Sandcastles Apartments - Reader Reports & Opinion
Great Stay In Castara, Great Stay At Sandcastles
Isabelle Bruno from Canada visited in August 2007 and awarded 
When we decided to go to Tobago, we were looking for a quiet place (village and guesthouse) for our stay. Castara and Sandcastles both met our needs and desire. Ria and Adam, from the Sandcastles, made us feel welcomed right from the start. Both were always there to answer questions or help us out. We had booked the 2 upper apartments sharing the kitchen and balcony which was perfect for our family of four. The Sandcastles is well located with a great view out to the sea, beautiful birds all around, etc... The kitchen on the upper floor is equiped with the strict minimum but still allowed us to prepare ourselves nice little dinners on the deck. Overall, a good place to stay. Isabelle & Bruno
Guest Report - Sandcastles Apartments
Barry And Cathy Tilby from U.K. visited in April 2007 and awarded
Stayed a couple of nights at Adams place but were the only guests. Place is very much a work in progress and the room furniture was a little basic. No aircon etc and the fans were no use. Very friendly host who tries very hard to make you welcome. Steep walk into the village but location is good and it will improve over time. Great views.
Paradise Found
Shelly D'Amour from U.S.A. visited in January 2007 and awarded 
Being in Castara in late January this year was like being in a postcard. Travel ads often describe certain vacation destinations as “paradise” – but this place really is. And being Adam & Ria´s guests at Sandcastles made the whole experience feel complete.
There was just the 2 of us on this trip, and we opted to rent the entire upstairs apartment (2 bedrooms) for the luxury of having it to ourselves. It was well worth doing. The common areas are small, but would work well if you are sharing with people you know. Some of my most pleasurable moments were spent having breakfast and writing in my travel journal out on the patio in the cool of the morning. With 2 patios and a private balcony it was difficult to decide where to sit sometimes! In the evening we sat on the side patio and enjoyed the night stars, the sound of night birds and the whirr of little bats.
Prior to arriving, we stopped at Penny Savers market in Caanan, near the airport (you pass right by it on the way to Castara). I strongly recommend that you do your food shopping there, esp if you are keen on having certain items. We stocked up on drinks, snacks and breakfast foods. There is no fresh milk for sale on the island that we were able to locate – but we made do with the heat-treated variety for our tea & coffee.
Our bedroom at Sandcastles was wonderfully romantic with its mosquito netting and open air view. The walk-in shower with its large shower head and tons of hot water was *incredible*. There is lots of storage space for clothes and gear, especially in the spacious bathroom. I longed for the quiet of a retreat-like setting and Sandcastles met that need beautifully. Its location up against the hills is just far enough removed from the hubbub of the village (5 minutes drive max) to ensure uninterrupted tranquility.
We immediately became very fond of the whole family. Adam is a superb chef. My sweetie & I shared a lobster tail one night (preceded by an “appetizer” of about a pound of shrimp cooked in an exquisite marinade) that is one of my most memorable dinners ever. On our final night we enjoyed a dinner of snapper stuffed with lobster & shrimp, complemented by several amazing side dishes. It was wonderful to eat food that was so fresh, having been caught locally that day.
The afternoons are very hot in the apartment, but you don´t want to be spending your day inside anyway. We rented a jeep, which was absolutely essential, not only for getting around Tobago, but also for getting us and our stuff down the steep road to Heavenly Bay beach where we enjoyed a swim in the bathwater-warm turquoise sea followed by a drink and a view of the sunset from the atmospheric Beach House restaurant. I should mention that the Sandcastles driveway itself is very steep and if you´re on foot on a hot day carrying things, it can be a challenge. Another good reason to take your car to the beach, even though it´s a close walk.
Liming on the beach at Castara, followed by an extraordinary meal at Sandcastles, star gazing, and a peaceful sleep in the sweet night air – who could ask for anything more?
Open To The Tropical World
Tom Noddy from U.S.A. visited in January 2007 and awarded
We spent a short time there and enjoyed ourselves immensely. Adam is on the verge of opening the restaurant that he's built on the site and, judging by the dinners that we had, it's going to be a spectacular addition.
We stayed in the upstairs rooms which can be shared by two couples or, for twice the price, can provide a roomier and dreamy spot for two.
The place is on a hill with a spectacular view and it's open. It's open because the nights are so sweet and warm that you want the sea breeze to come into your room and caress you in your bed. If you're unused to tropical living this can be surprising ... we were visited by a couple of curious birds, a lizard, and even a bat (yeah, I know, but when he saw me, he just wanted out -- they have no interest in you or your hair).
There's a small kitchen/fridge/sink but with Adam cooking at night and the island to explore during the days we just used it for breakfast and drinks. There are two bedrooms separated by a small living room. All of those rooms continue out onto balconies and, when the sun isn't too oppressive, you'll be out there as much as inside. The beds are covered with sheer white mosquito netting but, while we were there in January, they were more for decoration than use ... no mosquitos at all at any time of day or night.
That mid-day sun is a good reason for getting out to the beach during the day. We drove to nearby Castara or took off for forest walks, boat rides to bird sanctuaries, or other activities. It was so nice to "come home" to Adam and Ria's place and back to our room for naps, snacks, or nighttime star gazing from our balcony (the big dipper/starry plough is low and if the North Star is visible at all, it would only be from the northern beaches I think).
If you need air conditioning and, therefore, to be sealed off from the outside world when you get to your room you would do better staying at one of the big hotels. But even then, I advise you to make your way out to Sandcastles for dinner at least one of the nights of your stay.
Super Friendly Hosts, Lovely Spot, Dynamite Food.
Sue And Karl from U.S.A. visited in January 2007 and awarded
Castara is truly one of the most beautiful spots on the island, and Sandcastles is tops. We had originally hoped to find a waterfront guesthouse, but are so glad to have landed with Adam, Ria and Lizzy. They truly "made" our stay. The guesthouse is located just outside of town, a easy walk down to town and back up from the beach, and the apartment is gorgeous, peaceful and offers stunning views. I will never forget breakfasting on the balcony, a sweet breeze and legions of lively birds (No roosters either!), munching on homemade bread from the "stern ladies" on the beach. The most special part though, was meeting Adam and Ria (and Lizzy!). They are absolutely passionate about what they do. We had so much fun getting to know them and talking (and eating) food with Adam. An unforgettable pair, wish we could have stayed much longer.
Definitely plan some time in the Castara area and don't miss Sandcastles.
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