You can relax by the pool at High Hope Estate. - Contributed photos

So what do the international 'in-crowd', the fabulously wealthy, as well as Jamaica's 'A-listers' have in common?

They have grown jaded with the overcrowding of their preferred getaways by the nouveau riche and the boorish, who mistakenly equate being cash rich with style and class. They have stormed the traditional places of leisure and recreation, in the most aggressive of manner, their demeanour and attitude intimidating and generally disruptive. This has seen the well-heeled generally retreating, from their preferred haunts!

But, all is not lost. High in the hills of St Ann, there lies one of the most beautiful getaways in all of Jamaica and mercifully, still unspoilt by the marauding hordes of alcohol-crazed masses, in search of another beautiful place to despoil. It is as pristine as ever, its beauty as natural as it is embracing. It is the High Hope Estate, tucked away beautifully just above the town of St Ann's Bay!

beaut of a property

Enjoy the music from the baby grand piano.

Owned and operated by Dennis Rappaport, High Hope Estate is a beaut of a property, decorated in 15th-century Venetian style architecture and boasting five beautifully appointed and lavishly decorated guest rooms. This boutique property is a gem, spread over 30 fabulous acres of lush gardens with exotic fruit trees. The property is as serene as it is stimulating!

Originally the summer home of Derek and Kitty Spence, the heir to a British fortune made from mining in the 1800s, and, she, an American beauty, whose four husbands (Derek Spence, being the last), included Robert Lehman, of the famed Lehman Brothers, were socialites who maintained homes in Switzerland, England, and a Park Avenue apartment. When in residence in Jamaica at their High Hope Estate, they entertained such notables as Ian Flemming, Sir Noel Coward, Charley Chaplain, Adlai Stevenson, Kurt Vonnegut and Agnes De Mille, and were celebrated internationally for their style and sense of joie de vivre.

Well, conscious of the history of the estate and more importantly, the need to preserve its heritage, Italian American Dennis Rappaport acquired the property some 25 years ago, and began the transformational process to bring the historic property to the boutique status it currently enjoys. And years later, when he met his Italian beauty, Ludovica, who later became his wife, the estate became their singular passion.

favourite of the fabulous

Cosy and well-appointed bedroom.

Today, the property is the favourite of the fabulous, boasting all the amenities of a contemporary boutique property, but maintaining the old-world charm that sets it apart from being a mere great house, transformed into hotel-type operation. Its pre-eminent quality is its appeal of being off the beaten path, and not your run-of-the-mill tourist haunt. At High Hope, my dears, high-style and grandeur are de rigueur, and then some.

And little wonder, as with a 200-year history that traces its covenant back to the days when the property was a retirement home for British military officers, you know we are talking style perfect here! And dears, with rolling gardens overlooking most of the coastline, you know we are talking picturesque beauty, punctuated by birds singing from on high, perched in their nests in the many pimento trees that form a welcoming ring and reception as guests negotiate the lovely driveway to the property.

This is definitely not a place for those with mass taste, as it is a place for those with that discerning sense of style, and appreciation for the finer things of life such as freshly baked rolls/breads, from the estate's own bakery; or the enjoyment of a fare prepared using freshly reaped ingredients from the gardens. Not to mention freshly picked and served fruits! And if you require a little downtime, there are hammocks adorning the property, an inviting swimming pool, and if you prefer sunning it on the beach, your very own private beach is only some 20 minutes or so away. For music lovers, there is a Steinway baby grand piano, eloquently placed in the living hall. There's a well-stocked library and of course, there are board games for those so inclined.

no rush, no crush

There's no rush, no crush! The loud music you are likely to hear in the background is the chirping of birds, or the flapping of their wings as they buzz around from flower to flower. Or from a gush of wind, rushing down the hillside through the trees and shrubbery, making its way down to the shores of the Caribbean Sea! High Hope Estate has become one of the preferred locations for many a movie scout, searching for locations here whether they be shooting for a full-length feature, documentary, or some high-end commercial.

It is also the preferred get-away for many a corporate entity planning a retreat. It's used for family reunions and was the favourite getaway for the late Cedella Booker, mother of the iconic Bob Marley, who found it a therapeutic retreat; plus many others who prefer the anonymity of the hillside retreat.

High Hope is a fabulous treasure and will continue being so. And yes, while it is open to the public, reservations are advised!