Porridge's Place - Reader Reports & Opinion
Peaceful, Relaxing And Just What We Needed!
Sarah And James from U.K. visited in December 2007 and awarded 
I've just read the other reviews of Porridge's place here and they pretty much describe the apartment, it's location and facilities. One thing that seems to have been missed however is the amount of wildlife that is present throughout the day and night, and I'm not just referring to bugs! Jeanell has a bird feeder set up next to the covered patio, which attracts lots of bananaquits as well as blue-grey tanajars.
The apartment is simple, but contains everything you need. The thing that we loved most about it was the seclusion. We were perfectly placed to join or ignore the outside world as we wanted, which was perfect for a relaxed week away.
I would recommend this place to anyone wanting somewhere quiet to stay.
Porridges Place, March 2006 20 Mar 2006
R Shah from St Helier, Jersey
Spent one week as a guest of Porridge and Jeanell. All in all had a great time there.
The flat was of a decent size. There was a good sized double bed with a mozzie net round it (this was never used though). There is a CD player / radio (clever me, forgot any CDs). There is a shower, a seperate toilet and a sink. The shower runs luke warm water and the tap is cold water. However neither of this really mattered. There is also a TV, but I never used it. There is a big fan (which I only used a few times). There are no windows, but netting. Blinds let the light in, and I would normally close these at night.
The kitchen has a large fridge / freezer, toaster, kettle (not electric though), coffee maker (didn't use it though) and a gas oven/grill/cooker. The kitchen came fully furnished with all pots / pans / dishes, etc. One thing, some of the pots are a bit old, and would commonly get burnt.
There is a great liitle porch outside for sitting and eating. The sofa was used to keep my bags. There is a safe to keep your valuables. Jeanell cleaned the place once during my stay.
Location of the place is about 10 minutes walk to Castara village. Down the hill is fine, up the hill, takes slightly longer!!! I found it generally safe to walk up and down and often got lifts.
Both Porridge and Jeanell are supertars. They let me use their phone to make local calls and use their internet to quickly check my emails. I went drinking with Porridge a few times which was always a laugh! I also arranged car hire through them.
The place was generally clean, however (as with most places in the tropics) there was always various bug problems!! Nothing too bad though.
This place is not 5 star. But then you are not paying 5 star rates. For the price (US$40) I think the place is great, along with the fantastic service offered. However in all fairness if I go to Tobago (which I probably will!!) I probably won't stay there, as I would like to stay somewhere closer to the beach.
But for anyone who does decide to stay there, they won't be disappointed.
Porridge's Place, Castara 18 Apr 2005
Neil Patton from Ireland ( But Really Scottish)
We stayed there at the beginning of March for a fortnight and all I would add to Steves review is that our bedlinen and towels were changed every couple of days, maybe Jeanel thought we were a bit more sweaty!!!
The place is really nice and you could not get nicer or more obliging hosts than Porridge & Jeanel.
They really made us feel part of the family and I can't recommend a stay there highly enough.
Neil
Porridge And Jeanells Place, Castara 09 Jan 2005
Nigel Mills from Hay On Wye
Porridge and Jeanell´s place
Castara
Nowhere is perfect, although to many people Tobago is a pretty close approximation of paradise. Similarly, no accommodation is perfect although that depends on your expectations and your standards. If you want a real Caribbean experience, meaning that you get the opportunity to mix with local people rather than a host of sun seeking tourists then Castara has to be a good bet. Similarly if you are looking for a genuine place to stay then Porridge´s Place leaves little to be desired. If you wish to dive out of your window into the sea then look elsewhere (although you can see the sea from Porridge´s). If you want palatial then likewise but for a combination of price, level of equipment, cleanliness, friendliness, service, accessibility and welcome then look no further.
The house is on the edge of town which means a ten minute walk to and from the beach but this does mean it is quiet and you will not be disturbed although there will always be neighbours playing music but don´t go to Tobago if you are not keen or Reggae or do not wish to listen to other people´s sound systems; it is a fact of life and personally, I love it that way.
