Just booked!!

[Joranson]

I am so excited, I have just booked for next january to go to Tobago, it is our first time to the caribbean and I can't wait. We have gone premium economy with virgin as we had a few airmiles to use which should be good. After much much deliberation we are staying at Ocean Air as I do like my creature comforts and thats what pushed me to that rather than Castara.
However we have only booked a week but we could actually go for two (the tickets can be changed for a small fee) and now I am thinking should we go for two.
We booked for one week because as I say I have never been to the Caribbean before and didn't know whether I would love it or not plus my two sons will be home alone (one is on a gap year and the other doing his masters) with my then elderly labrador, will my house still be in one piece!!!! Now I'm thinking I should have booked two!! My husband says leave it at one we can always go for two next year. Any thoughts welcome!!

[Emma D]

How exciting! If I were you I would opt two (but hey, one's not bad!). It's a long way to travel and time seems to effortlessly disappear when there's so much to see. Your sons sound old enough to fend for themselves so why not?! Whatever you decide I hope you have a fabulous time...I'm sure you will!

[Joranson]

Emma, I'm not worried about my kids fending for themselves, just the state of my house!

[Emma D]

Hmm, I see what you mean. However, 2 weeks of sunshiney bliss will have you so relaxed that the house will be a far distant worry!

[Steve Wooler]

Hi Joranson

I totally agree with Emma - its an awfully long way to travel for one week, particularly as it takes many people 3 or 4 days to really "switch off" and relax into the Tobago vibe. Just when you're starting to REALLY appreciate it, you'll be packing for home. There's another advantage to staying for two weeks: you'll return home so chilled out that your reaction to the trashed house will be typically Tobagonian - "No problem, man".


p.s. Sorry Emma - made my reply through the admin system and hadn't seen that you had more or less said the same. Great minds think alike!

[Emma D]

No worries Steve! Just hope Joranson takes our advice

[Joranson]

I am actually thinking of changing to two weeks. If the availability is there would you reckon on ocean air for the full two weeks or to go somewhere else like Castara's beach house, I definitely would want Self Catering. I do love the look of the Beach House - who wouldn't - but then I also like my creature comforts!

[Steve Wooler]

Hi Joranson

That is such a difficult question. I have stayed at both properties and can only say that both are wonderful in their own way. However, whilst my personal preference for the two would be for the rustic Coconut Heights at Beach House (the larger upstairs apartment), I can equally accept that many people might hate the open nature. Let's put it this way: Ocean Air is a Mercedes saloon; Coconut Heights more of a Morgan sports car. I can only suggest that you thoroughly read our reviews of both places and decide which seems to suit you best - or go for a week at each.

[David Watkins]

Hello Joransen,being a "rustic" I would rather Castara than the Lowlands/Crown Point area--however if you do like creature comforts there are one or two places in Castara that can provide.I think I am right in saying that accommodion in Castara is all self catering but some are up to and better then UK/Europe/US standards.
AND then you have the pleasure of being Tobago---not a tourist resort .
Regards David(55dtg )

[Steve Wooler]

Hi David

I'm totally with you, but I also equally know that what a very large number of people would consider "creature comforts" is FAR different from what even the best accommodation in Castara can provide. That is not a cricitism of the accommodation in Castara - its just a totally different style. Long may it remain so. Give me Castara every day. However, I do know from the many emails and conversations that I have had with loads of visitors that that type of accommodation is far too "rustic" for their taste.

[Gill M]

Hello Joranson

Well, it's not our first time to the Caribbean but in January, it will be our first time to Tobago - just can't wait either and I'm sure that we will both love it!

All I can say is that I would never go to the Caribbean for just one week mainly because it takes me several days for my internal time clock to adjust - like falling asleep at 7pm and waking at 3am.

I'm sure your house will still be standing when you arrive home - perhaps make sure you have accidental damage cover on your house/contents insurance!

Have a really wonderful time.

[Bill B]

Joranson,

Definitely go for two. We've found that when our sons were that age that the "damage" could be done if we were away for as little as 24 hours
Therefore you may as well put off finding out about it as long as possible.

As others have said there is a lot of travelling time and it will hardly seem worth it for such a short trip.

