Rooms at Coco Reef

[Kevin]

Post Recreated: Originally posted - 20 February 2003

Hi, we're trying to decide on accomodations for our wedding and honeymoon. Coco Reef looks and sounds very nice, but the one room picture I've seen on their website is not very attractive (bedspreads, colours). Is that how all of the rooms are decorated, or are there some more stylish ones? I know it's not the most important thing, but we'd really like to have a romantic atmosphere for such an occasion.

[Steve Wooler]

Post Recreated: Originally posted - 20 February 2003

Hi Kevin

My, how times have changed. On my honeymoon I most certainly wan't looking at the bedspread - we could have been in a coal sack for all we cared. Only joking! Yes, I believe that the photo on the Coco Reef site does represent the current decor style and I'm using the same photo on our review (http://www.myTobago.info/reviews/coco_reef_resort.php). I guess it all depends upon what you mean by 'trendy'. One man's Ritz is another man's Disney!

Whatever you decide, have a great wedding and honeymoon.

[Kevin]

Post Recreated: Originally posted - 20 February 2003

I agree Steve; trust me, it's not that important. I just mean that with everything else about the resort looking so attractive, it's seems unfortunate that the rooms in such an obviously high-quality resort, have these somewhat generic, floral bedspreads, and otherwise, undistinctive decor, much like you might find in a lesser quality hotel. It won't likely prevent me from enjoying our trip, but I'm just being picky and trying to find the perfect place. In comparison, the rooms at Blue Haven look quite nice. Since you were there recently, do the pictures on their web site fairly represent the rooms. I read your review, but there seems to be little information otherwise. Is there much to do in the immediate area surrounding the hotel?

[Steve Wooler]

Post Recreated: Originally posted - 20 February 2003

I have to confess that neither Jill nor I are into floral, but I have to tell you that we have always loved our rooms at the Coco Reef. It may not come across in the photo, but in practice the 'feel' is cool and spacious - just what you need in the tropics. Come on folks, let's have some other opinion from people who've stayed there.

No, the photo of the room on the Blue Haven site doesn't look like any of the rooms I saw. In fact, none of the rooms or suites we viewed (about three in total) had bedspreads of any description. The styling at the Blue Haven is very much more tradional. Blue and white with dark wood four-poster beds. The rooms are not quite as large as at the Coco Reef, but have this amazing bathroom feature whereby the dividing wall between the bath/shower and the bedroom is a huge glass window. The shower curtain provides privacy, when needed, but its lovely having a shower and looking out across your room and over the balcony. Email me at [email protected] and I will email you a couple of photos of the Blue Haven standard rooms.

What's there to do at the Blue Haven? Come on, Kevin - you're supposed to be on your honeymoon. I'll send you a good book that originated in India. If you manage to work your way through it in 14 days, you're a better man than me. Actually, I'll settle for a year or two nowadays.

Seriously though, there's nothing much immediately around the Blue Haven, although you're only a 10 minute walk from the centre of Scarborough (but the less said about Scarborough the better - sorry, lovely inhabitants of the town). Mind you, you're still only a few minutes drive off anything you could do at the Coco Reef. Wherever you are in Tobago, a car really makes a difference.

[Kevin]

Post Recreated: Originally posted - 20 February 2003

Thank you very much Steve. I appreciate your help. Because we're planning on staying for 14 days, and with friends and family for the first week of our stay, we would like to have things to do in the area, and we are afraid that we may become tired of the one or two onsite hotel dining facilities wherever we stay. I guess renting a car is the way to go. Our honeymoon week will definitely be much more relaxed. Thanks again.

[[email protected]]

Post Recreated: Originally posted - 25 February 2003

The Tobago Hilton is MUCH nicer than Coco Reef. Rooms at the Tobago Hilton are beautiful, the pool is fantastic, the beach, golf... you'll have a fantastic time. Take good care.

[Kevin]

Post Recreated: Originally posted - 25 February 2003

I've heard that the hotel is nice, but that the beach is not very nice at all at the Hilton!

[Steve Wooler]

Post Recreated: Originally posted - 25 February 2003

Hi Kevin.

