Norse Hill

Norse Hill (US$6,690/$8190 weekly low/high season, US$1050/1250 daily low/high) was built by Iris and Reidar Johanssen as their winter home. The Johanssens lived amazing lives, jumping across the globe from their home in Hong Kong in the 1930s. The Norwegian-style chalet is accordingly grand and filled with art and antiques from China. Norse Hill is a steadfast, gorgeous, stately structure, with an industrial-size kitchen, three bedrooms and competent staff. The master bedroom and the slightly less showy room on the other end of the chateau both have large tiled bathrooms and oversized mirrors. Verandas look out over the pool and lush gardens and, beyond that, the Caribbean sea in all its splendor. Amenities include Wi-Fi and games. The property itself is arguably the best endowed in Port Antonio, with five acres of carefully planted and maintained gardens atop a hill overlooking San San Bay. An enormous ficus shades the best seat in town, a real contender against Henry Morgan’s Lookout at Firefly for best view of the northeast coast. The gardens have extensive pathways through lush flowerbeds.