Hi to everyone.
I would like to add some additional info just to clarify some bits. this treath was not meant for the 99% of you who enjoyed Tobago and would return to it, it was meant to give a different point of view with my experience for future readers and to the 1% who seek the same as I do, and warn them about some of the things that I found were not very enjoyable. Now a quick questions......Why no one has mentioned that there is a £100 deposit and that you only get $850 TT back? Are all the guests at the Rex AI?, ( I don't think so).....hasn't anybody spotted this ( a 25% loss in just 7 days with no alternatives ?) or no one was willing to share info that may give a shadow on the holiday? And why is the towler charge of $200 if lost? And everyone else must have been promised a change/refreshement room before leaving the hotel for the airport but had to wait (long, up to 2 hours) or find alternatives as we did. I just can't imagine how anyone would have survived with 3 kids. NOW what I want to tell every FUTURE reader who has never been there is this:
When you check in follow my advise and give them $850 TT and say you do not have £sterlings, make sure you book a changing room on your last day before 3 pm, check all changes given if you not tip as they assume you would have but forgot, do not accept anything on the beach because you could end up paying for it ( specially coconuts at £4 each ) make sure you are 100% aware that there is no nightlife as intended by 20-35years old as most of the places are closed after 11 .................make sure you know that the beach on the Rex is not the best one and that there are few accessible safe and guarded beaches most only reacheble by car ( usually charged at £40 per day )and that you buy your holiday for a HS shop and bargain on the price as they have a 10% commission margin. Full Stop. Make sure that you know this is not the place where you find 100 different type of cuisine and all sort of tropical dishes/fruits and that your lady ( mine, not sure about yours) may get a bit bored after 3 days . Make sure you know that Tomato spagetti with no side dish are sold for £12.85 at one of the Italian restaurant and that most night you are the only customer anyway in most restaurants. ( this doesn't mean you get all the attention but that you can feel a bit lonely.) I PERSONALLY think the place is not for singles (M/F) as most people over there are couples.
When buying a tour avoid the atlantic cost if possible ( again personal point) and concentrate on the carrib one , I also suggest you to not visit Charlotsville/Scarborough/Plymouth or any other little ville as there isn't much to see. I bet you find any pic on any site about these places. Last but important think : When you fly out make sure you call from the outsite of the airport becase I could not find a working phone after the ckeck-in and would would not let me go out after security passport control.
Fr anyone staying at the Rex do NOT eat at Black Rock Cafee', just trust me on this one only and it will safe your holiday.
Again enjoy your time there and post any good/bad experience for future referencees.
Franco
The truth, very very dissapointed....
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Joe King
Well where to start!!!
Just a couple of quick points that I picked up on while reading through this thread...
1: No matter what country you are in, be it Ireland, France, Australia, or Tobago, when it rains and streams run into the sea, the water will get murky and dirty.
2: I am an Irishman, and I like my beer. I spent 14 nights of blissfull drunkeness in Tobago. You may find the bars closing earlier, but they will give you a drink any time after breakfast, so just start drinking earlier is my advice!!
3: If you treat everyone with contempt, they will treat you like wise. If you tar everyone with the same brush, they will all look the same but underneath you don't know what they are like. So one person tries to rip you off over a Coconut, that doesn't mean every tobagonian is a hustler after your money.
4: I (and my dear wife) found the food to be fantastically diverse and extremely good value.
Franco, your views and comments and very welcome, and a good forum is only made up of positive and negative opinions, but even though you think you are not alone, the evidence lies here in this thread, you are fitting what I fear is a losing battle. What did you expect for £500?
I paid £1700 and had a great holiday. You pay for what you get.
Joe
Just a couple of quick points that I picked up on while reading through this thread...
1: No matter what country you are in, be it Ireland, France, Australia, or Tobago, when it rains and streams run into the sea, the water will get murky and dirty.
2: I am an Irishman, and I like my beer. I spent 14 nights of blissfull drunkeness in Tobago. You may find the bars closing earlier, but they will give you a drink any time after breakfast, so just start drinking earlier is my advice!!
3: If you treat everyone with contempt, they will treat you like wise. If you tar everyone with the same brush, they will all look the same but underneath you don't know what they are like. So one person tries to rip you off over a Coconut, that doesn't mean every tobagonian is a hustler after your money.
4: I (and my dear wife) found the food to be fantastically diverse and extremely good value.
Franco, your views and comments and very welcome, and a good forum is only made up of positive and negative opinions, but even though you think you are not alone, the evidence lies here in this thread, you are fitting what I fear is a losing battle. What did you expect for £500?
I paid £1700 and had a great holiday. You pay for what you get.
Joe
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Colin Fairburn
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Steve Wooler
- myTobago Editor & Chief Anorak
- Posts: 4856
- Joined: Sun Apr 21, 2002 11:00 pm
- Location: Suffolk, England
- Contact:
Nice one, Colin! Gave me the best laugh of the day and even took my mind off the injuries caused an hour ago when next-doors terrier ran at me at full pelt and jumped, landing where it hurts. I think we'll have to teach the little bxxxxx to play rugby because it was one hell of a tackle.
Steve Wooler
myTobago.info - the definitive Visitor Guide to Tobago
myTobago.info - the definitive Visitor Guide to Tobago
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Sue-S
Accommodation
Dear Andrew, i enjoyed the thread re Franco's comments, and particularly your comment on the Tropikist. I am hanging on to your words " i am the only one who likes the Tropikist". Its 11 weeks until we go to this hotel, and I really do feel that if we are pleasant to people, and go on holiday with an open mind, all will be well, fingers crossed. What a wonderful website this is, i visit every day. Happy holidays to one and all.
