advantage of small places...

[Jorg Kilian]

Hi everybody,

I just read the following sentence, which Steve was saying concerning the Ocean Point Hotel:
"There are just so many smaller places, all so deserving of recommendation. Anybody want to offer us a full-time job going round reviewing them all?" Sorry, I can't provide information about every smaller accommodation in Tobago - I think we have to put every little piece together at the forum. But I experienced the advantage of staying in smaller individual places when I was travelling and I want to encourage other people to do so. Tobago is a very safe and friendly place, it is easy to move around by yourself and to experience the island. You don't have to hide in a large resort complex like it might be at the Dom. Rep. or in Cuba e.g. Tobago is a place where you can stay in small local accommodation for prices between 20 and 250US for two persons per night, you can choose your restaurant, supermarket or little shop to buy whatever you want. You can really mix up with the local population and most of them are glad to meet visitors. Individual tourism has the advantage that most of the visitors money stays in the country. Small local businesses like accommodations, restaurants, taxis, shops e.g. benefit from individual tourism. They provide nearly everything from small budget to luxury. You can stay at a luxury villa and walk five minutes to enjoy some local lunch for 3US... There is nothing wrong about having a place like Coco Reef, I guess everybody in Tobago is proud about it. I like the forum for giving public to smaller places which are not offered by larger travel agents. Further comments might help to make a desicion which of them to choose...

[Steve Wooler]

Hi Jorg

Here, here! I made that particular point because two people (both in emails on the same day by coincidence) had made comments which led me to believe that they thought the forum was only catering for larger hotels. When I studied the wording of my general accommodation forum, I realised how they might have gained that impression.

Yes, because of the volume of posts and to make it easier for readers searching for information, the larger establishments (20 beds or more) all get their own forum. With over 230 hotels, guesthouses, apartments, cottages and villas on Tobago, I simply can’t set a forum up for every establishment. However, I’m going to let it run for about a year, and then review the accommodation forum structure. Larger hotels that haven’t had any post, or very few, will probably be removed. Smaller properties that have been the subject of regular comment will probably get their own sub-forum in a new category.

We particularly favour the smaller establishments. We are in the process of writing reviews for the seven establishments we stayed at during our 2003 visit. Five of these fall into the ‘small’ category. Tobago has a truly rich and varied selection of accommodation and as you so correctly say, Jorg, it is such a very safe and friendly place that it is really easy – and very, very rewarding – to chose the smaller places and move around. Needless to say, some are better than others and that is what this site is here to help with.