TobagoVacations.org - Another Internet Scam?

[Steve Wooler]

The website TobagoVacations.org claims to be “the premier provider of accommodations for visitors to the island of Tobago”.

Anyone who knows Tobago will be intrigued by the main photograph used to illustrate this website. Tobago planning restrictions indicate that no building should be higher than a coconut tree. Whilst knowing the right people (???) may result in some leeway in the definition, I think we can safely say that there are no 20+ storey high-rise buildings on Tobago. Perhaps the THA funding to refurbish the VHL/Hilton complex were more exhaustive that I realised? Only kidding!

Tobago Vacations appears to be focussing on the Caribbean market. They are giving particular promotion to the upcoming World Cup qualifying games and claim “Tobago Vacations has 400 seats on various airlines out of Costa Rica and Miami into Port of Spain Trinidad and onwards to Crown Point Tobago”. Given that they are not IATA registered, I am intrigued to know how they might have acquired these seats.

Of equal concern is the claim “Tobago Vacations has only 850 hotel, guest house, and resort room accommodations remaining for this very exciting time in Tobago”. By my reckoning, the total room count of all the hotels in our listings is slightly less than 1200. So, Tobago Vacations claim to have contracted 73% of the Tobago hotel bed stock? I don’t think so!

I have been in touch with all the major hotels and have been unable to trace any that has any knowledge or arrangement with Tobago Vacations.

Of particular concern is the Tobago Vacations requirement for bookings: “...all bookings will be pre-paid, and will consequently need to be paid for in full to confirm reservation, and all payments will be by bank to bank wire. No cash, credit cards, checks whether personal, bank certified, or travelers will be accepted for payment.”

In other words, make full payment, up front, to a business or individual who appears unable to demonstrate any ability to deliver the services promised.

Visitor enquiries to Tobago Vacations receive an initial reply from ‘Gerry’. However, his replies quickly dry up when you ask too many questions, such as where the Tobago Vacations office is located or address and/or a landline number. The only telephone number given on the website is a T&T mobile number. The fax number quoted does not exist. In fact, the country code is not even in operation and is a special code reserved for Disaster Relief by United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OHCHA).

I have sent several emails to Tobago Vacations asking for information that would allow me to allay fears about their services. None have received a response.

I would therefore strongly recommend that readers apply great caution before dealing with this website. I would advise asking for written guarantees from the hotels and airlines involved before making any payment to Tobago Vacations or anyone claiming to be associated with them.

We have strong indications that the TobagoVacations.org website is a 'local' affair being operated by a strange travel business who operate from premises near the airport. However, for legal reasons, I am unwilling to give further details at the moment. If any readers have had any dealing or knowledge of this outfit, I would ask them to contact me – in the strictest of confidence if necessary.

[Steve Wooler]

Within the past 24 hours, two YouTube videos have been posted on the TobagoVacations.org website - the first visible connection with any genuine property on the island. However, neither of the properties are known to me.

Does anyone recognise either of these properties please? If so, please post information here, or contact me in confidence at steve @myTobago.info (don't include anti-spam space after 'steve').

The first property is claimed to be a private home with pool in Carnbee

tobagovacations1.jpg (51.38 KiB) Viewed 7427 times

The second property is claimed to be a guest house next to the Crown Point airport called Chan Lin.

tobagovacations2.jpg (52.97 KiB) Viewed 7421 times

[Phil Bondie]

Hi Steve, Isn't the control tower you see at the start of the Guest House YouTube in Trinidad? The private home looks like some of the houses around the airport in Trinidad, I think to the south, especially when you see the next door house near the end. If the rates they quote are per person per night its more than even some of the best villas in Tobago. It will be interesting to hear from anyone who has used this service. Phil

[Ronald]

When watching the video for the house with the red gate, one can see that it´s not a professional video. Someone is walking around and shaking the camera all the time.
But into that video you also see a red house nearby, so it should be very easy to check up if the house really is to be found into the Crown Point area.
I will be in Tobago July 2nd, but before that time some should be able to locate both the house and the office, if the the office exist of course.
Ronald

[Steve Wooler]

Hi Guys

Thanks for the feedback - and also to those readers who have contacted me privately.

