Overall Impression It was easy to forget work, stress and the everyday while gazing toward the blue and green hues of the Caribbean on an open terrace 180 feet above the coast. We were the sole occupants of Being, a $2 million private luxury villa in Tobago created by tourism industry executive Auliana Poon a Trinidadian herself. Perched on five acres of land on the edge of the rain forest, Being had a distinctive look, a mixture of Caribbean elegance and modern styling with a playful touch of European flair.

Varied bird song, distinctive frog calls and the sound of the surf enriched our days and nights with nature’s music while a majestic view of the Caribbean to the north and the rain forest to the east lightened our step. We enjoyed the privacy, quiet ambiance and sense of isolation at Being. It was an excellent place to get away from it all.

We waged a losing war with mosquito repellent in an effort to keep some of the many biting insects in a dubious truce. We spent the early morning and afternoon hours lazing poolside, our favorite hang out on the property, with a book or taking a swim to cool off from the unrelenting heat of the sun. Ocean breezes and shady spots were a godsend. The daily summer rain showers also helped refresh us.

Situated on a hilly nook on the north coast of Tobago, Being was off the beaten path and away from any crowds. Having no television, radio, or Internet access heightened our appreciation of the leisure villa and its surroundings. Being was a grand spot for romance. It was also ideal for nature lovers, travelers wanting to get away from the everyday and for friends or family to spend time together. Thanks to its secluded location and intimate size it was well suited to do-it-yourself activities and small gatherings.

Class Of Accommodation Private luxury villa

Connectivity There was no connectivity. There were handheld phones throughout the house and a fax machine in the dining room.

Handicapped Access To reach the pool in the lower level it was necessary to go down a set of stone stairs. Otherwise, there were small steps around the common areas and to enter the bedrooms.

Length Of Stay Two nights

Location On a sea facing hill in Arnas Vale, an area on the Caribbean coast of Tobago, about 30 minutes drive from Crown Point.

Managed Tourism Intelligence International

Owned Auliana Poon

Size Two of Being’s three bedrooms with en suite bathrooms were available for guest use. Five part time staff members looked after the villa, guests and the five acres of the hillside estate.

Year Opened The house was completed in 1999

Common Areas The first thing we noticed when we arrived at Being was an Italianate building with antique yellow exterior walls and a spire which we later discovered housed the living area. It had wood and glass doors on all sides of the building, a sound system and a small paperback library. A divan, rocking chairs and other comfortable furniture filled the petite room which was decorated in green and pink tones to contrast against the green marble floor. Outside the building there was a table, chairs and umbrella. A separate building, a step away from the first and of a similar size, was home to a dining room. It had doors on three sides; facing inward from the hallway, facing the sea and facing the living area building.

Across from the dining building, just beyond a long water plant feature, was a kitchen building. It was outfitted almost completely in white with cutlery, glassware, German dinnerware, pots and pans and most of the utensils a home cook would need. The countertop was of grey and blue granite. Appliances included a side-by-side refrigerator, dishwasher, microwave and conventional ovens, gas stove and ample counter space. There was a little kitchen table with stools in the center, making it possible to enjoy a quick meal inside the kitchen.

One step from the kitchen underneath a green awning roof was an outdoor informal rectangular concrete dining table for six. It was made of a simple white granite top and cushioned wicker chairs. One end faced a tiny garden and the other an outdoor sculpture yard and the sea beyond it. This was our choice spot for breakfast.

Fifteen steps led down to our favorite part of Being. To the left, there was a wood walkway to the service staff section. To the right, was an informal dining room with a blue wicker dining set for four next to large sea facing windows; and adjoining it there was a 600 square foot blue and white living area. Two additional white wicker chairs were in the corners of the room. The other side of the room housed navy blue cloth furniture over a wicker and navy blue area rug. There was a love seat and matching sofa set next to a heavy wood table with ceramic inlay facing a video and DVD system. An adjacent area had two high back wicker cushioned armchairs, a glass top wicker chair and wood cabinet set atop a khaki and navy blue area rug. Beyond them there was a doorless bathroom featuring a shower and a walk-in water closet with sink. Colorful Caribbean artwork, mostly oil paintings, covered the walls of this and other common areas.

Double glass and wood doors led to an open terrace with a panoramic sea view. An infinity edge pool was the piece de resistance . Five white wood lounge chairs were spread around the pool. After breakfast and in the late afternoons we would set cushions on the chairs and drink in the amazing view. In the middle of the day, from 9 or 10 a.m. until 3 or 4 p.m. it was too hot to sit in the open sun, even for sun worshippers like us. For a while we settled in a narrow cushioned area that was in the shade but eventually summer showers forced us to retreat indoors.

DÉCor Being, designed by Trinidadian architect Roger Turton, was made up of a several small structures. The style was modern Caribbean with wood and prime color accents, tiled floors, sunlit open spaces, lush gardens, foliage and flowers, Italianate styling and artwork. A 10-year project, Being’s first building was the yellow gate house.

Bathroom White tile floor and white walls enhance open feeling. The shower, cooled by ocean breezes, had navy blue tile flooring. A partial wall divided the bathroom and the shower. The other side of the shower was framed by an open window with a view of the plants and the ocean. Thin white metal bars were the only decoration on the glassless window.

Rooms Our 300 square foot room with en suite bathroom was the only room with air conditioning in the villa. Double wood and glass doors marked the entrance. White cotton privacy cloths were thoughtfully placed by the doors. These could be set aside on a wood hook on each side of the entrance. White walls and white linen gave the room a clean and bright appearance. Two electric yellow throw pillows on the bed added a splash of color to the white theme. The tile floor was navy blue with a patch of white. Near the entrance there was a two-sided closet with lots of hanging and shelf space. A wicker chair was next to the closet followed by two twin beds set together to form a queen. They faced an attractive multi-colored oversize oil painting of a woman. A stool, wood dresser and mirror were caddy corner from the wicker chair. Above them, set high on the wall, was a loud and large air conditioning wall unit. A second wood and glass door led to a little sea facing porch with chairs. From the room we could see trees and beyond them the ocean.

Meals For our first meal we drove to Scarborough for lunch, a 20 minute drive. Other meals we made ourselves, except for one night when Jeremy Duncan, the Villa’s occasional chef, dedicated the better part of an afternoon to preparing a three course meal for us. After a day relaxing and snacking we were famished; doing nothing can make you hungry. It was a treat to arrive at the indoor dining room (it was raining so we couldn’t dine outdoors) to find dinner served. It was a satisfying ending to a precious day in Tobago and our last night at Being.

Duncan, who had worked at the Sea Horse Inn before joining the Being team, was available with advance notice to prepare lunch or dinner for a supplementary fee to cover his services and the food. We requested a fish dinner on our second night at Being. Dinner consisted of split pea soup, yellow fin tuna in a creole sauce, rice, salad with pineapple sauce, and sautéed potatoes with slightly steamed carrot slices. We enjoyed an elegant meal under a chandelier in the dining building. Scented candles, a tablecloth covered table and a sea breeze added to the romantic ambiance. The various dishes were in cellophane covered platters allowing us to serve ourselves whenever we were ready.

Amenities There was squeezable shampoo and shower gel in the shower and sink in our bathroom and in the pool bathroom. There was also a zippered plastic amenity kit with 1 oz bottles of German Hydro shampoo, conditioner, face cream, face mask, body peeling gel, body lotion, hand and nail cream and shower gel.

Pool The lower level of the house was built around an infinity pool with a striking view of the Caribbean Sea. The immaculate pool was 14 feet wide by 30 feet long, 4-foot deep in the shallow end and about 7’ 6” (2.29 meters) in the deep end. The day after we arrived, a team of three young men came by to clean it. They were gone in a jiffy.

Other Brent, the on site caretaker, greeted us on our arrival. After that, he checked on us briefly in the early morning and in the afternoon during our stay. Other than the pool service staff, the cook, the cleaning lady and some representatives from the health department who showed up unexpectedly in the morning, we had the villa to ourselves.

