Endorsements

Three whole months in Castara!!! When my feet finally touched the ground after booking the flight, practicalities kicked in and the question of where to stay was next on the agenda. Chosing holiday accommodation long distance always has its element of risk and for a three month stay it just had to be right. Already familiar with Tobago and Castara from a previous visit, we were fortunate enough to be recommended to Porridge's Place which we subsequently booked.

When you book yourself into the delightful open-plan studio apartment attached to the family home, you are committing yourself to more than anonymous holiday accommodation. This is not to say you won't have your privacy and space as the family are well aware of visitors' needs. So what will it be like?

After landing, as you step outside the airport at Crown Point, Porridge will quite probably be the first guy you'll notice. Not just because he's taller than average, but also because his sincere, reassuring smile as he holds your name board brings a welcome sense of relief to the weary traveller. His experience and ease with visitors is obvious (as a bonus he has spent time in England so knows what you need from your holiday). Naturally, friendly and enthusiastic, you will find that Porridge is totally committed to making sure you get what you want from your holiday - and have a lot of fun in the process.

You will have your confirmation that you have made the right decision, when you are shown your spotless accommodation and meet Jeanell, Porridge's wife. Jeanell will give you a warm welcome and is truly a lovely person. Their two children Dorisia and Shaq are delightful and though friendly and willing to help when asked, are used to giving their visitors privacy.

When staying at Porridge's Place you automatically have the advantage of all his and Jeanell's areas of expertise and local knowledge a first class tourist information officer and tour guide ' on tap'. He is also able to organize car hire is for you as and when you need it.

We enjoyed staying on the outskirts of the village. Walks in the rainforest were on the doorstep as well as good access to the heavenly beaches of Castara, Englishmans Bay and Parletuvier. The apartment is open plan and partitioned into living and sleeping areas, with shower, toilet and washbasin. For those people who enjoy holiday catering, the four ringed stove and oven is more than adequate and the large fridge freezer enables bulk shopping (plus plenty of beer storage). The tiled floor helped keep the air cool as did openable wooden shutters which looked out onto a private covered veranda. Sitting there, looking out as the sun goes down, ice cold rum punch in hand, the scent of Jeanell's home made bread wafting down, your favourite music on, carressed by the warm tropical evening, you realise you are in paradise.

Highly recommended,

Best wishes Jenny and JD

We arrived at Porridge’s place just as the sun was setting. The traditional house, nestled into the hillside and surrounded by flowers and trees, was wonderfully peaceful, the quietness only broken by the sounds of birds, and singing frogs. The accommodation is spacious, immaculately clean and really comfortable. The kitchen had everything we could need and there was a comfy bed (with good mosi net), small sofa and a fan. We loved the wooden louver windows and the seating area outside.

We had a lovely welcome…the kids carried our bags and Jeanelle – Porridge’s wife – greeted us warmly, putting a cold beer into our hands and cooking us a great, meal – freshly caught fish plus rice and salad – prepared Tobagan style. We saw amazing birds from right outside our door – including masses of humming birds – and we loved the peace of our countryside retreat. With Castara village, the beach and the ocean only 10 mins walk away we knew we had found a gem of a place - comfortable, pretty, quiet - and at a great price.

It was great staying with a local family. Porridge and Jeanell gave us plenty of space and privacy but were always ready to share a laugh, a chat or a beer and it was really useful knowing we could ask them for information or advice if we needed it. Not that Castara needs much in the way of explanation…it’s an easy place to stay and an easy place to fall in love with! The village, the beach and the ocean couldn’t be more beautiful (surely?) and the people are warm, helpful and welcoming. We have never felt more embraced by a place in all our travels and our conversations with local people are as part of our happy memories as are the fabulous birds, forest, food, weather, sea and feel of the village and the island as a whole.

Thanks Porridge and Jeanell for a wonderful holiday!

Mel & Amanda, England