I have been to Tobago now 3 times and i can still not understand why some pepole are deeply concered about the saftey on the island and want to have guards to protect them.
If you dont use common sense or if you leave your brain at home when you go on vacation i would advise you to stay away from the island......The pepole there dont deserve it! Or better said.....You dont deserve Tobago!
Tourists that get angry because things move slowly on the island should also stay away.
Tobago is a fantastic island with fantastic people. Use your brain and you have noting,what so ever,to worry about.
Hello Mr Jensen - totally agree with you - we are just back from a fabulous holiday in Tobago and had a wonderful holiday.
It was a real chill out holiday - wonderful hotel (Blue Haven) fabulous beach and great food. Very quiet and laid back! Will be back again in the future I'm sure.
Its good to hear that you had a great trip. As you probably noticed it was not much to worry about exept some stressed out tourist wondering why things move so slow
I always tell my self when i am at new places "Why try to chance something you cant do noting about"
We have already found a new villa for the next trip.
It is natural to be concerned about safety when going to a distant country you have never been to before. You hear stories both through gossip and nowadays on the internet about crimes and atrocities committed around the world, including Tobago. There is no country in the world that is 100% safe from crime and there never was. In truth, it has always been that way, we just hear about it more often because of all the communication technology.
Just a few weeks ago there was a big story in the news about a Canadian around 20 years old beaten to death outside of a bar in Punta Cana Dominican. But guess what? This Canadian Tourist was killed by other Canadian Tourists and not by anyone that actually lived there.
Common sense and awareness is definitely the most important factor no matter where you go. If you get yourself abominably drunk and stagger down a dark alleyway in the worst part of town at 3am with all your finest jewelry hanging out then who is more to blame? The mugger or the drunk tourist?
If you see a rough looking bar with seedy characters hanging around outside is it really a good idea to go in for a drink?
With that said, there is certainly the chance of a break-in at villas, and reports of slow response time on the part of the police doesn't help visitors feel secure, and this is why they request privately hired security. If anything, they know there is someone they can call on for help whether it be a break-in or even if they manage to hurt themselves.
I have never been to Tobago (yet) but from what I have learned about the island, the people are certainly not wealthy, but they are content in their lifestyle and very laid back. Most of them wouldn't change their lifestyle for anything and thus have no urge to try to "make things happen". It is a small island and anyone that decided to run on a rampant "crimespree" would certainly be found fast. With the exception of the one "village idiot" that authorities seem to let run free around Plymouth, but I guess they consider him harmless. Let's hope he stays that way. The young and restless tend to shuffle off to Trinidad where there is much more crime and gang activity than Tobago.
These of course are all my own personal observations and opinions and may not necessarily be 100% factual. A more accurate report I would believe more from someone who has lived there for many years such as Andy K.
All these pre-conceptions (assumptions?) ... don't take it too seriously ... if you are there to enjoy yourself you will enjoy yourself ... if you are there to look out for things, you will find them.
Just go, be normal(ish) and have a good time
Regards
Paul Tallet Public Relations Consultant for Mother Nature
We have rented 3 different villaes at 3 different places and have never felt unsafe. If you your doors are open when you are not around or if leave your laptop visibel you are inviting burglars every where in the world and also in Tobago. They ar also only Humon altough they are relaxed human.Make sure you rent a villa with alarm then you are safer.
In my neighborhood here in Norway a 86 year old woman was robbed in her home 3 days ago so you can never be 100% safe.
You will find idiots everywhere in the world but i am almost 100% sure that i will meet 100 of them here in oslo before you find one in Tobago.
Tobagians can look a litlebit angry until you start talk with them...then you will se their smile!
If you havent been on the island yet dont paint the picture black just because you have read something bad somewhere.
Example:I was in plymouth 2 weeks ago and did not see the village idiot you have read about here on the forum. But then again i didnt look for him. But i guess you will find him if you go into the local pub on the way down to the fort.
I was also walking alone in bon accord both days and evenings and didnt look over my shoulder once. Of course we are all different but i have no reason to say that i felt unsafe. If you say hello to the meeting pepople they will say hello back!
I do hope you will love Tobago just as much as most of the people here on the forum and that you follow the advises you have been given before departure. I can not see any reason that you shouldnt love it.
Mr.Jenson,
you are right....I´m from Germany, living in a small town close by Frankfurt. In one day at home I see more village idiots than in the past 20 times I saw in Tobago
The worst people I saw in Tobago are be 99% tourists.
The Foreign Office is doing Tobago a serious disservice by lumping it together with Trinidad. The two islands may be the same country but in terms of safety they are poles apart. We have just returned from our second visit to Tobago and once again we found everyone so friendly. At no time did we feel unsafe when walking or driving about in the Crown Point area, in Scarborough, or indeed anywhere else on the island (and when we went to most places!) The Foreign Office needs to review it's advice before it scares tourists off altogether!
