Arnos Vale Beach Warning. Admission Charge

[OllyFoster]

Half way through another fortnight at the Sanctuary Villas. Staying at Tosca this time (very comfortable).
I had read all the bad press about Arnos Vale but thought we would give the beach a go.

Arriving at the seemingly deserted hotel there was a new looking sign warning about admission charge for the beach. As soon as we parked up a young lad came out of a shed and asked for 20tt per adult and 10tt per child. I refused to pay for the kids and paid 40tt in the end. Is this a new thing? Had driven up to the carparklast year for a snoop but never noticed anything about entrance fee.

I can understand why Pigeon Point charges to get in. They have showers/toilets/cafe/bar/watersports/shops and lifeguards. The Arnos Vale Hotel is like a tropical version of The Shining. Walking down through the grounds the state of disrepair is almost criminal. I have no idea how this place is still operating.

A man was trying to clean the pool but it looked like a lost cause. The beach was clean in places but there was a pile of rubbish at one end. The whole reason we made the effort was for the snorkelling but even that wasn't that good.. Much better at Mount Irvine or Englishmans Bay. We spent 2 hours and left. We won't return.

Will post about our positive experiences at the end of our stay

Olly Foster

[Ronald]

There's NO FEE to use the beach, the fee must benn for the car park.

It is not easy to reach the beach with a car, but it IS possible to get down by using local roads, NOT the hotel road down to the beach. There's a turn-around area only 10m from teh beach, and it is totally outside the hotel area.
I did write about this regarding Arnos Vale hotel & Beach

[OllyFoster]

when is the last time you were charged per/person to use a car park? definitely charging for access to the beach. there is a sign there that says so.
not everyone fortunate to know the back road down to the sea.

it's a rip-off

[Steve Wooler]

Hello Olly

They appear to have been doing this, off and on, for two or three years. In fairness to the hotel, they have a right to charge people to park on their land and effectively use their 'facilities' by providing the walkway down to the beach. I am sure they are NOT charging for use of the beach - that would be illegal - only for using their land to access it. Having said that, it is atrocious bad business - but frankly no matter than to be expected from the Bronte's who own the hotel and who appear to live in a time warp and allegedly still believe they own and run one of the best hotel's on the island.

The road that Ronald is describing is a little difficult to find if you don't know the area. However, you can park in the lane leading past the hotel (the Mot Mot Trail) and then walk back to the main road, turn right and after crossing the little irrigation ditch/stream that runs alongside the front of the hotel, turn right again. You will see a clearly defined footpath that leads back to the hotel and then down the side of the fence marking their border (left of the hotel, as you look at the entrance). It's an easy walk and takes you right down to the beach - and they can't charge you a cent.

[Ronald]

Hi

As Steve say, it is diffucult to explain the road down to the beach, when using a car, as all roads there does not have any name sign! But here is what I did write in Jan 18 2011, a comment to a guest report written by Sue Smith on Nov 27 2010, regarding Arnos Vale Hotel.

If one come by car on the main road, the road down take off to the left in front of a high green area, a school area I believe. Than you turn right in front of a concrete wall wich split the road into two, after som 75m you choose left and next right again. It is difficult to explain as there are no street name, but there's peoples around beside the road. The road is OK all the way and it end with a small parking area beside the fense just 25m from the beach.

The beach is a nice place if you want to have a quiet day at the beach, but you need to bring everything with you, water, soft drinks a.s.o.