Coco Reef Resort

[J.ellison]

My wife and I, together with 2 friends stayed at the CRR from 27th Dec to 10th Jan 2005 and in a word - never again!
The second week improved a little over the first, which was very poor.
The menu was repetitious and at times food badly prepared/cooked (steak like cardboard, cold soup, lifeless salad, dried fish etc).
Service was abysmal and 50% of the staff had an attitude. Try to get a drink ordered was one thing, then getting it was another ( I could have grown a beard in the time!). Many customers preferred to queue at the bar. During the day, there is supposed to be a drinks service on the beach. Out of 14 days, we were only asked 3 times on different days, never twice or more in a day. Quite often we would see the waiter hiding under a tree, probably scared in case someone asked him to do some work!
Our rooms were good and the cleaning staff friendly and efficient. Maybe, the management should learn something from them and pass it on.
If you want a sun-lounger then get up before 6 am.
There is blatant preferential treatment given to previous customers. They get the the best tables and a room to keep on their last day. New visitors, like us, were told that no rooms were available for our last day, even though we requested one at check-in - 2 weeks in advance, and kept asking during our stay. On the last day, I noticed a typed list under the reception counter detailing who could keep their room until departure, guess who?
We were not allowed to pre-book an evening table in advance for the alacarte restaurent but were instructed to reserve same at 7-00 am each day. Lo and behold! when we tried this guess what? all the best tables were "not available" or, there is a "waiting list". How this could be when I was first there is beyond me.

CRR has a nice beach and I personally like the breakwater that has been erected as it it provides safe swimming no matter the sea action.

Anyone booking All Inclusive should check the small print. Coco Reef does not include the room mini bar in this and any item used is charged heavily. Also, AI finishes at 3-00 pm on day of departure. UK flights leave approx 8-00 pm.

Overall, this hotel does not bear any comparison in my judgement, to say the Galley Bay in Antigua, who get everything right that Coco Reef gets wrong.
In my opinion this 4* + hotel is at best, 3*.

[Mike Davey]

I totally agree with all of comments , see my previous note , the staff are the major problem in my opinion , my recommendation is Blue Waters in Antigua , staff are very special

[Stephen Turner]

I totally disagree. We stayed there in December, and we thought the staff were excellent and very friendly. We weren't all inclusive though (and I wouldn't want to be).

[Sue-S]

I am with you on this one Stephen, we stayed at the Coco Reef in December, and were totally charmed by all the staff. They were always friendly and willing to help in any way they could.
The service was always excellent, we were always greeted with a smile and a friendly word, and we never ever had a problem with sun beds or service on the beach.
I would certainly return, we had a fabulous time. We werent all inclusive as we enjoy eating at different restaurants, but when we did eat at the hotel, we were always impressed.

[Paul Tallet]

I have learned something from this ...

I did not know there was such a service for AI where they actually came to ask you if you wanted a drink !!

Funny old world isn't it.

Regards

[Sue-S]

I like it Paul

[Paul Tallet]

Hi Sue

Another funny old thing ... not specific to this thread ... is the amount of people that go AI and complain about the food.

On the contrary, those that do not go AI and have the choice of where to eat rarely seem to have problems with the food in their Hotel.

The only time I ever stayed in an 'establishment' and went AI in Tobago was at the Residential Nursing Home (AKA Rex Turtle) about 5 years ago.

To be honest, I never liked the food (except breakfast which was brilliant) ... but since I have been doing business with the local fraternity and had the choice of where to eat I have generally enjoyed my meals out.

So I suppose I would complain if I went AI too ... and ... alot of people seem to contribute to the forum stating that they go self catering or B&B for the reasons stated above.

Interesting eh?

I wonder if it would be of value to the forum for members to comment on whether they have gone AI or not and if they like the food ... this would help identify any establishment that may appear to be serving 'seconds' to their AI's.

Yours philosophically

[Sue-S]

Paul you little devil you !!!

