Kapok Hotel

Named after the Trinidadian kapok tree -- an exotic species that makes a silky-cotton fluff -- Kapok Hotel started as a small, family-owned restaurant. Over the years, it’s grown into a business hotel with a nice array of amenities and a modern mashup Caribbean and Asian decor. Kapok’s lobby is outfitted with light wood-wrapped pillars, multi-tiered recessed ceilings, and wicker and rattan furniture with off-white leather cushions. Walls are hung with huge metal sculptures by local artists that depict steel-pan bands and island scenes. Near the front desk are Ming-style vases and a life-size carving of who we guess is Confucius. While the style isn't exactly consistent, it's all quite pleasant, especially for this category of hotel in Port of Spain. While couples and families on vacation do pass through, the hotel primarily draws businesspeople from United States who are often found besuited in the lobby.

Located in Port of Spain’s tony, St Clair neighborhood, there’s no doubt that one of Kapok Hotel’s best features is the three-minute walk to Queen’s Park Savannah. This huge park is great for exercising and, most importantly, it's the epicenter of Trinidad’s massive Carnival celebrations. Within a five-minute walk are an ice cream shop, a bank, and restaurant serving Trinidadian cuisine. The Magnificent Seven -- seven beautiful colonial-era mansions next to the park -- are also five minutes away on foot. The Emperor Valley Zoo and Royal Botanic Gardens are just up the block, less than a 10-minute walk from the hotel. Maracas Beach is the the closest beach to Kapok and is famous for its bake-and-shark stands; it's a 40-minute drive from the hotel. Las Cuevas Beach, one of the island’s most beautiful, is also a leatherback turtle nesting site that's a 45-minute drive. Piarco International Airport is also 45 minutes from the hotel by car depending on traffic. 

With six room types available, there are a wide range amenities to be had, but the style is fairly uniform from one category to the next throughout the hotel. Walls are neutral tans or greens and decorated with large porthole mirrors and framed abstract palm-frond prints. Some details feel a little less fresh than others, like the patterned satin curtains and cheap wood-laminate flooring that we saw in some rooms. Overall, though, the dark modern furniture and muted color schemes create a pleasant, modern effect. 

Expect king, queen, or two double beds with camelback wrought-iron headboards plus beautiful wood-tiled desks and 32-inch flat-screen TVs. There are also integrated audiovisual systems conveniently located by the room’s desks, and all have free Wi-Fi. Rooms generally have a ton of closet space plus electric kettles, safes, and irons. Mini-fridges are standard and the Suite with Kitchen has a kitchenette featuring a full-size refrigerator, electric burner, and microwave.

Bathrooms are fully tiled and have dark granite vanities with white square sinks, illuminated makeup mirrors, hairdryers, and shower/tub combos with rainfall showerheads. Some rooms also have bidets. The amenity kits stand out compared to other Port of Spain hotels, and include bar soap, body lotion, shampoo, shoe-shine mitts, and ear plugs. With that last detail in mind, note that some lower-floor rooms may pick up traffic noise from the busy road outside. 

Features here match the hotel's better-than-average package, with dining being a highlight. Tiki Village, the Asian/Polynesian fusion restaurant, has rustic, rough-hewn wood walls decorated with copper masks. It’s located on the hotel’s eighth floor and has amazing views of Port of Spain and Queen’s Park Savannah. It’s also where the free the breakfast buffet is served. Kava Restaurant serves Italian and international cuisines and has more sophisticated, minimalist decor.

The hotel’s blue-tiled pool isn’t huge and can get crowded but still a great spot to relax in its many cushioned lounge chairs. There’s a secluded garden nearby that feels like a jungly Zen garden, complete with the requisite mosquitos. For a more vigorous way to unwind, Kapok’s small mirror-walled gym overlooks the pool and is stocked with Technogym treadmills, elliptical machines, stationary bikes, stair climbers, and dumbbells. 

Being a business hotel, it makes sense that there are plenty of event and banquet spaces, some of which are located on the hotel's top floors and have great city views. Surprisingly, there’s no business center but there is a computer for guest use in the lobby and free printing. There’s also a small shop selling snacks and sundries in the lobby. Kapok has a self-service laundromat and laundry service is also available (for a fee). Free purified water dispensers are scattered throughout the building on even-numbered floors. There’s free secure parking, an on-site taxi stand and car rental office, and -- most importantly for business travelers -- free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel.