Cliff Hanger Cottage at The Blue Mango
Posted: Sun May 09, 2004 12:51 pm
Hi To Everyone
It is now two weeks since my wife and I returned from Castara staying in Cliff Hanger Cottage. This is truely the best location on Tobago for those who want peace and tranquility, wonderful views and sunsets and for those who love nature.
The Cottage itself is very rustic but is a true reflection of the type of cottage lived in by Tobagoians. It stands literally on the cliff face, facing Castara North Beach, some thirty feet above the beach and twenty feet from the sea.
The building is mostly of wood with some brickwork and consists of one bedroom, a sitting/dining room,kitchen, seperate hot and cold shower, wash basin and w/c and a verandah.
It is reached by some fairly steep steps but there is a handrail.
The bedroom has the most wonderful 5ft bed complete with four poster style mosquito net and is fitted with a small wardrobe with a mirror alongside. There is space to store luggage. There was a security safe fitted but it didn't work while we were there. With the inner window and the outer verandah door open, you can look straight out to sea from the bed.
There are two comfortable tubular framed armchairs in the dining/sitting room with a slightly rickety shelf come bookcase and a firm wooden dining table which was slightly high for the plastic garden chairs provided.
This room had a dimmer switch on the room light which was perfect for enjoying the evening birds and nature.
Leading from the diner to the kitchen were two quite awkward steps which needed to be remembered at all times, particularly at night when visiting the loo, although there was a door leading off the bedroom for this purpose.
In the kitchen was a large worktop, single drainer sink with cold water only and open storage space for provisions. Appliances included a very large fridge/freezer, a full size cooker with oven and four hob burner complete with with gas bottle, a kettle, filter coffee maker and a seperate toaster come pie heater. There was a full complement of cutlery and crockery/glasses sufficient for four persons.
The shower though prone to leaves being blown in was wonderful with hot water at all times and plenty of pressure and easy control.
What does one say about w/c and washbasin except that they functioned perfectly although the toilet seat was a little low for an old fogey like me. Cold water only in the basin. Although the w/c was entirely private and enclosed the wash basin area looked out to the open forest and beyond. There is a mirror but no shaver point.
With the exception of the washbasin area, all floors in the cottage were covered in ceramic tyles with small rugs dotted here and there.
The Cottage did not have a/c but was provided with a perfectly adequate three speed fan which was portable.
Bed linen was changed every other day and towels as required.
From the dining room through some poorly fitted louvered doors led to a wonderful wooden slatted verandah complete with two sunbeds or if you preferred you could erect the hammock provided. From here one could view the beach and the sea and be visited by so many bananaquits, blue- grey tanagers, palm tanagers, blue crowned motmots, tropical mockingbirds, rufus-vented chachalacas and even the local hen with her four new chicks. All came to be fed twice a day.
This to me was really quite magical.
One had to be prepared for the birds and bats during the evenings, who occasionally fly inside the cottage as the open plan building allowed.
Breakfast was provided in the price, at The Clay Kitchen although this was somewhat haphazard as Rebecca the chef was ill and very rarely present. The menu was set by the kitchen but I'm sure if it had been functioning as normal one could ask for a choice. It wasn't open for dinner during our stay which was a little disapointing.
Access to the beach or village was by way of steep inclines in all directions so visitors need to be fairly fit.
In conclusion, my first thoughts were that the US$85 a night was a bit steep but having then visited most parts of the island we truely believe this must be the most wonderful location in Tobago or indeed anywhere else we have been in the past. To really live and see like the Tobagoians this is the place.
My last thoughts turn to Colin Ramdeholl the owner who was the perfect host always ready to help and offer his dry wit on any subject.
I hope I have been objective and have made no attempt to review any of the other cottages within the complex although we did have quick peak if anyone is interested.
Tony & Helen Taylor[/img]
It is now two weeks since my wife and I returned from Castara staying in Cliff Hanger Cottage. This is truely the best location on Tobago for those who want peace and tranquility, wonderful views and sunsets and for those who love nature.
The Cottage itself is very rustic but is a true reflection of the type of cottage lived in by Tobagoians. It stands literally on the cliff face, facing Castara North Beach, some thirty feet above the beach and twenty feet from the sea.
The building is mostly of wood with some brickwork and consists of one bedroom, a sitting/dining room,kitchen, seperate hot and cold shower, wash basin and w/c and a verandah.
It is reached by some fairly steep steps but there is a handrail.
The bedroom has the most wonderful 5ft bed complete with four poster style mosquito net and is fitted with a small wardrobe with a mirror alongside. There is space to store luggage. There was a security safe fitted but it didn't work while we were there. With the inner window and the outer verandah door open, you can look straight out to sea from the bed.
There are two comfortable tubular framed armchairs in the dining/sitting room with a slightly rickety shelf come bookcase and a firm wooden dining table which was slightly high for the plastic garden chairs provided.
This room had a dimmer switch on the room light which was perfect for enjoying the evening birds and nature.
Leading from the diner to the kitchen were two quite awkward steps which needed to be remembered at all times, particularly at night when visiting the loo, although there was a door leading off the bedroom for this purpose.
In the kitchen was a large worktop, single drainer sink with cold water only and open storage space for provisions. Appliances included a very large fridge/freezer, a full size cooker with oven and four hob burner complete with with gas bottle, a kettle, filter coffee maker and a seperate toaster come pie heater. There was a full complement of cutlery and crockery/glasses sufficient for four persons.
The shower though prone to leaves being blown in was wonderful with hot water at all times and plenty of pressure and easy control.
What does one say about w/c and washbasin except that they functioned perfectly although the toilet seat was a little low for an old fogey like me. Cold water only in the basin. Although the w/c was entirely private and enclosed the wash basin area looked out to the open forest and beyond. There is a mirror but no shaver point.
With the exception of the washbasin area, all floors in the cottage were covered in ceramic tyles with small rugs dotted here and there.
The Cottage did not have a/c but was provided with a perfectly adequate three speed fan which was portable.
Bed linen was changed every other day and towels as required.
From the dining room through some poorly fitted louvered doors led to a wonderful wooden slatted verandah complete with two sunbeds or if you preferred you could erect the hammock provided. From here one could view the beach and the sea and be visited by so many bananaquits, blue- grey tanagers, palm tanagers, blue crowned motmots, tropical mockingbirds, rufus-vented chachalacas and even the local hen with her four new chicks. All came to be fed twice a day.
This to me was really quite magical.
One had to be prepared for the birds and bats during the evenings, who occasionally fly inside the cottage as the open plan building allowed.
Breakfast was provided in the price, at The Clay Kitchen although this was somewhat haphazard as Rebecca the chef was ill and very rarely present. The menu was set by the kitchen but I'm sure if it had been functioning as normal one could ask for a choice. It wasn't open for dinner during our stay which was a little disapointing.
Access to the beach or village was by way of steep inclines in all directions so visitors need to be fairly fit.
In conclusion, my first thoughts were that the US$85 a night was a bit steep but having then visited most parts of the island we truely believe this must be the most wonderful location in Tobago or indeed anywhere else we have been in the past. To really live and see like the Tobagoians this is the place.
My last thoughts turn to Colin Ramdeholl the owner who was the perfect host always ready to help and offer his dry wit on any subject.
I hope I have been objective and have made no attempt to review any of the other cottages within the complex although we did have quick peak if anyone is interested.
Tony & Helen Taylor[/img]
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