Alibaba's Sea Breeze - Review Page 2
Architecture & General Layout
Like most of the houses in Castara, and other mountainous parts of Tobago, Sea Breeze is built into the side of a steep cliffside, on deep and sturdy reinforced concrete supports. The two storey building is of block and concrete construction, with wooden verandas, balustrades and roof facia.
Although the house is perched some seven metres above the beach, surprisingly little of the building can be seen from the sand. Great care was taken to preserve the trees and shrubs lower down the cliff face; not least because these provide essential shade to beach users. Judicious pruning ensures a good balance between the natural look of the bay and beach (not a feature or motivation shared by all neighbours), whilst preserving the wonderful views offered from each apartment’s balcony.
And what amazing views they are. There are half a dozen properties in Castara that claim to have the best views in the village and I hesitate to judge a winner. Each view has different merits and without any false diplomacy, I really don’t know which is best! Few people will have the opportunity to judge, and even less to care. It would be a cold-hearted person who was not happy with any of them.
Sea Breeze is located at the very end of Little Bay beach. The balconies face south-west, looking into the middle of Castara Bay, with the open sea to the right and views of both Big Bay (main) beach and Little Bay beach to the left. Being able to see both beaches at the same time is an almost unrivalled feature – and being a working fishing village, the beach is where the ‘action’ is and your eye constantly enticed.
The entrance to the apartment is immediately behind the Boathouse Restaurant. A narrow concrete driveway leads up to the house, through a small car park. Fifteen shallow steps lead up to the entrance corridor at the back of the building. Due to the mountainous terrain, Castara is not good option for wheelchair users and no mobility aids are fitted at Sea Breeze.
Inside the entrance corridor, a notice board offers visitors a variety of useful information and a collection of novels and reading matter, in both English and German. Flotation rings and a waterbed for children are also available. Although finished in different colours and with a slightly different theme, the four apartments are basically identical. The end apartment is around a foot (30cm) wider than the others, but otherwise they are of identical size.
Accommodation
Three of the apartments offer a comfortably spacious accommodation area of 30sq.m/320sq.ft., plus a 6.3sq.m./70sq.ft. balcony to the front. As mentioned, the fourth apartment is marginally larger and this will normally be allocated when a fold-out divan bed or cot is required for a small child or baby.
Each apartment essentially consists of a single high-ceilinged room (8.3x3.6mx2.75m) with 2m-high partitions separating the central bedroom from the bathroom, to the rear, and the kitchen/dining area and balcony to the front.
Whilst immaculately clean and comfortable, Alibaba’s Sea Breeze offers no-frills accommodation – in the typical ethos of all hospitality accommodation in this back-to-basics fishing village. Those expecting mini-bars, direct-dialling telephones, TV, or room service, etc., will need to stick to the more commercialised end of the island. However, the apartments have all the essentials, including wireless Internet access, and are serviced every three days. The linen and towels are changed during the service and were of excellent quality. Unusually and pleasingly, at such modest accommodation, beach towels are provided. A basic laundry service (no ironing) is also available on request.
Bedroom Area
The spacious bedroom area occupies some 50% of the apartment floor area and is dominated by a huge king-size bed with bamboo four-poster mosquito net. The overall effect is as attractive as I have seen.
The bed is actually made up of two 38-inch single mattresses fitted into a recessed base which prevents them from separating. What a perfect solution for those with a restless partner. Even better, the mattresses are high quality orthopaedic models and I certainly found that the firm but comfortable cushioning meant I didn’t wake up quite as stiff as normal. Perhaps that’s just my age.
A final feature is that the high 32-inch bed height affords useful storage space for suitcases and other luggage. What a lovely change not to be falling over the cases, or not having to heave them onto the top of wardrobes or storage cupboards.
To each side of the bed are large bedside tables with attractive reading lamps. Sadly, the soporific effects of Tobago and the tumbling surf below meant that despite the excellence of the reading lamps, my Kindle seemed to remain stuck on the first chapter of an otherwise gripping novel.
Adjacent to the bed, a large open wardrobe with storage shelves provides 34-inches of full-length hanging space, plus four very large open shelves for smaller garments and sundries. Our two-month review tours include stays in all grades of accommodation, including formal hotels. The fact that we were able to empty all our suitcases and let our garments breathe for a few days says all that needs to be said for the storage facilities at Alibaba’s Sea Breeze.
A wall mirror, colourful prints, pictures and other decorative features enhance the atmosphere and combine to create a highly pleasing and homely room. The apartments are not air-conditioned – nor have any need to be. A large and quiet ceiling fan above the bed helps keep the air moving and a free-standing floor fan is available if required. We certainly didn’t need the fan and the fact that it was stored inside the wardrobe, rather than permanently standing in the room, speaks volumes.
Some may argue that the central location of the bedroom prevents guests from waking to the spectacular views over the beach and bay. True, but on the other hand, it also means that the bedroom remains cooler and is not subject to the glare of the afternoon sun; a feature you will truly appreciate should you wish to rest during the heat of the day. Moreover, when staying in self-catering accommodation, it is a safe assumption that someone will be spending valuable holiday time in the kitchen, preparing meals. How much nicer to do so with stunning views as a backdrop and also to be able to serve and eat those meals on the adjacent balcony.
NEXT PAGE: Bathroom, Kitchen, Balcony, Conclusion
Review Page Links: Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3
Return to the search listing page
The buttons above present articles sequentially, in the order shown in the menu bar
at the top of the page. You are currently on the Property Review page in the Accommodation menu.
