Grafton Beach Resort - Review Page 3
Lounges & Bars
Leading directly off the reception foyer is the hotel’s main lounge and Bougainvillea Bar. Although attractively decorated, with a nice ‘open air’ feel, the lounge is a trifle sterile in appearance, with regimented lines of chairs and tables. This is largely a product of the architecture. The area is long and narrow. Sadly, I suspect that there is little that can be done to bring the room ‘together’ and instil a more homely or convivial atmosphere.
The Bougainvillea Bar dominates the end of the lounge area. The all-inclusive bar stocks a wide variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks – a wide enough choice to satisfy most tastes. A wide range of major international brands of spirits and liqueurs are available.
Although the Bougainvillea Bar is the main source of beverages, the beach bar is also open from 10am to 5pm. A pool bar is technically available, but was not manned during our stay. There is no room service, but one would not really expect such service at this grade of resort.
Entertainment
Entertainment was provided each evening. This comprised of a single act: local singers with backing tracks and/or steel pan; drummers with cultural dancing; limbo and - most surprisingly of all - a 'film night'. This latter item had the potential to be a reasonable idea if held in a separate function or conference room, but when such an event dominates the main lounge, preventing normal social discussion amongst guests more interested in socialising than being tucked away in a celluloid world of make-believe, it was an unusual, almost perverse, concept.
Having had my rant, I have to say that the entertainment at the Grafton Beach Resort was of good standard. The long, narrow lounge overlooking the swimming pool does make it hard for all but a few guests to get close to the entertainment. In previous years, much of the entertainment was held in a small yoga pavilion on the pool deck, totally away from the lounge seating area. This year most of the entertainment was held in the main body of the reception/lounge area, making it very much easier for guests to see and participate in events.
Activities & Facilities
Recreational facilities at the Grafton are reasonably good. As with other hotels on Tobago, the facilities may appear limited in comparison to those of major hotels in many other international destinations.
The all-inclusive package includes use of non-motorised water sports. However, I understand that due to insurance difficulties, this is now limited to non-immersion equipment such as small kayaks, a couple of pedallos and a small sailing dinghy – so no body boards and snorkelling equipment.
Located within the precincts of the hotel is a small PADI dive shop, Adventure Eco Divers. They may not be one of the leading dive centres in Tobago, but reports indicate that they are competent and offer friendly instruction with adequate equipment. Their customer base is largely confined to the semi-captive market of the Grafton and Le Grand Courlan and prices allegedly reflect the convenience of their location. They are probably therefore best suited to the novice or ‘holiday’ diver rather than to serious advanced divers.
The hotel has a large air-conditioned games room equipped with a number of amusements, including a small pool table, table tennis, Air Hockey and miniature basketball. In addition, board games like scrabble, chess, checkers and Monopoly are available. My overall impression was that the room was in need of some serious TLC.
For the sports-minded, the resort boasts the only squash courts on Tobago. One of the two air-conditioned courts was out of operation and being used to store furniture, but the other was in usable condition. However, a protective cover for one of the two massive air-conditioning units was hanging loose and would undoubtedly frustrate and annoy serious players. The court is also available to non-residents, subject to prior reservation.
Two tennis courts, one of which is floodlit, are available to guests next door at Le Grand Courlan. One of the courts is out of operation and the other is in relatively poor condition - only suitable for a knock-about or practise.
The 18-hole Championship Mount Irvine Golf Club is less than a five minute drive away and the Tobago Plantations golf course about a 15 minute drive. Other facilities at Le Grand, but available to Grafton residents, include the spa, a gymnasium and a hairdresser/ beautician.
The resort has a small building which can be used for wedding ceremonies, away from the hustle and bustle of the main hotel areas. All the necessary arrangements for weddings can be made by the hotel, who also offer special ‘Renewal of Vows’ packages for couples that are already married. Sadly the wedding pavilion did not appear to be in usable condition during our stay.
The departure lounge, which offered casual seating, showers and luggage storage for guests on late-evening flights, has been abandoned. Other arrangements are now made for departing guests.
Finally, there are two conference rooms, one seating up to 50 people and another accommodating up to 300 people with either banquet or theatre seating. Breakout rooms are also available.
Swimming Pool
Located centrally within the hotel complex, the swimming pool is approximately 12 metres long, with depth varying between one and two meters. There is also a shallow (0.75m) open-air whirlpool immediately adjacent to the pool.
Sitting across the shallow end of the pool is a small building which house the Neptune Restaurant on the upper floor and the Bougainvillea swim-up pool bar beneath. This innovative design is very practical because it allows one to sit in the pool, in shade, and enjoy a cool drink at the bar. The pool bar was not open during our stay.
The pool terrace is furnished with padded loungers and three sun umbrellas. There always seemed to be an adequate supply of chairs.
NEXT PAGE: Beach, Children, Dress Code, Shopping
Review Page Links: Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3 | Page 4 | Page 5
Return to the search listing page
The buttons above present articles sequentially, in the order shown in the menu bar
at the top of the page. You are currently on the Property Review page in the Accommodation menu.
