“Some views you can never tire of and the one from my veranda overlooking Castara Bay, on Tobago’s west coast, is among them…At sunrise, giant frigatebirds swoop over the azure calm of the Caribbean Sea, while yellow-breasted bananaquits hustle for space on the hanging bamboo birdtable; in the hazy afternoon heat, fishermen reel nets onto the pretty curve of golden sand, selling their catch straight from the boats; by night, fireflies glow, distant lights twinkle, the moon sparkles on the water. And all around the cloak of rainforest tumbles down the hillside to the coast, hugging the village, buzzing with the sounds of nature.”

“Castara Retreats’ 15 treehouse-style, self-catering lodges melt seamlessly into the landscape… Built of cypress and cedar wood with vast terraces angled to soak up those views, it’s the ultimate in rustic chic. The gardens are alive with birds (74 species have been spotted), guinea-pig like agouti scuttle by, and the sound of the sea lulls you to sleep.”

Perched above a proper Tobagonian fishing village, this hotel has everything you want from the Caribbean. The 16 rooms are gorgeous, with hardwood floors, shutters and verandas with hammocks. All have kitchenettes should you wish to self-cater, but Castara’s restaurant is everything you would want it to be, with jerk chicken and freshly grilled fish that has been caught by the villagers.

Look beyond the main Caribbean islands and you’ll find quality boutique hotels at staggering prices. Exhibit A: the 16 apartments of Castara Retreats, set on a hillside above Tobago’s especially verdant north-western coast. Though Firefly is the cheapest, it still comes with a four-poster bed, a kitchenette, a dining area and an ocean-facing garden terrace, while fragrant cedar wood and billowing white fabrics complete the tropical vibe. Snorkelling, fishing and even waterfall-jumping can all be arranged locally.