I noticed there weren't any recent reviews on Carnettas. My friends and I stayed here last February for the week of Carnival (we also played mas with a band). We had problems finding a hotel, so when Carnetta's came up as the last place to have a room for 4 people we accepted and didn't expect much.

The best way to explain our feelings…… upon our late-night arrival (once our bags were brought up) we discussed how/ where else we were going to stay or if we should just cancel the vacation and head home. After a good night sleep and the conversations about how much money we already invested in playing mas we opted to stay. Carnetta's was not entirely horrible, but I wouldn't recommend you stay there. By the end of the week everything that had happened just became funny. We tell stories to our friends about Carnerttas and how it was the worst place we ever stayed.

Now for those readers looking for more detail, my friends and I are in our mid-20s, have done a lot of world-wide travel, and prefer authentic venues to over-commercialized / americanized hotels.

The pictures are nothing like the hotel. The website is deceiving. Our room was in the very back of the hotel, across the stinky, sewage smelling, concrete walled dried-up river. We think that our room was actual meant to be a communal area for hotel guests. It was next to the fish pond and bird cages (good thing there was rum to help us sleep). There was a large gap in the ceiling in our bathroom (it lacked a screen, which means yes lots of bugs could fly it). So we keep the bathroom door closed and the light off at night. The TV occasionally worked. The AC functioned properly and did keep us cold. The entire back wall of our room was doors, with another 1-2 inch gap between the bottom of the door and the floor (more ways for the bugs to come in and cuddle). This wall / door wall is what made us believe this wasn’t meant to be a bedroom. The first night 3 of us shared a bed, and the 4th slept on a twin mattress on the floor. The next night they brought in another twin bed thru the door wall (at least this one had a bed frame). They were very good about cleaning the room (but really how much was there to clean) – except they use powder bleach, which some of us reacted too (large itchy red rash). We learned by day #2 to sleep fully clothed (hoody, pants, and towel around that) with the AC blasting and we would wake up happy.

The breakfast and restaurant food were good (but over-priced), just remember you are in the Caribbean and they have their own version of time. The receptionists were hit or miss. Some were helpful, and some just didn’t care. The hotel was willing to call taxis for us, only by the 3rd evening we found out they were charging us almost triple the regular rate (seemed pricey, but not horrible). Needless to say we waved to the hotels preferred taxi guys as we stepped into other cabs the rest of the week (we made an amazing friend in town who drove us around the rest of our vacation for a great rate). The wi-fi internet at Carnetta’s did work properly, and they had a computer in the main lobby you could use also. Yes the hotel was to far away to walk, and you did need a cab everywhere. You could walk the road to get drinks, but just know you really may have to dive in the trees/ grass for cover (we saw 2 cars run off the road as we walked down the hill). Yes walking down the hill was unsafe and quite a work-out, but getting ripped off by the hotel taxis wasn’t much better. The closest thing within walking distance is a small Pharmacy with food… or if you made it that far, just go a little bit more and you will make it to the Hi-Lo. We walked the hill at least once a day (if you know the distance I can see your face cringing).

I apologize for the length and if my sarcasm offended anyone reading this. Our Trinidad vacation was an amazing experience, and Carnetta’s just added to our story. Unless you are looking for your own similar story I recommend finding another hotel.

This is the first review I have ever written on TripAdvisor but we had a negative experience at Carneeta’s Inn, and I feel I must tell others about it. I do want to add that our cab driver said that Carnetta’s Inn has recently changed ownership which makes sense because it appears that the reviews for the hotel have changed dramatically within the last year. We also never saw Carnetta and Winston so it could have easily been other owners. Anyway just as an earlier reviewer said, I feel that the website is very misleading. Prior to booking the hotel, we read very positive reviews from various travel books and a couple of positive reviews from TripAdvisor. I also read the two negative reviews but unfortunately took my chances. Here is our experience:

•First of all, on the website makes the hotel look like an exotic retreat but when you arrive it seems like any city motel. Yes, there are green hills in the background but we didn’t have a window in our room so we never were really looking at them.

