Kia's Across From The Beach
Mini-Review by Steve & Jill Wooler, March 2008
The number of invitations and requests that we receive to review properties far outstrips our ability to undertake them. In an ideal world, we would visit every accommodation property on Tobago. As a non-commercial site, we simply lack the time and resources to accomplish this.
So, the best we can do is to spend two months each year producing detailed reports on as wide a range of accommodation as possible. In between staying at, and writing about, these properties, we also visit properties that we intend to stay at and review in future years.
This mini-review of Kia’s will be replaced by a full report after our 2009 review tour. In the meantime, we believe that the property is deserving of inclusion in our list of Reviewed and Recommended properties.
Mini-Review Introduction
Kia’s is a small guest house offering a choice of modest but hospitable accommodation on either bed and breakfast or self-catering terms. The guest house is housed in an attractive two-storey building of typical Caribbean style, discretely tucked away amidst lush tropical gardens abounding with sapodilla and mango trees, bougainvillea and hibiscus. Once ensconsed in the grounds, it is hard to believe that the property borders the busy (by Tobago standards) Milford Road and that the bustling centre of Crown Point is only a short walk away.
For many visitors, Kia’s strongest feature will be the fact that the guesthouse is located just a minute’s walk from Store Bay, one of Tobago’s most popular beaches. Should you fancy a change of scene, the beautiful Pigeon Point peninsula is only a short-walk in the other direction.
It is truly exceptional for us to ever say that a self-drive car is not essential in a myTobago review. Very few properties on Tobago are within walking distance of more than one or two restaurants and other facilities. This property is truly an exception, however. Everything you need is within walking distance of this guest house.
Kia’s is located half a mile from the airport, opposite the RBTT compound, with its useful banking facilities and excellent La Cantina restaurant, and just before the Pelican Reef restaurant. Turn right outside the property and you are almost spoiled for choice of affordable restaurants, takeaways, bars and entertainment – not to mention a useful mini-mart. Turn left and you have further choice in the Store Bay area.
Whilst these factors make Kia’s an excellent choice for those seeking affordable accommodation in Tobago’s main tourist area, it has to be said that the location would not be the first choice for those expecting rainforest-covered mountains, or the quiet solitude of the island’s lush interior or empty coastline. However, who wants to arrive in Tobago after a day of international travel and then have to sort the paperwork of a vehicle rental, or face a long drive over Tobago’s twisty roads to more remote accommodation? What about those early morning connections for flights to North America? In this regard, Kia’s undoubtedly represents an excellent stop-over choice for travellers looking for comfortable accommodation within easy access of the airport.
The Accommodations
Accommodation at Kia’s can be provided on a room-only, self-catering or bed-and-breakfast basis. The accommodation options can be summarised as follows. All apartments and rooms benefit from complimentary high-speed Internet access:
3-Bedroom Apartment: This apartment is located on the upper floor of the house. The apartment has three bedrooms with double beds and sleeps a maximum of six adults. It has two bathrooms and a fully-equipped kitchen. Although not air-conditioned, each room has an electric ceiling fan. Being at a higher level, the apartment takes full advantage of the cooling Tobago breeze.
Studio Apartments: Located on the ground floor of the property, two self-contained studio apartments offer comfortable accommodation for two adults – or up to four in one of the two studios, thanks to a pull-out couch. Each apartment has a small kitchenette, private bathroom and small balcony overlooking the gardens, plus both air-conditioning and ceiling fans.
Guest Rooms: The three guest rooms are also located on the ground floor and sleep a maximum of two people each. They are equipped with both air-conditioning and ceiling fans. Bathroom facilities are shared. The guest rooms have no cooking facilities, but have access to a small shared area equipped with a fridge, electric kettle, dishes and cutlery.
Conclusion
Crown Point is undoubtedly the centre of tourism in Tobago. The area is packed with guest houses. The problem is that the standards of accommodation and service offered are highly variable, to say the very least, and it is easy for visitors to arrive and find that their much-anticipated holiday accommodation is considerably less than expected.
Kia’s Across From The Beach caught our eye because reader reports clearly indicated that the property was finding approbation in the eyes of the visiting public. Detailed enquiries amongst our contacts on the island, followed by an inspection during our 2008 visit to Tobago, confirmed the situation – this was a property worthy of public attention.
Kia’s offers modest self-catering or bed and breakfast accommodation from attractive and well-maintained premises located centrally to the numerous facilities of the Crown Point area. The accommodations are simple, but comfortable and affordable. Best of all, the place is now managed by a friendly and hospitable hostess who understands the true meaning of the word ‘service’. We therefore have no hesitation in including this guesthouse in our list of recommended properties and look forward to a more extended visit in 2009.
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