area.
Lime Villa is ok also, same concept but Ortanique has better view.

Rondel is a nice choice.

Jamb

[Melody]

Haven't stayed there but seriously looked into it and I would agree with beachfront 1 bedroom. The other villas and rooms are very close together. Much better IMO to have only beach in front rather than another building.

[sixcats]

I'm posting from one of Rondel's beachfront rooms right now. My three kids are in the one bedroom beachfront below us. We have stayed in one of the 2bedroom villas when our kids were younger. The only upside to the 2bedroom is you can have the second bedroom with two beds instead of the children sharing the Murphy bed. I wasn't crazy about the stairs in the 2bedroom with young children and at that age would prefer the kids on the same floor. The view from Ortanique is very nice, even the view from the hammock on the porch. We just booked for next summer and I gave my kids the choice of the beachfront one bedroom villa or a 2 bedroom villa and they all chose the one bedroom beachfront.

[negril#1fan]

I'm very jealous sixcats.... Salute to you my friend...

[kchristopher]

Thanks for all of the responses. You guys confirmed what I was thinking....1BR beachfront with a request for Ortanique. Any of you have experience with the housekeeper cooking the included meals? We love to eat out at the local places, but think we will have a meal or 2 cooked in the room, since it's included. Can't wait for my kids to experience the culture down there!

[negril#1fan]

Over the years, I recognize the same housekeepers working at Rondel. I have never had one cook for us, they have offered. I will say having watched them work over the years, I would trust their ability to serve a great meal at a good value. Nice thing about your beachfront room, you can sit on your porch and watch your kids walk a few feet to the dining area and get a pizza and they will be in your view the entire time.

[kchristopher]

Well, guys....my wife was right. I procrastinated too long. Now the 1br beachfront is not available. Any advice on which 2br to request? It looks like there is one close to the pool (on the little map on the Rondel site). Can't tell much from the map, though. My only thought, without having any info from people who have stayed there is to get as far from the street as possible to avoid noise.

[Ziggy]

The grape villa is right on the pool, I think it would be a good choice with kids.