Arnos Vale Hotel - Reader Reports & Opinion
These reports are a combination of questions and comment posted in our Arnos Vale Hotel forum and visitor reports added via the 'Add Report' tab above.
Reader Satisfaction Ranking: 
Average vote of 22 readers = 2.6 (max = 5)
Guest Report - Arnos Vale Hotel
Nancy Mchenry from U.S.A. visited in June 2008 and awarded 
My husband and I enjoyed our stay at Arnos Vale – not for the accommodations, but for the lovely grounds, location, amenities and staff. Our greeting at the front desk was warm and welcoming. When we were brought to our room, our first impression was a bit disappointed because the rooms seemed a bit outdated.
After we began getting acquainted with the staff, the grounds, the pool, the beach, the snorkeling, the birds, and the wildlife, we realized we made a good choice by staying at Arnos Vale. The staff worked very hard to make sure our stay was delightful. They even served us complementary fruit punch after our snorkel and complemtentary wine with dinner.
We did not travel to the Caribbean to stay in our room, but to enjoy the island delights. Although the room was not up to par, we were not disappointed at Arnos Vale.
Do not miss the snorkeling on the reef in the Arnos Vale Bay, the 4:00pm feeding of the birds, the late night bats feeding at the hummingbird feeders, and the early morning bird feeding.
Guest Report
Rawle Mahabir from Trinidad visited in February 2008 and awarded 
I have gone across to Arnos Vale Hotel in February 2008 and I must confess my utter astonishment at what I saw and experienced. One would have heard of experiencing a natural environment, but this one has to be seen to be believed, and I live in Trinidad and I am fully exposed to the flora and fauna of our beautiful twin island state.
My comments to family and friends are, “I will try to explain what I saw and experienced, and please do not feel that I am exaggerating!” Only when you see the amount of birds, the wide variety, and their fluttering about in such close proximity as you sit and enjoy this outdoor haven, it is just unbelievable.
Whilst the hotel is maybe more than 40 years old, even this lends itself to enjoying the near natural environment and unspoilt habitat, and all of this within minutes of “civilization”.
I am extremely disappointed with the totally negative comments from “Margaret Moyle from U.S.A. visited in November 2007”. If there was any minute fact in the comments from this writer, would there be any other guests around? And in my discussions with the very friendly staff and management, I am advised that the vast majority of guests are repeaters who make booking many months in advance, and another who actually booked a year in advance and will be coming with many other family and friends. Our public health and safety officers would never allow such a situation as described by this individual to exist.
There is general consenus that the hospitality sector in Tobago is taking a beating with the high fuel prices and consequent high airline ticket prices. And together with low labour availability, the Tourism Division of the Tobago House of Assembly must make every effort to address this matter in the shortest possible time.
I have no hesitation in recommending Arnos Vale Hotel to all my friends and acquaintances.
Dirty, Unethical, A Sad Shame
Margaret Moyle from U.S.A. visited in November 2007 and awarded 
After staying in Arnos Vale Hotel in March, 2000, we were fairly satisfied with the Italian proprieters and the hotel itself, although other guests we met staying there had told us it was getting run down and not the quality it had been.
Upon returning in November 2007 we were so very dissappointed with what has happened to the once lovely hotel. The lease was up for the Italians and now it is Indian run and in bad, bad, shape. If the prices had been cheaper, I would have understood, but the room prices do NOT reflect the quality of Arnos Vale. It is a dump now. When talking to the locals, they consider it a poor excuse for a resort and know that the beach is infested with chiggar mites, which ate me alive. The rooms were dirty with poor quality remodeling in an attempt to update. Every room needed paint badly and dirt was apparant on the walls, doors, floors. Our friends were staying in another room where the toilet leaked. The towels were theadbare and gray. The pool was so disgustingly dirty one couldn't even see down in the water past a couple inches. No one ever went in the pool. There was a dog hanging around the dining room that was so infected with scabies mites that it's hair was falling out and it scratched constantly around the dining area while we ate. The birds no longer come around there as the cats have taken over the bird viewing area. The flower boxes along the dining area were just dirt, no flowers or plants in them and I saw one of the cats using it as a litter box while I ate my dinner. Disgusting!
The groundskeeper was only one very overwieght,lazy and complaining black man who was also the so called security for the grounds. He told us how he had to smoke a splief before "working". The bartender was seldom around and it was like pulling teeth to get a drink at the bar.
I think the worst of it was when at check out time we had a discepancy with the bill and the Indian weasel proprietor would not come out of his office to address the issue of being overcharged for a prepaid siute many months in advance and were given a standard room when they knew well in advance that the beach suite we had reserved had been out of commission for many months, not being used at all. They would not give us a refund for the difference that we overpaid. A totally unethical business is conspiring here. I will NEVER go back there again, except to visit the bay that still has fantastic snorkeling since the Indian proprietor couldn't screw that up. I noticed many snorkelers and divers parking there and leaving when they were done, not buying anything, but still using the beach showers and parking areas. They are the smart ones. I was not.