[Mike Davey]

I guess people have different standards , to be fair I thought the food was pretty good although repetative . My main problem was the lack of drinks service on the beach with only one bar open serving the whole resort . And the bar staff being surly (when they refuse to serve you at 9.59 when the bar opens at 10.00 you know there is a problem) and the dinner staff being so utterly false and over trained . Having spent the previous week at Blue Waters in Antigua where the staff were friendly , proffessional and both confident and experienced it was a complete let down . And in order to get a decent bed on the beach you did have to get up at 6am plus the pool was inadequate for the size of resort which meant the mad made beach was overcrowded on the man made beach . Sorry but Coco Reef for all its attractions is not a good hotel and as for the late room booking fiasco , asked 5 days in advance and they kept putting me off and putting me off until note appeared under the door saying no rooms available when they must have known what their answer was going to be far earlier . Coco Reef is all frills (statues , rollers and petals on the bed which you have to keep clearing away ) and very little real client care .

[Sue-S]

We must have been very lucky Mike, we honestly didnt have any problems at Coco Reef, the beach was never crowded, and the staff were truly lovely to us at all times.
Perhaps going at the beginning of December is a good time to visit, it certainly suited us.
Better luck next time wherever you stay.

[Paul Tallet]

Gosh ... that's another new one on me today ... Petals on the Bed !!

... and you have to sweep them up !!!

There have been some fascinating contributions to this thread.

I suppose that people expect to be looked after when they go on holiday and Mike certainly makes a good point ... it is clear that certain things matter to him ... after all, it costs money and it probably happens to be the only 2 weeks of the year for most people.

But what I am really getting at here is whether luxury/top notch service (or the expectation of such) is really fair on Tobago ... I am not for or against it ... just wondering (as I do).

There are obviously places where it can be found but you have to find them, but then would it be the type of hospitality that was expected?

For me, I can spend about £20 a night in basic, yet comfortable, accomodation ... eat out for between £3 and £6 per person ... or catch a fish and cook it myself ... mix with the local community and pursue an existence in one of the most beautiful parts of Tobago that many of the residents of the major resorts would be lucky to see even if they took a boat trip.

And I am as happy as a pig in poop !! ... that's why I choose Tobago because there are few other places (if any) like it.

Maybe Mike is right and that Coco is not all it is cracked up to be ... when compared to an Antiga Resort ... the question is whether that is a fair comparison ... because Coco certainly seems to be regarded as the best there is in Tobago (apart from the Hilton some may say).

We need benchmarks.

Should we be comparing Tobago as a destination for luxury/service to other Caribbean destinations or should we be comparing Coco against other Tobago resorts?

And erm ... thanks for the compliment Sue ...

Regards

[Cornelia Montgomery]

Yes, this thread is interesting.
I have done some calculations comparing all-inclusive rates to those at pay-as-you places in Tobago and found that the price difference is not that much.

When my husband and I were in our 20s (many, many years ago, we would take skiing trips that we couldn't afford and compromise by eating cheese and cracker in our room.

We're older and more spoiled today, but an all-inclusive plan would tether you to a resort. So how do resorts make profits on all-inclusive? One bartender per 100 people would do that.

One year, we considered an all-inclusive at the Hilton; however, his favorite brand of scotch was not included. So no go.

Anyway, get out and enjoy yourselves.

[Mike Davey]

you make a good point about 'how do AI hotels make a profit' and the answer obviously is cutting down on staff and making it difficult to get 'free' drinks , I am sure they all do it but in my experience Coco Reef was at the lower end of the market , I also take the other point from Paul about mixing with the locals and staying at more basic hotels which must be fun however COco Reef markets itself as the 'best resort hotel' in the caribean' , sorry but they can't be serious , it an average 4 star and no more

[Chris Southcombe]

hi everyone. we have booked Coco reef for christmas this year and we are really looking forward to returning to the Carribean. The excercise that i will experience whilst getting up from my sunbed and going to get my own drink will be something to behold.