OK, we seem to be moving forward a little.

Well spotted, Phil. I hadn't even noticed the control tower. The following photo has been extracted from the video. I hate to admit that I can't really remember the control tower. It certainly doesn't match the photos I took when doing my aerial survey in 2005. However, wasn't the control tower rebuilt in recent years? Hopefully somebody can confirm.

chanlin.jpg (40.32 KiB) Viewed 7288 times

If this IS Tobago, which I still believe it to be, then the video clearly identifies the location of the guest house. The control tower may have been revamped - but I don't think it has moved. So, this video indicates that the Chan Lin guesthouse must be on the south side of airport and runway. The only viable postion is therefor the stretch of undeveloped land adjacent to the NP petrol/gas terminal. Certainly not a location I would want to spend a holiday in. Can someone local please take a run down there and see if this is correct - it would be really appreciated.

Ron, you are quite right. These are very amateur videos. Yes, you are quite correct in that there is a red house immediately behind it. In fact a reader had identified this property to me within an hour of making the original post above and a confirmation has come in from someone else overnight. A third is pretty sure of it but will drive by today to confirm. The second reader has also be able to name the local (Scaninavian-owned) firm who own and/or are managing the property. Small world!

[Peter Kuhn]

Hi Steve,

the first Villa in Carnbee do exist. It´s at the small road before you entering left to Sherwood-Park ( on the right hand site )
When I was in Tobago (February-March '09) I saw the last workers at the Villa, before they opened. I heard the owners are from Trini.

Regards

Peter

[Ronald]

No more info?

This might not be news for Steve but maybe for some others...

I made a search and found that the address is registered at Godaddy.com in USA, a lot of spam-websites are registered there.
According to the information given there, the registrants address is in Ohio, but the email address is [email protected]
There´s also an Domain Name "jamaicancoffeeandjava.com" with Admin Address in Ohio and with an email address [email protected]. I was not able to open the website at all.

As I´m going down to Tobago in three weeks time and will be in Bon Accord from July 2nd, I´ll for sure take a walk to the area south Crown Point Airport to see if there´s any information there. I´ll also look around after the office at Milford Road, but I´ll be very surprised if I´ll found an office.

Ronald

[Steve Wooler]

Hi Ronald

No, no news. It doesn't surprise me. Frankly I don't think there are many people on Tobago who care a toss and even less who have the gumption to do anything. It's easier just to have another drink and bitch and moan about things.

[Andy K]

Folks,

TobagoVacations.org advertises on TV6, one of the local TV channels, at least since this weekend.
While watching the 20-20 cricket match England - India yesterday, i had to admire the commercial at least
5 times.
The advertisement is done fairly professionally but refers very much to the web site and the same
phone number. Considering that a TV commercial is nothing you get for a few dollars, unlike a web site,
i tend to believe that there is a serious business approach behind. I have my doubts though, that the
rates will attract even wealthy people very much. There is an increasing number of Trinis though who
desire holidays in Tobago for security reasons and some of them may even want to pay high rates
to get in when Tobago is swamped with Trinis on a long weekend.

I will inquire who is actually behind that business, i suspect very much it is a Trini.

The building close to the airport appears to be indeed on the south eastern side of the runway, past the NP
storage. There is a long stretch of dirt road going back up parallel to the runway and i know that a few
houses have been built during the last few years. If i get a chance next week, i will make a spin and
see if i can find that guest house.

Greetings from Trinidad,

Andy

[Andy K]

Folks,

i visited the Chan-Lin Apartments location two days ago.
It is indeed where we suspected it to be.
The location seems to be in a well maintained state.
The road parallel to the south-eastern side of the runway is no longer a dirt road, but has obviously been paved recently.

The air traffic control tower has been there for a long time. It is the one close to Store Bay Local Road in Bon Accord,
NOT at the terminal buildings.
The building next to it is the air port fire brigade station.

Greetings, this time from Tobago

Andy