Hi all, following this fantastic forum for a while I still need to start this thread. However, knowing that my questions could be well distributed , I nevertheless chose this group.
We have booked a trip to Tobago and actualy we are all set: flight, acommodation in Castara and car hired.
Now I am digging more into details, which urge me to post questions:
We have our 5 year old son with us and would benefit from this beautiful nature on land and on the beach:
1) Rainforest trips: Can such a trip ( half-day) be done with kids as well? Any special clothing to think of?
Which waterfall visit can be visited with kids?
2) The kid just started to use his snorkeling mask and cannot swim yet, which beaches ( apart from Castara should we use to be safe?
3) I haven´t heard any news about Englishman´s bay recently, has the safety situation improved? Is there any beach we should avoid due to security issues ( I don´t mean currents)? I think about issues leaving stuff at the beach ( of course no jewelry) but maybe a camera which can be stolen.
4) Sunday church: Any opinion whether this can be done with kids or is it simply too noisy and/or dangerous?
5) Restaurants: As we probably will do island trips at what time do the restaurants open typically and is there any of them particulary "easygoing" with kids? What about driving back at night? Ex: southern part back to Castara-
6) Do they sell citronella candles on Tobago or is it adviced to take them from Europe? I will buy OFF upon arrival but on our veranda we may need something additional.
7) As we arrive on the Sunday evening and it is planned to stop for a short shopping at one of the supermarkets, do those accept credit cards or are we adviced to take cash at the airport immediately?
I´ll leave it for now, but maybe your replies may raise other questions later on.
Thanks in advance for your comments.
Michael
Tobago with young kids first time visitor
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Paul Tallet
- Weather Guru
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- Location: Yorkshire
Re: Tobago with young kids first time visitor
Hello Michael
Answers as follows ...
1. Yes and no ... just be covered up.
2. If he can't swim don't think that Castara is the right beach ... he needs to swim first before you let him loose on any beach ... you can get lifejackets locally ... King David does them in Castara and maybe others ... my advice is to let him learn to swim before adding the extras.
3. Englishmans is safe but you should not leave valuables there or anywhere in the world.
4. If you mean 'school' I recommend that you definitely do not take young children there (they will get tired anyway) ... if you mean a proper church then there are many in Castara that will welcome you to their Sunday services ... go along.
5. Children are welcome everywhere.
6. Yes you can get them in Scarborough ... but it is quite windy/breezy so you won't have much luck in your verandah.
7. Yes they accept credit cards.
Have a lovely time.
Regards
Answers as follows ...
1. Yes and no ... just be covered up.
2. If he can't swim don't think that Castara is the right beach ... he needs to swim first before you let him loose on any beach ... you can get lifejackets locally ... King David does them in Castara and maybe others ... my advice is to let him learn to swim before adding the extras.
3. Englishmans is safe but you should not leave valuables there or anywhere in the world.
4. If you mean 'school' I recommend that you definitely do not take young children there (they will get tired anyway) ... if you mean a proper church then there are many in Castara that will welcome you to their Sunday services ... go along.
5. Children are welcome everywhere.
6. Yes you can get them in Scarborough ... but it is quite windy/breezy so you won't have much luck in your verandah.
7. Yes they accept credit cards.
Have a lovely time.
Regards
Paul Tallet
Public Relations Consultant for Mother Nature
Public Relations Consultant for Mother Nature
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Bryan Guignard
Re: Tobago with young kids first time visitor
In response to question 2. Definitely not any of the beaches on the Atlantic side of the island. These beaches tend to be rough with strong currents. They make for good beachcombing, but stay out of the water.
I haven't been to some of the following in a while, but last time I went they were very good beaches for children.
+ Canoe Bay (very shallow and calm).
+ Pigeon Point (shallow and usually calm, especially at low tide). There are also several good shallow and calm spots in between Pigeon Point and the Coco Reef Resort (the entire stretch is beautiful beach). As you drive towards Pigeon Point you will pass them. Feel free to stop and explore. Some spots have rocky coral and fish very close to shore and make for interesting skorkelling. These beaches are not very busy most of the time, and they all have magnificent white coral sand.
+ Arnos Vale beach. This is a prime location for snorkelling. 90% of this small bay is shallow. At low tide the water is barely knee high. The snorkeling is spectacular. It's my fav. snorkelling spot. If you go here I definitely recommend staying for high tea and the bird feeding at the restaurant.
+ Pirate's Bay (bring a pic nic). May not be the best for snorkelling unless you wander into some of the deeper areas, but it truly is the perfect beach for bathing. In all my travels I've never encountered any better.
