myTobago – your questions, review and comment about Tobago

Post Recreated: Originally posted - 05 February 2003

Dear Steve, tks for glorious website. Now to the problem with cars. We rented a Jimny soft-top 4wd from Sheppy´s car rentals, and not only the car, but Sheppy and his services were absolutely spotless! I have not words enough to tell about the way he delivered the car to our house in the middle of the northern wastes of the island in the pitch-dark near bloody bay, including having it full with groceries and cold carib beer! He also included a mobile phone and had by far the most affordable rates, and for a small addition You got at least some CDW. Sheppy also works as an airport police officer and the last sight of Tobago was his friendly smile...We will try the island this year again and I do hope he is still in business. Any others who share my opinion?

Dr Stefan Rustscheff

Post Recreated: Originally posted - 06 February 2003

Hi Stefan

Thanks for your kind words and please don't take the following the wrong way.

Whilst on the island, I’m reviewing car rental. No other topic produces anywhere near as much complaint or horror stories. Obviously with limited time and budget, I have no hope of trying every car service on the island. So, like our accommodation and restaurant reviews, we research the subject, attempt to determine the best or most deserving outlets and then try as many as possible to confirm that their perceived reputation is deserved.

I’ve been intrigued by the new Yes Tourism car rental brokerage service. The cost is the same as booking direct but takes obvious advantage of their local knowledge. A rental agency that was good one year ago is not necessarily good the next. In theory, Yes Tourism should be on top of this and be steering reservations to the best performing agencies at all times. I know, for instance, that have already virtually dropped one agency for letting down a client. From the user’s point of view, this is one of the principle benefits to their service – they may not be over-concerned about you being dissatisfied, but they’d be fools to screw up with Yes Tourism.

So, I decided that I would focus our car rental review on the YT service. I then decided to let them arrange three different cars from three different sources over the course of the month. Finally, I decided to avoid so-called 4x4s, primarily for security reasons, as we’ve been moving between hotels a lot and I have a fair amount of expensive camera and computer kit with me.

Our first car was from Thrifty and the second from Auto Rentals. I’ve never used any of the ‘big boys’ on Tobago before, always opting for cheaper services. I love driving and appreciate quality motoring. I now realise how much more I could have enjoyed touring Tobago on previous visits if only I’d paid the extra and used one of the larger firms with newer more modern vehicles, rather than bouncing around the island getting sun-stroke in toy Suzuki jeeps with stiff suspension and shot gearboxes.

My parents and sister joined us last weekend, so I needed a larger 6-passenger vehicle. To get me a keener price, Yes Tourism extended their search beyond the ‘big boys’ listed on their website and organised a Suzuki Carrier for me from Sheppy’s. Sheppy is a truly delightful guy and I believe that he genuinely tries to go that extra mile to provide his clients with a superb service. You can’t fail but to be charmed by him. Consequently, I feel really bad making any criticism at all.

Sheppy’s service, in human terms, far outstrips any of the others. Sadly, it’s not Sheppy that I’m driving. I’m not saying the Suzuki Carrier that Sheppy provided is a dog, but it’s certainly learning how to yap. To be fair, it does represent really excellent value for money. I haven’t seen the rest of his fleet, so can’t comment on general age and condition, so don’t know whether this vehicle is representative of the rest of the fleet. He accepted that it wasn’t the most comfortable vehicle and promised to try and upgrade the vehicle – but with all respect to his best intentions, which I am sure are genuine, an upgrade may or may not take place and in the meantime I am becoming rapidly familiar with the detailed contours of every pothole and ridge on the island. Also, what happens when he's on duty as a policeman and you're broken down somewhere?

Sadly we’ve done our test the wrong way around and should have done it the way we’ve done the accommodation reviews, starting with the most modest accommodation and working up the scale so as not to prejudice our opinions. Yes, we got it wrong with the cars and had the best car – an Almera – first. What a difference. It simply floated over the rough roads and touring the island was such pleasure.

The biggest advice I can give anyone is to avoid Suzuki vehicles like the plague – they may look like fun but break eggs on anything but a billiard table. Sorry, Stefan, I know you and many people enjoy them, but touring the island in the Almera has convinced me what a poor choice they actually are for me.