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Andrew Poole
Sue, not just me 
Roger D said
You'll be amazed how friendly the bananacrits and carib jackals are! There are even hummingbirds on the climbers that will surround your balcony.The sunsets are fabulous and you won't notice the aircraft noise at all.
Sunday School is a must, get their early to hear the steel band...the calypso version of "hotel california" will stay with me forever..but go with a guide and if possible in a group. The Golden Star on talent night is good too,do stay for the disco afterwards!
The food can get a bit "samey" but its not bad and there are plenty of places to eat within walking distance.
The staff are great as you get to know them but be warned, one or two are religeous and a "christ" as the first rum punch goes down can cause offence!
A friendly No with a smile will deter the vendors at Store bay and its a lovely place to stroll around early evening.
The Hotel and rooms could do with a lick of paint and a bit more attention to detail wouldn't go amiss but it is only 3 star..and Caribbean 3 star at that! However, i think you will be very pleasantly surprised.
Roger D said
You'll love it! Really short transfer! Fantastic location, great pools( swim up bar), lovely view, especially the Pelicans and Gulls ( mine mine mine )Oh....I like Tropikist too
You'll be amazed how friendly the bananacrits and carib jackals are! There are even hummingbirds on the climbers that will surround your balcony.The sunsets are fabulous and you won't notice the aircraft noise at all.
Sunday School is a must, get their early to hear the steel band...the calypso version of "hotel california" will stay with me forever..but go with a guide and if possible in a group. The Golden Star on talent night is good too,do stay for the disco afterwards!
The food can get a bit "samey" but its not bad and there are plenty of places to eat within walking distance.
The staff are great as you get to know them but be warned, one or two are religeous and a "christ" as the first rum punch goes down can cause offence!
A friendly No with a smile will deter the vendors at Store bay and its a lovely place to stroll around early evening.
The Hotel and rooms could do with a lick of paint and a bit more attention to detail wouldn't go amiss but it is only 3 star..and Caribbean 3 star at that! However, i think you will be very pleasantly surprised.
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Sam Deeks
i sort of agree with everybody :-)
Hi y'all -
I think there has been a bit of Franco-bashing here somehere along the way. Yes, the man has had a less than happy experience compared with whatever his expectations were. What concerns me a little is that from the beginning, (as Steve himself pointed out) Franco's motivation was to share his point of view so that others might be aware of some of the *actual* problems they might face. Why don't we thank him for the spirit of the post even if we don't like the tone?
I was .. surprised (and luckily able to pay) the $TT1000 deposit. But I had no advance warning and wondered what embarrassment would have ensued had I not had any room left on my credit card.. or had I been on a tighter budget. Understand the rationale, of course - simply let me know BEFORE. Is that too unreasonable? And why berate Franco for asking that reasonable question.
Many of Francos other observations are MATERIALLY also TRUE - (remember, you and I might not let them spoil our experience whereas Franco might) - but they're true nonetheless.
For people PLANNING to go to RTB, taking more children than I took (none, this time, whew!), on a tighter budget than me (I had a bit spare, for once!) and less confident or adventurous than me (feeling trapped in the RTB as the AI people clearly do when they've paid their good money and then find the details less-than-perfect) then I really believe that Franco's comments might prove invaluable in helping people make the best choice for them.
And Steve, I love your site and respect your *mostly* level take on things - but look how easily you slipped into the Italian macho cliche - it's just too damn easy to do, ain't it? I don't know about you, but I can't remember the last time I made the effort to write several thousand words in Italian (despite being rebuked!) to offer my perspective and tirelessly try to clarify it.
Respect due, if only for that.
Great site, addictive forum. Rich variety of views. That's how I like my Tobago.
I think there has been a bit of Franco-bashing here somehere along the way. Yes, the man has had a less than happy experience compared with whatever his expectations were. What concerns me a little is that from the beginning, (as Steve himself pointed out) Franco's motivation was to share his point of view so that others might be aware of some of the *actual* problems they might face. Why don't we thank him for the spirit of the post even if we don't like the tone?
I was .. surprised (and luckily able to pay) the $TT1000 deposit. But I had no advance warning and wondered what embarrassment would have ensued had I not had any room left on my credit card.. or had I been on a tighter budget. Understand the rationale, of course - simply let me know BEFORE. Is that too unreasonable? And why berate Franco for asking that reasonable question.
Many of Francos other observations are MATERIALLY also TRUE - (remember, you and I might not let them spoil our experience whereas Franco might) - but they're true nonetheless.
For people PLANNING to go to RTB, taking more children than I took (none, this time, whew!), on a tighter budget than me (I had a bit spare, for once!) and less confident or adventurous than me (feeling trapped in the RTB as the AI people clearly do when they've paid their good money and then find the details less-than-perfect) then I really believe that Franco's comments might prove invaluable in helping people make the best choice for them.
And Steve, I love your site and respect your *mostly* level take on things - but look how easily you slipped into the Italian macho cliche - it's just too damn easy to do, ain't it? I don't know about you, but I can't remember the last time I made the effort to write several thousand words in Italian (despite being rebuked!) to offer my perspective and tirelessly try to clarify it.
Respect due, if only for that.
Great site, addictive forum. Rich variety of views. That's how I like my Tobago.