Native Abode

On an island beset with cookie cutter resorts, Native Abode Hotel is a unique departure. The Spanish Colonial architecture typical of Trinidad & Tobago encompasses eclectic decor that blends '90s furniture, traditional Hemingway fabrics and accessories, and tropical colors. The hotel’s tiny restaurant and adjacent lounge area combine to form its entire social scene. Interiors feel like stepping into a friend's living room, with a beige modular sofa, artificial plants, and rich burgundy throw pillows and blankets. A flat-screen TV and framed floral paintings add to the at-home feel. The ample backyard houses a sizable garden with a collection of local plants and fruit trees, including soursop, wax apple, mango, tamarind, and coconuts. There are several patio chairs placed throughout for relaxing. Couples are the most frequent guests here, though some families and groups of friends pass through as well.

Native Abode is located in a nondescript residential neighborhood just off Milford Road -- a main east-west artery that runs through Crown Point. The surrounding area is quiet and safe, but there isn't much to do within an easy walk. The bars, restaurants, shops, and beaches of Crown Point are just a five-minute drive from the hotel, including Store Bay. The beach at Pigeon Point is 10 minutes away by car.

Arthur Napoleon Raymond Robinson International Airport is a five-minute drive from the hotel. However, as a small bed-and-breakfast, the hotel does not offer a dedicated shuttle. Taxis are also readily available to and from the airport, with rates officially fixed by the government. Tourists should be wary of the area’s many private cab drivers and always agree on a fixed fare in advance.

The eclectic, homey decor found in the lobby and common areas continues into the rooms, with flat box furniture pieces, Hemingway fabric and accessories, and more splashes of tropical color. The look is charming and plush for a small, mid-range bed-and-breakfast, even if it's a bit busy.

Each of the three room categories offers a similar decor, with only slight variations in floorplan and bed configuration -- either one king bed, two twin beds, or a single double bed. Essential amenities in all rooms include free Wi-Fi, air-conditioning, and spring water. Native Abode has additional and surprisingly modern amenities, particularly for a residential bed-and-breakfast. All rooms feature 46-inch 3D flat-screen TVs, Bose Wave Music Systems, free international calls, and a kitchenette with a microwave, mini-fridge, and coffee-making kit. Every room also features a small, private balcony. The location does provide consistent noise isolation from the hustle of Crown Point and its main thoroughfare, and the neighborhood is quiet throughout the day. However, wild roosters roam the streets and begin crowing daily at dawn.

Bathrooms in all room categories are clean, modest, and virtually identical, with a small floor plan that borders on cramped. The decor is as eclectic as the sleep areas, with floral patterned fabrics, copious off-white tile, and bright, lime-green walls. The small, stand-up shower has a wraparound curtain, tile surround, and refillable soap dispenser. All bathrooms feature a basic hairdryer and generic shower amenities.

Native Abode Hotel provides all the essential amenities of a well-done bed-and-breakfast, but little more -- just don't expect a pool or spa. In lieu of a full restaurant, a small dining area adjacent to the lobby and lounge serves full, made-to-order breakfasts each morning. The main dish in each breakfast includes typical Western favorites (eggs, bacon, sausage) or local delicacies such as smoked herring, salted cod, or fried salmon. Coffee and tea, fruit, vegetables, and homemade baked goods like local Tobagonian cake supplements the main dish, and soy-based vegetarian options are also available.

There is no dedicated concierge service, however, the owners work closely with several excursion providers in Crown Point to arrange off-site activities for guests. The friendly, English-speaking owner duo are lifelong locals with a thorough knowledge of the island’s best sites and attractions.

The full list of amenities is rounded out with free self-parking in a private, off-street lot and free Wi-Fi available throughout the property.