New to Tobago, have I chosen the right place to stay??

Steve Edwards · Post by **Steve Edwards** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 11:25 pm

Hi everybody, this is my first posting on this forum. I'm a single widowed dad with four children; 3 girls aged 16,13 & 9 and a 9 yr old son (yes twins). We are coming to Tobago in August and are about to book a 'Seashells Villa' at Bon Accord through 'Villas of Tobago'. and a very helpful Christine Charbonne. I wonder if any of you more experienced visitors would advise me of wether I've chosen wisely or not and perhaps give me any advice/tips that may be useful. We are interested in all things natural and especially Butterflies, Moths & other insects (but not sandflies or mossies). Thanks for a great website.

Marc Jones · Post by **Marc Jones** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 1:39 am

Can't give you much re the place you picked other than to say I bet you all fall in love with Tobago!

Tips? Expect a slow, lazy and decidedly enchanting holiday!

Can't be easy with that bunch but I'm betting you get to relax and they'll get an adventure of a lifetime. Enjoy!

Steve Pitts · Post by **Steve Pitts** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 8:25 am

Hi Steve

Like Marc said - you'll love it and being only four miles from Tobago's capital, you'll really feel at home!

The Bon Accord estate is pretty close to Store Bay and Pigeon Point for touristy beaches and you have lots of places around the Crown Point area for eating out, although with a family of teenagers and 2 x 9 year-olds, maybe a few meals around the villa patio would be a good idea too.

There are several road-side fruit and veg stalls along the main road, a bakery just around the corner and Penny Savers supermarket is half a mile up the road at Cannan.

With the family so interested in creepy crawlies, a delve into the rainforest is a must.

I'm sure that many would recommend a guided trip with one of the recognised nature guides (check the tour guide listings in 'Out & About' in the header bar) and there are lots of posts recommending individual guides by name in the activities section of the forum - just type in 'rainforest guides' into the search facility and this should trow up more guides than you can shake a branch at.

The Cuffie River reserve is also a good day out (review by Steve and Jill somewhere in the 'reviews' section in the header bar), but that is not to say that it isn't possible to do your own thing by hireing a car and getting out and about yourself.

There is a nature park over at Plymouth, with birding at Arnos Vale hotel just round the corner (nice beach with excellent snorkelling) and you can stop in at the water mill to see a bat roost on the way home. Fireflies in the woods if you leave at dusk.

Maybe a day trip to Little Tobago, where there are spectacular sea bird colonies and the place is crawling with lizards of all sizes and colours.
It's quite an adventure - driving up to the top end and then a boat trip across the bay, then scrambling around a deserted tropical island - 5 go wild on Little Tobago?

Then of course, there are all the beatiful bays, beaches and villages to discover (see beaches & bays in the Out & About section) and you will certainly see quite a bit of wildlife in your own garden back at the villa.

Phew! I'm knackered just thinking about all the fun you'll have.

Cheers
Steve

Marc Jones · Post by **Marc Jones** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 9:03 am

I thought about suggesting Little Tobago.

We drove up, did a glass boat over Angel Reef and had a blast snorkelling (with my then 8 year old who had never swum in the sea before then!) before hiking LT.

It wasn't simple and I am not sure who struggled the most my boy or me! That said it wasn't military yomping, just beware if your lot like to moan a bit when hot and worn out

If they love a cavort then Speyside and beyond is a fantastic trip (especially after a long interesting drive up from the other end).

Also - the bakery near you is stunning - we used to drive down to it every other day for buns and peanut punch!

Post by **Steve Wooler** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 9:30 am

Hi Steve

Welcome aboard!

Christine Charbonne is a well-respected realtor and perfectly trustworthy. The Seashells villas are very pleasant little villas and in a nice central location. However, you need to be aware that some of them are virtually backing onto the mangrove swamps of the Bon Accord Lagoon and are more prone to mosquitoes than many other areas. This doesn't apply to ALL the seashell villas. My tip would be to take plenty of deterrent spray and/or have a word with Christine to see if she can book you one on the airport side, rather than the lagoon side.

Clyde Alleyne · Post by **Clyde Alleyne** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 2:16 pm

Hello Steve, the mossies tend to come out at dusk so if you want to be out and about anywhere in the Crown Point/Bon Accord area at that time, you will definitely need to protect yourself. The forum describes a number of ways, including using Off! insect repellent (my personal preference) and various formulations involving Citronella Oil. You should also pack anti-itch cream as well for any bites you do receive.
Clyde

Roger D. · Post by **Roger D.** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 9:00 am

Hi Steve;

I've stayed at Sea Shells and you'll have a wonderful time, you've made a wise choice. Christine is an absolute joy ! Ask for Villa #136

Steve Edwards · Post by **Steve Edwards** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 5:53 pm

Thanks a lot everybody for some great advice. "five go wild on little Tobago", you bet Steve! I've requested Villa 136 as Roger advises, don't know why this one is better, or if I'll get it but I've asked for it anyway.
I'm now confident I've chosen the right holiday thanks to your comments and we're all looking forward to it more than ever, I'm sure I'll think of more questions before we go but in the meantime we'll be watching this brilliant website every day. Once again Thanks everybody

Roger D. · Post by **Roger D.** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 1:10 am

Hey Steve;

The Villas are privately owned, Villas of Tobago is the management company that rents them out on behalf of the owners. As a result of this the villas are furnished to suit each owners taste. I've seen inside some of the others and in my humble opinion # 136 is the best one in terms of the furnishings and the landscaping. When I stayed there last, it was sometimes hard to leave to explore the rest of the island. The mossies tend to be a problem, although they tend not the bother me.

