The Reviews of the Asa Wright Centre are mixed but it all depends on what you are looking for. The accommodation, meals and facilities may not be 5* but the location, ambience and wildlife are. We were lucky to be there in "low" season when it was not too busy. The feel of an old colonial residence was enhanced by sundowners on the veranda and the banging of a gong to summon "one" to meals. The food was simple and all home grown and the company at the meal tables wonderful. We shared our meals with the project director, a Trinidadian with a liking for football and Tottenham in particular, a Trinidadian couple who had lived in England, two Canadians who lived in Houston and an American professor from the University of Micronesia - just imagine the variety of conversation! The staff were very friendly and attentive and we had the most wonderful guide in Mukesh. Oh, and we saw a few birds too!

This is a fantastic chill out location set high in the rainforest run by people with a passion for wildlife and the environment. It does not have the glitz, service or appearance of a top hotel - thank goodness - at least this part of the West Indies is still unspoilt. Yes, it is pricey but just remember that saving and nurturing unique habitat is not cheap - rejoice in the fact that you are helping to conserve something which is irreplaceable.

If you are a serious birdwatcher go there - the variety of species is incredible, if you love wildlife - go there, that is amazing too, if you want to experience life in the slow lane and a feel of life on a plantation - go there, if you are looking for the high life - don't.

This place made a lasting impression on it - give yourself a chance to let it do the same for you.

We stayed here for one night to do some bird watching. We stayed in the low season and paid USD250 for the two of us. Honestly I would have expected some more for this price. Yes the food is included (three meals a day) but was mediocre at best. Rooms are very basic. Also included was a tour of approx 1 hour, which was atually very interesting. The area of the center is not that big, but interesting for bird watching. All in all a nice experience but steeply priced.

We love birds and wildlife and wanted somewhere special for Christmas. Having read descriptions of Asa Wright it sounded perfect. We were promised "delicious meals, fine wine list, comfortable cottage with private veranda in gardens, wonderful veranda with hummingbird feeders in main house, peace, tranquility, natural pool for swimming. It sounded blissful and romantic and though incredibly expensive we thought it would be worth it. Imagine our dismay on arrival to find that first it was neither peaceful or tranquil or conducive for watching the gorgeous birds. I'm used to silent bird hides. It was frankly Bedlem. The place was heaving with crowds of very noisy people even while they were looking at the birds on the feeders.
The "cottages" are ranks of simple, rather spartan semi detached cabins. A bit like old fashioned holiday camps. There are no private verandas, just a shared enclosed porch you can't even see out of if you sat in it (not that you would want to.)
The dining room was awful. Everyone had to sit round huge tables together at the same time like at school and the atmosphere resembled that of holidays spent in youth hostels in the nineteen sixties. The food was to match. I've eaten better school dinners. There was no choice. There was a large container of rice at every meal plus one of meat slabs or fish, depending on the day and the third was of mixed vegetables "provisions". My husband who doesn't eat meat was given a piece of fish each day, on one day he was actually given the left overs from the day before with tomato ketchup poured over it. For our Christmas dinner the meat platter contained portions of turkey with a kind of cranberry jam (not proper sauce) and the same stuff was poured over my husband's fish. It was frankly revolting. As for wine, during our five night stay we had three bottles, there was a selection of two or three, all very expensive and even the best of them we pay no more than six pounds at home. Two of the bottles went straight down the toilet. They had been badly stored and gone rancid. so much for good cheer. The bar was rarely manned and we found many of the staff bossy and officious like sour school teachers. You were expected to mix with and be matey with other guests which we did not want. There was no expectation of privacy. If one more guest had invaded our personal space and conversation in the evenings with the words "Hi, I'm Bob (Fred or whatever) from Denver and where are you folks from?" I would have smacked him.
We paid a huge sum of money for the experience and would not recommend it to anyone.

My wife and I are not serious birders. We like and enjoy birds, but know little about them. That was not the case with most of our fellow guests at this wonderful place. They had come for the birds, and they all seemed very content (if not giddy with excitement). We enjoyed sitting on the spacious veranda where a continuous parade of colorful feathrered marvels unfolded before us. We also enjoyed the guided nature walks and bathing in the brisk waterfall pool. Several young guides are on staff and all seemed to know and love the birds, reptiles and mammals that call this place home. This was just the place for us to unwind and get into the vacation frame of mind before hopping over to Tobago. The meals are family style and are Caribbean influenced. However, since they need to satisfy a diverse crowd, the food was not very hot and spicy. We had to wait till later in the trip for our spicy curries and other local treats.