There was a Bose DVD player with speakers and Pioneer wall mounted television in the downstairs sitting room. The satellite service was not connected making it impossible to watch any TV. We watched a DVD from a handful of selections. There was a Bose CD player upstairs although we could not figure out how play CDs on it.

Being was designed for outdoor living. With the exception of one bedroom (the one we chose), all areas were without air conditioning or fans. This meant we battled to find a cool place to spend the day time hours. Although open areas offered pleasant ocean breezes they were almost always in the sun. In the evening there were more places to choose from although the no-see-ums (tiny biting insects) and mosquitoes could make outdoor relaxation difficult

One of the many things we liked at Being were the fruit plants such as guava, papaya, mango, and banana, and flowers. There was a bowl in the kitchen piled high with fruit when we arrived and we picked ripe guavas from the trip in the garden during a morning stroll. There were also birds, bats, geckos and other animals we could only guess at from the sounds they made.

Cleanliness Excellent

Date Of Review August 2006

Reviewers Article by Elena del Valle

Photos by Gary Cox

Welcome Five uniformed staff members, two women and three men, welcomed us the day we arrived.

Would You Stay There Again? Yes

Overall ImpressionA large rectangular sign on the street corner in front of a Scarborough house confirmed we had found the Blue Crab Restaurant. Although first time guests might be fooled by the simple table settings and minimum fanfare, we soon discovered that inside a world of flavorful and perfectly prepared island treats awaited us. From the curry flying fish appetizer to the passion fruit ice cream we enjoyed every morsel.

Propped on a hill in Scarborough, Tobago’s largest town, the Blue Crab occupied the ground floor of the Sardiniha family home. Lunch guests were seated in an open air outdoor terrace. There was also an air conditioned dining area for dinner guests where we were fortunate to be seated on the steamy summer day when we visited the restaurant.

Like a drop of dew on a flower, the food at the Blue Crab was refreshing in its subtlety and full of promise. Chef Kenneth Sardinha brought food flavors to the surface kindly, gently with tenderness and patience. The result was delicious food with aromatic and mildly exotic flavors. The chef visited the market daily in search of the highest quality and freshest ingredients to serve lunchtime guests their fill of savory dishes.

A native Tobagonian, who accompanied us to lunch, put it best when she described the Blue Crab, “Good food with local flavor, served by pretty wonderful people.”

About The Executive Chef A self taught chef, he learned from his mother and taught his daughter, who has branched out to become a well known local chef in her own right. Prior to establishing the restaurant, Chef Sardinha and his wife Alison attended the Pratt Institute and Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City.

In his cooking, he emphasized local herbs and fresh ingredients. A thoughtful man with strong convictions about cooking, restaurants and tourism in general, he described his culinary approach: “Not to overpower. You want each fish (and dish) to have its own distinctive flavor.”

Chefs De Cuisine Alison and Kenny Sardinha

Executive Chef Kenneth Sardinha

Handicapped AccessTwo sets of short stairs led to the entrance.

Location In Scarborough, Tobago

Opened-Renovated February 14, 1985

Owned-Managed Kenneth, Alison and Kenny Sardinha

Size The restaurant was able to accommodate 36 guests. There were seven staff including the owners.

Type Of Restaurant Tobago cuisine made with local products

DÉCor-Ambiance At the Blue Crab the emphasis was on food. Seating was divided into two areas: al fresco dining in an open terrace and air conditioned dining in an adjacent enclosed room surrounded by large windows. From our window side table we could see the entrance stairway and street beyond it. The air conditioned area was home to a “Heritage Window display” with antique kitchen utensils.

Meal Our lunch consisted of healthy portions of various dishes. We began with bite size servings of flying fish wrapped in light batter with a mild curry flavor. A short while later the main course arrived. There was king fish in a tasty tomato “creole” sauce and delicious ginger and garlic grouper. There were also lentils, flavored with clove, brown sugar and squash; pumpkin rice, fried plantains (a fruit similar to bananas) and a yummy breadfruit salad. For dessert there was home made (by a local lady) passion fruit ice scream.

