Hibiscus Heights - Review Page 4
The Artist's Studio
Couples requiring more modest accommodation, or parties wishing to increase the capacity of Warm Breezes, might consider the Artist’s Studio located on the lower floor. This lovely air-conditioned apartment is decorated and furnished to the same high standards as Warm Breezes and can be highly recommended, whether rented on its own or as a package to supplement the larger apartment.
The Artist’s Studio provides a comfortable 41sq.m./440sq.ft. of living space, excluding the outside terrace. It is located next door to a larger apartment occupied by the charming owners of Hibiscus Heights – Canadian Paul Connelly and his Trinidadian wife, Gill. Constantly on hand to ensure that every aspect of the accommodation is up to the mark, Paul and Gill will be an invaluable source of information to first-time visitors and will helps guests to make the most of the island.
The bedroom of The Artist’s Studio is separated from the living area by an attractive lattice screen. It is furnished with a four-poster double bed with decorative canopy/mosquito screen. Adjacent is a single bed, suitable for a child. Additional furnishings include a bedside table with lamp and electric clock/radio, a wardrobe with 1.8m of half-length hanging space and storage shelves, plus a small dressing table.
Like all rooms and apartments at Hibiscus Heights, the room is well decorated and in excellent maintenance condition. The apartment does not have a telephone, but a mobile (cell) phone can be made available to guests.
Leading off the bedroom area is a small but inviting bathroom with washbasin, toilet and a fully tiled walk-in shower. All apartments are fully plumbed for both hot and cold water. Like Warm Breezes and Sweet Nest, the apartment is serviced six days per week.
The living area, at the front of the apartment, is furnished with a 3-seat padded settee and small dining table with four chairs. 
A well stocked bookcase will ensure that occupants of the room never go short of reading matter, particularly if they get bored with the horrendously awful local and American channels available through the satellite/cable television network.
The small but usable kitchen area is furnished with a large Bosch fridge and freezer, a 6-ring gas stove, electric kettle, toaster, microwave oven and coffee filter, plus a decent collection of kitchenware, crockery, cutlery and glassware.
As in the larger apartment upstairs, The Artist’s Studio has both a large overhead ceiling fan and an excellent Toshiba split-unit air-conditioner. Also in common with the other apartments, a secure digital safe is provided.
Immediately outside the entrance to the apartment is a small private terrace furnished with a large sun umbrella shielding two attractive wrought iron bench seats and a small matching table. The terrace provides lovely views out over the bay, across the spectacular colours of the garden.
Sweet Nest
Finally, Sweet Nest (pronounced 'sweet ness' in the local dialect) will undoubtedly represent a wonderful holiday accommodation option for a couple or solo traveller.
This cosy self-contained one-bedroom cottage sits just inside the entrance to the property and has its own parking area. It offers some 37sq.m. of accommodation floor space, plus a charming 23sq.m. enclosed private deck. Fully air-conditioned, the cottage is furnished, decorated and equipped to the same high standard as the other two apartments in the main house.
On crossing the threshold, you enter a small but charming living area furnished with two attractive padded rattan armchairs with matching coffee table, a small glass-topped table with two chairs and an unusual, but very striking, 43-inch wide chaise-longue-style rattan day bed/divan. A small TV with DVD-player and a music centre, plus collection of CDs/DVDs are available for entertainment. The cottage has its own telephone line.
Our overall impression of the cottage was one of immense charm. It was pleasing, but not surprising, to find that the cottage was furnished as attractively and was in as good a maintenance condition as the other apartments.
The living area is separated from the bedroom area by a discrete lattice screen, in the same manner as the Artist’s Studio. It could be argued that removing these screens would enhance the illusion of space, but the screens are actually very practical and offer improved privacy whilst adding great character to the apartments.
The bedroom area is dominated by a queen-size bed with one of the attractive four-poster decorative mosquito nets that are almost a trade mark feature of Hibiscus Heights. The bed is flanked by bedside tables and individual reading lamps and the room furnished with a chest of drawers and a half-length wall-mounted mirror. A built-in wardrobe provides 0.8m of ¾-length hanging space. Other facilities include an electric alarm clock, ironing board and iron, ‘his’ and ‘hers’ bathrobes and spare blankets and pillows.
Leading off the bedroom area is a small bathroom with the usual facilities: hot and cold washbasin, tiled walk-in shower and a toilet. As in the other apartments, nice soft, clean towels are provided, as is a liquid soap dispenser.
The kitchen area is small and compact, but you don’t go on holiday to the tropics to spend your time in the kitchen. However, it is quite surprising how well-equipped the kitchen is and it shouldprove more than adequate for two occupants. Facilities include a large fridge with separate freezer compartment, 4-ring gas stove, microwave, kettle, toaster, blender and a small collection of kitchen utensils.
Wide French doors lead from the living area onto the spacious private deck. Surrounded by a wooden balustrade and lattice screens, the deckrepresents a lovely private spot to sunbathe, lime, dine or socialise. Furnished with a pair of comfortable recliners, a glass topped-table with four chairs and large sun umbrella and a large gas barbeque unit, the deck is sure to become a firm favourite with every guest.
Conclusion
We visited Hibiscus Heights for a pre-review tour in February 2007. Our mini-review written after that visit concluded:
“Hibiscus Heights will undoubtedly make a wonderful holiday base for groups or families of up to ten people. The apartments and cottage are comfortable and well-equipped. Everything you need is provided. The owners are constantly on hand to ensure that everything you need is available. We have a feeling that this property will prove to be one of our most successful recommendations.”
So, how did we feel after seven days at the property?
Well, what more can be said? Our 2007 conclusion says it all and there is little or nothing that can meaningfully be added. The only problem is that Hibiscus Heights has only three apartments, so limited availability. We can see this place having huge appeal to a very wide market. Early booking will be essential. You may need to get your fingers working NOW.
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