Getting into and out of Tobago is a pain

[Ken Dimdore]

I don't understand the attitude of the T & T authorities. Tourism is vital for the economy of Tobago, yet they make both getting into and leaving Tobago a thoroughly unpleasant experience.

On arrival you have to fill up a needlessly long and complicated form and then wait in a long queue while an official carefully scrutinises this form taking on average about three minutes for each person. Most of the stuff on the form has nothing to do with passport control or security, but is a customer survey for the local tourist industry.

Leaving is just as bad. After the usual palaver at the check-in desk, you have to go out into the street and queue up at a window, and then pay a surly individual for the priveledge of leaving this tinpot country, which they have begged you to come to in the first place.

Finally you get to sit in a small cramped lounge, with very limited refreshment facilities until your flight is called.

[Kevin Pallant]

Wherever you go in the world you have problems getting in and out through customs.
Airport lounges are never over comfortable.
As for surley person in depature tax - you sit there!
As for tinpot country-you are wrong other countries could learn a great deal from their attitude.
They didn't ask you to go there, you chose to.
I urge you not to go back and leave it for those of us who enjoy it!

[Roger D.]

A tinpot country....My my, anyway, could not have said it better Kevin.
Apparently Tobago is not his cup of tea.

[Jane H]

Ken,

Believe me - if you think leaving Tobago is bad - just try Antigua! A two hour plus queue outside in the sun waiting to have all your luggage opened and security checked by hand is infinitely worse than anything you may have to cope with at Crown Point!

Personally, we have always found the airport staff to be helpful and pleasent - or maybe that's just us!

Jane

[Andy D]

It's fairly obvious that certain aspects of Tobago wasnt to Kens liking but personally i've not been that bothered about getting into or out of the place and have always just gone with the flow,ok it's not exactly the most efficient operation of all time and can be stressful if you have young children in tow but it compares to many other places in the world and i dare say that there are worse places that i've yet to experience.
I love the place and cant wait to go back for a third time next Feb and will take everything in my stride.

[Rachel Crew]

I'm sorry, but I had to laugh at Mr Dimdore's comments... having just returned from the UK, where at Gatwick I had to queue for an hour and a half to check in (despite being one of the first in the queue!), 45 minutes to go through security checks to get into an overcrowded departure lounge where there was barely a seat to be had and then wait there with an over-priced cup of coffee before walking 20 minutes to the departure gate, where I was herded onto a cramped bus for a further 10 minute ride to the plane....

...and did he miss the part in the guide book that mentioned that Tobago is a DEVELOPING COUNTRY?

[Jane H]

Actually - now I come to think of it - getting into the US recently has become a real endurance test.

At least with Tobago you know it will be worth the wait!

(Incidently - when we arrived and completed entry formalities in Trindad, it was really easy and there was almost no waiting around so we were able to catch an earlier Tobago Express than expected. Excellent!)

Jane

[Roger D.]

I still can't get over the "Tinpot" comment though.
I think it was one of two things that made Mr. Dimdore feel that way:
(1) Rum Punch in excess or
(2) Not enough or none at all...hmmm

[Anne Sykes]

Oh dear, poor old Mr Dimdore. I think we will all agree and are also ABSOLUTELY delighted, that NONE of us was there at the same time as him and had the misfortune of bumping into him...???!!!

We love Tobago. We love it's rusticity, we love it's charm, we love it's people, we love the fact that it is not trying to be something it isn't. And we love it because it is sooo totally unspoilt. No huge high rise concrete hotels here, safety outside the hotels - going to explore unchaperoned what a joy. We've been to some horrid concrete jungles for two weeks holiday (in the Caribbean, I might add) but have decided that this is the only Caribbean island we will go back to. We've been twice now and in an effort to feel close to it, I read this website Every Day!!! I believe this website is here for people to post unbiased views and reviews, help people plan their holidays, remind them of what it's like when they get home, share the thoughts of others who have been to the same hotel as them (who are often like minded) and enjoy it. It is not to be confused with other commercial 'Let's-Rip-Off-and-Bad-Mouth-every-hotel/country-we've-ever-been-to' kinda website.

