First time visitor: Yahoo!!

Eric K. · Post by **Eric K.** » Sun Jan 16, 2005 8:42 pm

Hello everyone,

Let me start by saying that this is one of the most informative sites that I ever came across! The forum and its participants surely add alot to it.

I will visit Tobago in May 2005 for a week together with my wife and 10 yo son. We will be staying at the Kariwak Village Hotel.

After browsing this site and the forum we decided to start with a guided tour around the island to get an overall impression. We would like to plan a rain forest tour and a trip to Little Tobago as well. I read several feedback posts of agencies that offer these tours (Yestourism, Peter Cox and Alibaba Tours) and I guess I can't go wrong with either of them. They certainly all replied promptly to my enquiries!

For the remaining days I am considering to rent a car and explore the island on our own. My son is a swim fanatic so we would like to find some great snorkelling places.

Can you please share your suggestions on where to go, what to avoid? Should I plan the excursions myself instead of hiring a guide?
Can you also please suggest beaches and reefs to explore with a 10 yo?
Did I forget anything?

Thanks alot!

Jane H · Post by **Jane H** » Sun Jan 16, 2005 9:02 pm

Hi Eric,

If you want to go to Little Tobago, it is worth driving to the Blue Waters hotel and taking a trip with Franks tours on their glass bottom boat. I seem to remember that the trip cost about US$17-20 - and we not only visited Little Tobago with a really excellent guide but had the chance to snorkel over the "largest" brain coral and learnt an awful lot about the natural history of Tobago. (And we saw some wonderful birds too!)

We didn't book in advance - just drove up to Speyside and bought tickets when we arrived (late morning). We just lazed on the beach at the hotel before our trip. It made for a really nice day!

Jane

Geoff Seabrook · Post by **Geoff Seabrook** » Sun Jan 16, 2005 11:12 pm

Hi Eric,

One of our favourite things to do is afternoon tea at 4pm on Arnos Vale Hotel terrace, They feed the birds at 4pm and you get to see the most magical selection of tropical birds up close.

For snorkling Arnos Vale beach is also good. My two young lads also enjoyed snorkling at Mount Irvine bay and body boarding in Store bay.

Do rent a car. The roads are OK, its almost impossible to get lost and if you do the islanders are very friendly and will put you right. Mind you the guides are also very knowledgable and friendly as well.

Geoff