Avis Mary's Hill Lodge, Tobago

We cannot say enough about our experience at Mary Hill's Lodge in Tobago. The place was immaculate. We’ve already recommended it to others.

The property of itself was a small rustic cabin. I especially appreciated the private bathroom for each bedroom. Nice size pool and lots of peace and quiet. However the road leading to the property is unpaved and easy to miss from the main road. Once through the gates the driveway is very steep and is very difficult to access. But most disturbing was the amount of mosquitoes on the property. The owners left scattered throughout the house boxes of bugmat, cocksette and a couple mosquito zappers, but they did little to nothing to combat the problem. This is not only a health hazard, but it takes away greatly from the experience, especially when you're trying to catch a nap or sleep at nights. All in all though we made the best of our stay.

The pictures don’t actually do justice to how charming the lodge is. It’s really special. We’ll be back! It’s all open-air, wood, handmade four-poster beds with gauze curtains, and tasteful decorating. The pool is pristine. There’s even beautiful outdoor lighting around the grounds/garden. Even on the hottest days, it’s cool that high up. A/C never crossed our minds. There’s a full kitchen with all the essential tools, even a French-press coffee maker which is a treat for anyone who’s tried to find a decent cup of coffee in T&T. We stocked the kitchen for breakfast and were so glad we did. It allowed us to be slow and relax in the mornings rather than scoot back to town for food. There are three double beds, along with two singles (bunk-beds) and an oversized window daybed that could sleep two kids if needed. There are three full bathrooms and a washer/dryer as well. A few notes about the place — none of which we minded, but perhaps make the place less suitable for travelers less enamored of rustic charm as we are: No lie, the “road” up to the cottage is crazy, even for Tobago. And the driveway past the gates up to the house is too steep for some cars (we arrived, after a mishap with the rental car office, with a manual-transmission old bus/minivan and it’s engine combined with body-length made it impossible to negotiate the severe incline and sharp curve; it simultaneously bottomed out and, unable to assist with the momentum of a “running start”, the engine simply could not do it. Not a problem! We just parked in front of the gates and took the side entrance which is not a big deal at all, it’s only few measly steps! The cottage is completely open air, which we are accustomed to. But do keep in mind (especially at night and especially after a few days of rain) you’ll need to use the bug mats, some bug spray, and keep the mosquito nets nicely sealed around your bed for a bite-free sleep. Again, using the above we didn’t have a problem at all. You may also notice a cute and harmless gecko around the walls, and occassionally a little bird or harmless fruit bar may pass through. That happened only once and only briefly during our six days. Thanks so much Laura and Louise!