Blue Waters Inn

The first taste of Blue Waters Inn’s lost-in-paradise vibe starts as guests descend its long, jungle-shrouded driveway, which is cut into the side of a lush mountain. The Inn is nestled between the sea and a steep mountainside, contributing to its away-from-it-all atmosphere. In its former life, it was a coconut plantation, a Cub Scout meeting space, and an eco-lodge that's been run by the same family for generations. This fact is part of the hotel's decor, too, as big black-and-white family photos of the inn and its owners complement the fine-dining restaurant’s sharp interiors.

Views are a big part of the hotel and almost all vantages share the spectacular bay and sea vistas. The beach is covered in shade trees and can get full of seaweed at times, but overall it's well maintained and a great swim. Given these lazy-making perks, it's no surprise that the hotel appeals to those in search of seclusion and relaxation. In addition to beach lovers, lots of divers and bird watchers from the United Kingdom and United States are drawn to Blue Waters and on weekends, many locals take advantage of its chilled-out vibe. 

Blue Waters' beachside location in Tobago’s far western Batteaux Bay has its plusses and minuses. It’s a long, winding, hour-and-a-half drive across the island from ANR Robinson International Airport, and 70 minutes from the ferry terminal in Scarborough. But the upside is the secluded location along a protected bay with amazing views and great snorkeling -- just keep in mind that most amenities and attractions require a taxi or rental car to reach. The closest village, Speyside, has a nice boardwalk, a few restaurants, and is a 15-minute walk or three-minute drive away. A grocery store is a 20-minute drive from the hotel. Charlottesville -- a sleepy fishing village with a gas station, ATM, and bars and restaurants -- is a serpentine 15-minute drive away. Nature trails are cut into the mountain above the hotel, but for a more serious jungle hike, Tobago Main Ridge Forest Reserve is a 40-minute drive and is the world’s oldest legally protected rain forest. For an undersea adventure, Coral Gardens, the world’s biggest brain coral reef, is a seven-minute boat ride from Blue Waters.

You can’t go wrong with any of the rooms at Blue Waters Inn -- they’re all clean, air-conditioned, and have fabulous ocean views from private patios or balconies. Interiors are simple and modern, with vaulted ceilings, dark hardwood furniture, and bright white walls hung with photos of hummingbirds or sea turtles. Beds range from kings and queens to two doubles with hardwood sleigh beds, embroidered comforters, and lime green throw pillows for a nice pop of color. 

All rooms have flat-screen TVs with satellite channels, coffeemakers, irons and ironing boards, and safes. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel but can be spotty in some rooms. For a splurge, it's worth considering one of the bungalows. These are essentially seaside one- or two-bedroom apartments with cathedral ceilings, huge flat-screen TVs, black leather couches, and fully stocked kitchens with stainless steel appliances. They’re modern and spacious for sure, and the huge private terraces have tons of outdoor furniture and steps leading directly to the beach.  

Bathrooms are fully tiled and feature either stall showers or roomy walk-in showers plus lotion, shower gel, shampoo, and bar soap. Beauty mirrors and hairdryers are also standard, though there's not much in the way of counter space. 

Blue Water’s sandy beach stretches the length of the hotel and has lots of lounge chairs. It also gets shade during parts of the day (a plus for some) and we loved the hummingbird feeders situated between the beach and guest rooms. The saltwater infinity pool is pretty small, but has ocean views, a great tile deck with lots of rattan lounge chairs, and a hot tub. Blue Waters Dive’n, the on-site dive shop, is located at the end of the beach and arranges dives to reefs and wrecks in the waters off of Tobago. They also offer PADI certification courses. Dive'n is also the spot to borrow kayaks and stand up paddleboards -- which are free -- or to rent snorkeling equipment. 

Blue Waters’ two restaurants are pricey, but get positive reviews overall. Drift Deck, the open-air casual eatery, has great sea views and serves international and Trinidadian cuisine. Aqua Restaurant is the high-end restaurant, serving contemporary international cuisine. The space  is modern and decorated with mirrors, lanterns, silver-tiled vases and -- maybe coolest feature -- grainy vintage black-and-white photos of the hotel in its early days. 

The hotel's movie-themed game room has a big flat-screen TV with satellite channels, video games, and table games. Above the hotel is a poorly maintained tennis court with a basketball rim. There are a series of short nature trails that crisscross the hotel's sprawling grounds for those seeking a better outdoor activity alternative. In the lobby, guests can borrow rackets, tennis balls, basketballs, cricket bats, and soccer balls. The front desk can assist in arranging grocery provisioning, spa services, tours, fishing trips, airport transportation, and car rentals. There's free parking and free Wi-Fi is available throughout Blue Waters, though it's spotty.