Notes for Visitors

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Introduction

Please take the trouble to read these notes; they are intended to help you to enjoy your stay and to know a little more about what to expect when you arrive. The basic principle is looking after yourselves in well-resourced self-catering accommodation with good back up and support from our manager, Porridge, who whilst not in residence, is available during his daily morning and evening visits. Porridge is there to help ensure your stay is comfortable and to offer assistance in planning your days.

We have designed our seven accommodations to be open to the wonderful landscape of Castara with its beach and rainforest whilst also being furbished with quality furniture and fittings. Birds and bats fly past, sting rays can be spotted in the sea from your lodge, and rain showers can be seen approaching, obliterating the hill for a short time, and departing again. You are likely to spot fireflies above your mosquito net at night, and wake to the light of the sun and the dawn chorus. In this way the house resonates with its setting - there are no cappuccino bars in Castara, and you are much more likely to encounter crab n' dumpling or calaloo soup than Spaghetti Bolognese in the village restaurants. This is a stunningly beautiful and unsophisticated place.

Nearly all our guests have truly enjoyed their stay at Castara Retreats. Occasionally someone stays who is not entirely happy with their experience and we are keen to receive feedback so that we can continue to improve what we offer. Please let Porridge know as soon as there is anything that you are not happy with and he will do his best to resolve any issues.

Since opening in 1999, we listen to feedback and learn more each year on how to improve our service to clients and we constantly enhance our facilities to meet the needs of our clients. This has included importing good quality sun beds, opening a small bar servings beers, cocktails and freshly made juices, and more recently we established a small restaurant for clients to enjoy good food over a leisurely evening on our pagoda with stunning views of the bay.

However, it is important for clients to be aware that Castara Retreats is not a hotel and we do not offer some of the services of a hotel, such as 24 hour staffing or daily maid service. It also means that we are free of some of the constraints and protocols of such establishments.

To enjoy Castara Retreats may require you to recognize the worth of such unsophistication. There are days when the electricity is off for a while, or some of the village restaurants or shops are closed, or………you get the picture! At the Coco Reef Hotel you would be supported through such hassles; at Castara Retreats you may need to be a little more resourceful or patient. Tobago works best when we let go and go with the flow.

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