advise virgin/excel airways ???

[Mandy]

Where hoping to travel to tobago in may myself, husband and 6 yr old. So far my son has travelled is to cyprus and he was ok with that, but this flight will twice the time.

Have read all the threads on Excel and Virgin and now not to sure which one to go with. We are on a budget but a bad flight can ruin a holiday!

So any advise would be welcome.

We have never been before and have looked on this www site and we are totally amazed . We hopefully will be going to Bacolet anyone been before and any advise/information on this island would be great. We are a bit in the dark about costs, weather, safety, eating out etc etc .

We would be staying in a villa so self catering.

[Steve Wooler]

Hi Mandy

Welcome aboard!

You can have "bad" flights on any airline. The worst I've ever had have been with British Airways - I even walked off one flight at an intermediate stop and refused to fly with them further.

I have flown to Tobago and back with Excel twice and had excellent flights each way - all of them arriving early. On the other hand, I admit that their reputation for time-keeping on the Tobago flight is poor. Having said that, you are talking about half the cost of the BA/Virgin flights - so you pays your money and takes your choice. Its no contest as far as my experience goes.

As regards your other questions, everything you ask is covered on the site, so just dig deep and you'll learn everything necessary to make your holiday a trip of a lifetime. Don't hesitate to come back with any specific questions.

[Tony J]

Dear Mandy

As Steve said you can get good and bad flights with all airlines. Virgin is more expensive, but the entertainment on board is very good as is the food. It is also a direct flight, so no stop overs, and you arrive in good time for travelling up to Bacolet which is about a twenty minute drive.

Friends of mine have just flown back from Tobago on Excel and they will definately fly with them again the flight was half empty and it arrived on time.

As for Bacolet, i am not sure if you are staying on Bacolet Point or Bacolet Street. It is a quiet residential area only a few minutes drive from Scarborough or the main highway. The best beach in the area is Bacolet Bay next door to the Blue Haven Hotel which is a lovely place to spend the day.

There are no shops at all at Bacolet except for two small convenience shops which sell basics. We normally stop off at Penny Savers after we have landed and buy enough food to get us through the first couple of days. This gives you enough time to explore the area without having to worry about buying your food. The taxi driver will wait outside Penny Savers for you whilst you buy some bits and pieces.

Restaurants close by are the Blue Haven and Donkey Cart, the Salsa Kitchen (just off the highway) and Shore Things are also worth visiting. For special evenings out, no where is too far to drive and we have visited most restaurants within about a fifteen to twenty minutes drive.

We have stayed at Bacolet many times, in the Blue Haven and self catering and have enjoyed every stay, we have always felt safe and it is a very peaceful area.

For self catering i would suggest Penny Savers or Gourmet Foods for your groceries and try out Golden Grove if you want to buy any meat. There are also many fish stalls which sell fresh fish every day the ones we have used are in Scarborough and Mount Irvine.

Hope you enjoy your stay

[Emma]

Hiya,

I have only ever flown to Tobago with excel airways, both of the flights arrived early, although the entertainment was not very good, the food seemed to make up for it. Never had a bad flight with them but there is a first time for everything...

Have a great time,

Emma x