If Tobago is 'tinpot' to Mr D, then it would be most interesting to hear where he would recommend to spend his holidays???

I am not saying that Tobago is perfect but when someone describes it as 'tinpot' we take it very personally. This website is for people who love Tobago, so shame on you Mr D. While we are all entitled to our opinions I suggest you save these kind of comments for another website.

[Andy D]

Good post Anne,i agree,i found some of his comments distinctly unpalateable.

[Lou W]

Anne, Think you hit the nail on the head.
I've been to tobago twice now and had no problems, in fact the second time was a lot easier gettin through passport control. And i've done it with my daughter (who was 4 last time we were there). I think it's great queuing up outside crown point, you get to say goodbye to the people you have met, take in one last bit of the island. My only problem with the airport is that it has no where for us smokers, but oh well!!
As for a tinpot country, how wrong can you be??? It is beautiful, relaxing, amazing and so chilled out. I love that country so much, (even went as far as having the flag tattooed on my foot!!) I have already booked for my next trip in 98 days time (and counting) and have booked again to go next July.
Some places aren't for everyone, which is great. It'd be a borin ol' world if we all enjoyed the same places. But insulting a country and in effect the people on the island on this site isn't that good an idea!!!

Lou W

[Anne Sykes]

Lou Hi

Looking out of my window as I'm typing this reply, the sky is black as black and I think we are going to get one 'ell of a dumping of rain, but you know, thinking about Tobago is wonderful and then I think to hell with that black sky. I've been on this website best part of today - sad, I know...

Chris and I were just looking through the Virgin brochures again after dinner tonight, glass of lovely red wine in hand, thinking about next years holiday and we thought, we don't want to go anywhere else. Number of reasons:
1. Tobago is paradise and now that we found it, it kinda feels as if it would be disloyal to go anywhere else - sounds mad but I hope you know what I mean...?

2. Nowhere else seems to look as 'nice'. Mmmm St Lucia - too expensive, Maybe Bahamas - look at those high rises, What about St Kitts? WHAT ABOUT TOBAGO???!!!

3. Tobago is just sooooo unspoilt, sooooo unpretentious, sooooo un-commercialised

That's why we think - forget the brochures, let's just go back there.

I know exactly what you mean about that queuing up at the airport and the good-bye time (and the lack of ciggie corners!!). It feels a really intimate time and it's like you get to know even more about the people that you've just shared the best part of a couple of weeks with. There is something really special that everyone (who is serious) shares about the place - like the unspoken word somehow. It's a mutual respect for everyone, whether they are fellow travellers or the guy serving in the duty free shop or the coffee counter. Tobago is the only place EVER that I have cried about leaving. What's that all about???!??!??!!

So, one day soon we will go back and I really hope that it remains the sweet, innocent, beautiful island that it is today and that we don't bump into people who would prefer Tobago to be more like something that it isn't.

I know you are going back there again soon too. Your 4 year old daughter is very lucky!! When I was 4 the furthest I got was Sunny Skegness!!!

Anne

[Jane H]

Hi Anne

I could suggest somewhere in St Lucia that was really nice and not too expensive (see Travel Collection website) - but basically Tobago has such a lot going for it, as far as we're concerned. It doesn't suit everyone - thank goodness - and, yes, there can be things which could be better, but for many of us, Tobago is another name for paradise.

Wish we could get there next year - but don't think it's going to be possible (unless the UK retail situation improves dramatically).