Bill

[Sally Hudson]

Hi Joranson,
Just thought I would mess things up for you by sticking my oar in and saying I would go with your husband's plan, stick with the one week and go back another time. We always have one week holidays, partly due to being tied to school holidays, partly due to not liking to leave my dogs for more than a week and partly because I prefer to have lots of one week holidays rather than a couple of fortnight holidays. It's not the most economical way of doing things but it's always better to leave a holiday wanting more, than wishing you could go home. We have been to the caribbean several times and haven't found going for just one week to be a problem - if anything it makes you appreciate your time more. We don't find the time difference a problem (it's more a problem when you get back home).
I suppose it depends on your temperament, but we went to Tobago for the first time in August and I must admit I did find some things a bit of a challenge (the heat, eating out, loud music). Having spent a week there I am now really looking forward to going back as I know what to expect and will do the holiday slightly differently next time.
As far as leaving your boys goes, if you haven't left them before I would say try it for a week for the first time. I know they are grown up but things can still go wrong and Tobago is a long way away. My middle son is a liability and has been mugged twice while we have been away. Getting a phone call when you are in the middle of a forest in Portugal to say 'Mum, I've been mugged, can you ring the bank to cancel my bank cards', or you're sitting dreamily looking out to sea in Mallorca and you get 'mum, what do you do when the water in the toilet cystern is hitting the ceiling!!' can be a little disconcerting! As far as damage to your house goes (I know from bitter experience it does happen- and what's far worse is the damage done to relationships with your neighbours, especially if you have good neighbours which you cherish) my advice is to use bribery. I'm not averse to a bit of bribery, it works when children are little and I find it still works when they are older. Find out what it would cost to put your dog in kennels and then offer to pay the boys the same ammount when you get home on the condition that the house is in decent order. That way the boys have an incentive and you will appease the guilt which you will undoubtedly feel at having been somewhere so wonderful and not having taken them!
I'm not sure if this will help you, or just confuse you further, but whatever you decide to do I hope you have a wonderful holiday - Tobago is a stunningly beautiful place.
Sally

[Dr Stefan Rustscheff]

Hello Joranson! I would like to add this: if You like self-catering, Catsara AND creature comforts You should definitely look into staying in any of the villas above Englishman´s bay. This time of year is off season and they can be surprisingly affordable! I myself can vouch for Parrot estate and Tanager Ridge. I have also visited a few of the other villas and seen all from the outside. Just go to the villa section of this site and take Your pick!
Good luck!

[Joranson]

Thank you everyone for your input, my husband still wants to stick at one week, his view like that of Sally being that he'd rather leave wanting more than stay for two weeks. Also like Sally cost is an issue and another week would be a lot more money and we do want other holidays! However I still like the idea of two weeks and if I really wanted the two weeks my husband would agree, we will talk over the weekend!
Thanks for the recommendation of the Parrot Estate Dr Stefan, I had a look at the villas and they appear very suitable, one thing that would put me off is the security issue and also that Englishmans Bay according to this website can be very rough in January and not suitable for swimming, what would your thoughts be on these issues.

[Paul Tallet]

Sod all this.

Just go ... it's brilliant wherever you stay ... preferably near the beach though

Regards

[Marc Jones]

I went for a week and loved every second - BUT - I had been before less than a year prior and pretty much explored the place to death (I drove my partner mad with "today we are off to...").

If you are going to chill out a week will be fine, if you want to explore beach after beach that promised two-week revisit will have to be booked soon - you'll miss Tobago as soon as the 747 wheels lift off the tarmac!

[Gisela Grell]

Marc you got the point. I always start missing Tobago the moment I step into the plane...
Joranson, if this is your first time in the Caribbean you maybe - like Sally - find some things you would not like so much. But until now I saw only a very few reviews who says that they have enough with one week because of the rain (rain?? this is only liquid sunshine! and never last long) or loud music (I love the Cairbbean style of life and I'm always happy to have a radio in my guesthouse) Oh yes, there is loud music but this is the spirit of the island.

Whatever you decide to do (remember Bill's comment about the 24 hours) I hope you will enjoy yourself and you will definately come back

Cheers