Grafton Beach over New Year 2004
Posted: Sun Jan 09, 2005 10:24 pm
We stayed at the Grafton Beach for a week over the New Year holiday. It was a late booking and the hotel was surely not our first choice. We've also never stayed AI on Tobago before and did not go with high expectations that this was a luxury resort.
Our experience certainly exceeded our expectations. The AI package booked through Best@Travel was not expensive. The rooms were as nice as the rooms at the Coco Beach and the food way just fine. It was not gourmet, but we don't expect that at these prices. Our two teenaged boys were well catered for and we all felt the food service was just about perfect for a family holiday. The staff were efficient and helpful. We were worried they were a bit unfriendly when we first arrived, but think this was due to the fact that the hotel was full and had a lot of leavers and new arrivals that day. It must have been pretty stressful for them. From then on it was all smiles. We thought it was strange they’d want you to book the restaurant as it was all inclusive, but quickly realised all they were doing was trying to avoid a mad rush at certain popular times.
We have to mention a couple of niggles, after all nothing is perfect. The advertised free non-motorised water sports seemed to only be snorkels and masks. Our boys wanted Body Boards, which were rented from the beach vendors in the end. Beach and pool towels were also a bit short, although as we said before the hotel was completely full. We never had to wait more than an hour for a towel but they did always seem to be playing catch up.
In conclusion we found the Grafton Beach a wonderfully relaxed hotel. It does not have the stuffy formality of some Caribbean hotels, but then if you want that you should go to Barbados and not Tobago. We thought it fitted well with the relaxed atmosphere of Tobago and will certainly consider it again for our next trip to Tobago.
Our experience certainly exceeded our expectations. The AI package booked through Best@Travel was not expensive. The rooms were as nice as the rooms at the Coco Beach and the food way just fine. It was not gourmet, but we don't expect that at these prices. Our two teenaged boys were well catered for and we all felt the food service was just about perfect for a family holiday. The staff were efficient and helpful. We were worried they were a bit unfriendly when we first arrived, but think this was due to the fact that the hotel was full and had a lot of leavers and new arrivals that day. It must have been pretty stressful for them. From then on it was all smiles. We thought it was strange they’d want you to book the restaurant as it was all inclusive, but quickly realised all they were doing was trying to avoid a mad rush at certain popular times.
We have to mention a couple of niggles, after all nothing is perfect. The advertised free non-motorised water sports seemed to only be snorkels and masks. Our boys wanted Body Boards, which were rented from the beach vendors in the end. Beach and pool towels were also a bit short, although as we said before the hotel was completely full. We never had to wait more than an hour for a towel but they did always seem to be playing catch up.
In conclusion we found the Grafton Beach a wonderfully relaxed hotel. It does not have the stuffy formality of some Caribbean hotels, but then if you want that you should go to Barbados and not Tobago. We thought it fitted well with the relaxed atmosphere of Tobago and will certainly consider it again for our next trip to Tobago.