We have stayed regularly at Kariwak where returnees prevail, and represent a wide selection of world populace in terms of character, colour, and creed. All are welcomed in the same manner. Owner/management is always present and approachable and any problems are easily and happily addressed.

Spent 4 nights at the Kariwak Village Hotel in March 2008. We were allocated Room 5B. Many of the rooms are actually semi-bungalows constructed in a rustic "ajoupa" style and situated in the beautiful, lush, tranquil grounds of the hotel. The room was spacious, simply decorated and furnished in a rustic style with good storage and opened onto a small patio with a view of the pool. We found the room to be clean and comfortable apart from insufficient illumination from the overhead light fitting.

The service was a perfect mix of friendly informality and helpful efficiency. We had breakfast and dinner in the hotel restaurant throughout our stay and are still waxing lyrical about the excellence of the cuisine. It really deserves its reputation as the best restaurant in Tobago. The hotel is in the process of producing its own cookbook and I cannot wait to see a copy!

The hotel is well located just a 5 minute walk from the airport and about a 10 minute walk from Store Bay. Unfortunately, due to high waves during our stay, we were unable to swim in the sea so happily contented ourselves at the hotel pool instead.

In summary, we had a thoroughly relaxing stay at the Kariwak Village and are already planning a return visit!

For Tobago, I think Kariwak is the best its going to get, which is not saying much. Side note, for those coming to Tobago, its best to rent a car so you can get around.

Rooms - the beds are really really really bad. rock hard, like summer camp. I wished they had TV's, they really should update that. There is a communal TV for guests, but most of the time the workers are watching it (because its close to the kitchen). Its nice that they have wireless internet, but its not in the rooms, only in the dining area. But I guess thats all in keeping with the theme of the hotel.
Lighting in the rooms is also pretty horrible, very dim. The showers are very nice though, good water pressure and hot water.

Grounds - the grounds are nice, lots of plants and birds every where. The pool is not very impressive, very small and surrounded by a small area. There are two pools, both of which are very small. The hammocks are beautiful and great to relax in.

breakfast is very nice though, they stop serving it at 9:30am. i would recommend eating the breakfast every day. however, you have to tell them in advance when you are eating meals at the hotel, they run out of space apparently.

we ate dinner there two nights. wednesday night, was awful, we took more than 90 min to get 3 plates of food. but the next night dinner was much better (even though waitress was rude) food came much faster.

the service is interesting, people were either extremely rude or very nice. there were a few waitresses in particular, so rude with major attitudes. but i think that is tobago in general. if you are european or white american, you will most likely get treated better than anyone else visiting this hotel.

I am sitting in the Kariwak as I write this. Nice (if a little cheesy) music is playing, I am watching the humminbirds and other avian life fly past, while my wife and son play in the pool. It really is nice. The pool is purified but no chemicals, which is really great for those who don't like chlorine. Dinners are a little pricey at 130TT, but their food seems well made. Oh and skip the Iguana restaurant around the corner, the food is way overpriced, and not very good. Tobago overall is a bit funky (open sewers detract) but very laid back and nice folks. I guess the island isn't super developed, which has its good and bad points, but I like it. I would definitely come back...