Fun in Tobago!
Trinidad & Tobago
July 4, 2017
Rating: 7/10
Full of new experiences Tobago offers so much more than what you would expect. Being the smaller of the 2 Caribbean Islands that make up Trinidad and Tobago, it does not hinder its magical beaches, bustling markets and local entertainment!
We met at London Gatwick South Terminal and checked in to our British Airways Flight to Tobago. The check in was really smooth and we were lucky enough to be sat in Club Class. The seats had lots of room and the in flight service was excellent. There was a choice of meals and lots of movies to watch.
Our flight had a touch down in Antigua for 1 hour that went really quickly and we finally arrived in Tobago. The sun was shining and we met our transfer vehicle to take us to our first hotel The Grand Courlan where we would stay for the next 3 nights.
The hotel had lovely grounds and a large pool and rooms were spacious, clean and had a nice balcony where I saw some pretty amazing sunsets from. Later that evening we had dinner at the Waves restaurant at the hotel which was right on the sea front. The food was really lovely and the setting was beautiful.
After breakfast the next morning we went to the Mount Irvine Hotel for a site inspection. The hotel is set on an old sugar and coconut plantation so the grounds were really lush. The rooms
were spacious and modern.
We then went to the Villas at Stonehaven to view the property. The hotel is made up of 14 villas that vary in size but all were very spacious and had amazing views as the whole resort is set in the hillside. The resort felt very chilled and relaxed and was so quiet. We then headed to the Rex Turtle Beach Hotel which is an All Inclusive property and set right on a huge beach. The pool area was really nice and the resort had a real party atmosphere to it. The restaurant overlooking the beach had a varied menu and the bar area was lively serving rum punches and cocktails.
After a short site inspection we headed to Plymouth to do some sightseeing that included the Couronian Monument, the Mystery Tombstone and Fort James before having lunch at the Blue
Crab Restaurant. The restaurant served typical Tobagonian food and the service was excellent.
I would definitely recommend a visit here not only for the great food but for the entertainment value of the owner who was a real character! After a long lunch we headed the Blue Haven Hotel. This boutique hotel is contemporary in design and has some amazing views out to sea.
From here we visited Bacolet Beach Club which had a real funky feel to it. The owner who showed us around was very proud of the hotel and designed it herself. The rooms were modern with a mad twist and you got the impression that nothing was too much trouble and she wanted her guests to have a great time. Later that evening, we headed out for dinner at Café Bistro
The next morning we had a busy day looking at the beautiful sights of the Island. We had a tour of the rainforest and learned all about how nature works and had an amazing experience looking at Hummingbirds and the resident Motmot bird.
We visited Argyle Water Fall where we had the opportunity to jump in the water and cool of After lunch at Jemma’s Sea View Kitchen, we had a site inspection of the Blue Waters Inn. The restaurant is located in Speyside in a tree house style and as the name suggests has views out to sea. The food was local to the island and there was plenty of it too. Blue Waters Inn is situated in a private bay and is within close proximity to some of the best dive spots and bird sanctuarys.
Dinner tonight was at the Fish Pot in the area of Black Rock. The restaurant, as the name suggests specializes in seafood but there was also a wide choice for non-fish eaters. This morning we had a site inspection of the Crown Point Hotel. The hotel was set in some lovely grounds and the beach was very nice but I felt that the rooms could do with a bit of a make-over as they were very dated.
Our next stop was a visit to the Shepherd’s Inn which was a very different kind of hotel. All of the rooms were like cabins and decorated to a high standard and even though it was just of the main road it felt like it was on a small island and had a real chilled out vibe. The location of this hotel also made it very easy for the popular Crown Point area.
Close to the airport and Pigeon Point and the bustling Crown Point, the Chic Boutique Hotel is a great hotel for people looking for somewhere near to the action of the Tobago nightlife. The 35 rooms are modern and contemporary and the hotel also is great for those looking for conference facilities.
After lunch we visited the town of Scarborough where we did a walking town of the busy streets and a visit to the market and Botanical Gardens. Dinner tonight was at the Seahorse Inn. Both the food and service were excellent.
The next morning we headed to the Kariwak Village Hotel for yoga which was a new experience for me having never tried it before. It certainly isn’t as easy at I first thought it would be but I enjoyed it and felt great after. Kariwak Village is like a little retreat. The rooms were cabin style and the grounds and public areas were so quiet which would make it so easy to just kick back and relax.
Lunch today was at the Mount Irvine Bay Hotel. The rooms were bright and modern and the hotel has it’s own 18 hole golf course and spa & wellness centre. The hotel also had an beach bar where they host amazing New Years Eve parties.
The rest of the afternoon was at leisure so we had time to enjoy the beach at our hotel. Dinner that evening was at a restaurant called Barcode. The restaurant was really chilled and the food was simple but really nice. The restaurant later turns into a club where you can enjoy some pretty tasty rum cocktails.
The next morning we headed to Cuffie River Nature Retreat, this is a nature lovers dream and you really got a sense of being right in the heart of all things nature. The hotel felt like a big house and all of the rooms were a good size and all very individual. For those looking to get away from it all, this would be prefect with amazing views of the countryside.
Our next stop was at the Castara Retreat. This was one of my favourite hotels as it was a very different style. You could see that each room had been well thought out to give everyone a bit of privacy with it being almost carved into the hillside, although probably not recommended for those with walking difficulties as most of the pathways and stairways were very steep. All of the rooms had amazing views of the countryside and ocean. A perfect place for honeymooners.
After lunch we had the opportunity to visit Pigeon Point Heritage Park which is a massive park
right on the seafront with restaurants and beach bars where you can you can enjoy some beach time. Great for all the family too as you can go kayaking and paddle boarding which I was lucky enough to try and even managed to stand up too.
Later that evening we had the chance to experience what is known as Sunday School in the area of Baccoo. This is a weekly street party for all ages and we got the chance to see a brilliant steel band which were amazing. The whole area comes alive with dancers and clubs and bars, definitely worth a visit.
After breakfast the next morning, we headed to Buccoo Bay. We got in a glass bottom boat and saw some amazing underwater life before reaching the Nylon Pool – an in sea white coral pool, almost like a shallow swimming pool in the middle of the ocean. The Nylon Pool got it’s name from the fine sand that is there which if you exfoliate with is suppose to take 10 years of your age making you feel smooth as nylon.
After our boat trip, we were taken to Store Bay Beach Facility where we had lunch. This is a huge park filled with restaurants, ice-cream stops and a small market that sells local arts and crafts.
After lunch we had a site inspection at Magdalena Grand Beach Resort. The hotel itself was lovely and the rooms were very bright and modern but I was a bit disappointed with the beach as unfortunately due to the rough sea it had been covered with seaweed which was a real shame as I can imagine it being a great beach. The hotel did offer a shuttle to a nearby beach so at least guests can use this as an alternative.
Our last day was pretty chilled and we had the morning at leisure to enjoy some more beach time and to pack for our flight later that day. After lunch we headed to the airport for our flight home. The check-in at Tobago airport was really easy and we were soon on our way. The flight home was overnight and our club class seats made the journey a lot nicer. We arrived early the next morning in London and after collecting my luggage I called the Meet & Greet car parking services and they brought my car to the meeting point that was just outside the terminal. This was very easy and something I would definitely recommend, it saved a lot of time getting shuttles to car parks and was also great value for money too.