Any advice on Cocco reef

Tracey · Post by **Tracey** » Tue Sep 14, 2004 12:56 pm

Hello i have lots of question,

I am looking to go to Tobago next year, its not a country ive been to before so im in need of some advice. I wanted to get married over there next year, not sure if the marriage certificate is legal in uk of not, and also when is the best time to go there either for honeymoon or the whole wedding hopefully all inclusive? I have read lots on the dry and wet season but would prefer peoples experience. Also who is the best company to book with, as i am on a budget.
I have also heard that the beach on coco reef is not real does this spoil it atall.
Any help at all would be very grateful.

Tracey

Post by **Steve Wooler** » Tue Sep 14, 2004 1:15 pm

Hi Tracey

Welcome aboard!

Yes, the marriage will be perfectly legal in the UK and elsewhere.

The best time is entirely a matter of personal taste. It is dryest and slightly cooler between January and March, but also the busiest then, with the highest prices for accommodation.

You simply have to shop around with the tour operators for best prices.

The beach at the Coco Reef is real - it's just that the sand is not from Tobago (it's actually white river sand from Guyana). It looks and feels real enough. To be frank, I think that people who are so petty as to criticise this sort of thing are quite sad.

Tracey · Post by **Tracey** » Tue Sep 14, 2004 2:08 pm

Hi Steve,

Thank you for your prompt reply. Tobago sounds just what we are looking for. Thank you for your advice regarding the weather, we will probably look at April time, as we would prefer it to be not so busy.
Could you advise me on the best travel agents to book with, as we need to start getting some prices together.
I have seen that you have recommened Marie from wedding.com, do you know how much she charges for her service.

Many Thanks

Tracey

Post by **Steve Wooler** » Tue Sep 14, 2004 2:51 pm

Hi Tracey

I assume you mean package tour operator rather than travel agent? Your local travel agents will deal with all the major tour operators and it's simply a matter of shopping around because the offers often change on a weekly basis. You might also get a better deal by shopping around online. I must confess that I always book direct, so have no experience personally of the "best" operators and the "best" tend to be those that offer the highest, therefore most expensive, quality of service, accommodation and flights.

Yes, arranging a wedding when you're thousands of miles away is fraught with danger. All the hotels on Tobago do a basically good job, but you're generally just one of a production line of weddings. Next to car hire, it's the subject we receive most complaints - or at least notes of general dissatisfaction, rather than disaster - about. So yes, we do recommend Marie at http://www.TobagoWeddings.com because that way you're in the hands of an expert who's dealing with it very personally. We've heard nothing of praise about Marie's services. I don't know how much she charges and the best bet, by far, is to simply email her and ask.

Dave B · Post by **Dave B** » Wed Sep 15, 2004 9:15 am

Hi Tracey,

I booked our wedding for April 2005 at the Coco Reef yesterday! I tried to get quotes from various travel agents and companies. British Airways were helpful but expensive. In the end we booked through Virgin Holidays.

We're still waiting for the wedding date confirmation but it seemed quite a straightforward process.

Tracey · Post by **Tracey** » Thu Sep 16, 2004 4:37 pm

Hi Dave,

Thanks for your reply. We were looking at April next year too. Did you get in contact with Marie who organises weddings in Tobago? I emailed her she seems like she knows what she is talking about.
Did you book the whole package through virgin and are you having a reception, if so does it work out expensive?
Its hard to know the best way to book it.

Thanks
Tracey

Dave B · Post by **Dave B** » Fri Sep 17, 2004 7:30 am

Tracey,

No, we have booked it all through Virgin and haven't contacted anyone else. Still waiting confirmation but, if there any problems, we'd contact the resort direct and book the wedding through them. Virgin do three levels of wedding for about £320, £500 and £900 added to the cost of the holiday. We're going for the first option.

We're not having a reception out there, party when we get back. Originally there was just the two of us going out there but now there are another two, maybe five. Still not enough for a reception!

Dave