New Arrivals!

[Nidge]

Hi all,
My partner and I will be visiting Tobago for the first time this November. Staying at the Toucan Inn. This website is a HUGE help with information. However, I would like to ask those with experience for some up to date info:
Best dive centres
Best dive sites
Restaurants (Bonkers and others)
What's Toucan Inn like
Best place to book excursions to Rain Forest
Best place to hire a car
Best place to exchange sterling for Tobagan dollars (is that best or would US dollars be better?)
Things not to miss
Things to avoid
Is Sunday School worth a visit
What about the Saturday market?
Best secluded beach for that "paradise" feeling?

Many thanks to anyone giving the time to reply. God, I am sooooo excited. October 31st can't come quick enough...

Nigel Cass

[Steve Wooler]

Hi Nidge

Welcome aboard!

Let me answer each of your questions as fully as time allows:

1) Dive Centre. If staying at the Toucan Inn, you have one of the best dive services on the island right on-site - R&Sea Divers.
2) Dive Sites: For all matters related to diving, see our Diving section (menu: Out & About > Activities / Things To Do > Diving
3) Restaurants: See our Restaurants section and the 'Top Choice' list to see how the public have voted
4) Toucan Inn: a small and friendly small hotel with 20 garden rooms and cabanas built around a central pool and garden.
5) Excursions: Book direct with guides/tours recommended on this site, or use Yes Tourism (www.yes-tourism.com)
6) Car: Our personal favourite is Sheppy's (www.tobagocarrental.com)
7) Currency: US dollars will be accepted everywhere, but changing to USD to change to TTD is going to cost you an arm and a leg. See menu: Information > Money Matters > Exchange (also Banks and ATMs)
Not to miss: Island tour, rainforest tour with someone like Newton George or Peter Cox, boat trip with Cocomotion or Island Girl
9) Avod: beach vendors selling tours
10) Sunday School: yes - although haven't been there personally for 8-10 years and things have changed since the local government ruined Buccoo village and destroyed the atmosphere.
11) Saturday market: yes - except that it means visiting Scarborough which is such a depressing soleless place.
12) Beaches: so many to choose from. See Out & About > Beaches & Bays

Have fun!

[Nidge]

Hi Steve,
Many thanks for your reply and the information. So how did the govt ruin Buccoo village and destroy the atmos? Also, is Scarborough a bit rough? I wonder why you said it was depressingly soulless.
The Pasta Gallery seems to be the place to eat. Have you eaten at Bonkers? Did you enjoy it?
What about bars? Do you have any recommendations?
All the best,
Nigel

[Carol G]

Hi Nigel,
I think Steve's description of Scarborough is dead on.. crumbling old walls, sidewalks and buildings (not even the kind that are charming or could be valued for historically reason); a sense everything could use a good cleaning. I'll admit a few new buildings have brightened up things. There are few trees, you feel like you will have heat stroke walking a few paces. The whole place looks and feels like everything fell apart a while ago and no one cares. My husband and I spend a great deal of time in Tobago and I hate going to Scarborough. If forced to go to Scarborough for some errand my reward is stopping for gelati....see Ciao Cafe in restaurant listings.
The Botanical Garden is worth a stop (can enjoy the garden and have some shade) and the old Fort is interesting (I often forget it is part of Scarborough).
Enjoy your trip...lots of wonderful things to do or not do (just hang out at a beach). Sure see Scarborough, but don't expect too much.
Cheers,
Carol

[Nidge]

Hi Carol,
Thank you for your comments. We may give Scarborough a miss!
Nigel

[Caz Booker]

We went to Scarborough twice, once to find some shops...it wasn't a pleasant experience and I could literally feel myself melting onto the pavements! The second time was a little better as we were passing through to get the bus to Castara and that was about it. If you do use the buses I'd say the heat at the bus station is about the most unbearable, unpleasant thing in Tobago. That said, still well worth it if that is your chosen method of travel All part of the experience I guess!

[Andy K]

There are some clean-up activities going on and some of the collapsed, abandoned buildings
have been removed. It doesn't quite look that hopeless anymore. I had a good view just
recently standing on the rooftop of the new financial complex, installing a communication system.
I have to agree to the heat though ... if i don't have things to do like the one above, i stay
in my air conditioned car

[Andy K]

As for Bucoo, i haven't been to sunday school in a while, probably a year. The street party has moved
a few yards around the corner from where it was before and it appears that the regular bar brawls and
bottle pelting which took place at the old site, has eased up significantly.
The local government planted a totally oversized complex for goat racing and other entertainment
in the middle of the village.
The facility is almost unused, the buildings almost empty. A huge waste of tax payers money, to say the
least.
I don't mind the disappearance of the old run-down beach facility though.