+ The beaches at Parlatuvier and Charlotteville are reasonable at low tide when the ocean is calm. There are always interesting things to see around the jettees.
+ The beach at Buccoo is also quite calm and shallow at low tide, but beware Sunday School. This is also a working beach, so there are often fisherman, which sometimes means fish guts and other smelly things around the working end of the beach, but a short walk down the beach will bring you into more pristine locations.
Some recommend the beach at Culloden, but I find this beach to be rough and treacherous at high tide, and the water is barely ankle deep at low tide. Never mind snorkeling, you can barely get wet. It certainly is pristine though.
For a young child who can't swim, I would recommend going to any beach at or near low tide. High tide, and the rougher waters that usually accompany it, can make even the tamest beach hazardous to a non swimmer.
I haven't been to some of the following in a while, but last time I went they were very good beaches for children.
+ Canoe Bay (very shallow and calm).
+ Pigeon Point (shallow and usually calm, especially at low tide). There are also several good shallow and calm spots in between Pigeon Point and the Coco Reef Resort (the entire stretch is beautiful beach). As you drive towards Pigeon Point you will pass them. Feel free to stop and explore. Some spots have rocky coral and fish very close to shore and make for interesting skorkelling. These beaches are not very busy most of the time, and they all have magnificent white coral sand.
+ Arnos Vale beach. This is a prime location for snorkelling. 90% of this small bay is shallow. At low tide the water is barely knee high. The snorkeling is spectacular. It's my fav. snorkelling spot. If you go here I definitely recommend staying for high tea and the bird feeding at the restaurant.
+ Pirate's Bay (bring a pic nic). May not be the best for snorkelling unless you wander into some of the deeper areas, but it truly is the perfect beach for bathing. In all my travels I've never encountered any better.
+ The beaches at Parlatuvier and Charlotteville are reasonable at low tide when the ocean is calm. There are always interesting things to see around the jettees.
+ The beach at Buccoo is also quite calm and shallow at low tide, but beware Sunday School. This is also a working beach, so there are often fisherman, which sometimes means fish guts and other smelly things around the working end of the beach, but a short walk down the beach will bring you into more pristine locations.
Some recommend the beach at Culloden, but I find this beach to be rough and treacherous at high tide, and the water is barely ankle deep at low tide. Never mind snorkeling, you can barely get wet. It certainly is pristine though.
For a young child who can't swim, I would recommend going to any beach at or near low tide. High tide, and the rougher waters that usually accompany it, can make even the tamest beach hazardous to a non swimmer.
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Clyde Alleyne
- Oh, so Sad!
- Posts: 220
- Joined: Tue Jan 25, 2005 2:40 am
- Location: Samaan Grove, Tobago
Re: Tobago with young kids first time visitor
Michael,
re: (2) the safest beach for a child who can't swim will be Pigeon Point. You can safely let your son run around ) keeping an eye on him of course) but you needn't worry about a wave bowling him over by surprise. Canoe Bay is also very calm, but with the construction of the big industrial park nearby I don't know how that has affected the ambiance there.
re: (4) by your reference to noisy/dangerous, I also assume you really meant Sunday School at Buccoo. But if you meant religious services, you didn't mention if there was a particular denominational church you wanted to attend. In Tobago there are Baptist, Moravian, Anglican. Presbyterian and Catholic to name a few but if you wanted to attend a specific type you may have to drive to get there - for example, the main Catholic church is in Scarborough!
re: (5) driving back to Castara at night - don't try this until you are familiar with the drive during the daytime. It can be confusing to the unfamiliar during the daytime, worse at night until you have done it a couple of times.
re: (7) you didn't say what time you were arriving on Sunday evening. If you are getting in later than 6-7 PM you will be out of luck with the supermarkets. For sure, Pennysavers will be closed by then. On Milford Road, you can try View Port Supermarket which is smaller and with a more limited selection, or Canaan Food Basket which is a fruit and vegetable place with some limited grocery items. Both take credit cards. After 7pm your best bet would be to buy some minimal basics from Jimmy's Minimart which is just past the Coco Reef Hotel entrance as you leave the airport, and then do your grocery shopping the next day. Jimmy's also accept credit cards.
