Sandy Point Beach Club - Review Page 4
Common Facilities
The Sandy Point Beach Club is located directly adjacent to a small stretch of sandy beach. Sadly, the sea bed is very rocky here, so swimming is not really an option as getting in and out of the water is a painful process. However, the sea looks wonderful and the beach itself is sandy and attractive, spoilt only by a number of concrete groins extending into the ocean as an erosion defence. A small thatched hut has been built on one groin, very reminiscent of the famous Pigeon Point hut, and this enhances the view considerably. The hotel has a good stock of plastic sunbeds and a reasonable supply of waterproof cushioned mattresses for them, so whilst not suitable for swimming, the beach is ideal for sunbathing.
It is less than a 10 minute walk from the Beach Club to Store Bay beach. The hotel offers twice daily complimentary shuttle services to both Store Bay and Mount Irvine Bay beaches and a shuttle service to Pigeon Point is to be reintroduced soon. So, families without transport will be able to take full advantage of the good facilities at both of these popular beaches.
Located near the beach is the resort’s own freshwater swimming pool, with a smaller splash pool for toddlers. Furnished with an adequate stock of sun loungers, the pool is naturally very popular with guests, particularly given the limitations of the swimming.
The resort also features three hot tubs, each operating at a different temperature (warm, medium, hot), of different style and shape and located in different areas of the grounds. I particularly liked the hottest tub perched sensitively amongst the roots of the giant Banyan tree that dominates the grounds and provides wonderful shade to the Clubhouse.
The Beach Club’s well-stocked Clubhouse and Bar offers the cheapest beer on the island – just TT$6 (approx 50p/US$1) per bottle of Stag or Carib. Regular high-quality evening entertainment is held here. Offering magnificent sea views right across Store Bay to Pigeon Point, the Clubhouse is a great place to relax (lyme, in local parlance) and take in the wonderful ambiance of Tobago. The clubhouse has a full-size American pool table (coin operated) and table tennis.
A franchise-operated restaurant is located beside the sea at the front of the property. This attractive small restaurant offers stunning views over the sea and is a wonderful place to watch the setting sun. It has two sections; a formal table-clothed dining area and an adjacent thatched hut with more casual wooden tables and benches. The restaurant is open for local and international cooked breakfast, light luncheons and dinner. The cuisine is more local than anything, but prices are reasonable and the service friendly. It’s not a restaurant that I would cross the island to visit, but we enjoyed our one meal there.
Adjacent to the main reception block is a useful Mini-mart and Gift Shop offering quite a wide range of basic supplies and provisions. I was pleasantly surprised to note that this included a small, but very nice looking, selection of fruit and vegetables.
A franchised PADI dive service, Frontier Divers, is based at the resort. They are a well-run locally-owned and managed operation, noted for friendly and efficient service.
Short-court tennis is available, but the court, which features integrated basketball, was the only facility in less than perfect maintenance condition. A small exercise and weight room, with a range of equipment, was undergoing refurbishment during our stay. Those looking for more gentle exercise will no doubt appreciate the small chip and putt golf course on the main lawn and recreation area at the front of the resort.
Children are well catered for. A substantial area of the main lawn is given over to climbing frames, swings, see-saws and other devices that will delight the children, as was clearly evident during our stay. My problem was keeping Jill off them.
Conclusion
We had a pre-review inspection tour of the Sandy Point Beach Club in early 2005, so thought we knew what to expect. I have to say, however, that our stay far exceeded expectation.
The apartments are perfectly designed for families and this was self-evident from the makeup of the guests. Our visit coincided with Carnival, when many Trinidadians come to Tobago to get away from the noise and disruption in their capital city, Port of Spain. The resort was packed, but we never felt crowded.
We were particularly taken by the friendliness and helpfulness of the staff. General Manager, John Martyr, must take full credit for this and sets a good example with a very ‘hands-on’ style.
We have no hesitation in recommending the Sandy Point Beach Club. Visitors wanting a holiday home in Tobago could do well to consider one of the resort’s timeshare apartments. Timeshare may not have the best of reputations in Europe, but the way it is operated here gives new meaning to the concept.
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