Visit April 2006

[Anthony Townsend]

Hi!

I've done the food bit, now the rest!

We stayed at Acorn Lodge close to Gatwick and flew with BA the next morning. Acorn Lodge is great value and they are very helpful. BA was very smooth and we found it alot easier with the kids than we thought it would be. We are using them both again next year.

We stayed at Palm Breeze villa in Bon Accord, which we thought was a fantastic base. We are returning there too! I've reviewed it on the site. I like birdwatching, so it was very close to the Water Treatment ponds and made a good walk early in the morning.

We used KCNN for car hire. They are brilliant. I guess we'll use them again too! We crossed paths with the Lady in Red as well! We spent afew days in trinidad, so we needed a taxi to get to the airport very early. We couldn't find anyone to do it so relied on the Tourist office to book someone. Imagine the look on my face when I saw her the next morning after all I've read! She was very polite and helpful, so we arranged for her to pick us up when we came back. There was a bit of a mix up. She turned up a.m. rather than p.m.. I understand she wasn't best pleased.

If you need somewhere to stay in Trinidad, I strongly recommend La Belle Maison near St Joseph. http://www.la-bellemaison-tt.com It is superb. You will never meet a kinder couple. It's in the Rough Guide.

Store Bay was a bit rough for the kids and I had to pull Emma out (8) otherwise she would have been washed away. We also had problems with beggars and were hassled to go on a number of trips. In contrast Pigeon Point was perfect for the kids. We enjoyed a trip to Buccoo reef and the Nylon Pool and swimming and snorkelling. They also enjoyed collecting shells. This was our favourite close to our villa and we came back a number of times.

We visited lot of beaches and probably made the mistake of not going to Englishman's Bay and Castara. We were put off some routes by the Travel books suggesting the roads were difficult. We realised what a load of rubbish this was when we headed for Speyside in the second week. Next time! I also liked Pirate's Bay. Feel free to tell me what i missed and rub it in.

Our visit to the Kimme museum was something else! What a character! It might not be your thing, but I think it's all part of soaking in the island.

We loved the Grafton Wildlife Sanctuary. The birds that visit at feeding time and the racket they make has to be seen to be believed. Hitchcock lives! We had a lovely guided walk looking at the birds and plants and learning about the history of the estate. Arnos Vale Hotel is good for afternoon tea and the birds as well. The Adventure farm and Nature Reserve isn't up to Grafton, but it's a good spot to take photos of hummingbirds at the feeders and the kids liked it. They ring a bell and the birds turn up

We made the mistake of walking up to Fort King George in Scarborogh during the middat sun. Very English! We enjoyed it and the museum. We missed out on the Botanical gardens. Next time!

Again the kids enjoyed the Genesis Nature park on our way to Speyside more than us. Not the way i like to see my wildlife. Worth a visit though.

Argyle waterfall was fantastic. A good walk and very popular.

And then we met Newton George. Certainly my highlight along with leatherback turtles in Trinidad. Maybe I'm not being fair, because I don't know any other guides, but Newton is brilliant. A brilliant, knowledgeable guide, brilliant and patient with the kids and brilliant company. Our trip to Little Tobago, the rainforest and the Hilton ponds finished off my holiday. We found nearly all the birds we were looking for including a pair of striped owls. Emma was already a birder, but now she is really hooked. We also got to do some snorkelling at Little Tobago. I took atrip out to St Giles with Emma and 'the Swede' . May be some of you met him in March/April. His real name is Johannes Rydstrom. I think we bacame known as the English couple with the two kids! St Giles was great. I haven't explained to Emma what the two hawksbill turtles were up to in the sea yet!

Charlottesville was relaxing. It was funny watching all the cars drive up to Pirates Bay and try to turn around. Don't do it. It's tight.

I've missed out lots, we just didn't stop. Good luck to T&T in the football. I hope we both qualify!

Anthony.

[Steve Wooler]

Hi Anthony

Thanks for all your detailed and brilliant reviews - just the sort of feedback we are all desperate for.

I won't rub it in, but overall, the roads up the Caribbean side and over the rainforest are in many ways better than the roads up the Caribbean side - which get a lot more traffic and have suffered as a result. Never mind - it will give you something new to explore next trip.

Believe you me, you're being perfectly fair about Newton. There are lots of personable guides in Tobago, but none that have quite the same combination of under-stated qualities that Newton has.