Cuffie River Nature Retreat - Review Page 2
Architecture
Given the topography of Tobago’s interior, I take my hat off to Regina’s vision, dedication and perseverance.
The buildings blend with the landscape as well as any modern structure can. I’m sorry if I seem less than enthusiastic. It's not that they're unattractive or anything, just that I'm a little prejudiced. Any building will look out of place in this location. I’m even tempted to say that cars should be parked in Runnemede and visitors brought down to the hotel on horseback.
But, let’s get back to the real world…
The hotel is made up of three reasonably attractive and spacious two-storey buildings built on a ridge of land about 15 metres above the small river. Like all good tropical architectural designs, the buildings take full advantage of the available land and every scrap of the prevailing winds. So successful is the design that air-conditioning is totally unnecessary.
The main block is home to the ten guest rooms, the dining room and lounge areas. A second low structure houses the open-air swimming pool, above a general utility area. The third building, known as the annexe,has two self-catering guest rooms beneath a covered pavilion which is used as a games and relaxation area and also for functions and corporate meetings. All 
threebuildingsare constructed of red clay blocks andwood,with reddish brown banister rails and mint green rendered dividing pillars. The overall appearance is interesting and quite attractive.
I was pleased to note a wheelchair ramp into the hotel and up to the elevated swimming pool. Although none of the rooms are specifically fitted out for the disabled, the shower enclosures were designed for easy access and the three guest rooms on the ground floor of the property would be suitable for wheelchair users or guests with mobility problems.
Clientele
Given that a love of nature is not limited by age, gender or any other factor, it is not surprising that the Cuffie River Nature Retreat will appeal to a very wide cross-section of visitors to Tobago. Being such a small and intimate hotel also means that the guests soon mingle and share their experiences. During our brief stay, we have met some really lovely people from places as diverse as Alaska, Texas, Germany and Sierra Leone.
It almost goes without saying that the Cuffie River will be of particular appeal to bird watchers. The bird life is stunning, as you would expect from an establishment on the fringes of the rain forest. You soon get used to the sight of hummers feeding only a few feet away and flitting within inches of your head during their territorial disputes.
Children are welcome at the hotel, if they are closely supervised at all times. A sign at the hotel entrance politely asks visitors to be quiet while on the premises. The birds are amazingly tame and friendly and appear largely unconcerned by human presence, but sudden movement and loud noises will obviously scare them away. Birders take their hobby incredibly seriously. Even ‘normal’ behaviour by children is likely to unsettle other guests and disrupt the otherwise extremely friendly atmosphere.
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