Special Menus Menu options varied depending on the choices available in the market daily.

Reservations required The restaurant opened regularly for lunch. Dinner was by reservation only.

Date Of Review August 2006

Reviewers Article by Elena del Valle

Photos by Gary Cox

Service Excellent

Would You Dine There Again-Recommend It? Yes

Overall Impression An early morning departure (we met our guide and three other visitors at 5:30 a.m.) and hour long drive did nothing to dampen our spirits. Scheduling conflicts had forced us to choose between a rain forest tour and a day long sail and the time had arrived to find out if it was a good decision. We had even had to make an impromptu shopping trip to Scarborough to buy long pants for the excursion (we had only brought warm weather casual clothes with us to the island and long pants were necessary to visit the forest). We picked up borrowed rain boots courtesy of our tour company at a roadside spot on our way to the rain forest trail entrance.

Suddenly we parked on the grass and got out of the van we had all piled in. We sprayed on liberal doses of insect repellent and set off into the green forest behind our guide. We began our walk following a brief introduction to the history of the reserve and some basic information about the flora and fauna (birds) we might see.

The Tobago Main Ridge Forest Reserve, as it known officially, was first established in 1776. A lofty green canopy, soaring more than 100 feet above our heads, enveloped us. Although some sunlight reached the ground, it was dark within the forest. We had to watch carefully where we walked while swatting unrelenting insects away. Penetrating the dense foliage and slippery ground required agility; we had to be steady on our feet to keep from falling. Two in our group, including me, required a walking stick to remain upright during the walk.

With the help of our guide we learned about climbers, flowers, ephiphytes (bromeliads and orchids), ferns, and palms that populated the corner of the forest we visited. Some trees, hundreds of years old, and plants had survived the devastation of Hurricane Flora which ravaged 75 percent of the forest in 1963. Many new plants had grown and thrived giving the forest a mixture of existing and new plant growth.

Spotting birds was tricky. Although we could hear the squawking of parrots above us, the flutter of wings and the birdsong of smaller feathered beings around us it took a trained eye to find and identify the birds. Our guide could identify the birds by their shape, song and call. During the walk he shared tidbits about their habits and habitat. With his aid we saw varied plants and trees, squirrels, and an armadillo burrow and photographed 10 kinds of birds during our two-hour 2.5 km excursion. By the time we “surfaced” we were soaked from the humidity and exertion and excited about our rain forest experience.

Average Duration Of Visit Our early morning walk lasted just over two hours plus the drive time and from the forest to our accommodations.

Established The area was set aside as a reserve in 1776   

Handicapped Access Trails were slippery from the rain and hard to negotiate even for visitors in good physical shape.

Location On the northeastern side of Tobago in the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago in the Southern Caribbean

Open Year round                      

Owned-Managed The Reserve was public and managed by the government

Size Although the reserve occupied 14,000 acres of mostly impenetrable and hilly rain forest, only a few areas had visitor trails. During our walk we covered about 2.5 kilometers.

Transportation Our tour included hotel pick up. We chose to self drive in order to visit nearby attractions following the tour.

Restaurant There were no facilities in the area of the forest we visited. Our guide brought packaged fruit juices, bottled water and pre-made sandwiches which we enjoyed at the end of the walk.

Souvenir Shop There were no souvenir shops or vendors in the area we visited.

Tours We went on the Rainforest and Birdwatching Walk with Harris Jungle Tours. Our native born Tobago guide (and lifeguard) with 10 year of experience led us through a medium difficulty trail. www.harris-jungle-tours.com , harris_jungle@hotmail.com  + 839 639 0513

Other Walking with the loaner rain boots was a mixed blessing. Although they kept our feet dry, they were not ideal walking shoes and offered little traction against the slippery terrain over which we tread. At the same time, the trail, when there was one, was so muddy that by the end of the tour our clothes were splashed liberally with dirt, especially the pant legs; and our boots became stuck in the muck many times. The ground was so slick I nearly fell several times. We spent a good part of the walk struggling to catch up with the guide. The next time we visit a rain forest we will make sure we have hiking boots, long pants we don’t mind getting dirty, fog resistant glasses and a walking stick before setting out.