Jane

[Lou W]

Hi Anne,
I know exactly what you mean, i feel disloyal goin to other places but came up with the ideal solution of doing twin centres. My mum absolutly hates goin back to the same place twice, somehow i've managed to get her back this year and will be back next year too. This year we had a week in grenada then ended the holiday with a week in tobago and next year we're having a week in st. Kitts then another week in tobago. I think my mum has realised that no matter what we will be in tobago every year.
And i have to say i've cried my eyes out coming home. Everyone who was sat near me on the plane was saying "dont worry, you'll be back soon". And i will be!!
Got to say i miss that country more and more by the day, but having a cup of Liptons yellow tea and listening to a bit of bob marley soon cheers me up (ahh fond memories).
And yes my daughter is very lucky. But she knows that she has to be good and go to bed when i say, tidy up when i say and not have any sweeties till i say she can. Her reward is a holiday. So I have to say i probably have the best behaved kid ever!!
Well it's a nice day today but it's just not the same!
What i'd give to be stood outside the airport now!!!

Lou W

[David Watkins]

Oh Dear Mr Dimdore,I wasn't sure if you had the name of your hotel correct-but you did.All I've ever heard of the place is good.As for entry and exit to the country,it is far more hassle getting in and out of Uk than Tobago,it is also alot friendlier in Tobago,it is a lot warmer in Tobago....I could go on forever.I suggest next year you go to Skeggie or Blackpool you can get real processed food there!!!
David

[Gisela Grell]

I guess Mr. Dimore must have made a bad experience in Tobago. Sure it takes time with the luggage and sure you have to fill in a form but it is really worth it!
In 2002 I have been to a couple of islands on a two week sailtrip from Grenada to Martinique. My first week of holidays I spent in Tobago and planned to find a nice island where to spend the last week (imagine 4 weeks Caribbean! but don't ask me for the costs I still pay back my dues) Guess where I end up? In TOBAGO
As you all said, Tobago ist special! And we love this island just as it it. The only bad thing in leaving tobago is that you have to leave!
I have been to several Caribbean airports on my way back from Martinique to Tobago and made much worse experiences...
Only LIAT (Leave Island Any Time ) was really good. When I missed the last plane from Grenada to Tobago they picked me up at the plane, took care of my bags, organized a taxi to a nice hotel on the beach, gave me a voucher for dinner and breakfast and pick me up next morning for my flight (no check in, I felt like a VIP). On my way back to Germany I went along London... Missed my flight to Düsseldorf because BA was late. I had to check out and take a bus to Gatwick, had to check in and hussle to my gate where they told me that the flight was delayed.... The most important thing for me was, that the BA flight costs 4 times as much as my island hopping with LIAT. Any questions?

I will be back end of September and I love to fill in a form and wait for my luggage because it means I will be back on my favourite island!!!

Cheers
[/b]

[Gisela Grell]

By the way, now I found out what tinpot means and I feel a really upset. May be Mr. Dimore shoud choose another country next time. I do understand if anyone has a bad experience but to call Tobago a tinpot country is more than bad.

I'm sorry for that!

[Paul Tallet]

I have been watching this thread with interest and then taken the trouble of checking out Mr Dimdore's other comments about his hotel accomodation.

As a consequence ... I have suffered severe muscular injuries to my abdomen as I have laughed and laughed at Mr Dimdore's amazing remarks.

Would the true Mr Dimdore please come forward and accept my unequivocal applause for the most outrageous and entertaining posts I have ever seen on myTobago.

To compliment the 'view from the window' whilst enthroned upon the lavatory and then ... to complain that the bath was not at the correct elevated level in order to admire the same view is a reading pleasure of the highest order.

Don't knock this poor fellow ... we need nutters like him because it makes life interesting ... the bonus point is, of course, that those that can relate to his ideals won't go to Tobago ...

... so it's a positive thing all round.

Doesn't that make checking out this 'independent' site worthwhile ??

Regards

[David Watkins]

Nice one Paul.
Times a'flying David

[Annabelle Oconnell]

Hello!

Yes Paul there has been some priceless reading...!! I couldn't add much more to what has been said in the last posts, but what i really wanted to ask was: when did Tobago 'beg us' to come and visit...? Where did he hear that, the six o'clock news?

I left Tobago last saturday and would happily beg to go back