Gloucester Place - Reader Reports & Opinion
Guest Report
Eric And Diana Madill from Canada visited in February 2011 and awarded 
My husband and I stayed for 7 days in Essex cottage and could not have asked for a better vacation. This was exactly what we were looking for - private, quiet, stunning views and the perfect spot to start each day from. Win and Bea are the most accomodating people we have ever encountered - they know when to stay for a chat and when to give guests their privacy - in fact they are truly experts at this. We were so pleased to have stayed with them and Wonder Dog - they were definitely a highlight of the vacation and we feel that we would have missed out on some of the islands most memorable attractions if it weren't for their offerings of advice.
Let me start by saying that the cottage is not for everyone - it is simple and basic but had all we ever needed and more. If you are looking for TV, radio, internet, aircon or telephone, the cottage should not be your first choice but do check out the main house as these things are all available there. On the other hand, if you want to sleep with the shutters wide open to the Caribbean sea crashing below and the wonderful warmth of the island filling the air, this might be just the place. The cottage has a small porch, well equipped kitchen, sleeping area and full bathroom. There is a safe for your valuables, towels, blankets, books and travel guides galore and everything you need to cook a meal except for the food. We were provided with bug netting for around the bed but took it off at the suggestion of the owners the first night and simply lit a mosquito coil and turned on the fans - we had very few insects join us despite the shutters being wide open for 7 days.
The wild life from the cottage is really interesting - Win and Bea have hung a bird feeder from the edge of the covered porch and recommended we put ripe banana in it from time to time and we would be rewarded with a visit some of the islands 200+ bird species - they weren't kidding - this is a wonderful way to spend the morning while sipping coffee and eating the rest of the banana. We counted at least 25 different species of birds some of wich became regulars to our early morning banana offerings - the pictures were easy to get and turned out fantastically. There are a few lizards around and apparently a resident Iguana but we didn't have the pleasure of making his acquaintance - he is very private and didn't show so much as a tail the whole time we were there.
As for the surrounding area, there are several shops with some of the friendliest people we met on the island within walking distance. Andy's Glasgow bar has ice cold beer and one of the best views in the whole Caribbean as far as we are concerned and Imbie's store on the jetty in Parlatuvier has much to offer including a good chat with the owner and lots of music on Sundays. Flavour Flavour restaurant is run by Vernice and she opened up on Friday night for us to enjoy a fresh meal of Mahi Mahi wich was absolutely fantastic. Win and Bea will arrange for you to go if you want. Nearby, there are many towns within short driving distance to explore and shop making the cottage (or the main house) a perfect place to set out from.
Eric and I enjoyed our time so much and I really think this cottage and its owners (and WonderDog) and the town of Parlatuvier were the reasons for it. We would definitely return and next time, take advantage of Bea's cooking (I hear she is excellent!) and spend some more time in conversation with both Win and Bea. We would also like to go on one of Wonder Dogs guided tours of the many sights he is familiar with in the area.
If your thinking about Tobago and want to enjoy its natural beauty and easy going towns, try Essex cottage - you will not regret your decision, we promise!
Guest Report
Nancy Reigel from U.S.A. visited in January 2011 and awarded
The island of Tobago is a most wonderful getaway with Parlatuvier Bay being one of our favorite bays on the island. The vacation gods must have overseen our choice of accommodations as we fell into the perfect location with a breathtaking view and amazingly hospitable hosts. Bea & Winn not only offered a home cooked dinner on our first night of arrival, but provided excellent hiking, snorkeling and sightseeing suggestions. They lent us snorkel gear, helped us exchange money and Bea personally escorted us to a local trail head, where their Wonderdog led us on a trek up waterfalls and through dense foliage. The modestly priced cottage at Gloucester Place offered a peaceful and breathtaking view of palms, banana trees, vivid flowering plants and the sea in the distance. Winn brought us fresh fruits in the morning from their property. We loved the open air kitchen and bedroom that provided just enough privacy. Downstairs was another more private bedroom for our friends, but most of our time “at home” was spent on the deck relaxing, reading and enjoying happy hour. The cottage stay is not for those who expect air conditioning , but then I would recommend staying at the main house. The dipping pool, available to all guests, was quite refreshing! The only pitfall with the open air cottage was the loud bus that rolled past around 7:30 am, but the birds were already singing for us at that hour. The Gloucester Place was perfect for our party of 4 who were more interested in exploring the beauty of the island and meeting the locals than frequenting the busy tourist spots near the airport. There were plenty of beautiful beaches nearby with excellent snorkeling and tasty local food. You could hike from Gloucester Place down steep stone steps to Parlatuvier Bay where we bought fresh fish when the fishing boats docked and enjoyed “liming” with the locals to calypso music. Castara offered fun beach dining with steel drums, limbo and a drum circle. We bought souveniers from our hosts, who display their gardener’s handiwork at the main guest house. Bea and Winn are active in the community tutoring the children; so at the mention of their names, the locals took care of us Our hosts were like having a personal friend/travel agent/tour guide all wrapped up in one. We so enjoyed their company, but they were careful to maintain their guests’ privacy. We highly recommend The Gloucester Place and cottage because it is a most lovely place to vacation, but it is so because Bea and Winn have the special gift of welcoming, caring for and enjoying their guests. Relax and take in Tobago!!