To say the humidity in the rain forest was extremely high is an understatement. Between the humidity and my own breath my prescription sunglasses became so fogged I had to walk without wearing them. Half way through the walk for no discernable reason our digital camera stopped working. We believe it was the high humidity because a short while later it started working again.

Reviewers Article by Elena del Valle

Photos by Gary Cox

Would You Visit This Attraction Again? Yes

Overall Impression Named Tovaco, meaning tobacco, by the original Amerindian inhabitants, Tobago is a tropical Caribbean island just below the hurricane belt. Described in tourism brochures as “clean, green and serene,” it is an attractive destination for ecoutourists and adventurous world travelers able to appreciate its many charms hidden just below the surface. It was formerly a British colony and retains many of the British traditions such as left side driving, a charming West Indian English, and a sense of punctuality. At 21 miles by 7 miles (41 x 14 kilometers) in size it is slightly smaller than the state of Delaware in the U.S.

When we visited last the majority of the tourism on the island originated in Europe. The United Kingdom and Germany were the most common countries of origin for visitors. At that time it was one of the more prosperous islands in the region with income from petroleum and a developing tourism industry. Although 40 percent of Tobago’s income was generated by tourism, overall tourism only represented 2 percent of the nation’s income. This has kept the island somewhat free of mass market travelers and able to grow its tourism industry at its own pace, a luxury few independent Caribbean islands can afford.

In addition to its breathtaking vistas and natural charms, especially the tropical rain forest described as the oldest protected forest reserve in the Western Hemisphere, we particularly liked the island’s easy going, efficient, and modest atmosphere rooted in African Caribbean customs and lifestyles. Though serious initially, Tobagonians could break into an engaging smile with ease.

Tobago has a tradition of self sufficiency. When we visited the island produced many of its foodstuffs including agricultural products, seafood, and livestock. Perhaps this abundance is part of the reason we found tasty affordable food everywhere we went on the island. During out stay we enjoyed well prepared seafood as well as varied savory, and sometimes spicy, local dishes like crab and dumplings, conch and dumplings and roti. In short, Tobago offered good food, a pleasant ambiance, unspoiled natural attractions and a certain, difficult to qualify, attraction that made us long to return.

Cost Of Visiting Moderate

Currency Trinidad and Tobago dollars

Electrical Current The current was 110/220 volts AC, 60Hz

Health And Vaccinations Although there was dengue fever when we visited we suffered from no illnesses and no vaccinations were required to enter.

How To Get There When we traveled, the only flights from South Florida in the U.S. were via Trinidad. This required us to clear customs in Trinidad, collect our luggage and board a second smaller plane to Tobago. Other U.S. carriers offering service to Tobago included Continental and American. European carriers to Trinidad and Tobago included Condor (Germany), Lauda Air (Austria) and Martin Air (Holland), British Airway and Virgin Atlantic.

Location Tobago, part of the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago, is just north of Venezuela and the Equator. It lies northeast of Trinidad, its larger and wealthier sister island.

Measures The metric system prevailed

Money Issues We exchanged currency at the airport in Trinidad on arrival and departure. We also withdrew funds from automated teller machines (ATMs) and paid with credit cards while we were there.

Technology There were GSM mobile phones readily accessible and affordable, even for international calls. We saw signs for Internet cafes and there was dial-up access to the Internet from our rental villa.

Time GMT minus 4 or 5 hours depending on the time of year

Transportation Getting around Tobago required a rental car, advance planning and patience. Our initial booking was slightly problematic. When we arrived, the small company owner requested we pay for the entire week in cash on the spot. Since it was past banking hours we prevailed on him to wait. Eventually we switched to another company willing to accept credit cards. Driving was on the left.

Tobagonians, though skilled drivers, stopped everywhere and anywhere along the island’s pot hole filled two lane roads. Gravel in urban areas and hilly roads on the eastern end of the island did little to dampen local driver’s need for speed.

