If you are planning a trip to Jamaica chances are that you will consider a choice between hotel and all-inclusive resort as your accommodation option. However, there is another alternative that you can consider and these are Jamaica accommodation rentals which include villas, cottages, condos, studios, and apartments. These Jamaica villas serve as your home away from home in terms of privacy, space, comfort and freedom to live as you like, how you like. Away from the crowds, they allow you to experience and discover the real Jamaica at your own leisure and pace.

Search the internet and you will come across numerous listings for Jamaica villas so how to choose the one that is right for your family and within your budget? For this, you would first need to do some research.

Decide on whether you wish to stay in a villa, cottage, studio or apartment and then do some comparative studies in terms of rates. Facilities in Jamaica villas range from the comfortable to the luxurious and so the rates vary accordingly. Also, if you have planned on what to see and do in Jamaica, you can also choose a property that allows you convenient access to these locations.

Keep in mind that the rates vary from season to season and it goes without saying that they are the highest during the high-season, which is from mid-December to mid-April. If you book in advance, you will still be able to get better rates. During the low-season, most Jamaica villas offer discounts and packages. The added advantage is that the island will also be less crowded during this time. As a thumb rule, you can get the best rates if the timing of your visit is flexible.

You must also talk directly to the property managers or the owner and ask him the questions you have so that you are comfortable booking the property. For example, you can ask for more photos of the villa or cottage. Sometimes the photos on websites are pretty old so they don't really give you an idea of the property as it is today. You can also ask whether the property is pet-friendly and if there is minimum night stay that is required. Also if you are traveling with kids, do they offer childcare facilities? All these may seem minor points but they can make all the difference to your trip.

Finally, when you rent a villa, make sure you pay with credit card and not in cash. Paying in cash can leave you vulnerable to a scam. If the property has been misrepresented and you have paid by credit card, you can dispute the charges.