20 Best Hotels in Trinidad and Tobago

An hour's drive from the nearest beach or town and designed for serious bird-watchers, this lodge is surrounded by 200 acres of wilderness, streams, waterfalls, and natural pools; there are simple but adequate rooms in bungalows and grander rooms with period furniture in the main house, where the verandah overlooking Arima Valley is a perfect place to sip tea (or delicious homegrown coffee) while hummingbirds dart about. Meals are taken communally in the large dining room, which allows guests to exchange bird stories over good, basic food. Well-behaved kids over eight are welcome, but the lack of TV or child-oriented activities might prove too much for young minds to bear.

Overlooking Bacolet Bay just outside Scarborough, this 1940s-era luxury hotel, which was lovingly restored in the 1990s, has, alas, descended into what can be described (at best) as shabby chic; if you appreciate history, though, you might be able to overlook its shortcomings. Rooms have teak floors and glass-partitioned bathrooms; those in the so-called new wing have sunken sitting areas.

A rain forest creeps up behind this eco-friendly hotel, which sits on sheltered, turquoise Batteaux Bay, just east of Speyside and a 90-minute drive from Scarborough; though it caters primarily to divers and bird-watchers, the inn is also a fine base for exploring Tobago's north coast. The sprawling property makes every effort to make guests feel at home. One- and two-bedroom apartments are directly on the white-sand beach. The restaurant serves the freshest of fish, and barbecue dinners are cooked at the pool bar.

Just a short drive from downtown in the quiet suburb of Cascade, this small boutique hotel offers peace, quiet, and style at a relatively affordable price. Each room is done in a different whimsical theme; the Rumshop Room, for example, comes complete with full bottles of rum and playing cards on the coffee table. All rooms offer a complimentary minibar. The one so-called suite on offer is really just a very large room.

Although it's not far from the airport, this expansive, expensive enclave feels remote, with pink buildings set along a perfect stretch of coast and all the usual resort amenities, including a highly regarded spa, restaurants that are among the best in Tobago, and a lively pool bar. Store Bay is next door, and Pigeon Point a short walk away. You can't beat the ocean-view villa for its glitz factor, including gold-plated bathroom fittings, a TV the size of a small car, and a private sundeck. Arrive in style by booking the hotel's Rolls (there is another Rolls parked in the driveway that was originally owned by Errol Flynn) for the two-minute trip from the airport.

This large hotel in the capital caters primarily to business travelers, with free Wi-Fi, a business center, and other excellent facilities, and a great location. You can take advantage of a variety of restaurants, shops, and entertainment possibilities available next door at the ultramodern Movietowne complex. Rooms are spacious and have lovely high-back wooden headboards on the beds.

On Trinidad's western peninsula, this hotel is in the middle of the island's main yachting marina, about 20 minutes from downtown. The hotel complex caters to the yachting crowd with a huge marina and a wide range of shops. The Lighthouse Restaurant is popular with locals and has a large and lively bar. The newly renovated rooms are well appointed, with views of the marina and pool. The nearest beach is a 10-minute drive but isn't particularly good.

The first all-inclusive in Tobago—now offering a variety of meal plans—is very popular with young couples. This is not a luxury hotel, and the restaurants are mediocre; however, it is not a bad value for those looking for the basics. Although the hotel is on one of the nicer beaches in Tobago, it is a public beach—like all of them—and peddlers may sometimes be a problem. Guests here can also use the spa facilities at the tonier Le Grand Courlan for a fee.

On a hillside overlooking the Queen's Park Savannah, the upscale Hilton (President Barack Obama stayed here for the 2009 Summit of the Americas) commands a loyal following. Its unique construction means, counterintuitively, that the lobby is atop the hill so guests take an elevator down to the standard rooms (rooms on lower-numbered floors have the best views). Spa, golf, and wedding packages are available.

Popular with short-stay travelers, this handy hotel has rooms that are up to snuff and security that's as good as you'd expect from a business hotel. It overlooks a golf course, and the Trincity Mall, the island's largest and site of the nearest restaurants, is just a two-minute shuttle ride away. Because the hotel is far from the traffic and congestion of Port of Spain, it makes visiting the east-coast and northeast-coast beaches much less frustrating.