Facilities There were banks, ATMs, bakeries, many restaurants and food stalls, hotels, luxury rental houses, grocery and clothing stores, Internet Cafes, pharmacies, and mobile phone access.

Shopping And Souvenirs There were locally crafted products such as hand painted t-shirts, handmade jewelry and masks, pareos and batik fabrics.

Tourism Highlights The Tobago rain forest was perhaps most notable among the island’s attractions. Although it was home to diverse wildlife, there were no predators and no poisonous snakes. More than 200 species of bird, 123 butterfly species and 12 types of mammals call Tobago home. There were many dive sites, two PGA (Professional Golf Association) rated golf courses and countless good restaurants.

Amateur and experienced scuba divers could observe some of the 300 species of hard coral, sponges and other aquatic life that thrive thanks to the nutrient rich waters fed by the nearby Orinoco River. There were many dive operators and dive sites, particularly in Speyside, and there was a decompression chamber. We enjoyed our dive experience immensely. Although visibility was low due to the flow of water from Venezuela’s Orinoco River, the reef we visited just off the west coast of Tobago was beautiful and teeming with colorful fish and coral.

The southern part of the island facing the Atlantic waters and wind had the choppier more dramatic ocean fronts. The northern or leeward coast was calmer and home to some of the popular beaches including the often photographed Pigeon Point beach.

Other We noticed many crime prevention strategies on the part of the locals and were told this was due to a rise in violent crime. This made us more watchful than we would have liked, especially in such a small island. During our weeklong stay it rained everyday at least once a day sometimes more frequently. The rain showers were usually brief and the sun often returned soon afterward.

Tourism information was available at the airport in Tobago and via the government’s official website at www.visittobago.gov.tt

Favorites

Dive instructor Randy at the Manta Dive Center near Pigeon Point was noticeably patient and helpful during our morning long resort dive. All the staff we met at the shop were friendly. www.MantaDive.com + 868 639-9969 or + 868 639-9209 Email: info@mantadive.com

C’Things Beach Shop, across from Manta Divers, was a convenient place to shop for souvenirs after a diving excursion. The proprietress had an engaging and welcoming manner making us feel welcome instantly. She had stamps and a mailbox so we were able to send some postcards. + 868 639-0072 Email c_things@yahoo.com

For casual fare we loved the Store Bay food stalls. There we found local specialties like crab and dumpling, conch and dumpling and our favorite chicken curry or beef stew roti , a hearty wrap around a juicy dish with just enough spicy flavorings to make it fun. The stalls were small but impeccably clean; the food was tasty and the prices reasonable. Near the stalls there was a shaded area where we sat and enjoyed lunch if there was space or we took our food home for a more leisurely meal.

For a yummy breakfast we liked the House of Pancakes on Milford Road in Crown Point (John Gorman Trace) + 868 639-9866

When we visited Speyside on the eastern tip of Tobago we had lunch at Jemma’s Tree House Restaurant on the Main Road in Speyside 0. We particularly remember the steamed spiny lobster with garlic butter, grilled kingfish with onion sauce, breadfruit pie, and tania root fried fritters. The well known beachfront eatery was full to bursting so reservations might be a good idea before heading on the long cross island drive. + 839 660-4066 and Fax + 839 660-605

Date Of Last Visit August 2006

Reviewers Article by Elena del Valle

Photos by Gary Cox

Would You Visit This Destination Again? Yes

Overall Impression Villa de Lena, like Tobago, was a journey of discovery. We began the journey as curious visitors and ended it as friends. The two story $1.2 million villa occupied 374 square meters. It was well situated in a residential district near the tourist areas on the western end of Tobago. This meant our street was quiet with little traffic. At the same time we were within a five to 10 minute drive to the airport, tourist attractions, the Store Bay market and food stalls, restaurants, hotels, souvenir shops and tourist activities such as diving and water sports.

The Villa was homey, spacious and designed for comfort and with island élan. It was a pleasant place to spend time when we felt like relaxing in between activities and discovering Tobago. The house had many doors. Opening them allowed the sea breezes in, cooling the areas downstairs (only the bedrooms were air conditioned). Each of the doors and many windows had wrought iron gates with individual locks. It took some effort initially to open and close all the doors and wrought iron gates around the house every time we went out or arrived back. By the end of the week, we had integrated those tasks into our routine and performed them easily. Although we were bitten fiercely by mosquitoes and no-see-ums in many other parts of Tobago, Villa de Lena was blissfully mosquito free during our stay.

Prior to our arrival on the island our interaction with Trinidad and Tobago native and villa owner Mervyn Sifontes was positive and informative. Every time we exchanged emails or spoke on the phone he was gracious and responded to our questions with patience and genuine warmth. The day after we arrived and during out stay, he called from Sweden to make sure we had everything we needed.

Having Internet access and satellite television was wonderful. This allowed us to check urgent messages and find out the latest news. At the same time, since the Internet service was via dial-up there was little temptation to stay online for anything but the most urgent issues. We enjoyed our stay in Villa de Lena which lent itself to poolside and indoor relaxation, providing many of the comforts of home and ample space for families of two or more to vacation together. The Villa’s convenient central location was practical while its attractive design and clean white interior made it appealing. By the week’s end we had found our favorite areas in the house, identified preferred dining spots, tourist attractions and grocery stores nearby, and would gladly have remained another week.

Class Of Accommodation Private luxury villa

Connectivity There was access to the Internet via a dial-up connection on the owner’s computer. Although it was much slower than high speed Internet access, it was good enough to check urgent messages during our time away.

Handicapped Access A spiral tiled staircase lead to the second floor sleeping area.

Length Of Stay One week

Location Bon Accord district near Crown Point on the western end of Tobago

Owned-Managed Mervyn and Lena Sifontes

Pets Allowed No

Size The villa had a total area of 374 square meters (approximately 3,700 square feet) and the property sat on an acre of land. The ground floor covered approximately 224 square meters and the upper floor 150 square meters. Three were three bedrooms and two and a half bathrooms on the property.

Year Opened In 2003

Common Areas The property was surrounded by a six foot white concrete wall facing the road on one side and a tall chain link fence circled the remaining side and back. Landscape gardens surrounded the house serving as home to many birds. The main entrance to Villa de Lena was next to a porte cochère on the side of the villa, a short drive from the entrance gates. The floor for the entire house was of 12 inch (18 in the master bedroom) white ceramic tile. The housekeeper requested we take our shoes off while in the house. There was a rack near the front door where we left our shoes. The floor inside the house was clean enough to walk barefoot.

Caribbean sunlight filtered through windows and doors immersing the house in warm light through most of the day. Indoor wrought iron gates covered almost all the windows and doors. There were live (and artificial) plants peppered through the downstairs rooms. There were also fans in several of the downstairs areas including the TV room, and office dining and living rooms. Oil paintings, from Israeli, Russian and Swedish artists, hung on the walls.

To the right of the entrance there was a small television room housing a brown leatherette set comprising a sofa and two swivel armchairs. There was also a glass covered wood table and a 36 inch satellite TV with 50 channel options. To the left there was a 100 square foot office facing the front yard. It had a desk, office chair with wheels, book shelf, phone, fax machine, printer and Dell computer and monitor. There was a half bathroom (toilet and sink) across from the television area.

The soul of the house was situated in a large room, with an extra tall ceiling, at the end of the entrance hallway. Its most salient feature was a spiral staircase leading to the second story sleeping area. The room also connected to a covered garage at the foot of the staircase. To the left there was a large open kitchen and laundry room. A long wood countertop with six stools for quick meals and snacks separated the kitchen and staircase rooms. A formal dining area was next in a rounded space facing the front yard. It was home to a wood and cloth dining set for six with spare chairs. There was also a cabinet on one side and windows on three sides. To the other side there was a living area with similar furniture to the one in the TV room and a CD player. A step from there was the pool area and beyond it an oversized gazebo and back yard.

