Advice re accomodation for family in October. please!

[Susan Mac]

I would welcome advice for suitable accomodation for myself, husband and 2 boys aged 12 and 14.

We want to travel to Tobago this October and spent approx 10 nights there before going to Trinidad to stay with relatives who are working there.

So far this seems to be a tall order as most packages are only 7 or 14 days - the best an independent travel agent could come up with was to book a fortnight at Coco Reef, including paying for All-inclusive meals for the whole time although we wouldn't be there for 4 days. With a total price of around £7K this is completely out of the question! We were hoping to do the whole trip for around £4-5K absolute maximum, including food.

Althought the AI option is attractive (my husband likes his food and drink and so do the boys!) we would be charged adult rates for teenagers who can't drink alcohol and a bad experience in Cyprus last year on an AI holiday has rather made me wary of these deals. But perhaps the food is better in the Caribbean than the Med? And what are eating out prices like?

I have found BA flights for a reasonable price so wondered if booking directly with hotels might be a better option, as it would allow us the flexibility of nights that we need. But a lot of the hotels seem geared up for adults - especially the ones with individual cabanas - are these suitable for older children?

We have other relatives who have raved about the island and stayed in Kariwak and Grand Courlan, but they were holidaying as couples without children. My cousin in Trinidad has also recommended the Kariwak as she stays there when she is going to fly to the UK the next day, but can't really recommend any others.

Any suggestions/advice would be welcomed!

Also my older son has done some diving training through the Scouts and would like to try proper scuba diving - can someone direct me to the right place to find out about this?


Many thanks - I would like to firm up our plans as soon as possible to ensure that we get the right combination of flights and accomodation.

Susan

[Steve Wooler]

Hi Susan

Welcome aboard!!!

Hmmm! Seems a tall order. First of all, you will have to cross Le Grand Courlan off your list - it's adults only. The Kariwak isn't a bad choice - never stayed there myself, but lots seem to like it and the Crown Point area is good for beaches and other facilities, if somewhat scrappy-looking and commercialised (relatively speaking).

The truth is that there's no hotel that's perfect for everyone, but all the info you need is here on this site. I'm afraid it's really a matter of reading the articles and reviews, searching the forum for comment on places you're interest in, and focussing on the sort of places that seem to have what you like.

Although package deals often represent the best deals, it costs nothing to email the hotels you're interested in and get a price from them. If you want to save some money on airfares, go with Excel at half the price of BA or Virgin. The only trouble is, all the flights except BWIA go from Gatwick. BWIA go from Heathrow and Manchester. I assume you'll have to transfer down from Scotland, so this could affect your choice.

Good hunting

[Ronald]

Hi
There are a big number of smaller and bigger hotels in Tobago. The problem might be to choose one of them.

Kariwak is a small hotel nearby the airpport and it´s a good place. I met some from US who spend about two weeks there, and they really liked to food and the staff.

There are diving companies in the Crown Point area, Viking Divers for example at Pidgeon Point.

There are many restaurant in the southern part of Tobago, and they are mostly not expensive at all. La Tartaruga (if I spell correct) i Bucco is a very nice Italian restaurant, (for Tobagonians very expensive).

There´s a company nearby the airport, dealing both with accommodations, hotels, private rooms, villas an tours. The company is own by a man from Norway, he´s living in Tobago since many year.
He also have some deals with medium size hotel.
If AI-hotels isn´t "a must", check [broken link removed. Editor] you might find some useful information.
Ronald

[Kevin Hampson]

Hi Sue,
Just to confirm the Kariwak is not a bad choice really good food and peaceful. Around $100 per room /night is lest than half the price of Coco Reef (I know I've been to both). You can book direct by email or phone there web address is http://www.kariwak.com.

Diving I would recommend Derek Chung at Undersea Tobago (that is at Coco Reef) It’s only a short walk from the Kariwak, excellent PADI centre and safe

Regards
Kevin

[Bryn]

It would cost considerably less than AI hotel. You can self cater breakfasts and snacks and the odd meal if you like. The food in Tobago is excellent. Personally, I love villa living when we're there. It's so much more of a cultural experience than being in a touristy hotel.

Bryn
Vancouver, BC

[Sioned And Tim Sims]

Dear Sue
I don't normally do recommendations but I’m on a roll, having recommended Castara Retreats to two friends, one with a family with children the same age as yours, both came home saying it was" the best holiday they’d had ever had"
Castara Retreats isn't a hotel, but a set of apartments, one two bedroomed, two studio and one separate with one bedroom. Rainforest is ideal for a family, or failing that the two studio apartments are connected via the balcony by a door which can be opened. I have stayed in most of the accommodation so far and have loved it all. It can all be booked for 4 days or over from Sue and Steve a very helpful friendly British couple, on http://www.castara-retreats.com
The accommodation is self catering, but if you don’t want to cook there are places to eat in the village, or if that’s too much for you, you can get Duck to cook for you (he cooks like an angel). Porridge and Jeanell look after the visitors fantastically. They can recommend or arrange transport, trips out, car hire, or anything you might need.
Castara is on the Carribean coast, and has its own coral reef all the way up to the little beach, so a daily swim with the fishes is no problem. And everyone in the village is so friendly
My friends with children the same age as yours did the whole trip at on the lower end of your budget, this included boat trips, fishing trips, guided rain forest walks, and for the days they needed it, they hired Porridge’s Jeep.
They flew with Exel from Gatwick - a bit of a trek for you but the flights are half the price of most other companies

Hope you have a fantastic time
Sioned

[Steve Wooler]

Hi Sioned & Tim

By the strangest of coincidences, your post popped into my Inbox while I was sitting here laying out our own review of Castara Retreats. I totally endorse everything you said to Sue. Keep posted - our fully illustrated review should be published this weekend (assuming I don't get dragged off to Ikea).

[M Mcgregor]

we too have just enjoyed a great holiday at Castara retreats, our first time in Tobago. The situation close to beach ,village and rainforest was perfect, the birds and plants were wonderful. While we were there an extension to the Osprey terrace was in progress ; this was a mild visual intrusion on what was a perfect setting but no inconvenience . It should be finished soon. We rented Porridge`s jeep and saw most of the island in an activity filled week. The trip to little Tobago from the Blue Waters Inn was great, and lunch afterwards at Jemma`s was excellent. Castara is indeed the prettiest village in Tobago-personally I can`t imagine anyone preferring to stay near the airport and to go AI in Tobago is a wasted opportunity to experience this lovely island to the full.

[T Heie]

Sounds like Castara is the place to visit, especially since we are staying near the airport
By the way, what's the pronounciation of the village's name.
cas-TEAR-ah, cas-TAR-a, or something entirely different?

[Steve Wooler]

Hi T

Your second suggestion was spot on.

Now, I shall get back to laying out my reviews of Castara Retreats and Porridges Place in Castara, the first two places we stayed in 2005. I hope to publish them both today.

[M Mcgregor]

Susan ,I think it is now possible to fly to Trinidad from Prestwick with BWIA.Return connection to tobago is about £100 pp.