Trinidad's only full-service waterfront hotel is a striking high-rise that provides an insulated environment: rooms are tastefully decorated with bamboo floors and fuchsia accent walls; the lobby has stone walls, a waterfall, and palm trees; and the rooftop infinity pool provides commanding vistas.

In a good neighborhood just off Queen's Park Savannah, the comfortable Kapok offers all-around value for in-town stays, with a high level of service and rooms that are more intimate—both of which offset a dearth of the amenities found at the nearby Hilton. Rooms vary greatly in size, with the Savannah-facing rooms being generally much larger. Those considering longer stays may want to opt for one of the suites with a balcony, as the price difference is minimal. The hotel's restaurant, Tiki Village, serves reliably good food and is popular with locals. Bois Cano, the alfresco bistro and wine bar, is lovely and relaxed. Kava, the lobby restaurant and bar, has become popular with locals for a laid-back lunch or dinner.

Owner Cynthia Clovis personally oversees this tranquil oasis—a holistic retreat with many return guests who appreciate the pitched-roof cabanas designed to help "maximize their energy potential" and morning yoga sessions that help them atone for any excess of rum punch the night before. The bar and restaurant are in a bamboo pavilion and welcome local entertainers on weekends. Choose a garden room for a more peaceful stay; those near the pool can be noisy. The complex is near the airport, Store Bay, and Pigeon Point but is not on the beach.

This low-priced hotel is on Trinidad's remote and beautiful northeast coast in an area that is a popular weekend escape for locals seeking a lush rain-forest backdrop and expansive beach. Rooms here are cozy, and each is decorated in a different theme. All rooms are air-conditioned (a rarity for a hotel on this part of the island), but cool ocean breezes are usually quite adequate. The hotel is located on the best beach for turtle-watching, and a pass to access the beach during nesting season can be obtained at the government office next door. The restaurant here serves creole dishes that use seafood caught just off the premises. The nearest shopping or nightlife is a two-hour drive away, so this is strictly a place for those seeking peace, quiet, and good home-style food.

In a lovely gated residential area, this impressive seafront resort (formerly the Hilton Tobago) has a massive atrium lobby—complete with floor-to-ceiling ocean views and lots of local art—and two-story guestroom buildings at one end of a gorgeous 18-hole golf course. The beach, however, is minuscule, requiring a complimentary shuttle to the much better Pigeon Point Beach.

Very spacious but simple rooms and proximity to Port of Spain ensure the popularity of this guesthouse, which consists of two separate buildings. Rooms in "Monique's on the Hill" have kitchenettes and sizable balconies, but getting to these rooms is a bit of a trek. The staff are justifiably famous for their friendliness. Unfortunately, there's nothing within walking distance, so a car is needed.

Although this property lacks some of the fancier resort amenities and has seen better days, there's still something magical about its 1970s shabby gentility; also magical are the relatively low room rates, which help to offset the fact that renovations are ongoing. Ask for one of the renovated rooms.

If you're looking for luxury living, you should be blissfully happy here: the six pink, well-appointed, three-bedroom villas are done in colonial style, complete with fretwork; the grounds are lushly landscaped; and the communal pool and bar area is a busy meeting place for villa guests.

Trinidad's newest downtown chain hotel features the largest rooms on the island in a completely renovated property that has housed other hotels in the past—and it's much cheaper than nearby upscale options. Proximity to the port and Independence Square is both the draw and the drawback here: from any upper-floor room you have a lovely pastel panorama of the Old Town and of the gleaming waterfront, and you're within walking distance of the downtown sights and shops; but with proximity to the action come traffic and noise. The nicely appointed rooms bring a level of luxury to a property that has had its ups and downs in the past. A revolving rooftop restaurant called 360 offers a striking view of the city but is open only on Sunday for brunch. The main restaurant in the lobby offers enough variety to keep even the most demanding family members happy.

On a hillside overlooking the ocean and next to a 200-acre bird sanctuary, this complex sets Tobago's standard for luxury self-catering accommodations, with well-spaced, French colonial–style, 3,700-square-foot villas, each individually owned and offering three bedrooms and a unique, well-appointed decor. Housekeeping is provided, and cooks are available for those who don't wish to make use of the impressive kitchens. The only minor disadvantage here is that the beach is a trek down the hill. Villas can accommodate up to six people.