May 9, 2017

Port of Spain, Trinidad: Hilton Trinidad & Conference Centre; hotel review

Hilton Trinidad & Conference Centre  

Lady Young Rd., Port of Spain, (868) 624-3211.  418 rooms.  Pool; fitness center with 2 saunas, treatment rooms; 2 tennis courts. 

Guests drive up to the top of a hill to enter the lobby of the Hilton Trinidad & Conference Centre hotel known as the “Upside Down Hilton,” whose rooms cascade down a small hill.  Built on the site of the former colonial French Governor’s residence, this hotel is set amid 25 acres of tropical landscape.  All guest rooms feature a private furnished balcony overlooking the bucolic surroundings.   

view from guest room balcony at the Hilton Trinidad in Trinidad
view from guest room balcony at the Hilton Trinidad in Trinidad


Facilities include one of the city's largest swimming pools--it is shaped like Trinidad--and a kids’ pool--shaped like Tobago--plus a terrace lined with lounge chairs shaded by umbrellas and trees.

pool area at the Hilton Trinidad in Trinidad
pool area at the Hilton Trinidad in Trinidad


The Terrace Garden 

restaurant features three-story-high ceilings and glass walls looking out to the green pool landscaping.  It is a delightful place for breakfast, when the buffet includes made-to-order omelettes as well as some local items--I became very fond of both the spinach-like calaloo made with dasheen leaves and the pumpkin choka fillings for fried bake breads--and an array of more familiar items. 

Terrace Garden restaurant at the Hilton Trinidad in Trinidad
Terrace Garden restaurant at the Hilton Trinidad in Trinidad


LUCE Sushi Bar 

is an independent restaurant known for its excellent sushi and cocktails.

LUCE Sushi Bar at the Hilton Trinidad in Trinidad
LUCE Sushi Bar at the Hilton Trinidad in Trinidad


Technically the hotel is located walking distance from Queen’s Park Savannah and the botanical gardens.  However, I took the “path” down from the hotel--it was actually a very steep, paved, decidedly unbucolic narrow service road used by hotel employees.  It passed noisy hotel machines, and when I reached the bottom there was no cross walk.  After watching locals, I literally ran across a confusing road beside a traffic circle and then had to do the same yet again to get over to the Savannah park.  It was then a looong walk to the gardens, and then I needed to cross the busy thoroughfare yet again--in a downpour that drenched me even with an umbrella.  Later, I wound up walking through a flooded grassy road edge to retrace my path back to the hotel.  My sneakers took two days to dry.  My advice--take a cab!




images ©2017 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

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