Entire home

Shirley's Retreat, serenity and charm in a rural setting, 15 mins from airport.

Photo gallery for Shirley's Retreat, serenity and charm in a rural setting, 15 mins from airport.

Soak in sunrises and sunsets from the patio bench with view of the mountains.
Restful sleep, Beckham pillows, 800 thread count sheets, black out drapes & a/c.
Practical and cozy kitchen area with lots of natural light, fully equipped.
 Prepare a meal, or brew a cup of tea as you enjoy the cozy island kitchen.
Dining for 4, including kid friendly utensils. No glass.

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
1 bedroom1 bathroomSleeps 4

Popular amenities

  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Kitchen
  • Parking available
  • Air conditioning
  • Breakfast available

Explore the area

Map
Centeno, Tunapuna/Piarco Regional Corporation
  • Trincity Mall
    ‪10 min drive‬
  • Trinidad and Tobago Civil Aviation Authority
    ‪13 min drive‬
  • Eco Park
    ‪21 min drive‬
  • Port of Spain (POS-Piarco Intl.)
    ‪16 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

1 bedroom (sleeps 4)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Common area 1

1 Double Futon

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Spaces

Kitchen
Outdoor play area

About this property

Shirley's Retreat, serenity and charm in a rural setting, 15 mins from airport.

Experience full immersion into the life of an islander while staying at Shirley’s Retreat in Centeno. At the cottage, unplug, relax and unwind in the soothing island vibe. Of special note, our sheets are 800 thread count for your added comfort. It’s a smoke-free space. You can travel to local eco-tourism and cultural attractions such as the Caroni Bird Sanctuary and Mount St. Benedict Abbey in 25 mins, Maracas Bay beach and nearby waterfalls in an hour. Shirley's Retreat is 15 mins from Piarco International Airport, 12 mins from Trincity Mall and 7 mins from Price Smart shopping. You can order freshly baked muffins for breakfast delivered to you at the cottage and there are lots of local restaurants and food outlets in nearby St. Helena Village and Arima.
The one-bedroom cottage retreat, is part of a country home on a private terrace of 4 generations of Joseph family members.
Create memories while lazing at the sunlight filled cottage with all your modern conveniences; air conditioning, high-speed internet, a hot shower, and on request your host arranged trips to local attractions such as Maracas Beach, Lopinot Caves, rainforest hikes, waterfalls, and more.
Watch and listen to local birds or take eco-tourism trips to La Brea Pitch Lake or Caroni Bird Sanctuary. Visit Queens Park Savannah for site-seeing in the capital of Port-of-Spain, drink freshly picked coconuts, taste local cuisine and enjoy locally grown fruits. You can explore the sister island with a quick flight to Tobago for a day of crystal-clear waters with white, pink or black sandy beaches. Be sure to try Tobago’s famous curried crabs, simmered in rich Indian spices and coconut milk served over a bed of dumplings.
At the cottage, order freshly prepared baked goods such as bread and muffins infused with seasonal Trinidadian fruits and flavors, from our local host and baker, Mr. Reginald. You will have a complimentary batch of his freshly baked muffins waiting for you at the cottage when you arrive, along with a variety of local fruits, refreshments and breakfast items to start your first morning before you've made it to the grocery. On booking do let us know of any dietary restrictions so we can better meet your needs. If your stay is 10 nights or longer, on request, our driver Paul will greet you at the airport to take you to Shirley's cottage, a short 15 min drive. For stays less than 10 nights, pick up from and to the airport is at an added fee of USD25 each way, please pay in cash directly to our driver Paul. If you request airport pick up and drop off, do share your flight details with us a few days ahead. For stays of 10 nights or more, your return trip to the airport and the first grocery trip is also complimentary. You can shop at the local grocery store to prepare your own meals or experience the creole or Indian-inspired dishes of Trinidad’s multicultural heritage from surrounding eateries. There is also gated parking for a compact vehicle at the cottage.
We welcome you to a genuinely homey and memorable Trinbagonian experience. When booking please let us know if you would like to have us pick you up from the airport, just share your flight arrival details a few days ahead of time.
At Shirley’s Retreat, we help you to Collect Memories not Things, and it's our pleasure to help make your stay memorable.

Property manager

Bev Olson

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Free WiFi
Air conditioning
Mountain view

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
Children to age 7 are included in nightly rate
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Any damage to property or furnishings aside from regular ware will result in a $250 USD fee.

