myTobago – your questions, review and comment about Tobago

Well this morning I booked our wedding at the Hilton Tobago, and this afternoon I found this wonderful website loaded with information on Tobago which I had as yet discovered!

I am sure it will be great anyway, but why do you recommend the Hilton for an indoor wedding and not an outdoor wedding on another posting? Is there something wrong with it's location?

I can always change venues!!

Hi Mary

The Hilton is a great hotel. In terms of bells and whistles, it is arguably the most luxurious hotel on the island. However, it is sadly located on an extremely exposed stretch of the Atlantic coast. This makes it unpopular with visitors do not want to be bussed to the opposite side of the island every day.

To illustrate the point, may I tell you a little story? We have just returned from six weeks in Tobago, reviewing hotels and holiday accommodation. We stayed at a lovely super-luxury apartment literally next door to the Hilton. For the first time in the trip, we had to resort to air-conditioning at night. Not because it was too hot, but because the sound of the wind ripping through the window vents was so loud that the only way we could sleep was by closing the windows and putting on the air-con.

It depends upon what sort of a wedding you are considering. If you want a beach wedding, then the beach at the Hilton is not an option, unless you intend wearing your bikini and don’t mind the minister yelling the ceremony through a megaphone. However, there is nothing to stop you staying at the Hilton and having your wedding on a less exposed beach somewhere else. However, if you want an indoor wedding, then the Hilton could be an excellent choice.

Just a tip, if I may. Most hotels on Tobago will arrange your wedding. Some do an excellent job, but you should be aware that your arrangements will be in the hand of a customer services clerk who is arranging tours, car hire and a thousand and one other things for guests. They are normally fine as long as the wedding is on the hotel’s premises and you don’t mind using their approved minister, photographer, florist, etc., etc. Don’t expect flexibility. It won’t take you much research in this forum (and check out ourwww.myTobago.info/weddings.php Weddings article to see our recommendations on this subject.

Steve
Many thanks for your response.....it really is hard to know what to do for the best! The reason we actually booked at this hotel is because of the golf course - as both I and my fiance are golf fanatics - so will be happy to play golf rather than lie on the beach - I am a bit worried about the wind now!

There are just two of us attending and all we want is a quiet ceremony, but I had assumed it would be outside......maybe not? Are you sure it will be indoors?

Other than that we are both keen birdwatchers, nature lovers and are really excited about exploring the island - it sounds like it may be a good idea to hire a car though? Presumably it will be ok to sort this out once we arrive as when we went on the Holiday Autos website they quoted us 700USD for 12 days which seemed a bit steep!

Additionally, I am very keen to try snorkelling for the first time and everybody I speak to who is in the know recommends this part of the world.

Anyway, I can't wait! I am a great believer in making the best of any situation - wind or no wind!

Mary

It's horse for courses. I do so hate advising people what to do when I don't know them and their personal tastes and preferences.

The golf course at Tobago Plantations (Hilton) is Tobago's premier golf course. It is very demanding. The strong breezes make play there challenging, but are equally very cooling. See our article (menus: Out & About/Activities/Golf ) for a full discussion of the course and also of the only other course on the island (The Mt.Irvine).

You don't say when you are going and it is true that the wind varies at different times of the year. Some people actually prefer the windy Atlantic side, but I have to tell you that the Hilton doesn't offer a transit service to beaches on the Caribbean side just for fun. You might be lucky and find a calm day for your wedding, but you would have to be a lot more adventurous than me to plan for it. That's one of the reasons I always suggest that visitors use a good wedding co-ordinator like Marie Daines at http://www.tobagoweddings.com because then they can discuss the problems and solutions with someone who really knows what they are talking about.

Why have you looked at Holiday Autos? What is their connection with Tobago? Sorry, but going through any of these services is going to cost you an arm and a leg. Look at our http://www.myTobago.info/carrental.php Car Hire article and save yourself a fortune. You can get a nice little car for between US$210-270 per week.

Tobago is very small. If you've got a car, pretty much EVERY hotel/holiday accommodation establishment within in the main Crown Point-Scarborough-Plymouth triangle will be within 15-20 minutes drive of Tobago's two golf courses and best snorkelling spots.

Whatever you decide, I'm confident you'll be in for a great wedding and holiday. Just do your research on this site and you'll go fully prepared to make the best of the island.