Post Recreated: Originally posted - 07 February 2003

Wow..I am sorry Steve, but it seems as if you are pushing Yes Tourism down the vistor's throat. I have been to Tobago as many years as I have been alive as I live in Trinidad (sister Island of Tobago). When I visit, I visit as a tourist. I stay at hotels, pay to go to Pigeon Point, eat out and rent cars. The only concession is that I get a cheaper rate at the hotels. I have been reading your reviews, and they seem to be unbiased but I think that you must also leave room for visitors to freely express their comments without always trying to undermine them by putting them down, then suggesting YOUR alternative. Maybe this site needs a place where others (beside you) can leave a review, it will be less myopic that way. I know Sheppy, I know his brother pretty well and I have used him, Thrifty,Econo car,Auto Rentals's, Stoute's among others and I have never had a problem. The roads in Tobago have come a long way and are some of the best in the Caribbean. I took a tour of Antigua last year and in additon to huge pot holes there were no road signs! I was in Tobago January 2003 and the roads were fantastic! If you are going "off road" you will find some of the roads are nothing more than trails however. I appreciate this visitor's comment that he got great service from Sheppy's; this is what a forum is for, to share information and experiences and let people have the freedom of choice. Just as you seem to LOVE CocoReef( which is not one of my favourite hotels in Tobago) I have read reviews at wheretostay.com with people saying they hated it! But, people have gone, stayed there, and some have enjoyed it just the same. In my humble opinion, I think the BEST reviews are from people who have gone without an agenda and who have discovered some little secret that made or broke their vacation and they in turn pass on that knowledge to other travelers so that they have the tools to make educated choices. In conclusion, I just want to say that people's opinions matter and you should give credit where it is due. Maybe Sheppy's wasn't good enough for you (point taken), maybe you prefer touring the island in an Almera (it is your choice) but do not think that there are people who will not be very pleased with Sheppy's (great service goes a LONG way) or who love the feel of the wind in their hair as they drive around the island in a jeep.

Post Recreated: Originally posted - 07 February 2003

Hi Sydney

I’m sorry if my reply gave that impression. I thought I was endorsing Stefan’s opinions of Sheppy’s service (excuse my earlier misspelling of his name) and expressing my personal satisfaction with his services. It was not even a post I would have responded to were it not for the fact that Stefan addressed it to me personally and the coincidence of currently having a vehicle from Sheppy.

My issue was not with Sheppy’s service, but with the Suzuki vehicles so popular over here, and which seem to fall to pieces once they are more than a year old. I admit that my reply to Stefan’s post was strong, but it came at the end of a disappointing day bouncing around in the Suzuki and spending more time in first gear that top.

Please remember that this site is written primarily for the benefit of visitors without your experience and contacts of the islands. It is therefore wisest for me to recommend the safest options. Sheppy is a case in point. Great service and I really, really liked the guy, but his car rental is only a part-time occupation. What happens to the visitor who breaks down whilst Sheppy is on duty as a policeman at the airport?

The best way to stimulate comment and opinion is to voice it. Readers can take from the site what they wish, but I work damn hard at stimulating discussion and soliciting wide opinion and review. I will ignore your cheek in suggesting that I should fund a site or forum, but not be allowed to comment, particularly when you haven’t actually provided any useful review or comment for visitors yourself.

I am delighted that the increasing usage of the forum is meaning my own input is less required. This will give me more time to research and write general articles on subjects of interest to visitors. At the end of the day, please remember that this site is MY site –MYtobago. I provide this site without any form of financial reward to share my views and opinions on the subject. Your implication that I have an agenda is, frankly, insulting IMHO (always a guaranteed sign of insincerity).

Post Recreated: Originally posted - 08 February 2003

Hi Steve, I have posted many replies on this board to queries that visitors may have about Tobago and at several other forums as well such as Fodors, wheretostay.com,caribbean-online.com in addition to my own travel pages at Virtual Tourist where I have not only helped many people with questions about Trinidad and Tobago I have also met them when they do visit. I also have a site about Antigua, where I visited last year, and neither am I getting paid; but the fact is I try to answer questions objectivley and allow other members to give their opinion. You will not find me answering EVERY question as I am not THE foremost authority on the island, the most popular person on the forum and the one that people love to get an answer from is an Antiguan guy who always gives honest responses and people value his opinion. My input is to endorse what I know which is the hotel where I stayed, the trips that I did and my view of the island as a whole. What I have realised is that when it comes to a vacation several factors affect why any person chooses the island/hotel/ car rental company and for every person who might have had a bad experience there are several more who had a great time. I know this YOUR site; it's quite evident.

Post Recreated: Originally posted - 08 February 2003

Hey guys, for what it is worth I think you are both right, as that is the beauty of free expression of thought and ideas. I do not think that Steve's praise has been bought off either, since he does criticise those companies who ask him to review their products. However, Syndy was right (since she clearly had doubts) to query Steve's patronage of certain companies, although in my opinion Steve has fully explained where he is coming from and I for one care not if he dominates the site - Syndy should look at some of the queries posted by some users and appreciate that, but for Steve, some would have received no response at all and might have turned their attention, and tourist custom, to other islands. Plus, he is the editor after all and has clearly set out his stall in the home-page! As a UK/Trini and Tobago-phile, I believe we should all be promoting the islands and if our opinions lead us to recommend tourists to a company that we feel has safer vehicles then fine - others are free to disagree but one way or another we should all promote the islands even if that means that the ropey car rental firms take offence, lose business and upgrade their service (and they do exist). Now for the good news - I just bought a Nissan Almera in Tobago, having deliberated over Suzukis, and was very pleased to hear Steve's review of the vehicle! (Yes, Syndy, I'm alright jack!). Best wishes to you both,

Glyn