Hope this helps,
Clyde
re: (2) the safest beach for a child who can't swim will be Pigeon Point. You can safely let your son run around ) keeping an eye on him of course) but you needn't worry about a wave bowling him over by surprise. Canoe Bay is also very calm, but with the construction of the big industrial park nearby I don't know how that has affected the ambiance there.
re: (4) by your reference to noisy/dangerous, I also assume you really meant Sunday School at Buccoo. But if you meant religious services, you didn't mention if there was a particular denominational church you wanted to attend. In Tobago there are Baptist, Moravian, Anglican. Presbyterian and Catholic to name a few but if you wanted to attend a specific type you may have to drive to get there - for example, the main Catholic church is in Scarborough!
re: (5) driving back to Castara at night - don't try this until you are familiar with the drive during the daytime. It can be confusing to the unfamiliar during the daytime, worse at night until you have done it a couple of times.
re: (7) you didn't say what time you were arriving on Sunday evening. If you are getting in later than 6-7 PM you will be out of luck with the supermarkets. For sure, Pennysavers will be closed by then. On Milford Road, you can try View Port Supermarket which is smaller and with a more limited selection, or Canaan Food Basket which is a fruit and vegetable place with some limited grocery items. Both take credit cards. After 7pm your best bet would be to buy some minimal basics from Jimmy's Minimart which is just past the Coco Reef Hotel entrance as you leave the airport, and then do your grocery shopping the next day. Jimmy's also accept credit cards.
Hope this helps,
Clyde
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Susanne Thomsen
- Tobago Guru
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Re: Tobago with young kids first time visitor
Hi Michael.
You do not tell us when you are going to Tobago???
But if you have time , then go to a swimming hall with your son, and learn him to swim.
We are going on the 18.th. of Nov. to Castara,as we always stay in Castara, and when we was there for the very first time, we took our girls 7 and 8 to swimming hall beforeand they learn to swim, and we took the snorckel with so that they was clear with it, when we was on the beach.
The first time we was with a bout, the man told us that the girls was to small to snorckeling, but when he dropt us on 7 meter water and he saw the girls in the water, he said, wauw so small girls, so good like fish in the water, and they just snorkelling around for very long time.
We are always with them on the beach, because most beaches ist very deep water, and i never take my eyes away from them.
On the beach in Castara is a safetyguard, and all the fishermen is on the beach the whole day, but off course dont take your eyes away from your boy.
I know that it is stupid to go from our things on the beach and we never do it, but i feel that in Castara, you could leave all your things on the beach, go swimming and snorkelling for a long time, and your things will still be on the beach. (but dont do it).
I think that all local peoble are freindly and take care of all turists.
Susanne
You do not tell us when you are going to Tobago???
But if you have time , then go to a swimming hall with your son, and learn him to swim.
We are going on the 18.th. of Nov. to Castara,as we always stay in Castara, and when we was there for the very first time, we took our girls 7 and 8 to swimming hall beforeand they learn to swim, and we took the snorckel with so that they was clear with it, when we was on the beach.
The first time we was with a bout, the man told us that the girls was to small to snorckeling, but when he dropt us on 7 meter water and he saw the girls in the water, he said, wauw so small girls, so good like fish in the water, and they just snorkelling around for very long time.
We are always with them on the beach, because most beaches ist very deep water, and i never take my eyes away from them.
On the beach in Castara is a safetyguard, and all the fishermen is on the beach the whole day, but off course dont take your eyes away from your boy.
I know that it is stupid to go from our things on the beach and we never do it, but i feel that in Castara, you could leave all your things on the beach, go swimming and snorkelling for a long time, and your things will still be on the beach. (but dont do it).
I think that all local peoble are freindly and take care of all turists.
Susanne
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Michael T
Re: Tobago with young kids first time visitor
First I´d like to thank all repliers as your comments are helpful.
Sorr of course I meant Sunday School instead of Sunday church... but nevertheless you assured me that that´s not the place for our next generation yet.
Concerning Susanne´s comment I have to say that´s exactly what we do. As we will leave on Oct. 19th however I don´t think there enough time that he learns swimming till then. But our son takes the snorkeling equipment in the bath tube and at least this works fine. We are in the swimming pool and will see how far we get. We are not mainac about that most importantly we altogether should have fun.
So we are looking forward and hopefully the wet season isn´t too wet anymore- as compared to now.
Michael
Sorr of course I meant Sunday School instead of Sunday church... but nevertheless you assured me that that´s not the place for our next generation yet.
Concerning Susanne´s comment I have to say that´s exactly what we do. As we will leave on Oct. 19th however I don´t think there enough time that he learns swimming till then. But our son takes the snorkeling equipment in the bath tube and at least this works fine. We are in the swimming pool and will see how far we get. We are not mainac about that most importantly we altogether should have fun.
So we are looking forward and hopefully the wet season isn´t too wet anymore- as compared to now.
Michael