When you get back, please let us know how you get on.

Roger.

Steve Edwards · Post by **Steve Edwards** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 11:43 am

Thanks for that Roger, And thanks again to everybody else for all the info. I have now been allocated no.136, and can't wait to get there. Only thing that concerns me slightly is paying the deposit by credit card via e mail which isn't the securest way to do things I'd have thought, but never mind.
As I'm from Scarborough UK I'll probably take some of our local holiday souvenirs to give as pressies to anybody who we find helpful while were there, good idea or a bit naff??

Post by **Steve Wooler** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 11:59 am

Hi Steve

Speaking as a e-commerce consultant I would strongly advise against passing credit details by credit card - particularly so if you are being asked to send an email to a tstt.co.tt address (I don't know if this is the case here).

None of the British/American banks or online payment services can offer payment to T&T bank accounts. However, it is possible for T&T businesses to arrange secure encrypted (SSL) transmission of credit card details - but only if/when they are using 'proper' commercial hosting facilities rather than the cheapo low-grade consumer hosts that most of them use.

Frankly it is the responsibility of the supplier to ensure that they provide such services to the customer. My advice would be to phone your details through. FAR safer.

Clyde Alleyne · Post by **Clyde Alleyne** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 12:16 pm

Alternatively, you can always fax the information. Christine's fax number as listed on their Villas of Tobago web site is 868-639-4433.
Clyde

Bill B · Post by **Bill B** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 1:42 pm

Additionally, if you're going to fax it, break the account # in the middle and send it in two seperate faxes (and possibly a third with the expiration date)

Bill

David Watkins · Post by **David Watkins** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 3:12 pm

Steve E,DEFINITELY do NOT e-mail details of your card---I know Iwas nearly bitten!!
If a deposit is required do it through someone like Yestourism or pay the tenner to send an IMO,or whatever they're called nowadays.They seem to be a reputable organisation,can't they give you bank details for a direct transfer?
David

Nerissa · Post by **Nerissa** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 7:22 am

hi steve

I've just been trying to remember what my sisters and I enjoyed when we were in tobago at similar ages...we'd have been 16, 15, 14, 12, 4 and a 3 year old boy! My parents obviously kept trying for a boy!

I remember us really enjoying kayaking (or canoeing?

on Canoe Bay, which is just a short drive from where you are staying. I haven't been there recently but it's very calm, very shallow water for a long way out.
So very safe and easy to kayak there. My sister took her 9 and 7 year olds to canoe bay three years ago and they loved it then - might be worth a trip if you think your girls (and boy) would enjoy it.

Steve Edwards · Post by **Steve Edwards** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 11:27 am

Many thanks for all your advice everyone. I've phoned my card details through for the Villa rental and all seems ok so far. Thanks for the last suggestion Nerissa, I'll have a look at Canoe Bay as I'm sure the kids will love Kayaking.

Once again thanks to everybody for all your help and I'm sure I'll think of more daft questions to ask before we go in August

Post by **Steve Wooler** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 11:31 am

Hi Steve

I don't wish to correct Nerissa, but I'm not sure about the kayaks at Canoe Bay. There weren't any there when we last visited that small resort, about 4 years back. Can anyone else confirm whether kayaks are available there? Don't want you wasting time taking the mile-long journey down an unmade road to the resort and then being dissapointed.

Nerissa · Post by **Nerissa** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 12:56 pm

you can probably give them a call and find out pretty easily
it was sixteen years ago that I did the kayaking at canoe bay....
I know my sister's boys enjoyed their time there three years ago...but I don't know if they did kayaking

Clyde Alleyne · Post by **Clyde Alleyne** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 3:30 pm

Steve, the last few times I've been to Canoe Bay there were no kayaks to be seen. As far as I know, the only place where kayaks are readily available would be at Pigeon Point. You should definitely plan on going to Pigeon Point in any case, and can investigate the kayaks then. At Pigeon Point, there are also jetskis and windsurfers for rent, and your kids might REALLY go in for those...

Clyde

Post by **Steve Wooler** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 3:37 pm

Thanks Clyde

I think that's pretty definite then.

The only place I know in the south of the island is Radical Sports on Pigeon Point. A fairly new operation, it is run by Rikky Knowles, previously of World of Watersports and appears to be rapidly gaining the same excellent reputation. They are best known for parasailing and wake-boarding, but they also rent single and double sit-on-top kayaks, ideal for the mangroves of the Bon Accord Lagoon, etc. (Steve, if you want more information, just type 'radical sports' in the search box on the right side of the menu bar at the top of the page - details are in our 'Sailing' articles).

Other than that, there is Tobago Sea Kayak Experience in Charlotteville. This is the "real" stuff though - sea kayak training and conducted tours.