I can't find a category for Hotels in Trinidad, but as this is my first op over here, go easy on me! I hope it also gives an insight into the landscape, atmosphere and some other attractions of Trinidad.

The original house is set on a former coffee/cocoa/citrus plantation overlooking the Arima Valley, and was established as a residence for visiting naturalists in the post-war years, by its owner, Asa Wright. As she became too elderly to manage the place, a trust was established to protect the estate and maintain the house as a hotel for wildlife enthusiasts. The trust have continued to buy up land in the surrounding area to create an ever larger sanctuary of protected rainforest.

The main attraction of the house is the verandah which overlooks the valley. You can take your coffee out there after breakfast and watch the animals and birds getting their breakfast too, as feeders are put out with fruit for the majority of the birds and sugar-water for the hummingbirds. You can easily have a hummingbird hovering only a few inches from your face which is a magical experience, and see parrots and toucans flying across the valley. You may also see other wildlife – agoutis (guinea-pig like creatures) and scary-looking lizards called ‘mattes’ (but don’t worry, you’re up on the verandah and they’re down below)

There are various nature trails and organised trips on and offsite which the guides can take you on, some involving early starts to catch the dawn chorus. These trips include the oilbirds cave (oilbirds being a weird kind of nocturnal bird who nest in caves) and down into Caroni swamp to see the scarlet ibis (plenty of mozzie repellent needed!). You might also see a tree boa in the swamp, but the one I saw was curled up asleep, and not very big. There are poisonous snakes in Trinidad (Fer de lance being one) but it’s a case of ‘they are more scared of you than you are of them’ so it’s unlikely you’ll see one on your trip.

The food is fantastic - fresh tropical fruit for breakfast, traditional Trinidadian cuisine (which has lots of Indian and Oriental influence), tea at four o'clock with gorgeous cakes and a rum punch at six o'clock as the sun goes down. The entertainment after dinner is pretty much non-existent, but you go to the Asa Wright to chill out, not have a wild party.

Now the practical stuff - the centre is about 2 hours drive from Piarco airport. BWIA (British West Indian Airlines) fly to Trinidad via Barbados, but BA only fly to Tobago (a transfer from Tobago to Trinidad takes about 20 minutes, it's like catching the bus)

Sadly, I have to add that the rest of Trinidad (especially the capital Port-of-Spain) is not as safe as it once was, so I would recommend travellers to go with a group and avoid PoS if possible.

My personal preference for a trip to T&T would be to spend 4 or 5 nights at the Asa Wright then fly on to Tobago (which is very safe) and then you will have the perfect rainforest/beach paradise holiday in one.