The second story was occupied by the sleeping quarters. There was a master suite with its own bathroom and two additional bedrooms which shared a small bathroom. Also on the second floor there was an open terrace with lounge chairs facing the backyard.

DÉCor The house was decorated mostly in white. The comfortable furniture was imported from Italian and Scandinavian. The décor was a blend of casual European and Trinidad and Tobago styling. Trinidad architect John Yearwood, from the firm Archisis, designed Villa de Lena to be identical to another home in Trinidad.

Bathroom A door led to a rectangular well lit bathroom. Double sinks faced a large mirrored wall. White curtained windows ran two thirds of the length of the bathroom. Toward the back of the bathroom there was a toilet, bathtub and shower.

Rooms Our 600-square foot air conditioned master suite was on the upper floor at the top of the spiral staircase. It had an en-suite bathroom, walk-in closet with safe and small open terrace facing the front garden and Bon Accord Estate Road beyond the property wall. A window facing queen bed with a brick red flower patterned bedspread occupied the center of the room. A remote controlled air conditioning wall unit kept the suite fresh allowing us a cool night’s rest. There were glass and metal night tables and lamps on either side of the bed. A wood dresser and rectangular mirror sat in a corner. Double curtains hung over the terrace doors, one curtain was white and the other navy blue. A chandelier style lamp hung in the center. A glass brick wall divided the walk-in closet and the room; a smaller glass brick wall stood between the shower in the bathroom and the room.

Amenities There were plenty of linens (some sheets were a bit aged), including pool towels, crockery, cutlery, glassware, safety box.

Pool The pool was set on a terraced area to the side of the house opposite the porte cochère. It housed several lounge chairs and two umbrellas to provide shade from the sun. There was a covered dining area to one side near the pool. There was also a 100 square meter gazebo ideal for receptions on the edge of property. It had a wet bar and hot plate, dining and sitting areas.

The pool itself sloped at steep angles from the edges toward the middle. It was 4 x 8 meters in size and approximately 1.85 meters deep. The owner explained that the architect felt that such a design matched the unique house plan. At the same time, the owners feel the slopes accommodate none swimmers and kids. There was an outdoor shower allowing guests to rinse off before entering the very clean pool.

Other The owner’s motto for Villa de Lena was “Come as a stranger and leave as a friend.” The Villa was well lit at night with interior and exterior lights throughout. Locking the wrought iron gates around the house required multiple keys. This meant we had to plan extra time when we went out to lock all the doors and gates with the single set of keys we received from the housekeeper.

To reach Villa de Lena we had to drive down a gravel road being extra careful with our rental car because there were many potholes on the road making it a bumpy drive. Some taxis and one of the tour guides wouldn’t drive down the gravel road.

Although there were phones throughout the house, phone access was for incoming calls only. The night before our departure, while we were discussing last minute flight changes our airline had made to our flights, our prepaid local mobile phone ran out of time. Although we had charged the phone to last us until our departure, the flight change required much more time than we would have expected. It was impossible to call the airline (or the car rental company) back from the house so we had to rush into town in the rain to find a mobile phone recharge before the airline offices closed for the day. Next time we will purchase extra mobile phone time.

The Villa website was convenient allowing us to glimpse available dates months in advance.

Villa de Lena was surrounded by bougainvilleas, exhoras, frangipani, croton, ginger lilies, oleanders, buttercups, queen of flower, periwinkle, bell flower, palms and silver tree. There were also mangoes, grapefruit, avocados, sour sop, papaya, coconut, ponga nut and golden apple trees on the property.

Cleanliness Excellent.

Date Of Review August 2006

ReviewersArticle by Elena del Valle

Photos by Gary Cox

Service Velma the housekeeper looked after the Villa. We only saw her the night we arrived when she greeted us and the morning we left when we returned the keys. Although we noticed she came during the week and changed our towels, we didn’t see her. A gardener and pool cleaner also had access to the property although we didn’t spot them during our stay.

Welcome The housekeeper, Velma, gave us a five minute tour of the villa the evening of our arrival prior to returning to her home.

Would You Stay There Again? Yes