•We were told prior that breakfast was included but when we arrived we were told that we would have to pay extra for it. We were already paying $90 for a double for one night.

•The website also says “a warm smile and a cold drink welcomes you” but we never quite received a smile or a drink when we arrived. In fact the first receptionist was quite rude (I have to admit though that the other two receptionists were very pleasant.)

•Also the website made the river seem lush and natural but actually looked like a storm drain and completely surrounded by concrete.

•The room was dark and didn’t look anything like the picture on the website.

•Finally, the website mentions an “ideal” location but you actually need to take a cab to get anywhere. At one point we just wanted to get a cold drink and the restaurant was closed so we tried to walk down the street to the nearest market. After staying one week in Trinidad and Tobago, this was the closest we came to danger. The streets are exceptionally narrow; the sidewalks change sides around every turn and the people driver extremely fast. Basically it was too dangerous to walk and we had to take cab just to get a cold drink.

Anyway if you are looking for a nice guest house with a personalized style, “ideal” location and nothing misleading on the website I would recommend “The Gingerbread House”. We loved our experience their and have nothing but excellent reviews about it.

I have traveled many places around the world and this hotel by far was the worst. I booked this hotel based on the website information and picture. The picture of the room on the website is bright, clean and shows a large room. Our room was dark,dirty and small. There was a 2 in x 2 ft space in the bathroom window, no screen, just a space, anything could have come through that gap at night. The air conditioner was caked with dust. The rug had a patch about 1 ft x 1 ft. Also there was an iron burn on the rug. The toilet did not flush, we had to use the waste can to get water out of the shower to pour into the toilet to flush it. There was about 2 feet between the bed and wall. We got in late at night, no TT money and were pretty much stuck here for the night. We laid down, turned on the TV and the picture on the 13 in screen was green, that was the only color that came in. We tried to fall asleep and had already decided we were not going to spend the other 3 nights we had booked in this hotel. Sleeping was also a challenge. There was a pack of dogs that were near by that barked all night along. They must have woken up the rooster, because he started in about midnight and went all night long too. With the gap in the window came the mosquitos, those also kept us awake. The river that is described was actually a creek. I had asked for the second floor room so it would be quieter. Well, that was 3 flights of narrow steps, carrying our own suitcases. With the traffic noise, dogs and rooster it was not quiet at all, very little sleep after a long day of travel.
We checked out right away the next morning, breakfast was included with our $80/night rate, but we wanted to get out as fast as we could and skipped breakfast. We went to the Crew's Inn for the rest of our stay and were much more comfortable. Very nice place on the marina. Clean, tile floor, huge bathroom, with a resturant,bar, little grocery store, ATM, etc. I would recommend staying there. Very picturesque.

I stayed at this property about 18 months ago, and am finally compelled to write a review. After looking at the web page, and reading the descriptions, I thought that I was going to a tropical paradise. This couldn't be further from the truth. It was very disappointing. The rooms were very, very plain and basic (that's being flattering). Although the room was clean, the property did not reflect the image that is portrayed on its web page. There are birds...and that's about it....the river is non existant, the below average restaurant is very disappointing. You quite honestly sit there and think to yourself, "where is the hidden camera, this has to be some kind of cruel joke..."

The owner "Winston" is portrayed in some travel guides as being this wonderful host. I met him, and certainly did not share these feelings. I felt taken advantage of to think I was paying $60.00 to stay at this property.

Winston charges an outrages fee for airport transfers (although there is no other option)....if you book a swamp tour to see the scarlett ibis, you are often told you will be sharing the expense of the van ride with others, only to be told once you are in the van, that the other group has cancelled.

We really felt that we did not get good value from this hotel...
If you choose to book it that's up to you...but you will not being staying at the tropical paradise you were promised!