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Long-term renters welcome
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a first aid kit and a deadlock

About the area

Piarco

Located in Piarco, this cottage is in a rural area. Mount St. Benedict Monastery and Hanuman Murti Statue are local landmarks, and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Yerette - Home of the Hummingbird and Asa Wright Nature Centre. Nariva Swamp and La Vega Estate are also worth visiting. Swimming offers a great chance to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with hiking and ecotours nearby.
Map
Centeno, Tunapuna/Piarco Regional Corporation

What's nearby

  • Trincity Mall - 10 min drive - 7.0 km
  • Cleaver Woods Park - 11 min drive - 6.3 km
  • Trinidad and Tobago Civil Aviation Authority - 13 min drive - 9.1 km
  • University of the West Indies - 15 min drive - 12.6 km
  • Eco Park - 21 min drive - 13.1 km

Getting around

  • Port of Spain (POS-Piarco Intl.) - 16 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Starbucks - ‬15 min drive
  • ‪KFC - ‬13 min drive
  • ‪Royal Castle - ‬14 min drive
  • ‪Heroes Sports Bar - ‬13 min drive
  • ‪Piarco International Airport Food Court - ‬11 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Shirley's Retreat, serenity and charm in a rural setting, 15 mins from airport. pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Shirley's Retreat, serenity and charm in a rural setting, 15 mins from airport.?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Shirley's Retreat, serenity and charm in a rural setting, 15 mins from airport.?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Shirley's Retreat, serenity and charm in a rural setting, 15 mins from airport. located?

Situated in a rural location, this cottage is 2.3 mi (3.7 km) from Trinidad and Tobago Civil Aviation Authority and within 6 miles (10 km) of Cleaver Woods Park and Trincity Mall. Millenium Golf Club and Santa Rosa First Peoples Community Centre are also within 6 miles (10 km).

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 4 out of 4 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 4 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 4 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 4 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 4 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Eco-friendliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Joseph g.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Place

The property is just as described, my wife and I could not have been more pleased. It is not an all inclusive resort if that is what you're looking for. The best way to describe it is home away from home just the way I like it.Mr. Reggie was very pleasant to speak with.
Stayed 12 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Isabella W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A perfect stay!

From the moment we arrived, the Shirleys Retreat team welcomed us with open arms! The house itself had everything one could possibly need and more. The location was very convenient and safe and the excursions suggested were perfect. While offering us transportation options, having a helpful host and also fresh bread to order, everything was in place for perfect, relaxing vacation. We cannot wait to come back! We cannot suggest this VRBO enough.
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Christianna A., Trinidad and tobago

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Exceeded Expectations

This host knows the meaning of hospitality. To say price value would be an understatement as I felt as though no expense was spared to ensure my comfort. As i arrived from a busy day a well written note of welcome and a few treats was such a wonderful touch. The home is beautiful, classy, clean well equipped and comfortable, I could go on. Reggie and his team was everything that a host should be, i am looking forward to my next vacation. THIS WAS INDEED A RETREAT
Stayed 26 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kim

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
The hosts were very warm and accommodating. You will need transportation to get to and from the location. If renting a vehicle, a smaller car is best to fit into the parking soace at the residence. If the vehicle is larger they can still accommodate, but comoact cars are better. They also provide safe private transportation for guests especially if a guest wants to sightsee. I felt at home in the residence. It felt as though I was with family. Everyone was very neighborly. I was greeted with a handwritten note and instructions on ways to make my stay a safe, fun one. There is a good view of the mountains, however there are better views from other places on the island. As my flight was late, Bev and Mr. Reggie ensured that I had some healthy snacks and breakfast starter ingredients to tide me over. All I can say is that I spent 21 days there and did not want to leave. I would stay at Shirley's retreat again!

About the host

Hosted by Bev Olson

Host profile image
Owen and I love nature and it's a joy to share all the natural sites and our Trinidad cottage with you, so you can make memories too. Our photo shows us enjoying a local waterfall before COVID times. Our cottage was built by Shirley, Bev's mom, in the 80's. Shirley was generous and giving, she was known for helping any who asked. We felt it fit to name the cottage in her honor and share her special brand of hospitality with you.

Why they chose this property

Our cottage is in a rural area that has in the past 10 years seen many new residents but we still enjoy the country feel, all the chirping birds, the laid back vibe, view of the Northern Range mountains and the beautiful sunrises and sunsets. It's a great homestead location from which to enjoy all the eco-sites in north Trinidad. The nearby highway has stalls selling all seasonal local fruits such as mangoes and pineapples, including coconut water, ask the driver to take you by to grab some on your grocery trip.

What makes this property unique

We are sharing our Trinidad home with you and hope you enjoy the retreat it creates for us when we visit. You are surrounded by relatives all descended from a brother and sister, hence the name Joseph Terrace. You are in a historical place right opposite the Centeno Experimental Station created by the British where many new fruits were engineered. This academic pursuit led to the birth place of the University of the West Indies in St Augustine. My great grandfather Milan Joseph, worked in the estate and my great grandmother Nuelin Joseph, had the only local parlor in the area for decades when all the families knew each other by name and spoke a local creole language called patois.

Languages:

English