Holiday Report 7 - Blue Haven Hotel
Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2003 2:23 pm
Post Recreated: Originally posted - 05 February 2003
Leaving the Blue Waters Inn was a wrench, but the drive back down the beautiful Atlantic coast soon had Jill smiling again. A little over an hour later we arrived at the Blue Haven Hotel, on the northern outskirts of the capital Scarborough.
The Blue Haven is a 5-star luxury boutique hotel with a fascinating history. The hotel first opened in the ‘40s and became a popular retreat for film stars like Rita Hayworth and Robert Mitchum. Then, for reasons unknown, the hotel closed and fell into disrepair. 25 years later, the derelict property was bought by current owners, Karl and Marilyn Pilstl, whose dream of restoring the hotel was finally realised when the Blue Haven re-opened in December 2000.
Built on the ruins of an outlet of Fort King George which protected Scarborough Bay (an original canon is still a feature of the hotel), the Blue Haven has been tastefully restored and extended. The hotel has just 55 rooms and suites, the majority being housed in two new wings of a highly individual architectural style. The hotel’s dominant naval theme of blue and white is evident in every aspect of both the architecture, decoration and even the uniforms of the waiting staff. It would be misleading to describe the décor as old-fashioned, but it does provide a link with the past, whilst offering all the best comforts of today. It is a hotel with character and personality. You certainly won’t wake up thinking that you could be in any nameless international hotel, anywhere in the world.
The only difference between the standard rooms and the suites seem to be the extra large seating area of the latter. All rooms have sea views and a balcony providing panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean. The brisk cooling ocean breezes allow you to dispense with the blast of the air-conditioner, should you wish.
Steps from the hotel lead down to beautiful crescent-shaped Bacolet Bay. The beach is about 150 metres/yards long, relatively wide by Tobago standards and very natural looking with nice soft light sand. The beach is backed by a wide sandy area of palms and the hotel provides ample sun loungers. All Tobago beaches are open to the public, but Bacolet Beach never became crowded whilst we were there - even when used by the entire Finnish national football team who were staying at the hotel.
Whilst I sit in our hotel room bashing a keyboard (it’s too bright to see the screen when sitting outside) writing the reviews and these summaries, my resident beach expert, Jill, evaluates the beaches, sunbathing and swimming facilities. Jill has declared the swimming at Bacolet Bay to be the best she has experienced this trip. She is a confident strong swimmer and relished the light rolling surf, but such conditions could be off-putting to some. However, the beach shelves very gradually, is sandy throughout and is stone and rock free. Less adventurous swimmers, including children, have plenty of room to get wet before encountering the breaking waves.
We enjoyed all our meals at the Blue Haven, although other commitments and meetings meant that we only had one opportunity to dine in the hotel’s formal restaurant, Shutters On The Bay.
It was a delight to find another “hands-on” owner/manager. The hotel is a credit to Karl and Marilyn, particularly as they are not hoteliers by trade. The Blue Haven is a luxury hotel that will not disappoint. We wish them every success and look forward to our next visit.
Leaving the Blue Waters Inn was a wrench, but the drive back down the beautiful Atlantic coast soon had Jill smiling again. A little over an hour later we arrived at the Blue Haven Hotel, on the northern outskirts of the capital Scarborough.
The Blue Haven is a 5-star luxury boutique hotel with a fascinating history. The hotel first opened in the ‘40s and became a popular retreat for film stars like Rita Hayworth and Robert Mitchum. Then, for reasons unknown, the hotel closed and fell into disrepair. 25 years later, the derelict property was bought by current owners, Karl and Marilyn Pilstl, whose dream of restoring the hotel was finally realised when the Blue Haven re-opened in December 2000.
Built on the ruins of an outlet of Fort King George which protected Scarborough Bay (an original canon is still a feature of the hotel), the Blue Haven has been tastefully restored and extended. The hotel has just 55 rooms and suites, the majority being housed in two new wings of a highly individual architectural style. The hotel’s dominant naval theme of blue and white is evident in every aspect of both the architecture, decoration and even the uniforms of the waiting staff. It would be misleading to describe the décor as old-fashioned, but it does provide a link with the past, whilst offering all the best comforts of today. It is a hotel with character and personality. You certainly won’t wake up thinking that you could be in any nameless international hotel, anywhere in the world.
The only difference between the standard rooms and the suites seem to be the extra large seating area of the latter. All rooms have sea views and a balcony providing panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean. The brisk cooling ocean breezes allow you to dispense with the blast of the air-conditioner, should you wish.
Steps from the hotel lead down to beautiful crescent-shaped Bacolet Bay. The beach is about 150 metres/yards long, relatively wide by Tobago standards and very natural looking with nice soft light sand. The beach is backed by a wide sandy area of palms and the hotel provides ample sun loungers. All Tobago beaches are open to the public, but Bacolet Beach never became crowded whilst we were there - even when used by the entire Finnish national football team who were staying at the hotel.
Whilst I sit in our hotel room bashing a keyboard (it’s too bright to see the screen when sitting outside) writing the reviews and these summaries, my resident beach expert, Jill, evaluates the beaches, sunbathing and swimming facilities. Jill has declared the swimming at Bacolet Bay to be the best she has experienced this trip. She is a confident strong swimmer and relished the light rolling surf, but such conditions could be off-putting to some. However, the beach shelves very gradually, is sandy throughout and is stone and rock free. Less adventurous swimmers, including children, have plenty of room to get wet before encountering the breaking waves.
We enjoyed all our meals at the Blue Haven, although other commitments and meetings meant that we only had one opportunity to dine in the hotel’s formal restaurant, Shutters On The Bay.
It was a delight to find another “hands-on” owner/manager. The hotel is a credit to Karl and Marilyn, particularly as they are not hoteliers by trade. The Blue Haven is a luxury hotel that will not disappoint. We wish them every success and look forward to our next visit.