Arnos Vale Hotel
Cassie Shorey from U.K. visited in August 2007 and awarded 
Having re-read some of the reviews of Arnos Vale hotel, in both the accommodation section and other strands on this site, I feel I must say how much we enjoyed our stay this summer. We stayed in the beachfront suite – it was lovely, big bedroom with gorgeous colonial style furniture, very classy furnishings and linens, very spacious sitting room, balcony to each room, 2 bathrooms. Great! Despite being close to the dive centre , the bar and the pool, it was very peaceful. Any reqests for service, sundries etc were always dealt with in such a friendly way. Sometimes it took a little time, but this was always apologised for. We looked at other rooms (poolside) and suites (hillside)- they all looked fine. Even the standard rooms seem very good value for money and we got a fantastic rate for low season suites.
The hotel was quiet with few guests and therefore staffing was minimal – but everyone (reception, bar, housekeeping, resturant, security guard etc) was very, very friendly and helpful, in a typically laid back, somewhat restrained Tobagan way. Lovely, lovely people.
We ate in the restaurant every night (night journeys for other restaurants are long and not for the faint hearted!!) – enjoyed every meal. Yes, limited choice, but quite ambitious menu and very well prepared and presented. Breakfast great, lunches a bit basic – fish sandwich, burger etc. Great cocktails – yummy!! We also ate at the nearby Arnos Waterwheel – sadly being overwhelmed by the forest and looking rather neglected – but SO atmospheric and other worldly. They cooked especially for us and as usual we were the only diners. Delicious.
As others have said, birdwatching is sublime (even for non-birders) and the snorkling was the best we had on the island. We will return and try scuba next time.
Set in one of the prettiest bays on the island, very quiet. It is a real treat to watch the locals playing football on the sand on sunday afternoons (23 a side!)
The hotel is well located for trips south to Sunday School, Pidgeon point, Scarboro' etc and north to Castara, Parletouvier, Engishman's Bay etc.
A bit of general 'stuff'. We also stayed at Seahorse – OK, rather basic but good value, good location, good (although I feel overrated) food; and Blue Waters – wonderful location, great snorkling, lunches good but for evenings, eat in Speyside (Birdwatchers is GREAT or Gemmas. We stayed in the 1 bed self catering – really lovely.As usual Sheppey looked after us really well with the car rental. Rainy season low rates were excellent value and weather was fine, even with a couple of hurricanes passing close by.
Obviously some people have had negative experiences at this hotel, but we had a truly wonderful stay. Sorry to have waffled on so long, but we had such a great time at Arnos Vale, I wanted to post something positive
Can't wait to return to Tobago
Cassie
Terrrible Service, Wonderful Birds!
Ann Ball from U.K. visited in April 2007 and awarded 
We spent the first 5 nights of a two week holiday at Arnos Vale. Well, what to say..........??? Lets start with the good – the bird watching is great!!!. I arrived not knowing any, but armed with my bird book. I listed about 35 different species either at the feeders or from our balcony during our stay and found it a great way to learn lots of new birds. The Humming birds were just all humming birds to start with, never having seen any before, but because you see them so close and can study them I had worked out the different species by the end of our stay. Early morning watching from the balcony also was very productive. The grounds are colourful and full of plants. If you do decide to risk a stay here, and you will probably only do so if you are interested in birds, book a hillside room – they not only have great views but you will see far more birds than the poolside rooms which have a rather boring outlook in comparison ( but less climbing!)
Whilst on the subject of birds they have a lovely tame Orange winged Parrot who roams the grounds and causes havoc at meal times – we adored him!!!
Snorkelling – another reason we booked this hotel – is great – calm, clear water, more fish than we saw anywhere else, very worthwhile.
However................ the hotel itself leaves much to be desired!!! The situation is wonderful but sadly it seems to lack so much else. The whole place looks a little unkempt and needs money spent on it. The evening meals lacked choice (only two main courses ever offered) and were not cheap, although sometimes very good, other times poor. Breakfast was a buffet, with fruit, toast, juices, pastries etc – not too bad really, and you can marvel at the birds whilst eating your breakfast – very enjoyable! The whole place though seems to lack any real organisation, we never could find out what was available for lunches, (although they claim do to them somewhere!!!), one or two staff members were good but others very unfriendly. Their wine cellar consisted of 3 bottles!! Another couple that were there whilst we were relocated as they did not fancy all 12 nights of their holiday there. The bar is in a stunning location but totally lacked atmosphere – no one around, either drinking or serving! By the time we left the place was like a morgue – only about 2 other couples were left. Reading other reports I am not suprised and we wondered how the hotel seemed to keep going at all.
It seems a great shame – this is a prime spot with some great bird watching and snorkelling, but desperately needs someone to spend some time and money on it. Go if you are keen on birds, you will love it – maybe just go for a short time, not the whole holiday!!! By the time we left England I had read various bad reports about this place so was not too upset by our actual findings, and the bird watching really is great!!
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