Bajan Mom Award of Service Excellence 2023: January Nomination – “High Trees”

View from “High Trees”

This site has had reviews of various services in Barbados before, but never as a dedicated series that examines concrete examples of customer service excellence. There will be 1 nominee per month for the Bajan Mom Award of Service Excellence 2023 (no monetary value, but a sense of pride is priceless), and then, in December, one of these monthly nominees will be declared 2023’s winner overall.

January’s nominee for the Bajan Mom Award of Service Excellence 2023 is the team that manages a short-term rental in the parish of Christ Church. High Trees, which is on St. Lawrence Main Road, is an exquisite 3-bedroom, 2.5 bathroom townhouse run by a host (Gloria) and property manager (Margot), assisted by Grace Anne, who understand how to give guests value for money. Just a stone’s throw away from the Divi Southwinds Resort and popular St. Lawrence Gap, this property is ideal for anyone who wants to be close to entertainment but tucked away enough to enjoy peace and relaxation as well. For those who are travelling as a family, note that the property houses a maximum of 6 persons.

I recognise the service excellence at High Trees based on the following 6 categories: Amenities, Cleanliness, Hospitality, Communication & Responsiveness, Family Friendliness, and Honesty in Advertising.

Amenities

When you visit this property’s link on Airbnb it advertises a whopping 52 amenities. These include a combination washer and dryer, as well as a kitchen with whatever you need to prepare meals for your family. I will mention a few more in the other categories but how the property is presented, and what is available, offer a perfect balance of being on a relaxing holiday and being self-sufficient. Wifi and a workspace are also available for those who need to work.

Cleanliness

When you first step into High Trees and want to lay your head down after a long flight, you can do so without concern. You do not have that sense of dread that first you have to sanitise every surface before you can go to bed. The air is fresh and the rooms and contents are pristine.

A housekeeper comes to the property once a week, for your convenience and at your convenience, and the bed and bath linens are laundered professionally by an outside service. There are also cleaning products available should you desire to do your own cleaning for maintenance purposes.

Hospitality

Never, in my family’s and my entire experience at High Trees did we ever feel like we were an inconvenience, unlike other experiences we have had at other properties where making money was king and hospitality was the jester. It was understood that we were guests and that our comfort was their first priority. Whatever we needed was made readily available and we were made to feel at home away from home.

They also sought to make navigation throughout the property easier by providing a manual which explained how appliances worked, gave the WiFi password, and the general rules of staying at the property.

Communication & Responsiveness

The lines of communication were always open and if there were any concerns, responses were prompt, within a few hours, or at longest, by the end of the day. The property manager or host did not allow the sun to set without offering assurances and actively finding solutions. That level of professionalism was very comforting.

Family Friendliness

The property is spacious and ideal for families. The homey atmosphere and the appliances for ease of taking care of needs are pluses.

Two cautions though: 1) there are some expensive and fragile décor items that may not be suitable for children, and 2) the Airbnb link warns families that due to the reflecting pools, despite their shallowness, that the property may not be suitable for small children.

Honesty in Advertising

There are no smoke and mirrors here, folks. What you see is what you get at “High Trees”. In fact, the photos are inviting but pale in comparison to the sense of serenity one feels in the airy, light and tranquil rooms, or stretched out on the rattan chairs in the patio next to the water garden and looking on to the beautiful flora concentrated in the centre of the complex.

The only caveat is that there is no agreement with Divi Southwinds as advertised. If one looks at any unit advertised for sale, long-term or short-term rental in this condominium complex, that alleged agreement is shown as a benefit, however, on visiting the hotel to ask about use of the gym facilities, we were told that several visitors have come asking but have left disappointed since no such arrangement exists. This does not seem to be the fault of the hosts/landlords, but some other entity, but to be forewarned is to be forearmed, so let me save you a trip across the street to the resort.

Overall Impressions

The High Trees team offers better hospitality than some hotels that I have visited at home and abroad. They are customer-centric, professional, responsive and knowledgeable. The main drawback is the property is not suitable for young children but this is advertised upfront.

Bajan Mom score: 8.5/10

The Daily Snorkel – Blog by one of our readers

Ladies and gentlemen, it has truly been my pleasure to write for your information and your entertainment. What brings me even more joy is your encouraging feedback and hearing about your experiences in beautiful Barbados, my home, now OUR home.

