Where to stay Grafton Or Rex Turtle Beach

[Gary A]

Hi All,

I'd just like to say great site, packed with good information on Tobago…….This is my first post so be gentle on me

So here goes. Any information that anyone can provide would be much appreciated. We're thinking of going to the Carribean next May, as we fancied a change from the Med. We've had friends who've been to St Lucia and Antigua who thought both were great. Picked up a Virgin brochure and thought looked nice, but fancied something quieter, and would love to see the rain forest, Snorkel on coral reefs, walk aong quiet beaches, swim in Waterfalls…….

So then we saw Tobago and found this site, and it really appealed to us. Has anybody been to St Lucia or Antigua as well as Tobago, as I'd be interested to know how they compare.

Here's the quandry. The 2 Hotels we are thinking about are either The Grafton or the Rex Turtle Beach, and going AI. Looking at Steve's reviews and the various posts, both are 3*, basic and might need some TLC, so we;re not expecting a 5* Hotel. It looks to me that RTB has the better pool, and is right on a better beach and more sunbeds/shade, but The Grafton has better food and accommodation. I'd be interested in anyone's comments who has been to both?

We've got 2 children (aged 6 and 8 ) does anyone have experience of the kids clubs. Our biggest concern is the tidal current. They are both good swimmers but obviously don't have much strength. Would the sea be suitable for them to swim in at RTB/Grafton or both or none? We also fany doing snorkelling, any places suitable for children?

I think we'll book with Virgin, so we have got a rep in the event of needing them, but Virgin will price match, so if I could find it cheaper somewhere else, anybody found any cheap places?

Thanks

[Steve Wooler]

Hi Gary

Welcome aboard!

Hopefully others will add their views as you already know mine from the reviews. The honest truth is its down to personal preference.

I haven't visited St Lucia for around 30 years, but its a lovely island and not dissimilar to Tobago in many ways. The Hawksbill Beach hotel in Antigua was one of our favourites for many years. We loved the hotel - but didn't feel good about the island. Tobago is very much more 'natural' and very much friendlier.

Yes, both the Grafton and the Rex Turtle Beach market to the same 3*+ market. The Grafton is probably about half-a-star higher than the RTB. Yes, both could do with some refurbishment, but again the Grafton is slightly the better. The only general criticism I hear is the bathrooms, but bathrooms tend to be a problem in most tropical hotels.

Yes, the Rex has the better pool - particularly from the point of children the age of yours. Beach-wise, Turtle beach is great but I prefer Grafton beach - both from an aesthetic and swimming point of view. The two bays are adjacent and conditions are always similar. However conditions in both can be quite rough - particularly so in Courland Bay (RTB) which shelves more steeply. The northern end of Grafton Beach is more protected and therefore offers gentler waters. It all depends upon which time of year you are going. Sea conditions are much calmer in the summer months. I think I better play safe and say that there's probably only a 30% chance of sea swimming being acceptable for 6-8 year olds. There's no snorkelling at Courland Bay, but the northern end of Grafton is a useful introduction. The only place really suitable for snorkelling by children of that age is the Coco Reef Resort, but you're in a different league there.

Maybe we were unlucky during our stay at the Rex, but I have to say that I found the clientele at the Grafton much friendlier. The staff at both were brilliant (the Rex having the better of the two overall) but the guests - at least during our stay - were VERY different. The first timers were quite unfriendly. The repeaters, of which there were quite a few, stuck together in a very 'clubby' way and seemed to almost shut-out everyone else. Its the only hotel on the island where I've come across this attitude, but since publication of my review I've had four private emails from people saying they found exactly the same and another one or two have mentioned much the same in the forum, so I don't think it was just an unlucky mix of guests during our stay. Its probably only one of those things that become really noticeable when you are staying at a lot of different places, one after the other, as we do. The clientele at the Rex were also much less prepared to abide by the standard/acceptable dress conventions, particularly during the evening. In fact the only hotel restaurant where I have seen guests dressed as scruffily has been at the Hilton (surprisingly enough). Sorry, that should read SOME guests, of course. 90% dressed as acceptably as anywhere else.

Hope this helps (my apologies if it only makes the dilemma worse).

[David M]

Hi

We have stayed at the Grafton Beach Resort twice in the last 3 years.

Our first visit was very enjoyable and relaxing, however on our last visit in April/May of this year we enjoyed it even more. We found the staff to be more friendly and co-operative, the standard of he hotel had not changed much but still remained clean and tidy.

The main restaurant had changed to an all buffet service and not some A la Carte as previous, but there is another small restuarant called Neptunes which must be booked and caters for about 25 people per night which specializes in sea food.

I must point out we do not have any children but during our stay there were a few families that had concerns about the childrens menu, but in the second week the hotel provided a better menu for them.

Even though the swimming pool is not the largest it is adequate and the children seemed to have lots of fun.

We found that the sea can we rough at times, but if you go to the end of the beach there is a sheltered area which is calmer and ideal for snorkelling

We have been to Barbados, St Lucia and Antigua, but Tobago is our number 1 destination for a relaxing holiday as it is very unspoilt.

Hope this hopes you from the Grafton Beach point of view, we do know people who have been to the RTB and they have made lots of return visits.

If you need any other info please let me know and hope I can help.

[Tracey Harrison]

Hi Gary,

We stayed at the Grafton two years ago and walked to the beach at Rex Turtle just to compare (we had originally been booked into the RTB but got transferred). I can't comment on the hotel but felt that the beach at the Grafton was much nicer and had the benefit of a really nice beach front bar.

