VHL Tobago Golf & Spa Resort - Reader Reports & Opinion

These reports are a combination of questions and comment posted in our VHL Tobago Golf & Spa Resort forum and visitor reports added via the 'Add Report' tab above.

Reader Satisfaction Ranking:  Average vote of 28 readers = 3.1 (max = 5)

Hilton Hotel   27 Feb 2008

Ian Mackie from Largs, Scotland visited in January 2008 and awarded  

Stayed here from 7th to 21st Feb. In fact changed to the Hilton from Le Grand Courlan in view of the negative comments in respect of the latter, although had stayed there on our last visit in 2005. The positives, outstanding grounds with superb planting and well maintained, beach, clean and tidy, maintained every day, poolside bar good for lunches with excellent staff, rooms spacious and well appointed, tv multi channel, kettle, iron safe, fridge. In reasonable condition. Nice spacious balconies most sea facing but few sun facing. Negatives. No hot water for 12 days, stone cold in the evenings, tepid in the mornings. No communication at all from management, took 6 complaints before contact with a manger. This appeared to be a hotel wide problem with some areas affected to a greater or lessor degree. No room service for 3 days no towels at all on one occasion. Shower leaked out of front door. I know of other guests where their toliet did not flush and operations manager provided a large bucket for the job. Hand rails in the main reception area leading down to the restaurants not fixed, quite dangerous. General hotel fabric is dreadful. Hotel was built 7 years ago but is located in the windiest part of Tobago up against the sever Atalntic winds and sea spray. All the roof areas facing the Atlantic are now severely rusted this also the case with the many pillars holding up the walk ways to the bedrooms. Little evidence of any meaningful maintainance although to be fair one block was in course of being painted (pillars that is). However plenty of evidence of rusted roof and guttering having fallrn off and lying around. The a la carte restaurant is good, well worth a visit but the main buffet restaurant which is used for both breakfast and buffet evening meal is really below average. Ok for breakfast and food is good but it is like an office canteen, tables very close together and presents a very poor atmosphere for dinner. Worst of all is the complete absense of management, I saw only 1 manager of medium grade in my holiday and that because I was annoyed beyond belief as to lack of hot water. The staff lack guidance and while a lot are trying hard many were indifferent and service levels were low. Especially prevalent at reception.

We did eat out every night apart from 1st and last night and were out and about enjoying Tobago virtually every day so the Hilton did not spoil our holiday. However we cannot possibly recommend this Hotel and if we come back to Tobago last place we will consider.

Guest Report - Vhl Tobago Golf & Spa Resort   

Mccellus Mays from U.S.A. visited in November 2007 and awarded  

My vision and impression of the Hilton Resort was not as experienced as other Caribbean resorts. Appeatance of the complex was not in good repair, i.e. rusted and damaged siding on the units. Towels were not available to all the guests including myself, each day. Ants or sand fleas were present in the rooms.

Many other issues that affected me to show a thumbs down rating escape me now, nearly one year later. the staff did all they could, yet I feel conditions were precipitated by poor management; wherever that is.

Overall, I was not happy or content to make due of the situations incurred.

thank you, McCellus

Much Better Than We Expected   

Geoff Seabrook from U.K. visited in July 2007 and awarded  

Having read the reviews about the Hilton we booked with a little trepidation. In fact it is a true four star resort with everything you need for a great holiday. The staff were excellent throughout the hotel. At no point did we ever get surly or off hand service. Although it was the off season for much of time the hotel was full, firstly with a DEA conference and then with the Southern Caribbean golf championships. The service stayed fine at all times.

We have stayed in almost all of the major hotels in Tobago now and the rooms at the Hilton are by far and away the best. In particular the bathrooms are excellent and well stocked with soaps etc.

The breakfast buffet was up to scratch. We only stayed bed and breakfast, preferring to go to different restaurants for lunch and dinner depending how we feel and where we are. We did have dinner in the Hilton twice and it was just fine on both occasions. A little more expensive then out of the hotel but we expect that.

The Internet in the room is perfect (I'm using it to file this report). The quality is good enough for me to make video calls from my room using the Internet. There is also Wifi access in the lobby and in the business centre.

I've tried to think of something negative to say about the hotel so you don't think I work for Hilton, but to put it simply nothing went wrong with our stay apart from a weak battery in the safe – fixed within 20 minutes of being reported.

I have just two other observations. The first is that there were very few other Brits staying at the hotel. The guests were absolutely from all over the globe, with perhaps the Trini's dominating. This is certainly not a British focused hotel. Nor is it American as others have commented. The atmosphere was absolutely Tobagoan. My final comment is that the golf course is extremely difficult. We played it 3 times during our stay and were just beginning to understand how to get around it.

So in conclusion I have to rate this hotel the full five stars. It is an excellent resort.

Very Disappointed   

Anne Kneebone from U.K. visited in March 2007 and awarded  

Thi was our 5th visit to the Hilton Tobago and we could not believe the deteriation in the 2 years since our last visit.The place was dirty in the public areas and badly in need of a good clean.The furniture outside the Plantation was black instead of white and broken glass lay in the entrance to the restaurant for days!!!!There was shortage of food and wines available for the 2 weeks of our stay (supposed to be on the menu) and the standard of food in the self service (Plantation Room) was disgusting .On previous visits the puddings were to write home about this time they consisted mainly of squirty cream and jelly.!We were on all inclusive having been so pleased previously with the standard of the food but resorted to eating out in the end.The lift on our wing broke down at the end of the first week and was still out of order when we left.As one of our party had just had a triple heart op this was really bad .The staff however were as always marvellous and tried their best at all times.This does not include Management who apart from Food and Beverage were non existent.So sad because it had been Paradise.

Short Staffed. Eat Out.   

David Pasco from U.K. visited in January 2007 and awarded  

We had a two week stay at the Hilton. We were shown to our room which was not satisfactory to us. We complained and were moved to a much nicer room with better sea views.

The room was always cleaned and the beds turned down in the evenings.

The standard of food was not up to our expectations. However the breakfast buffet was superb. If possible go bed and breakfast only.

The staff were ok, some could be a bit surly and one had to wait ages for service. The food and drinks have to be imported and often things were on the menu but not available.

The hotel I was told is for sale, and it is in bad need of maintenance to the exterior. However, it is blasted by the strong seas which damage and rust the metal work.

The manager listened to our gripes re the service and shortages and treated us to a meal with wine in the main restaurant. A nice gesture, but the food was not terribly good.

all in all a decent hotel but not worthy of the 5 star rating it gives itself.

The beach is not safe for swimmers, but the pool is good.

Go to page:   1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6   Next

Return to the search listing page