Yes, Denise is quite right - I believe the rooms at the Hilton are nicer than at the Coco Reef. Cant' speak from personal experience, because the Hilton have refused to show us around (says a lot about their attitude I guess). In every way, the Hilton is newer, flashier and more glitzy - typically 'Hilton', but you could be anywhere in the world. Food is great I believe. The building is really nice architecturally and the whole place is starting to look quite glamourous now that the foliage is starting to grow and 'soften' the line. However, the sea salt in the air is taking a serious toll on the buildings. As regards the beach, guests have to be given complimentary transport to Store Bay or Stalag Pigeon Point. I am reliably told that tour operators are starting to drop the Hilton from holiday brochures. It is a really great business hotel, but not ideal as a holiday resort. Occupancy is so low that it also lack atmosphere. A small quiet hotel is one thing - a big quiet hotel quite another.

[oonarose]

Post Recreated: Originally posted - 25 February 2003

Steve, Sorry that the Turtle Beach and Hilton hotels did not give you a tour, but I'm not sure how that reflects on the quality of either hotel. (I’ve had luck [Blue Haven, Blue Mango, for example] simply asking to see a room at various hotels, without demanding a full tour. On a few occasions, I’ve been told that the busy staff was not available at that time to show me a room; however, I did not assume this refusal indicated a churlish attitude on the part of the hotel or staff. I simply tour the public areas and shops and eat at the restaurant in either scenario.)

We just got back from our second stay at the Hilton, and we certainly were not there on business and we knew we weren’t at the Chicago Hilton. (And, by the way, not all Hiltons are glitzy; some are quite ordinary, as is the Hilton in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the only other Hilton that I’ve stayed at.) I am puzzled by your contention that the hotel would be enjoyed only by business travelers. If I’d taken your assessment to heart, I would have missed a very pleasant stay.

The Hilton of course has plusses and minuses. The following will serve as my trip report, although we did lots more than stay in the hotel. Here is what we like about it: Spacious, comfortable rooms with tasteful decor; very nice bathrooms with plenty of storage and separate glass-doored showers with handheld showerheads and bathtubs (good water pressure); big balconies with expansive ocean views; good service; good food; 3 swimming pools, one quite large with swimup bar; free shuttles to Pigeon Point (you called it "Stalag Pigeon Point" -- is that because you don't like it? I enjoy that park [superb people watching]) but am disappointed that the new food-stand management no longer serves the delicious fried chicken of yore.); and immediate access to a mile-long sandy beach for walks under palm trees. Because my red-haired husband is subject to precancerous growths caused by sun exposure in his early years, shade availability is important to us, and we find it there.

Here are the negatives: Ocean on one side is choppy, although it is thigh-high for a long way out allowing some fun jumping waves; the other side is deeper and has stronger waves, but we saw several people using boogie boards there during our stay. There is no beach directly in front of the hotel; it is eroded. I would prefer to dine in an open-air restaurant; the Hilton's restaurants are closed in and sheltered from the constant breeze, which, on the other hand, keeps you quite cool and comfortable when the temperature hits 90 elsewhere. Some people are bothered that Mother Nature is messy enough to leave a band of seaweed at the high-tide line on portions of the beach. (I live in a Northeastern U.S. beach community where seaweed comes and goes with the tides on some beaches, so perhaps that’s why seaweed high on a beach doesn’t bother me, as long as most of the beach is clear. Other people think of seaweed as garbage.) I did not notice any damage last week to the hotel from sea air – can you tell me what such damage you saw? I would imagine that all oceanfront hotels must face damage from the sea air.

Another disadvantage: The Hilton started just a month ago to use a security gate at the entrance to the property. All drivers must stop before gaining entrance. I find that off-putting. When we were at the Hilton just a week ago, occupancy was much higher than during our first visit two years ago. The main dining room was about 80% occupied every evening for dinner. I talked to several people from Canada and England, who were quite enjoying themselves. A number of Germans arrived as we were leaving. I don’t know about any tour cancellations; there are very few packaged tours to Tobago from the U.S, so most of us are independent travelers.

