Try Blue Waters Inn of Tobago, a hotel that is about simple comforts, not luxe niceties. The driveway is rutted, the staff laid back, and standard rooms are just that, found in apartment-style buildings that hug the water. But Blue Waters sits in the middle of Batteaux Bay, a tranquil, hidden cove that shelters excellent diving, highlighted by Manta City, a reliable locale for manta encounters. The inn caters to scuba fans, but non-divers won't be lost. The beach is narrow but pretty, while kayaking, windsurfing, tennis and bird-watching round out the slate of activities.
Timing is everything.
Choose your island carefully. They're among the region's least expensive winter destinations, but summer discounts are unimpressive. Ssome hotels on these islands have a single, year-round rate card. Don't be so particular. If you must vacation on Island 'X' or, worse, at one particular resort, you've played into the hands of the marketing machines.