Palmhaven - Reader Reports & Opinion
These reports are a combination of questions and comment posted in our Palmhaven forum and visitor reports added via the 'Add Report' tab above. The votes awarded are weighted by volume and date to give a truer representation of reader satisfaction [more details].
Reader Satisfaction Ranking: 
Weighted ranking based on 10 votes = 4.1 (max 5)
Guest Report
Jean-Francois from France visited in December 2008 and awarded 
We (a family of 5) stayed at Palmhaven one week (2008 Xmas) and we have been very happy with the house.
It was just as expected, very nice (nice lay out and decoration, well equiped, clean) on a lot near the top of the hill (land/garden is smaller than on the website, but that's not at all a problem). Nice pool with a view on the next hill; beaches are a 10/15mn drive.
We would definitely recommend this house.(note: I rated only 3, as the villa is as I expected i.e. very good)
Kay the owner has also been very kind during our various email communications.
A few things you should be aware about the house and Tobago in general.
The house is in a safe area (nothing fancy however i.e. not a private condo), but we found that having a night guard was a plus especially the first few days to get used to the various tropcical noises at night. You will read a lot about safety in T & T, and as such we also did not know exactly what to expect; at the end we never found us in an unsafe situation, and people were friendly... Just the normal precaution like anywhere in the world.
Make it very clear on your first day there, what you are expecting from the maid; we found her somewhat unwilling to work as expected.
You definitely need to rent a car; we used Sheppy and it worked very well.
You should also know that tourism is not yet developped in Tobago which on one side is great as it is still very natural/wild.., but on the other hand do not expect a lot of fancy/trendy place to eat, have a drink, or beach bars...
Beaches are very natural especially in the northern area' don't expect however a lot of white sand and turquoise water beach.
Also we were there around Xmas and the weather has not been so nice i.e. clouds and rain every day, but of course temperature is always warm (25+C).
We also stayed a night in Trinidad before and after our stay in Tobago because of the connection schedules.
AirCarribean provides a good 20mn connection from T. to T, with easy online booking.
The Holiday Inn express near the airport is convenient as it is only 5mn from the airport and there is a free shuttle; rooms are large and clean. Hotel is in the middle of nowhere, so if you have sometime you'd better go to Port of Spain where The Hyatt is great.
Enjoy !
Guest Report
Wouter Kolkman from U.K. visited in October 2008 and awarded 
Palmhaven visit October 17th.
We stayed at Palmhaven for just over two weeks at the end of October. We found the villa to be just as beautiful as the photos on the website and even exceeded our expectations. The location was wonderfully peaceful with a fantastic view over a lush, tropical valley.
The best asset was the ´infinity´ pool with a clear view over the tropical forest. When swimming you can also just about see the sea in the distance too.
The veranda is spacious and comfortably furnished with sun-loungers, seating areas, hammock, dining tables and BBQ. In the evening it´s a great place to sit and watch one of the many stunning sunsets over the palm trees.
The villa is located on a hill in a quiet residential area with views overlooking a large part of the island. It´s location is well situated for trips to local beaches. Scarborough, Tobago´s capital, is a handy 15 minutes drive away. A small shop is nearby and if you are fit you can even walk to the nearest supermarket.
Although our visit co-incided with the ´rainy season´ this usually meant some clouds, and an occasional brief downpoor. Temperatures soared to an average 32 degrees Celsius with plenty of sunshine to enjoy.
The garden was a haven for nature including plenty of beautiful Humming Birds. We loved being able to sample some of the fruits from the garden including bananas, passion fruit, limes and coconuts.
The island is small enough to comfortably explore by car. We visited stunning beaches and remote bays. Englishman´s bay was a favourite for it´s unspoilt golden sand, palm trees, with just a few tourists for company.
We were genuinely sad to leave this haven of tranquillity and sunshine. For us it was an unforgettable trip and we would love to return.
A special mention to Kay – the owner – for being very accommodating and housekeeper Joyce and her husband Wayne who were discreet, helpful and could be fully relied upon. We won´t forget Joyce´s delicious ´bakes´ as we brought 24 back to England with us!
Rating 5/5!
Guest Report
Joe Walker from U.K. visited in May 2008 and awarded
It's rare to find a house that truly exceeds your expectations, but Palmhaven is one of those. Beautifully furnished french colonial style, it's bright, blessed with cooling breezes, fantastic views, lovely garden frequented by all manner of colourful birds and wildlife and is in an excellent quiet location, ideally placed for convenience and choice and places to visit. One of it's biggest assets is the incredibly helpful and accommodating house-keeper Joyce and her husband Wayne; they are wonderful people and made us feel incredibly welcome without ever being intrusive. Joyce even gave my wife a lesson in Caribbean cooking resulting in a plendid meal on the broad veranda. She also baked amazing birthday cakes for my wife and daughter who had birthdays during our stay, entirely unrequested, with a big floral display from the garden too. A lovely gesture!