My perfect Tobago hotel would be a combination of several: I like the Blue Waters Inn beach for swimming and the quiet, isolated beauty of the area; the Hilton for its rooms; the Coco Reef for its open patio restaurant (I don’t stay there, but I usually visit once a trip when I get a hankering for a cheeseburger during a long visit — theirs is the best I’ve sampled in Tobago. At other places, I’ve wondered if I’d gotten goat.); the Blue Haven for its charm; Le Grand Courlan (pre-all-inclusive days) for its size and location; etc. All of these hotels also have negatives; for example, on rough-surf days, you might appreciate a shuttle to Pigeon Point from the Courlan and Grafton for swimming in calm water. The Blue Waters always has a strong breeze, if you consider that a negative, and the rooms are quite basic (Try the pump-action toilet. And the combination mattress pad/sheets often come loose during the night), but I love the place. For where I want to go on the island, the Blue Haven’s location is somewhat inconvenient. This year we split our vacation between the Blue Waters and the Hilton, to enjoy the pleasure of each hotel. We might try a different combo next year. Let’s see …. Which two?

Oonarose

[Steve Wooler]

Post Recreated: Originally posted - 26 February 2003

Hello Oonarose

Thanks for your informative post which will be of interest to many people. Excuse my editing your post to remove the verbatim inclusion of my post above – it seemed superfluous to your reply and readers might not have realised that you had added your own comments beneath.

Despite the fact that you appear intent on giving me a hard time, I have to admit that your review of the Hilton appears fair and unbiased and is essentially in line with everything I’ve heard, or seen. It’s an interesting reflection on human nature that it takes the rambling and contentious personal views of an opinionated Limey to offend sensibilities before people put pen to paper and provide the in-depth information that this forum is designed to provide. As I regularly say, the best way to stimulate discussion and opinion is to voice it – in no uncertain terms.

As you have taken the trouble to write such a long post, may I extend the courtesy by responding to your criticism of my comments.

I did not in any way indicate that a hotel’s refusal to provide a tour reflected on the hotel’s quality. It might, however, reflect on management’s attitude towards public relations and therefore, indirectly, to guests. Neither have I in any way indicated that staff at the Hilton were churlish in refusing such a tour. All visits are pre-arranged well in advance and at a time to suit all parties. I certainly would not be rude or inconsiderate enough to roll up at any hotel and “demand”, as you put it, an immediate tour.

Please remember that myTobago.info is a non-commercial site designed to promote Tobago. We do not charge hotels and other businesses for the listings published. Recognising that the project was extremely good for Tobago, the vast majority of hotels and villas welcomed myTobago.info with open arms. In view of Hilton International’s excellent marketing record, I was amazed that they were not one of the first to respond. We have made numerous attempts to make contact and never had the courtesy of a reply. Remember, all listings are TOTALLY FREE, so it’s not as if we’re asking for anything. The Rex Turtle Beach and Hilton are the only large hotels to have ignored us. Yes, it is starting to prejudice my thoughts about these hotels – I am only human after all. Call it nationalistic pride if you like, but in the case of the Hilton it also particularly irks me that a British company should show such disregard and contempt for public relations. The THA have put a lot of money into the Tobago Plantations development and the people of Tobago, whose money it effectively is, deserve better.

Given my reply to your post a few weeks ago (Holiday Report 7 – Blue Haven Hotel), I am most disappointed that you seem unable to accept that we only conduct our research openly, honestly and totally transparently. I am not prepared to pose as a potential visitor, as you suggest. During our tours we examine every room category and all facilities, including the kitchens. Rolling up with a bagful of professional camera and lighting equipment would quickly arouse suspicions. So, we pre-arrange everything properly, long before we arrive on the island.

Call me old fashioned, but because we’ve got nothing to win or lose on this project, I have no reason to be other than totally honest. You appear to have difficulty accepting this, but, with due respect, I would suggest that this says more about your own nature than mine. Apart from the fact that it’s not our nature to do these things by deception, we have no need to. If the Rex Turtle Beach and Hilton don’t want us on their premises – FINE! I have just returned from Tobago having managed to visit less than 20% of the people who expressed a desire to meet us. The material that I have collected will take the rest of this year to get on the site. So why waste time on establishments that show contempt for us, myTobago.info or for public opinion?

Let’s move on. No, not all Hiltons are the same, but please remember that Hilton’s outside the USA, including the Tobago Hilton, are owned (generally) and managed by the Hilton International division of Hilton Group, a British company – not by the Hilton Hotels Corporation which owns and runs the U.S.A. chain. Not that this has the slightest relevancy to our discussion.