The apartment is below Porridge and Jeanell´s house and is compact but has all that a couple might need. Comprising a kitchen at one end, a small ´living´area, the bedroom and then the shower and toilet it is not a place perhaps for prudes. The shower is separated by a curtain and the toilet has a door but there are no other internal partitions except for half a wall by the bed which provides much storage. There are shelves elsewhere too and a hanging space for clothes. The bed has a full length mosquito net although I came to use it less and less as they didn´t seem to be a problem. The bedroom area has adjustable louvre shutters for light and ventilation out onto the front as does the kitchen/living area.
As to equipment the kitchen has a new gas cooker and a large fridge freezer and all the utensils you would really need although one or two items came to mind while I was there and these were provided if I asked for them. There is a television and radio/cd player in the bedroom area. The shower provides only warm water which is all you need but the basin has only cold. There is a good sized combination safe for valuables which will adequately accommodate cameras, videos, phones etc. Linen is all new, brightly patterned, freshly laundered and frequently changed. Outside is a small, roofed and mainly enclosed seating area, mostly shaded from the sun and bedecked with Jeanell´s flowers, here there is a table and chairs as most meals will be eaten outside, and a bench for extra seating. The view from here is back down towards the village and the sea in the distance. I believe there are plans to build a small seating area which will get more sun for those that wish to cook themselves. You are close to the comings and goings of the house and neighbours but this is not intrusive. Parking on the road is very nearby and you can drive right up to the house if necessary. There is an easy 10 second walk from the road to the house up a track and a couple of steps up to the balcony and front door.
Porridge and Jeanell are a collective fount of knowledge and are local right through; they can provide car hire and mini bus trips as well as pick ups from the airport. If you want a barbeque, party, boat trip or whatever else then just ask and they will help arrange things. However the single most important factor of living at this address is the family upstairs. Porridge and Jeanell and the children are all an absolute delight to be around and cannot be helpful enough. Nothing is too much trouble and you will receive a daily courtesy visit to check on you or a longer visit for liming and always a friendly greeting as they all come and go. If you wish to socialise there may well be a party and you can always request a visit to Sunday School or the Cat and Fiddle with Porridge.
I would stay there on my next trip except someone got there first. Book now!
Nigel Mills ( + Will)
Porridge's Place, Castara 13 Oct 2004
Melanie & Amanda from Wirral, UK
We arrived at Porridge´s place just as the sun was setting. The traditional house, nestled into the hillside and surrounded by flowers and trees, was wonderfully peaceful, the quietness only broken by the sounds of birds and singing frogs.
The accommodation is spacious, immaculately clean and really comfortable. The kitchen had everything we could need and there was a comfy bed (with good mosi net), small sofa and a fan. We loved the wooden louver windows and the seating area outside. We had a lovely welcome...the kids carried our bags and Jeanelle – Porridge´s wife – greeted us warmly, putting a cold beer into our hands and cooking us a great, meal – freshly caught fish plus rice and salad – prepared Tobagan style. We saw amazing birds from right outside our door – including masses of humming birds – and we loved the peace of our countryside retreat. With Castara village, the beach and the ocean only 5 mins walk away we knew we had found a gem of a place – comfortable, pretty, quiet – and at a great price. It was great staying with a local family.
Porridge and Jeanell gave us plenty of space and privacy but were always ready to share a laugh, a chat or a beer and it was really useful knowing we could ask them for information or advice if we needed it. Not that Castara needs much in the way of explanation...it´s an easy place to stay and an easy place to fall in love with! The village, the beach and the ocean couldn´t be more beautiful (surely?) and the people are warm, helpful and welcoming. We have never felt more embraced by a place in all our travels and our conversations with local people are as part of our happy memories as are the fabulous birds, forest, food, weather, sea and feel of the village and the island as a whole.
Thanks Porridge and Jeanell for a wonderful holiday!
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