One reader, an American mother with two wonderful toddlers, has made it safely to our shores a few weeks ago and has been documenting her journey with vivid photos in her own wordpress blog https://thedailysnorkel.wordpress.com/. The pictures are breathtaking and I enjoy her realistic and sincere commentary. She also offers tidbits such as how to handle driving on the left-hand side of the road for the first time. It is worth a long look, so please visit. I wish her and her family well, and I look forward to more readers sharing their experiences with us.

Have an enjoyable Friday and weekend ahead.

Where Will You Take Your Child this Summer? Tyrol Cot & Heritage Village Summer Blast Reading Camp

Good morning! Again, I have been reading your emails and I appreciate the positive responses. There seems to be a consensus that I should post more often, and I do try, but it is not always possible to post with great frequency due to my other responsibilities. I encourage you to keep checking back daily. You, my faithful readers, are never forgotten, and your encouragement helps to keep this blog alive. I will keep my promise to tell you about more camps this morning by adding another to the list. The Tyrol Cot & Heritage Village Summer Blast Camp. From what I gather there is a reading camp and an action & adventure camp. The camp is usually situated at Tyrol Cot in Codrington Hill but there is an additional camp this year in Bank Hall. Information may be found in the registration form above and also on their Facebook page. I have heard some encouraging things about this camp, so why not check it out? It is always good to have options. Have a blessed Sunday.

Buying Bajan: Mood Buddy

It had been my intention to do a week of features of local products, however, life got in the way. Instead, I will intersperse a few articles about local entrepreneurs in between as many articles as I can muster this month.

 
First up this week is the Mood Buddy. I was first introduced to this concept at the recent BMEX exhibition. Young entrepreneur, Vanetta Loncke very patiently explained the concept to me and my three very intrigued children.

 

 

My first reaction to the small figurines was that they were reminiscent of the Littlest Pet Shop and similar brands, however, Vanetta’s product offers a little more. The 27-year old mother of two and recent graduate of the Barbados Community College’s Graphic Art programme, explained that the key ring and its accompanying figure are intended to be unique, fun and collectible. The figures on the key rings are meant to be customisable, reflecting the moods of their 6 to 13-year old girls, the product’s target market. The Mood Buddy, as its name suggests, is expected to be a constant companion and reflection of the inner thoughts of its owner.

 
There are varying attachments available to mirror a child’s mood, but also different characters to reflect individual personalities. According to Vanetta, they are:

 
Punk Rock Ahri, who is very bold and always speaks her mind,
Free Spirited Laney, who is very friendly, bubbly and always looking for fun, and
Marine Love Nami, who loves the beach and all marine life, and is very easy going and laid back.

 
The Mood Buddy should be available for sale around August at the Art Hub, and eventually at other retail stores. Vanetta also envisions an app which would allow the digital customisation of the product.

 
The Mood Buddy is creative, local, and captures the imagination of children and Vanetta is an avid advocate for her creation. I look forward to seeing the progress of this young entrepreneur and the success of the locally-produced Mood Buddy.

 

Where Will You Take Your Child This Weekend?

 

This is late notice, but better late than never. Here is something you can check out today at Anne Johnson Auditorium, St. Gabriel’s School, just off Purity Bakeries in Lower Collymore Rock, St. Michael.

It is a classical concert with a twist. Even better, it is for a worthy cause, to raise funds for young musicians pursuing their dreams to study music overseas. In the midst of beautiful traditional pieces by composers such as Bach, Brahms, Mozart and Tchaikovsky, rendered on various instruments such as the piano, clarinet, saxophone, flute and violin, there will be vocal pieces of non-classical origin and even rhythm poetry.

The young musicians themselves, Erica Ellis and Jaron Boyce will perform, as well as several guest artistes including the multi-talented and prolific Roger Gittens and the Cecilian Chorale.

Although tickets are on sale, feel free to pay at the door. Adult tickets are $15.00 and children $10.00.

Last weekend I took my 11 year old to a Royal Barbados Police Force Band concert and she completely enjoyed their wide repertoire, from classical, to Broadway tunes, to folk songs to calypso. Music appreciation is a crucial part of any child’s well-rounded development, so why not take your child to a concert today?

 

“Where Will You Be Taking Your Child This Weekend?” is a weekly feature of suggestions of places to go in Barbados that is appropriate family fare. Check back every Thursday and see where you will take your child over the weekend.

 

 

 

Where Will You Take Your Child This Summer?

