Advice Please For A Newie.

Julia Wilkes · Post by **Julia Wilkes** » Tue Jun 08, 2004 4:03 pm

We have been planning a holiday to Tobago for some time now and this site has proved invaluable,but i do have 3 questions:can you buy English cigarettes,is there any form of chocolate available on the island,and are there any shops near to the Blue Waters Inn where we will be spending half of our holiday(the other half at the Kariwak.)
Thanks.
Julia.( A Tobago newie!)

Post by **Steve Wooler** » Tue Jun 08, 2004 4:19 pm

Hello Newie Newbie

Welcome aboard!

1) You will be able to get many of the major brands - B&H etc, but they'll be manufactured in the region, or America, not in Britain or Europe, so they won't be exactly the same (personally, when I was a smoker many years ago, I always considered American tobacco cigarettes far superior to European).

2) Chocolate (and European-style, not that awful American type) is available, but limited choice. I doubt whether you'll get it in local shops in Speyside, so stock up on your way up there, but you'll need a fridge to keep it in.

3) It's a 1½ mile+ walk from the Blue Waters Inn to the nearest shops - and they are only small local stores.

Kevin Hampson · Post by **Kevin Hampson** » Tue Jun 08, 2004 6:38 pm

Hi Julia,
We are doing the same in October.
Last November we had 10 days at BWI.

Q 1 I don't smoke but cigarettes and cigars were on sale in the bar one of the guys I was diving with said they were better than the duty free he got from Gatwick. so Steve could be right.

Q2 My wife does chocolate and the small gift shop did keep her well stocked when she ran out if the ones she got on the plane. Mostly english type chocolate bars and snacks like Mars.

Q3. There are not many shops in Speyside, Jemmas has a few local gifts and there are a few local village stores but most of them are at the far end from the BWI and it's a bit more like a 2 1/2 mile walk.

Regards
Kevin

Katie · Post by **Katie** » Tue Jun 08, 2004 7:02 pm

the shops around and nearby kariwak do contain english chocolate bars. i found myself visiting a bit to often for home comforts!

Alan Stalker · Post by **Alan Stalker** » Wed Jun 09, 2004 1:12 pm

Ciggies are cheaper than UK Duty Free. B&H (Trinidadian) £1.00 for 20, Marlboro Lights (Venezuelan) £1.20 for 20.

Dave Guest · Post by **Dave Guest** » Wed Jun 09, 2004 1:44 pm

Each to his own and all that but I have to say I disagree with Steve about American cigs being better than their European counterparts.

I don't smoke any longer but I can honestly say that American B&H's are far "harsher" or stronger than the ones we get over here. Fine if you like a strong smoke and a sore throat... Marlbrough Red anyone? but not if you smoke for the enjoyment

I used to bring those things back (American Bensons) and I couldn't give them away after people had smoked one or two! In fact they're that bad that when I lived in the states I switched to Marlbrough Lites which were on a par with our Benson Golds. (In those days they were just plain old Bensons but now there's a choice of colours I thought it best to clarify

)

Dave Guest · Post by **Dave Guest** » Wed Jun 09, 2004 1:46 pm

Forgot to add about the chocolate:

The Rex has a range of chocolate on sale in the gift shop. Lots of Cadburys Dairy Milk but sadly despite the air conditioning it was all in a rather sloppy state.

Post by **Steve Wooler** » Wed Jun 09, 2004 2:00 pm

Hi Dave

I had to laugh - both of us discussing the merits of different types of cigarette and so carefully pointing out that we are ex-smokers. I have to admit that I know what you mean. Some American brands can be very harsh, but I should have mentioned that I previously smoked Gaulloises, so in comparison, UK ciggies did seem insipid.

Anyway, I guess even chocolate is a healthier subject to discuss than cigarettes, so maybe I better stop being contentious and move on to a topic with more relevance to Tobago (or get back to work).

N Muir · Post by **N Muir** » Sat Jun 19, 2004 4:23 pm

had to laugh... i find it quite odd that someone staying at Kariwak, a holistic retreat with yoga and meditation, organic food and peacful tranquil zen like gardens should be asking about chocolate, cigarettes and where the shops are....???

Denise Oakman · Post by **Denise Oakman** » Sat Jun 19, 2004 9:11 pm

Having read the topic and not being very "Forum" aware

I would also be grateful for some advice. I have asked some questions via the Grafton beach link (Grafton in June) as that was the source of my initial enquiry but have more questions posted there re advice for another "newie", albeit a non smoking one. If anyone has the time to click on it and help I'd be really grateful.

Thanks in advance
Denise

Post by **Steve Wooler** » Sat Jun 19, 2004 9:50 pm

Hi Denise

Don't worry about not being "forum aware" - everybody had to start somewhere once. However, you can't beat a bit of basic research. Visit our main site (click on the logo at the top of the page) - you'll find in excess of 80,000 words of tips and advice on Tobago there. Then, use the Search button at the top of the page to search for topics/posts about specific subjects.

You'll get the best response and most helpful replies to specific questions. It's just too wide a subject to offer general tips and advice. As I say, that information is all here in the main site and in the forum.

Have fun!