Guest Report
Sylvia&tony Polt from Austria visited in January 2011 and awarded
We stayed this January for two weeks in a party of four and I must say this was the best experience!
First we stayed at the Mainhouse and enjoyed the best breakfast on island and then we moved to Essex Cottage.
Bea & Win (&Wonder-Dog) are great hosts and they make you feel at home immediately.
The nature and the people in Parlatuvier are outstanding, we also made many friends from the local people, everybody know's Bea & Win.
Dont expect any entertainment, entertain yourself on this wonderful island, we had the surrounding beaches mostly for ourselfs.
If you want to explore secret waterfalls and other spots just ask Bea&Win or the local fisherman.
A must for everybody who loves nature and wants to get away from the crowd.
Guest Report
Mr & Mrs Lewis from U.K. visited in January 2011 and awarded 
Tobago is a lovely country, safe and extremely friendly with great unpopulated beaches, a protected rain forest and a music obssessed population.
Gloucester Place was a great place to relax - a lovely view, and beautiful gardens with birds and bats in abundance. For breakfast we picked the bananas and gratefruit from the trees around - what could be fresher.
Our hosts were very welcoming and the local Glasgow bar had a great view, a laid back atmosphere (with reggae music to match) and something they call 'shandy' in 4 different flavours (the red one was my favourite!) which we drank the whole holiday - I only wish I could get it in the UK.
The only down side is the mosquito's! so bring plenty of repellant....
Guest Report
Steve Larocco from U.S.A. visited in January 2011 and awarded
Gloucester Place is a terrific place to stay. First, the house is beautiful (and meticulously clean). Largely designed by Bea, one of the proprietors, it is open, light and airy, with beautiful design and architectural touches. The house is situated on a steep plot of land that runs down to the coast (rocky here, though there is a very uncrowded and scenic beach about a third of a mile away (down a nearby hill). The view from the verandah on the property is gorgeous--waves crashing on rocks, and miles of blue sea. For me, who enjoys birds, I also loved the flowers and feeders on the property which were frequented by bananaquits, palm tanagers and hummingbirds. But even more important to the pleasure of our stay than the house itself were the owners, Bea and Win. Bea is an excellent cook, and breakfasts and dinners are delicious (the dinners are at extra cost but the breakfasts are included in the room fare). Moreover, Bea and Win go beyond simply doing the normal; they really worked to make sure that our experience was wonderful. When my partner and I somehow lost our room key at the beach, Win and Bea treated as with wonderful grace, replacing the key and making us feel as if we hadn't troubled them too much. They were extremely helpful in giving us advice about local restaurants, beaches and possible experiences, and they are just wonderful people to talk with. My partner and I had just come from four days in a small guest house in rural Trinidad (deep in the rainforest of the Northern Range), and while we loved both parts of our trip, the stay in Gloucester Place was extremely special, one of our truly special memories in a lifetime of travel. While we tend not to repeat trips (the world has too much that is new to see and explore), Gloucester Place is one place we might choose to revisit for a very decompressed, relaxing trip to Caribbean sun, sand and Bea and Win's hospitality.
Go to page: Previous 1, 2, 3, 4 ... 9, 10, 11 Next
Return to the search listing page