Summer vacation is upon us and parents are looking for educational options for their children over the nine week holiday. There are several options available. Some options are whole-day and some half-day. There are opportunities to do sports, science and even some volunteering. Take a look at the list below and see what you will be doing with your child this summer.

Volunteering

Children and one of the cats at the RSPCA.

Let us start with my personal favourite, volunteering! The RSPCA welcomes volunteers (from age 11 and up) during the summer vacation from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.. If you are interested in your child having this worthwhile experience, please call 426-3077.

National Summer Camp

The Ministry of Culture, Sports & Youth offers its annual summer camp option from July 14 – August 15, 2014. Those who are interested may collect registration forms from the schools listed in the file below or at the National Camps Registration Centre, Division of Youth, Sky Mall, Haggatt Hall, St. Michael. Opening hours are Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.. For more information you may call 621-2700.

Specialised camps

As one can see, there are specialised camps as well for campers who are 13 – 15 years old; an entrepreneurial camp sponsored by the Youth Entrepreneurship Scheme; a camp for children with special needs and a Science & Technology camp. The latter camp runs from July 14 – August 22, 2014. See above file for contact information.

A camp which was not aforementioned is an Information Technology Camp. This is for children who are aged 14 – 18. The programme, also known as ITS for Teens, runs from July 21 – August 29, 2014 at various resource centres nationwide. For more information contact the Community Development Department at 310-1700 or 310-1708.

If you have a summer programme you want everyone to know about, send an email through the contact form

Where Will You Take Your Child Update

Dear Readers,

I have read your emails. I apologise for no feature last week due to technical difficulties and a busy schedule. To make it up to you, look out for a special feature later today called: “Where Will You Take Your Child This Summer?” with information on summer camps.

I wish you a most blessed day.

Best regards,

Bajan Mom

Happy Fathers’ Day!

Master of your fate,

Guardian of theirs.

A champion in their eyes,

You do not sink, only rise

To every occasion,

No need for persuasion,

More than duty,

Responsibility,

You are just who

They need you to be:

The man that they call

Father.

© Bajan Mom

Where Will You Be Taking Your Child This Weekend? Barbados Concorde Experience

 

 

British Airways is celebrating its 60th anniversary in Barbados. This brings to mind its erstwhile plane of legend which graced the island for several years, the renown Concorde.

A couple of years ago, on a brief holiday to Barbados, my family and I visited the Barbados Concorde Experience. It was a rare opportunity for us to view the iconic supersonic aircraft. Again, this is a chance for education outside of the school setting. Children learn about the historic ties between Great Britain and Barbados while getting a lesson in aviation.

The cockpit

Besides tour guides and films, visitors are given the occasion to board the aircraft. If you have not gone to see it before, why not make the trip to Grantley Adams International Airport and check out the sleek Alpha Echo? You may find more information here.

 

 

Alpha Echo herself

 

 

“Where Will You Be Taking Your Child This Weekend?” is a weekly feature of suggestions of places to go in Barbados that is appropriate family fare. Check back every Thursday and see where you will take your child over the weekend.

Secondary School Placement & Transfers

OK. So I awake this morning to questions about transfers.

As far as I recall, transfers are not allowed in the first year after the examination. Reallocation is only considered on humanitarian grounds, such as if a student lives in St. Lucy, passes for St. Leonard’s Boys’ School in St. Michael but suffers from motion sickness, then an exemption can be made.

While this rule may frustrate some parents, I want to share with you the advice that I gave my child before sitting the examination. “I know you worked hard, so wherever you go, I will be satisfied. If it is not a school you wanted, there is no need to worry. Just forget any distractions, buckle down and continue to work hard, and the world is your oyster. You can do anything, be anything.”

Yes, there are rankings, but if a child goes to any school and has a good work ethic, he or she will be successful. I went to University with students whose alma maters were the full spectrum of secondary schools. Some had gone to secondary schools at which Barbadian society may turn up its nose, but they excelled there, went on to 6th form schools or Barbados Community College, then University and are quite successful in life, in some cases, more successful than those who had gone on to more prestigious schools when they were 11.

Not only do children develop at different rates, but going to the school one does not want can actually make one work harder for what one wants. There is no need to be discouraged. The Common Entrance is not the end, in fact, it is just the beginning. The work truly starts now.

Of course, if you consider all I said before to be hogwash, you can always apply for a transfer next year.