For those not used to it though, I would be prepared for the dawn chorus! In the insulated houses we live in, we rarely hear what goes on outside in this country, but with the forested hillside adjacent to the house in Tobago, the Chachalacas (Tobago's national bird for those who haven't been) will certainly get you up for the first day or two!! However, you will quickly get used to that and appreciate the various birdsong, so much so that it seems strangely quiet now we're back!
I would throughly recommend this villa....top marks to Kate the owner, and Joyce and Wayne. We will undoubtedly return!
Guest Report
Jocelyn Armstrong from U.S.A. visited in February 2008 and awarded
Our family visited Tobago last February and absolutely loved it. Palmhaven was every bit like the pictures shown on the website. A lovely open air home, (once you open the louvered doors) with an impressive garden and lovely pool.
We have two children that stayed in the double room and another guest who stayed in the other guest room. All the rooms are separate with en suite bathrooms, so everyone had their privacy. The beds were comfortable with nice feather pillows, all covered with mosquito netting. It was always breezy with the villa on top of the hill.
The one thing I will remark on is the loud birds next to the master bedroom, making noise at dawn. I figured out after a few days that if I made a racket, they would stay away for a day or so. But really, better than the sound of traffic or car alarms. The birds were part of the charm.
Wayne and Joyce were very nice and accommodating. They stopped in every day to clean and water the plants. They will stay as much or as little as you like. We had Joyce cook our meal on the day of arrival, which was lovely after a day of traveling.
The villa is on top of a hill. At the bottom of the hill down the street , is the food store with all you may require. It is located in a convenient area, close to the beaches and the point, boating etc. We enjoyed Mt Irving beach for a feel of the real caribbean. We felt very safe there. It is patroled by the police and there are always life guards there.
We did alot of activities that our boys enjoyed thoroughly. We went offshore fishing with Grand Slam, an excellent adventure. We caught a couple of kingfish, and barracuda, which we brought home and ate all week. We bought some delicious shark from the fisherman on the side of the road. You must be as aggressive as the natives when bargaining for fish, or there will be none left to buy before you know it!
We went on a nature tour with Peter Cox up to Speyside and Little Tobago to see the birds nesting, go snorkeling and hike into the rainforest to swim in a waterfall. That day we had lunch at Jemima's Treehouse in Speyside. Peter helped with the food served family style. The Tobogans eat their big meal in the middle of the day, which is good because we were famished from all the activity. Peter is a wonderful guide, polite, knowledgeable respectful of our natural surroundings and great with kids.
My sons learned to windsurf at Pigeon Point... spectacular! And very well priced for a lesson compared to the States. We rented a car from Sheppy, which I had arranged well in advance, which I recommend because he is really busy and seems to have the best reputation on the island. All of these people were recommended on the website by Kay O'. We were not disappointed.
One last memory...we had a wonderful meal at an Italian restaurant at Boucco Beach named, La Tartaruga. Fabulous. A tad expensive but worth it. The proprietor is a lovely ma, form Italy, who also has a pizzeria in Scarborough.
All in all, we felt safe there, but always good to keep an eye out. We found the people were friendly and helpful.
The only thing I will say is to be sure to wear bug repellent when you go into the rainforest. I forgo, and shortly after my return, I contracted Dengue fever, which was rather unpleasant for a time. Thank goodness everyone else escaped unscathed. Despite the illness, I look forward to our next visit. it was an awesome adventure!
Guest Report
Tony Stevenson from U.K. visited in February 2008 and awarded
I stayed at Palmhaven in mid-February 2008 and found it to be absolutely perfect!
The villa is superbly appointed with great views towards the coast. The garden is wonderful, well cared for and full of amazing plants and trees and many visiting hummingbirds. The house itself is large, airy and tastefully decorated and furnished, with a great deal of light and space. It has a great kitchen and a big lounge area which opens out onto the garden terrace and swimming pool and brings in a good sense of the outdoors. The pool itself is amazing and gives a stunning vista of the surrounding area. The bedrooms are a good size and well-furnished.
Palmhaven is located in Patience Hill which provides easy access to all areas in the south of the island. Additionally there is a growing network of contacts for island activities such as diving, bird-watching, wildlife tours, etc who will pick up and return you to the villa's front gate. I was lucky enough to go on an island tour to Little Tobago and went diving with turtles off Store Bay, both of which were once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
I would fully recommend a stay at Palmhaven to anyone!
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