Forty Winks Inn

Walking into Forty Winks feels like you just you’ve just walked into a private living room, albeit one with an inspirational quote and decorative butterflies providing the welcome. The lobby doubles as a sitting area and has a slightly worn green love seat, rattan armchairs with floral cushions, and photos of steel-pan bands. Next door is a long, narrow breakfast patio with an outdoor cafe scene painted on its wall and ceilings draped with billowy sorbet-colored fabric. Forty Wink's owner is often chatting up guests in the lobby’s cushy seats and the inn feels like an extension of her effervescent personality. Without a doubt, the hotel’s best feature is its lush rooftop terrace. It’s an urban refuge covered in orchids, blossoming bougainvilleas, palms, cactus plants, and a few colorfully painted tables and chairs. The hotel attracts a wide range of guests -- from backpackers to business travelers -- and is close to Queen’s Park Savannah, the center of Port of Spain’s carnival celebrations.

Forty Wink’s is located in central Port of Spain’s Newtown neighborhood, full of embassies and government buildings. A handful of small markets and carry-out restaurants serving Trinidadian food are within a three-minute walk, and there's a full-size grocery store just over five minutes away on foot. There’s also a dim-sum restaurant a five-minute walk from the inn. Queens Park Savannah, the world’s second largest roundabout and epicenter for the island’s Carnival celebration, is also a five-minute walk from Forty Winks. Ariapita Avenue, also known as The Strip, is Port of Spain’s nightlife and culinary hub and is a ten-minute walk. Emperor Valley Zoo and Royal Botanic Gardens are across the park, a 15-minute walk. A car is necessary to reach the island's beaches, though, and there's a car rental office within a 15-minute walk of the inn. The nearest beach, Maracas Beach, is famed for its bake-and-shark stands, is a 45-minute drive. A bit farther down the same windy road is Las Cuevas Beach, a leatherback turtle nesting site and one of the islands most beautiful beaches (an hour's drive). Piarco International Airport is an hour drive from the hotel depending on traffic. 

Forty Winks five air-conditioned guest rooms were recently renovated. They’re bright and modern -- especially the light-flooded second floor rooms -- with either two double beds, two twins, or one queen bed with wrought-iron headboards. Beds were comfortable. Turquoise or striped neutral bed runners match the curtains. Expect modern accents like lamps with cylindrical or Lucite orb bases, 32-inch flat-screen TVs with cable channels, and wall-mounted folding desks. Cheery wall art decorates the white walls with larger-than life metal flower sculptures or modernist mirrors shaped like blossoming daisies. Tiled bathrooms have purple-framed mirrors and trim, stand-up, glass-brick showers and include soap. Irons, ironing boards, and hairdryers are available to borrow from the front desk. Free Wi-Fi is available in all guest rooms. 

Forty Wink’s rooftop terrace is by far its best feature -- it's lush, covered in blossoming flowers and vibrant plants, and is the perfect spot to wind down after a day of exploring. What it doesn’t have in views (only of the surrounding building), it makes up for in atmosphere. A hearty breakfast is included with all stays and features eggs, meat, traditional Trinidadian items like bake sada roti (bread), sauteed potatoes, pumpkin, and coffee and juice. The hotel can arrange tour guides and book organized tours. They also work with car rental companies who will pick up the guest in the rental car, though there's no on-site parking and street parking can be difficult to find in the area. Laundry service is available and Wi-Fi is free throughout the inn.