Grange Cottage - Review Page 3
Security
Grange Cottage has excellent security options. The entire plot is surrounded by a high fence topped with razor wire, although, in fairness, the stretch along the beachside is highly corroded by the salt-laden air and has many holes. This is due to be changed later this year. The property has a full alarm system connected to a local control centre with armed guard rapid response. All windows and doors of the property are protected by heavy-duty grills 
with sensors, so occupants can lock themselves in at night and be assured that nobody can break in. During the day, a perimeter alarm system warns if intruders enter the grounds.
We had an unintentional demonstration of the system earlier today. After a lazy lunch we were sitting on the balcony; Jill reading and me mid-way between sleep and alertness, trying to write this review. Suddenly, all hell broke loose. We had been warned that the alarm siren was loud. I thought that understatement was a British characteristic. It was more than LOUD! Jill dived for the bedroom, preparing to lock herself in. I wanted to do the same but felt I ought to be the tough guy and deal with the matter. Looking over the balcony and clenching my buttocks, the culprit was apparent. Jill had done some laundry and, unable to find any clothes pegs, had used clothes hangers to hang my shirts on the garden clothes line. The wind had blown the shirts down the line and across a perimeter defence sensor beam. Within a minute the control centre were on the phone asking if we were safe and ready to send an armed response team unless we could provide the correct security code.
Grange Cottage is normally rented with a 24-hour security guard. We have great faith in Tobago and so specified that we did not require this service. However, I commend the owner for not taking the cheaper and easier option of dispensing with this service.
Beach
Grange beach is sandy and offers lots of shelter from the many trees and palms that border the beach (most of which belong to Grange Cottage). The beach shelves very gently and has a nice 
sandy bottom with very few rocks. When conditions are right, swimming is as good as it gets on Tobago.
It has to be said, however, that Grange beach is noted for the high breakers. The beach offers the best surfing in Tobago and you will regularly find small groups of accomplished surf dudes on the beach, particularly during the mornings. The sea swell around Tobago is at its highest during the early months of the year, normally receding for the summer low-season months.
When conditions are too boisterous for swimming off Grange beach, it is only a five minute walk to adjacent Mount Irvine (hotel) beach, where the conditions are much more sheltered and generally offer excellent swimming.
Conclusion
To date, we have reviewed some three dozen accommodation properties on Tobago, with rental rates from under US$40 per night to more than US$1800 per night. The honest truth is that there is no single property from that list that has stood out to such a degree that both of us would automatically quote it as “our favourite” without hesitation and without considerable discussion. 
Equally, there is not a single property that we would not return to for an entire two week holiday if that was the only accommodation available. Every one has had its advantages and disadvantages.
NO property is perfect for everyone. Grange Cottage is no exception. Some visitors would hate it, others will absolutely love it. Only you, the reader, can take on board our description and decide whether it is likely to suit you.
Grange Cottage is simple. It offers basic but more-than-adequate accommodation for up to eight people. Correction: by world standards, electric washers, dryers, toaster and microwaves can hardly be described as basic. The cottage simply lacks the sophistication of more up-market villas and houses. Grange Cottage is exactly what the owner always intended – a simple, comfortable beach house built for their own use.
The location of this beach cottage is stunning (even if the sound of breaking surf does make telephone calls difficult). To find such a location within easy access of all the main restaurants and facilities of the island makes the cottage quite unique.
We thoroughly enjoyed our five days at Grange Cottage and can certainly recommend it!
Review Page Links: Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3
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.