Let’s be honest. If you had never been to Tobago and never seen myTobago.info or any other opinion of hotels on the island, you could, almost without exception, stay anywhere in Tobago and have a truly wonderful holiday. It’s all relative. It’s not the individual hotels that generate the magic of Tobago – it’s the people. The warmth and hospitality of the locals rubs off onto the guests and before you know where you are, you’re having a wonderful time and fall in love with the island. You prove this yourself by staying at both the Blue Waters Inn and the Hilton – two hotels which are as alike as chalk and cheese. People will be arguing about which hotel/apartment/villa is the best for time immemorial. You will note that I never, ever, use the word ‘best’ when describing a hotel. I simply try to illustrate the ethos.

The fact is – whether you like it or not, or agree with me or not – the Hilton is not the “best holiday” luxury hotel on the island. The vast majority of holidaymakers visiting Tobago are looking for, and expecting, a ‘beach’ holiday. In this regard the Hilton is lacking, particularly when compared with primary competitors – the Coco Reef Resort, the Blue Haven Hotel and Le Grand Courlan Resort. My views are not exclusive – they are shared by EVERY review I have ever read and it should take you very little research to confirm this. Even The Times (the proper one) recently said “Tobago’s biggest hotel is the Hilton, but it lacks charm and is on the wrong side of the island, overlooking a stretch of windblown Atlantic beach.”. This is why some tour operators are ‘dropping’ the Hilton from future brochures – from which we can assume that holidaymakers are expressing less than total satisfaction.

I know I ramble on, but if you wish to criticise, please at least read my posts properly and do not put words into my mouth. I did not say that tours to the Hilton had been cancelled. I also did not say that the Hilton “would be enjoyed only by business travellers”. I know lots of people who have had a wonderful holiday at the Hilton. However, an awful lot of people express the view that they would try other hotels on the island before returning – simply because of the beach situation. What I actually said was that the Hilton was a great business hotel. As a business traveller it would be my first choice. Maybe I was being a little too subtle for you.

I coined the phrase ‘Stalag Pigeon Point’ from a contributor to this forum. As a result of my own person experiences at Pigeon Point recently, recorded in this forum, I admit that I find the name appropriate and use it to publicise the shocking state of affairs on the peninsula. You are obviously unaware of the controversy, so I will not accuse you of supporting the loss of a local man’s life in order to protect your right to lie on the beach and not be bothered by fishermen or other ‘locals’.

Again you misquote me. I did not make any mention of damage at the Hilton. I mentioned that the sea salt in the air is taking a serious toll on the buildings. Simply walk around the exterior of the buildings and look at the door and window hinges and anywhere else where there are metallic fittings. The hotel is doing its very best, and as I said, the Hilton is looking good, but it’s a never-ending job painting over the rust streaks. If they let this lapse, the hotel would start to look sad very quickly indeed. I’m informed that even across the way, in the new condominiums, all patio doors and windows had to be fully replaced because of the rust problems. A correspondent who stayed at the Hilton wrote claiming that he accidentally left his balcony doors open before going out for the afternoon and that the room was so damp when they returned that they had to put towels on the floor and were subsequently moved to another room. Now, if this occurred I’m sure it was due to exceptional circumstances, but please don’t try to hide the basic truth of the location problems of the Hilton. As they say – location, location, location! No wonder there are unconfirmed rumours that the Hilton would like to sell its lease.

You mention that the main dining room at the Hilton was 80% full. I’m not surprised and glad to hear it. The Hilton restaurant is one of the best restaurants on the island and deserves to be full. However, I think you will find that the hotel occupancy is a fraction of your suggested restaurant occupancy.

Finally, you raise the question of the “perfect” Tobago hotel. I have to agree that your theoretical choice seems absolutely perfect. Mind you, whilst freely admitting that I am a great supporter of the Coco Reef Resort (although the Blue Haven is a hot, hot contender) in the luxury hotel stakes, I feel I ought to stress to readers that you must have been referring to cheeseburgers in the casual beach bar. I would be horrified to think that the Coco Reef’s main restaurant was serving junk food and having eaten there twice in recent weeks, admit that I certainly saw no evidence of this.