By Karen Quinn-Panzer
Travel Matters
Karen Quinn-Panzer
We are packing to return home from a wonderful three-night site inspection at the new Apes Hill Villa and Golf Resort located on 475 acres in the Central Highlands area of Barbados called the Scotland Cliff – 1,000 feet above sea level with gorgeous golf course and sea views.
The word “luxury” takes on new meaning at these wonderful three- and four-bedroom villas where you have your own infinity pool, electric golf cart and up to 4,674 square feet of living space. In the three-bedroom villa, you get three individual rounds of golf included, breakfast each morning at the 20th hole, and a $100 food/drink credit. You are welcomed into your fully-equipped designer kitchen with a pre-stocked hospitality package including coffee, eggs and rum punch. Mount Gay rum is the oldest rum distillery in the world, and the
Barbadians know how to make rum punch that will knock your socks off.
The indoor living space is only rivaled by the outdoor living space, which includes seating area, large dining table, Weber grill, espresso machine, blender and large-screen TV (to match the large-screen TV indoors). Private chef experiences are available; one is
included with the four-bedroom villa with an eight-night stay.
Even if you don’t golf or play paddleball or tennis (there are multiple courts), there is a shuttle to a beach club and 12.5 kilometers of biking and hiking trails – plus that private infinity pool (you may not want to leave your villa). Seasonal kid activities and large villas suggest a perfect family option for summer and holiday vacations. Pricing is reasonable since it’s a new property.
In addition to the Ron Kirby 18-hole championship course, there is a “Little Apes” par three short course also designed by Ron Kirby. Their Golf Performance and Teaching Centre is first of its kind in the Caribbean and offers opportunities for beginners or elite players, with every aspect of the game covered.
What to do in Barbados? In addition to beautiful beaches which are open to the public, there is a special place on the north shore called Animal Flower Cave with breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean smashing into cliffs and caves, while dining on local fish at a
restaurant perched on the top of a cliff. Or, if you are adventurous, climb down into one of the caves. Ziplining adventure tours, catamaran cruises, swimming with the turtles, horseback riding and hiking nature trails round out the attractions.
Barbados is in a tropical climate that is less humid than most. Barbados’s most easterly location in the Caribbean makes it the first to receive refreshing trade winds. Apes Hill is based on the top of the submarine mountain range called the Barbados Ridge Accretionary Prism and is the only location in the Caribbean where this mountain range is above water. Barbados green monkeys roam the grounds, giving the origination of the catch phrase: “Apes Hill – Where the golf’s on a higher level but life’s always down-to-earth.”
Karen Quinn-Panzer is the owner and vacation specialist at Dream Vacations Quinn Panzer Travel in Milford.