Just a thought on the pricing with Virgin, you've probably already thought of this but just in case, look at booking on line rather than through an agent from the brochure. It usually works out quite a bit cheaper.

[Sandra Daniel]

Hi Gary

We ruturned fron RTB last month. We have three boys aged 11, 9 & 7.

The kids club was non existent. I think this was because there were hardly any children at the hotel, until near the end of our second week ,when half term was about to start. A lovely lady called Anneka ran the club which was supposed to be from 10 - 12 and 2 - 4. My youngest made friends with a 9yr old girl who had gone to the club on the second tuesday morning that we were there. She was the only one there, bless her and she made a lovely candle holder, which made my boy think that he would like to go that afternoon. I took them at 2pm and Anneka informed us that the next club would be Friday afternoon! This really didn't bother us as we hadn't booked the hotel for its kids club activities but I do know that some parents relish the thought of getting rid of their little angels for four hours a day!!!!!

We have booked to go back to RTB next May. It is a very old hotel, but the atmosphere is lovely I can't describe what a nice feeling the whole place has got. The hotel is right on the beach wheras I think you have to cross a quiet road to get onto the beach at the Grafton. We are flying with Virgin next year but Co-op Travel gave us a very good quote too.

My boys aren't strong swimmers, but they did go into the sea and all three got small body boards fron the surf shop and were riding into shore on the waves .

We went on a fishing trip with Stumpy the Tuna Man. He let all the boys fish with proper rods. He was very keen to take us snorkelling
which we declined as we've never done it before. We then wished we had taken him up on the offer as other guests who hadn't snorkelled before were going on trips with him and raving on their return at what a marvellous teacher he is.

The pool at RTB is a more interesting shape than the Grafton I think and its all one depth. My 7yr old could just about touch the bottom, although beware, because one morning after a particularly heavy rainfall he got into the pool and the level had risen so much he couldn't touch the bottom!!The pool also has a nice jacuzzi .

Hope this has helped a bit. Hope you have a lovely holiday wherever you decide to stay.

Sandra

[Gary A]

Hi All thanks for your replies.

Sandra, were thinking of going next May, whats the weather like that time of year?

Have the co-op got a website? I've looked at http://www.cooptravel.co.uk/ but does not appear t have Tobago listed.

Thanks,

Gary

[Sandra Daniel]

Hi Gary

We have been to RTB twice, thirteen years apart, but both times mid May until early June. The weather was glorious, very hot ( watch the children they will burn in seconds , plenty of sun cream is the order of the day - even the adults were fooled by the heat of the sun). You may get the occasional downpour, but these are usually ten minute showers. The nearer to June,you are heading towards the rainy season.

The website that you used for co-op travel is correct. We telephoned the sales adviser number and she rang around for us and called back really quickly.

One other plus point for RTB of course are the turtles that come up onto the beach and lay their eggs. Imagine the childrens faces waking up in the middle of the night to go outside and watch this beautiful creature laying her eggs or maybe even some of the eggs hatching. May is a great time for visiting for this reason as well.

Sandra

[Linda P]

Hi Gary

Although we stayed in a privately let apartment, my parents stayed at Grafton this year and my daughters, aged 8 and 11 spent a couple of days there with them.

While they were there they used the beach, which they loved, but they are also used to cornish waves so found Grafton a little tame! They thought the poolside bar was amazing, I am sure they drank gallons of cola just because of the novelty of a bar 'in' the pool!. They were also very happy with the lunchtime menu, even my fussy 8 yr old who would live on chicken nuggets and chips if she had the option.

My parents were very pleased with the standard of food, accomodation and service at the Grafton, the only criticism is the fact that the gates to the beach are locked in the evening (8pm I think) so no late night strolls along the beach.

I have visited Rex Turtle several times in the evening, the bar area is lovely and they do have a very nice looking pool, the whole bar/pool area overlooks the beach, which you are free to walk on at any time.

As for the weather, we were there 19th May - 2nd June, it rained during the day twice, torrential downpour for about 30mins on the morning of my wedding!!! luckily it stopped long before the service! and a 20 min shower which we found quite refreshing.

Make sure you take high factor suncream for kids, I took factor 30, and factor 50 for any areas which started to look a bit burnt, also big loose t-shirts as cover ups, even in the sea.

If your kids want to snorkel, and I would really encourage this, try a boat trip (see my review of Renaldo's trips in sightseeing forum), we went to a very calm bay and the girls were given lifejackets so they could watch the fish and have fun without worrying about sinking!!!

Have a great holiday

Linda

[Gary A]

Hi Linda,

Thanks very much for the information, I think were look to go at the beginning of May, as the weather sounds better.

I'm glad you said about the kids being given life jackets, as I was wondering how well catered for small children would be for say snorkelling or out on a boat trip. I will defintely get them to have a go at snorkelling now then.

I'm still no furher to deciding on Grafton or RTB, maybe I'll toss a coin, I just need to research some trips around the Island by road and boat, so if anybody has any good suggestions that will appeal to 2 small children (5 & 7 )I'd welcome your ideas.

Thanks again,

Gary

[Derick J]

Hi Gary

Just arrived in the forum, and in answer to your question, having been in St Lucia for two weeks last year I would say that whilst it too is a beautiful island with everything a visitor could want, it feels way more touristy than Tobago. Whether this means they are more organised or whatever, I can't really say, it's just that Tobago simply feels more 'Real'. We only stayed in Antigua for a day, (just before getting married on Nevis!) again a beautiful island, it struck me again as more commercialised and chasing the almighty dollar.

Personally I'd rather give my money to Tobago every time (and possibly Grenada!)

Regards
Derick